Thinks Genuine Hospitality Is Pella's Outstanding Character
A personal reminiscence from Wm A Bauman of Lynden Washington praising Pella's hospitality and Christian heritage. He recalls mill pond days, summer swims, youth adventures, Fourth of July celebrations, church activities, and the lasting influence of Sunday school and prayer meetings as the town's sacred legacy and guidance for future generations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pella
Pélla
W. K. Wagaman
Jno
Blommers Mill Pond
Thunder Creek
Weile’s Grove
Langerak's Timber
Skunk
Lake Prairie District
Star
Dena van der Pol
P. C. Welle
Yours Truly
Pete “Rooley
First Reformed
Grandpa Wayback Reflects on Oddball 20th Century Quirks
In a nostalgic sketch, Grandpa Wayback recalls a heated croquet game with his girl, when politicians argued over rails and handmaids instead of manicurists, and a small smoke plume failed to draw Revenue agents to the nearby woods.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Grandpa Wayback
Pella Noted For Its Dutch Hospitality And Family Ties
Mrs. Marie Stegeman Riedel recalls Pella era memories from West Washington Street Genealogical details include Dutch treats Krentebroodjes and Rook Vlesch and the family’s moves to Elmhurst and Chicago sons Wesley Bert and Henry, and parents Gerrit and Cateau.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pella
Vlesch
Marie Stegeman Riedel
Washington Blvd
Chicago, Ill
Chicago Theological Seminary
Bert
Northwestern University Dental School
Henry
Former Pella Resident Becomes Nebraska Postmistress
Dear Friend recounts 38 years in Pella memories and local figures. She notes moving to Nebraska as postmistress and plans to visit May 30, hoping to reconnect with friends and share a copy of the newspaper.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Nebraska
Pella
Obed
Right, Folks: Cleanest Town in U S Inspires Meeker Letter
A Meeker Colorado resident reflects on ancestry and places from Pella to Indianola and Colorado Springs. She recalls a log cabin birth home burned in infancy, family history, and travels. She notes her husband in banking, daughter Virginia at Colorado University, and praises Pella as Cleanest Town U B.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Meeker
Colo
Colorado
White River
Pella
Theodore
Eliza Thomas
Emmaline Kimmel Porter
Indianola
Iowa
Colorado Springs
Nossaman
Joseph Thomas
Banner Bowen
Port Angeles
Wash
Clara Bowen
Savoy
Long Beach
Calif
Ide Jackson
Western Colorado Food Co
Grand Junction
Madras
Ore
Joseph Neal
Peen
Virginia
Colorado University
Way Back When in Pella Nostalgia and Notable Moves
A letter recalling life in Pella with memories of Garden Square, city cows, and wooden shoes. The writer notes seeing schools, local mills, and family ties including W. K. Wagaman and Maasdam Wheeler. It mentions moves to Fairfield and Lynnville, and reports Mrs Maasdam’s serious diabetes and amputations alongside Mr Verought’s hospital stay.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pella
South Pella
East Market
W. K. Wagaman
Fella
Squire Graffe
Blommers Mill
Lynnville
Iowa
Fairfield
E. G. Wheeler
Maasdam
Perchon
Maasdam & Wheeler
Sibley
An Oldtimer Remembers Life Out West and Pella 1869
A man recalls his family moving from Hospers area to Pella in 1869, later to Atlantic Iowa, detailing siblings, parents deaths, and living relatives across Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, and Washington. He notes early schooling under Jonas Earls and later teachers, Sunday school at the Methodist church, and a 1898 marriage to Clara Thomas with two children, Mary and Edson.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
H. M. Brown
Pella
Otley Road
Dieleman
Atlantic
Iowa
Randolph
Nebr
Texas
R. H. Bee
Des Moines
Port Angeles
Wash
Hospers
Jonas Earls
Phillips
Al’Edmund
Edmonds
Huber
John Baker
Banner Bowen
Mr. Gardner
John
Neal Wellers
Nollens
Mosiers
Snow
Nossamans
Clara Thomas
Walnut Grove
Nossaman
Thomas
Mary
Edson
A Family Letter From A Far Northwest Town
Three boys and one girl live with Edson in a town about 70 miles from the Pacific, where summers are mild and winters rarely freeze. Flowers bloom year round and nearby lakes, rivers, and mountains offer fishing and wildlife. Olympic and Sol Due Hot Springs are picnic spots, with dairy farms poultry operations and mills driving the local economy. Access by boat bus car or plane is common, with daily Seattle trips. Summer tourists from the U S and Canada visit this hard to beat country.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edson
Pacific Ocean
Sol
Seattle
U.S
Canada
Teasing Teacher in Those Days In Central Class
Marie Bousquet recalls fall 1904 memories from Riverside California. She and friends including Joe Ruckman Billy Chrisman and Frank Stubenrauch recall Mr Cook's math class cheese on stove prank and a tame pig escape near the grandmother’s garden with neighbors chasing the animal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joe Ruckman
Billy Chrisman
Frank Stubenrauch
Central
Mr. Cook
Frank
Joe
Uncle Frank
Grandmother's
John
Harry Keables
Gerrie Ver Stéeg
Mr. Pig
Pella Family Recollects Iowa Pioneer Heritage
A speaker recalls the grandfather's pioneering work in Iowa and the father's role in the state's growth. The family cherishes the joyful days in Pella and the memories grow steadily more dear with the passing years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Pella
Wayback Wisdom on Marriage and Hope from 1920s Musings
A whimsical Old World style piece reflects on marriage expectations and social mores. It contrasts a perfect husband myth with playful jabs at guests, style, and youth, while noting hope as a key to ambition.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Wm, A
Bauman
Lynden
Jawn J. McGraw
Prey
Johnnie Rillahan
Ted Shea
Cap. Stoddard
Splat Hayes
Bill Herbig
Ted Rillahan
West Washington Street
Father
Paul
Gerrit
Cateau
Fatty
Denver
Elmhurst
Chicago
Wesley
University of Chicago
Mer Can
High Avenue
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Mary A. Temple Velma
U. S
Emma Neal Meeker
J. G. Maasdam
Emory
Brown
Port Angeles, Wash
Marie Bousquet
Linwood Place
Riverside, Calif
Wayback
Einstein
Sterling
Miss Alvin
Alvin
Paris
Li. E. Gilbert Aoa Gaioe Raat Oe Tor
Rock Island
Water Works
KertNo
Vander Linden
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!