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The following is an excerpt from
The History of Stacyville, Iowa: 1856-2006.*
No part may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission
of the author. Contact her at
cherylmu@netins.net
The next few years were marked by the usual
activities—school graduations, church socials, baseball games, city band
concerts and plays at the Opera House. But a few milestones occurred during
the decade too. A young Carl Theobald bought the implement shop. Mail
service by rail came to an end. Boys’ and girls’ 4-H clubs were started. The
dam was rebuilt. Several businesses in town were destroyed by fire. A bank
robber was caught by a couple of local men. And Stacyville residents once
again prepared to send their sons and daughters to war.
In 1931 Stacyville gained new status on the state maps
when the road south and west of Stacyville was designated a primary road and
therefore "given consideration equal to primary roads 218 and 9 through the
county." The road north out of town remained a secondary road.
Births recorded in 1931 included: Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brown,
a girl; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Foy, a son; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Steiger, a son; Mr.
and Mrs. Anton Bawek, a son; and Dr. and Mrs. Carl Staudt, a girl.
The Visitation High School basketball team was the
recipient of a new basketball and ball carrier donated by Leo J. Simon. Mr.
Simon and Delos Faas were coaches of the squad and had "turned out the best
team that has been known in the history of V.H.S." Visitation girls had new
school uniforms in 1932. They were "bright blue Indianhead with tan collars,
cuffs, belts and ties." It was reported that the 24 girls in high school
were "a pretty sight" in their new uniforms.
In March 1933 the Stacyville Savings Bank was closed as a
result of a "bank holiday" issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A.J.
Heimerman, cashier, said in a newspaper report that the bank was ready to
re-open as soon as the word to do so arrived from the government. Citizens
met the closing with "complete surprise" as conditions were "entirely
normal" with the local bank. It was reported that news of the moratorium was
received by Stacyville residents "with the characteristic calm" of the
people of the community. Although panic did not occur in the town, a
shortage of change was apparent within a short time. "Quarters, nickels and
dimes were in great demand at practically all stores." However, "purchases
were going on fairly good."
The Stacyville firemen held a meeting in the City Hall to
elect officers. Art Wolf was elected president and Ren Anderson was named
secretary-treasurer. John Simon was re-elected to the position of fire
chief. The following "young men" were admitted to membership in the company:
Sy Pitzen, John May, Loren Stehn, Reinhart Adams and Robert Shotliff.
It was reported that red rain fell in Stacyville on April
29, 1933. According to the reports in the newspaper, scientists explained
the phenomenon as a result of strong winds from the "red-soiled states of
the south." People with flat tin roofs in Stacyville noticed they were
coated with a heavy red dust after the rain had dried. It was thought the
dust came from Kansas.
In June 1934 the paper reported that a tornado caused
damage in Stacyville when several trees were uprooted in the park and at
various places in town. A barn was demolished at the Peter Adams residence;
sheds were destroyed at the W.R. Brown home; and a chicken house at the
George Faas residence was "neatly lifted over the fence and deposited in Roy
Gilles’ yard." Tony Wagner, who was farming "the Chas. Gerbig place a half
mile south of Stacyville," was plowing corn when the storm came. He was
picked up by the wind and was carried a "short distance" but was not
injured. His horses ran away and one received a cut when it hit the fence.
At the cemetery trees were uprooted and tombstones were blown over or
broken.
For years Stacyville merchants worried about fire breaking
out on the main business district. On a Friday morning in April 1935 their
worst fears were realized when fire destroyed three buildings and damaged a
fourth. Buildings that suffered complete losses were Louis May’s poultry
house, William Keonigs’ café and H.H. Stehn’s general store. Windows in
buildings across the street were broken. The Stacyville Saving Bank, located
on the corner, was slightly damaged. Residents living above each of the
buildings managed to escape unharmed, even saving many of their belongings.
The fire was thought to have originated from the chimney connected with a
stove in Keonigs’ restaurant. Firefighters from St. Ansgar helped fight the
blaze and pumped water from the river two blocks away. Many firefighters
were "minus eyebrows" and some had "badly scorched" faces.
In December a "large crowd" attended the Farm Bureau
meeting at the Henry May home. The program consisted of entertainment by
Olivia May on the guitar and Al May at the piano.
A couple of Stacyville youths received special recognition
in 1936. Irene Heimer won first place in the "oral contest" at the Mitchell
County Spelling Contest in February. Donald Hatten won honors in an "amateur
contest sponsored by Tilton & Guthrie Players." According to the newspaper
report, "Little Donnie’s flying feet tapped and jigged to the fast music of
Tiger Rag." Donnie was "still going strong but the piano player was winded
at the end of the dance."
Opera House officers in 1937 were: B.T. Hartnell,
president; E.B. Tyler, treasurer; and H.H.Stehn, secretary. Len Gerbig, Karl
F. Gerhart, George Penney and Alvin Gerhart served on the board of
directors.
As Stacyville prepared for the Christmas holidays in 1937,
local merchants strung arches of holly lined with colored lights and big red
balls across Broad Street. The Farm Bureau meeting was held at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Anton Halbach on December 14. The program included a song by
Kathleen Hemann, a piano solo of "Silent Night" by Leo Halbach, a reading of
"Poor Santa Claus" by Melvin Hemann, a recitation of "The Perfect
Background" by Betty Halbach, and a piano solo of "Paul Revere’s Ride" by
Aloys May.
The line-up for the Visitation High School baseball team
for 1938 was announced: pitcher, Gregg Juenger; catcher, Sy Stolzenberg;
first baseman, Cletus Hatten; second baseman, Vernon Gilles; third baseman,
Eugene Blaser; short stop, Alfred Simon; right field, Urban Brumm; left
field, Eugene Heimer; center field, Alfred Smith.
The Monitor reported these
newsworthy events in early 1939: Lorraine Isaac had two stitches taken in
her scalp when she fell while playing. Sy Stolzenberg, Florentine Brown and
Ralph Mullenbach motored to Rochester. Valentine Brown was given a birthday
party by friends and neighbors. Joe Thome accompanied a carload of "fat
cattle" to Chicago. Mrs. John Stolzenberg held a quilting bee at her house.
In February 1940 Art Wolf purchased the grocery store
owned and operated by his mother, Margaret, for 17 years. The name of the
store changed from Wolf’s Jack Sprat Food Store to Wolf’s Grocery.
World events began to catch up with the everyday lives of
Stacyville residents in 1940. In October it was announced that all men ages
21-35 were required to register with the Selective Service. One hundred and
nine registered from Stacyville.
Just over 20 years had passed since Stacyville sent men to
fight in a world war. As the new decade began it appeared that once again
the little community would make a significant contribution to another war.
And they didn’t realize that they were to become known as "the greatest
generation."
**The History of Stacyville, Iowa: 1856-2006
is available for purchase:
http://www.stacyville.com/order_form.htm |
