WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION THE QUARRY CLOSES Another casualty of the new era was the quarry outside Steamboat Rock. Newer better building materiel such as bricks and concrete blocks were reducing the need for stone, and more decorative stone from far distances could now be brought in by rail. […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION BANK ROBERY “BANDIT TAKEN BY VIGILANTES” “Iowa Youth Captured After Being Slightly Wounded by Captors.” Were among the headlines in newspapers in and out of the State of Iowa, after some Iowa Falls boys planned and attempted a daylight bank robbery of the Farmers Savings […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION A NEW CREAMERY The farmers organization continued to operate the Farmer’s Creamery Company for several years, and was then sold to a private owner, John J. Eilers. It was operated under his ownership until it was again sold to a Farmer’s Cooperative Association and was […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION THE CRASH…DEPRESSION When the great depression swept across all of America with devastating force in the early thirties, rural Iowa already knew its effects that now gripped the rest of the country. Droughts were worse in states west and south of us, poor harvests, and […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION CHURCHES Christmas was an exciting time ….especially Christmas Eve. Children were almost too excited to eat supper. Everyone of Sunday School age was a part of the church Christmas program, and had a piece to speak. In the early years, German Christmas Carols were sung, […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION DRUGSTORE AND SODA FOUNTAIN At the turn of the century Steamboat Rock’s drug store was owned by Chet Reed. Mr. Reed, moved to Eldora, and Jim Coler became the manager of the business until he moved to Ackley. In 1915, M.F. Baker then managed the […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION FIRE DEPARTMENT In 1929, after the new school was built, the two-wheeled carts that had been used for fire fighting purposes were replaced by a four-wheel trailer and both of the 30 gallon tanks were mounted on this single trailer. Now the fire rig was […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION THE FIRE OF 1926 A look at Market Street in Steamboat Rock prior to the fire of 1926, In 1926 a fire destroyed nearly one fourth of the business on Market Street in Steamboat Rock. Seven businesses were swept away before it could be stopped. […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION LEGION POST ESTABLISHED Steamboat Rock’s first Legion post was organized shortly after World War I. The post was named for Charles E. Hoover, who was born near Steamboat Rock on November 8, 1894, and died of flu related pneumonia while serving with the army of […]

WORLD WAR…AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION 1918 FLU EPIDEMIC A deadly flu epidemic circulated worldwide during the first World War. This particular strain of flu, was caused by a swine virus. The flu lasted a week or two, before the victim passed away. A siege of flu, left the person so […]