Community Contributions

Photographs and documents related to the history of Poweshiek County contributed by individuals. Contributions from throughout the county are welcome and include the communities of Barnes City, Brooklyn, Deep River, Ewart, Grinnell, Guernsey, Hartwick, Malcom, Montezuma, Searsboro and Victor.

grinnell:30054
Harvestore installation report from A.O. Smith (now called CST in 2021) dated September 12, 1960, for a 17-40 Harvestore on the Raymond Pilgrim farm near Grinnell, Iowa. The report indicates the crop to be stored is corn, the farm is 160 acres, and 60 beef cattle and 400 hogs are raised on the farm. A grain auger was also installed.

grinnell:21170
Jim Severe (left) and Ed Bohstedt were organists for the First Baptist Church in Grinnell, Iowa.

grinnell:11909
Photograph of local businessmen in Grinnell, Iowa, taking a ride on the fire engine. The photo is taken in front of the Grinnell Herald Register building and the I.T.C. building on Fourth Avenue. The text of an attached news clipping reads: Amateur firemen take a ride. As part of National Fire Safety Week observance, businessmen were taken for rides on Grinnell's fire trucks on Thursday. In this "crew", left to right, are L.S. Sieberth, secretary-treasurer of the local firemen's association, Keith Gregory, Jim McNally and Chris McNally, in the seat, Herb Waltersdorf, John Queen, Francis Walling, M.F. Zimmerman, Bill Ritter, the Rev. Wm. Overhulser, Herb Greve, G.L. Duke, and Frank Lynch.

grinnell:11910
Color postcard view of 4th Avenue in Grinnell, Iowa, looking east from the intersection of 4th Avenue and Main Street. Businesses visible include: Arnold's Shoes, Strand's Shoes, Mathews Rexall Drugs, Grinnell Insurance Agency, Grinnell State Bank, and Danish Maid Bakery, among others.

grinnell:12523
Auction bid card from M & M Auction, Inc. of Barnes City and Montezuma, Iowa. On one side is a photo of the auctioneers, William "Bill" Mason and Paul D. Mason with their pickup truck. On the other side is the auction bidders number with lines to list their purchases.

grinnell:12520
Matchbook covers advertising the Monte Cafe in Montezuma, Iowa. Produced by the Diamond Match Co.

grinnell:27176
Mrs. Delmar Stewart on the last day of school in 1960 at Cooper School.

grinnell:27177
Mrs. Delmar Stewart's first grade class on the last day of school at Cooper School in 1960.

grinnell:5941
Postcard of the Grinnell, Iowa, railroad depot at State Street and Third Avenue. Sign on depot reads: "Grinnell -- Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway." Late 1950s and early 1960s model cars in parking lot.

grinnell:27264
Receipt from E.J. Jensen to Miss Pat Breniman for eyeglasses. Dated May 6, 1960.

grinnell:11930
View of college students marching along the street in Grinnell, Iowa, in support of the new liquor store. Attached newspaper clipping reads: Officially arriving in Grinnell Friday was spring silly season, which is usually most evident on the college campus. Such was the case here Friday afternoon when a group of about 100 Grinnell College students marched from the campus to the new liquor store with flags waving, car horn honking and drums beating a steady rhythm. The signs read "Eat, Drink And Be Merry For Tomorrow It May Close!!" and "Prohibition Repealed in Grinnell."

grinnell:18838
Three images of a class from School House No. 2 in Poweshiek County, Iowa, lined up outside the school house and swinging on a swing set in August of 1960. Drake Community Library (Grinnell, Iowa) Archives. Miscellaneous photographs. Collection #24, Rural Schools (including snowstorm).

grinnell:27187
1405 Broad Street on the northwest corner of 9th Avenue and Broad Street in Grinnell, Iowa, August 1961.

grinnell:11904
Photograph of cars parked in the middle of Broad Street in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1961. A news clipping attached to the photo reads, "Broad Street parking to end. Grinnell City Council voted Monday night to end center street parking on a 2-block stretch of Broad Street between Fifth Avenue and Commercial. The center of the 2-block stretch of Broad Street has been used for parking for about 12 years." A handwritten date of April 14, 1961, has been added. George and Rolf Hardware Store and the New Home Bakery are visible in the background.

grinnell:20695
Fourth grade students at Grant #2 rural school, Poweshiek County, Iowa, in the fall of 1961. In January 1962, the students began attending Fairview School in Grinnell. Sitting: Glenace Wilbourne, Laura Grandstaff, Kathy Gwinn, Cheryl George, Ronnie Harter, Anita George (classmate's sister), Dave McCurry, Bill Ahrens, Pam Tuinstra, Martin Kuchera. Standing: Roger Souter, Richard Billman, Debbie Fisher, Ray Graham, Kathryn Haner, Craig Stimson, Bev Brown, Monica Storbeck, Frank Kelm, Emily Nixon, Margaret Hasselbrink, Jane Dobbins, Kerry Halverson, Jon Thornton, Barb Vogt, Jucy Schalinske, Edward Garlock, Mary Schulte.

grinnell:12151
News article from the Shelhamer Memorial Mission News (Washington, D.C.) about Eva Renfrow. The article is from June/July 1961.

grinnell:30051
Annual report of the Poweshiek Mutual Insurance Association for the year ending December 31, 1961.

grinnell:12194
The Renfrow children in 1961, from left to right: Rudy, Helen, Alice, Edith, Paul, and Evanel.

grinnell:12198
The Renfrows visited Martha Lucas in California, possibly Stockton, in 1961. Martha was one of the Lucas triplets. Those identified are from left: Edith Renfrow (obscured by shadow), Henry Lucas' wife (forename not known), Martha Lucas, Anna May Boyd and Alice Smith (Edith's daughter).

grinnell:12204
Flier for the Penquite Motel, located on the corner of 6th Avenue and Penrose Street in Grinnell, Iowa, advertising rooms for a bowling tournament to be held in Grinnell from February 17 to March 24 probably in 1961. Fern and Gene Freeborn bought the Penquite Motel in 1961 and changed the name to Freeborn Motel shortly thereafter.