Growing Beyond Their Dreams New School Constructed In 1869, a two story brick building was erected on the block called “Washington Square,” This entire block obviously had been set aside by the town platters for a town square. Another square named “Seminary Square” had also been planned, and was probably […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams The First School Opens With the immediate growth that the new town of Steamboat Rock, experienced the citizens saw the need for education and a school.   There were schools outside of the town at that time, the first was taught by Mrs. Samuel Hoover on […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams Medical Doctors From its founding until shortly after the town’s centennial Steamboat Rock, was always served by fine dedicated doctors.   Steamboat Rock’s first doctor, Dr. O. G. Fisher, came from Saratoga, New York, and arrived in Steamboat Rock in 1855. In 1858 he moved to […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams General Store And Grocery There is a very long list of people who have been in the general merchandise and grocery business in the community of Steamboat Rock.   A variety of types of general merchandise merchants came and went in Steamboat Rock. It is interesting […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams Shoemaker E.G. Smith was the town’s first shoemaker. Mr. Smith was not simply a shoe repair man, he made the complete shoe.

Growing Beyond Their Dreams Hotel The first hotel was a two story stone structure on the west end of Market Street opened and run by Reuben Wright.   Another hotel, was located more than a block west of what later became the business portion of Market Street on the South […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams Wagon Shop The first to open a shop for the manufacture and repair of wagons and carriages was I. M. Silverthorn. He came to Steamboat shortly after the town was laid out and set up a very small business.   While wagon shops were very good […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams Blacksmith Shop No town in the mid 1800’s could exist long without the services of a good blacksmith. In fact in those days the blacksmiths shop often appeared first, located at some crossroads, and a thriving village would spring up around it. In the case of […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams Sawmill Becomes A Grist Mill In the spring of 1857, S.F. Lathrop purchased the town’s first sawmill. Mr. Lathrop had a new plan for the mill and dam. His intentions were to convert the property from a sawmill to a grist mill. While there was still […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams Post Office The first Post Office was established April 25, 1856. It was a small station on a small route from Waterloo to Eldora. Mail was received once a week through the old stage line to Waterloo.   The first Post Office building was constructed by […]