NEW BEGINNINGS RAINSBARGERS FREED “After being imprisoned for 28 years, the last 25 in the Anamosa penitentiary, Frank and Nate stepped into the light of freedom on August 25, 1915. Nathan was then 62 years of age and Frank 55. By then they were Iowa’s oldest inmates.”    “They had […]

NEW BEGINNINGS DETECTIVE WATERMAN “So with two dead and two imprisoned for life, the plan of the vigilantes to make Hardin and Marshall counties a no-man’s-land for the five Rainsbarger brothers seemed to be succeeding. The counterfeiters were never charged or indicted. However, the battle to secure freedom for Frank […]

NEW BEGINNINGS THE RAINSBARGERS RELIVED Mildred Janssens story of the Rainsbargers continued right up to the present day, covering the eventual pardon of Frank and Nate Rainsbarger. This however did not come about without a fight.    At the beginning of the 20th Century, some of the truth began to […]

NEW BEGINNINGS POTGETER’S On September 19, 1950, George Potgeter held an open house in celebration of the 61st anniversary of the grain elevator his father Henry had founded October 15, 1889.    In addition to the anniversary, the business had just undergone a major renovation which made it one of […]

NEW BEGINNINGS A NEW DOCTOR In early April 1949, less than two weeks after Dr. Caldwell’s death, the community welcomed Dr. Paul F. Temple.    The community had remodeled the old post office location on Market Street into a doctor’s office. It included; a private office, two examining rooms, a […]

NEW BEGINNINGS 70 YEARS OF CALDWELL DOCTORS The Doctor’s office used by J.W. Caldwell adjacent to his house on the corner of Fourth and Market Streets. When his son J. Willard built his home on Main Street, the he had the office building moved to a new location on Market […]

NEW BEGINNINGS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS The Steamboat Rock squad: Seated in the front, left to right- Captain Frances Gast, Co-Captain Lucille Green, Middle Row- Jean Folkerts, Vivian Taylor, Marjorie Bolar, Louise Finger, Irene Kruse, Back row- Pauline Snapp (manager), Anna Freese, Marjorie Gast, Iva Mae Gast, Verdelle Shuneman, Mildred Jutting, Coach […]

NEW BEGINNINGS THE BEAUTY SHOP Perhaps one of the first signs of change in the lives of women was the coming of the beauty parlor. Women’s first move toward getting out of the house was her move toward changing her appearance.  Lucille “Dolly” Folkerts  The changes from then to now […]

NEW BEGINNINGS GETTING MODERN In 1939, the town had a city water system installed. The entire system, water tower, water mains and well cost less than $25,000.    In the 1940’s Market Street was brought up to date with curb and gutter, and many of the other streets were black […]

NEW BEGINNINGS ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE At the end of the decade of depression an article appeared in the Hardin County Index on March 30, 1939, entitled “Old Boys” of Steamboat. It was written by L.J. Tjernagel and gives his insights and reflects the attitude of the older men of the day. […]