Thought of the Week and Community Service Reflections
Governor Earl Warren urges a change of heart and renewed faith to improve youth conditions, stressing family as the foundation of society and home as key to solving youth issues. The piece notes Selective Service duties, and praises John A. Vander Wal for serving without pay alongside three Marion County men. It criticizes Sinclair Lewis and reflects on the novel Main Street and Midwest character insights.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earl Warren
Califor
Five hundred volunteers rebuild Marion County hillside farm in eight hours
Mrs Nelly Thrasher’s 175 acre farm near Jefferson Maryland was rebuilt by 500 volunteers in eight hours using half a million dollars of equipment. Terraces gullies ponds and a paint job on the house and barn were completed. The farm’s value rose from 18000 to 26000 by day’s end with 25000 spectators including the U S Secretary of Agriculture and Maryland governor in attendance. The effort reflects Midwest soil-saving momentum and Marion County pride.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
T Jefferson
Maryland
Nelly Thrasher
U. S. Secretary of Agriculture
Marion County
Mass field day demonstration conceived by C G Barnett
In 1946 with the help of Radio Station WHO Des Moines Marion County residents staged the first and largest educational mass field day demonstration. The remark praises the enlightenment shown and calls for ongoing leadership and continued effort.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
C G. Barnett
WHO
Des Moines
Marion County
The Bible as a World’s Greatest Book in Modern Times
A reflection on merchandising shifts from traditional packaging to modern display and convenience. The piece cites a Gutenberg Bible exhibition guarded in New York and a Westminster Bible project by the Presbyterian Church U S A, aiming to make Scripture clearer for lay readers while preserving its sacred authority.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York City
Westminster Press
Presbyterian Church of the
U.S. A
Seattle
Editorial Comment on Dams and Dust to Soil in Iowa
The Silk comment laments rising traffic deaths and social change while urging flood control and soil conservation. It notes floods in China and calls for dam consciousness and small-scale soil protection, praising Marion County for pioneering Iowa soil conservation efforts and urging full local cooperation.
Taft letter and local notes from October 1908 Waterloo era
Historical column recounts Taft during a Waterloo tour with a brief on his Central College stop and a gracious thanks for wooden shoes. It also covers a boy’s fatal fall, Northern Lights sightings near Des Moines, railway stockholder elections, two weddings, a Knoxville boy’s death by hanging, corn judging plans, a Rock Island engineer’s fatal crash, and local curiosities including Edison’s fortune note and Otley’s elderly pioneer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William Howard ‘Taft
E. A. Harris
Waterloo, Pella
Aurora
Morehouse
Drake’ University
Des Moines
Waterloo
Pella
Mario Stegeman
Adolf Riedel
Chicago
Pauline Ver Plough
John Holsebrands
Henry Cox
Iowa City
Knoxville
Herman
Bert Kersbergen
Bert
Charley Porter
The
Fair Board
Professor Wood
Ames
Tom Callihaw
Rock Island
Lont
Monroe
Thirty Years Ago Highlights September 1918 News
A Rose Hill man wrecked his car on Main Street near Liberty injuring all occupants but none seriously. Ralph Grundman returned home after service with the 339th Field Artillery. Central College Auxiliary offered a three day Home Economics course with $1 tuition, instructor Nellie Barnett. Liberty Loan drive announced for Sept 28 seeking $6 billion. locals urged to support. Red Cross urged clothing for overseas relief. Bert Baron chaired local chapter. A newsreel at Elite Theatre featured French band. Henry Kuyper and John Reuvers noted in the footage. Pella District Fair reported as ongoing. Dave Breen enlisted in the signal corps. Louise Gladstone had a windpipe injury from a burr removed by delicate operation. Rev. R. R. Sadler’s granddaughter was mentioned. Ben Kuyk aided Marion County draft classification at Camp Dodge Knoxville. First frost sighted Sept 20, seven days earlier than 1917. Pella High lost to Knoxville 57–8. Pella players inexperienced.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rose Hill
Main Street
Liberty and
Main
Ralph Grundman
339Th Field Artillery
Camp Dodge
Central College Auxiliary
Court of Instruction
Nellie Barnett
Extension Service
I. P. van Gorp
Pella
Lake Prairie
Belgium
France
America
Red Cross
Bert Baron
Henry Kuyper
John Reuvers
Dave Breen
Signal Corps
Army
Louise Gladstone
Des Moines
R. R. Sadler
Ben Kuyk
Knoxville
Marion County Draft Board
Polla
Jay Kempkes
Wedding of Helen Garrison to Hollander in Caldwell Idaho
Twenty years ago, Helen Garrison daughter of L A Garrison Central College married Johannes Schuurman in Caldwell Idaho. Drake University night football and a front page tells of first game against Simpson. The Chronicle co operates with A Register-Tribune poll predicting Hoover victory, Penney Store nearing occupancy, and Rev I J Pietenpol emeritus. A chaotic paragraph notes a pony incident with Tom Grundman and a four year old boy saying he would not be bossed. J P Van Gorp rode a Standard Oil plane in Des Moines. Martin De Jong moved to a Des Moines hospital with unexplained paralysis. Don Waecter injured in a car crash near Iowa City. All electric radios advertised in the Chronicles with improved tonal quality. KuyperKorner recalls a funny glasses joke about grape juice in a fruit jar.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Helen Garrison
L.A. Garrison
Central College
Martha Firth
W. A. Young
Hollander
Johannes Schuurman
Caldwell
Idaho
Drake University
Simpson
Register-Tribune
Chronicle
Hoover
al Smith
New York
Iowa
Penney
I. J. Pietenpol
D.D
Pella Classis
Iast
Otley
J. P. van Gorp
Des Moines
Sandard Oil Co
Martin de Jong
Don Waecter
Iowa City
Don
Towa University
Eighty Years Ago R E A Line Reaches Pella Area
Ten years ago on October 6 1938 the R E A line had been completed and a demonstration planned on the A W Den Adel farm north of Pella. Photos showed John Hoeksema and demonstration tents at Onslow and Den Adel farm home, with Mrs Neal Vogelaar beside electric refrigerator and stove. One hundred fifteen homes on the line had been wired as a turbine powered by Elliott Company of Chicago enabled service. A history recounts John Hoeksema’s survey and rally by Harold Veenstra George Van Vark and John Boot. Nearly all the advertisement supported the city.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
A. W. den Adel
Pella
John Hoeksema
Onslow
Iowa
den Adel
Neal Vogelaar
John Hocksema
Harold Veenstra
George van Vark
John Boot
Elliott Company of
Chicago
Bologna Quest Becomes Mail Plot in Uncle Sam Verse
A San Diego reader, Mrs Cassia Woolley known as McClatchey, recalls a Pennsylvanian visitor who ordered Pella Bologna via a map drawn on an envelope. The tale inspired a rhymed note praising Uncle Sam’s postal service and suggesting California readers can get Pella Bologna delivered, especially in cool weather.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cassia” Woolley
McClatchey
The
Chronicle
San Diego
California
Cassin J. Woolley
Cultura Avenue
Pennsylvania
Pella
Relatithe
Ottumwa
Sammy
Uncle Sam
Central College Marches to Dubuque and Ice Hard Fight
The Central football team traveled to Dubuque to face St Ann and were shut out 36 to 0 as only early third and fourth quarter points came from the Dutchmen. Neighbors helped extinguish a fire on the L M Van Zante farm, saving other buildings. Kenneth Dykstra will oversee canning operations in Puerto Rico after joining a government post. Dick Dickema resigns as Lincoln school custodian due to ill health. Pella High ties Des Moines Lincoln 0 0 with Pete Van Ooyen starring for the Dutchmen. The Sophomores and Freshman tug of war ends with Central College leading the event.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James
Samuel Zwemer
Arabia
Central College
L. M. van Zante
Dubuque
St. Ann
Kenneth Dykstra
Puerto Rico
Town State College
Dick Dickema
Lincoln School
Lincoln
Pella High Grid
Des Moines
Pete van Ooyen
Lincoln Boys
Pella
Also Mentioned on This Page
Prlla
Official County
OWA Pres
Meio
George Ver Steeg
Main St. Paula
Town
Ella, Lows
NIA
Warren
Sacramento
NCE
Sam
Selective Service Board
John A. Vander Wal
Vander Wal
Lloyd Way
Bussey
Brownie Hudson
Sinclair Lewis
Louis Cazamian
Grinnell College
Cazamian
Midwest
Lewis
Asco
Wintererst
Madisonian
Lake Ahquabi
China
Sigourney Review
Middle West
Express
Knoxville Express
Ky Mat
Fliteo
Tyme
Cole's
J. Vander Voort
Dedewaard
Netherlands
William Klein
Pell
Thomas Edison
John Dekker
Holland
Kuyper
Korner
Voice of
Cassia McClatchey
Rinee Nead
Vital Atomic Research
Fowler Telephone Company
Mercury
Indiana
Vanderzyl Coal Yard
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!