The News From Dysart
Last Week of May-Mid June 1914

Citizens Continue to Promote a Growing Town
Proudly Show Their Patriotism & Civic Pride

The annual celebration of Decoration Day was held on Saturday. Events were planned by the Dysart Cemetery Association. Main street businesses and banks which were closed in honor of the day were all decorated giving the street a patriotic appearance. Farmers had been asked to halt their work for half a day to honor the fallen. The gateway entrance to the park was arched and decorated as was the park stand.

Under the direction of Marshall for the Day, Dave Wilson, the festivities started on Main Street at 1:00 p.m. with band music. A gun drill was presented by several of the small schoolboys. The schoolgirl’s presented a wreath drill. From there a parade including local dignitaries, the M.B.A band, teachers and students marched to the park. Twelve old soldiers and several soldiers' widows were taken to the park in cars. The sons and daughters of veterans followed. The flower girls were the last entry in the parade.

At the park the program was started with music by the band. Rev. Christiansen offered a short prayer. The chorus under the direction of C. B. Reed, rendered the anthem. The Gettysburg Address was recited by Miss Anetta Clough. Mayor Sewall gave a short talk followed by another anthem from the chorus. Mr. Ed Minkle, president of the event, spoke to the veterans and introduced the speaker, Rev. L.A. Swisher of Vinton who praised the efforts of the civil war veterans present. The band closed the program and the crowed moved to the cemetery where the graves of departed soldiers were decorated by the flower girls.

After all of the scheduled activities were complete, a baseball game was started. The high school team was challenged by a team composed of Clare Wilson, Abe Lincoln, Will Matthiesen, John Matthiesen, Glenn Riddlesbarger, Ben Marquardt, Clarence Casey, Paul Marquardt and Ray Hawbaker. As a result of this game, a team is being formed for those interested. They will practice at the park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

The local G.A.R. ordered 40 grave markers with a plan to mark all the old soldier's graves in the following cemeteries: Dysart, Gnagy, Yankee Grove and Waller in Homer Township (note: there are four cemeteries in Homer Township none of which are currently named Waller).

Commercial Club Names Winner in Slogan Contest

"Boost For Dysart, She Boosts For You"

Twenty-one slogans were filled with Ervin Moeller, secretary of the Commercial Club. The slogans were written down and each member got to vote. The winning slogan was entered by Mrs. R. Clynton Hall.

Commercial Club and City Work Together to Oil Streets

The Improvement Committee of the Commercial Club met with the Town Council and a plan has been agreed upon to oil Main Street from Wilson to the park. The city will prepare the streets for the oiling including adding drains to the main block for drainage. The the Commercial Club will pay for the tanker and actual oil application. Several of the towns around Dysart have already completed this project and visits there have influenced town and commercial leaders that this is needed. Oiling will keep the dust down and make for a more pleasant environment for all. It is anticipated that residence districts will also be oiled with homeowners paying for that expense.

 

Park Improvements Approved

The Commercial Club and Town Council have also agreed on improvements to be made to the City Park. An electric line will be run into the park and furnish lights for public occasions. Payment for these lines will be provided by the club. Water will also be added to the park. A water line will be run across the street from Mrs. Smith's corner and the club will pay for the expense of carrying water to where it is needed for events. The town will make sure the park is mowed and trimmed.

 

Commercial Club's Plans for a Great Fourth of July Continue

 

The Commercial Club has grown to 72 members. Excitement is growing over the plans being made by the Entertainment Committee for a fabulous 4th of July and Chautauqua.

"The day will start at 4 a.m. when a cannon salute will sound to awaken the citizens. "

At 9:15 a.m. the automobile parade will line up and get started. The parade route will include several streets and culminate at the park where the baseball game will start. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated cars.

The Waterloo Amusement Company has been engaged to furnish three companies and each company is to give two entertainments during the day. The club is putting up a purse of $100 for the winning team in the baseball tournament between the Vinton Cinders and the Hiteman Iowa team.

A subcommittee comprised of W.D. Brandt, Art Keidel, and E.E. Weiben have been appointed to work with the town council and decide what concessions should be made for the week. C.L. Wareham, Dr. Porter and George Schreiber are deciding with some organization to produce meals in the park on the Fourth.

Advertisements for the special day are now starting to run in local papers.

The Publicity Committee comprised of C.L. Wareham, Lee Aldrich, Charles Vaubel, Dan Lally, Abe Lincoln, Otto Cold, James Lally, George Schrieber, Homer Gardner, W.D.. Brandt and John Meggers have designated June 25 as "Booster Day". Members of the Commercial Clubs will make a day's circuit of surrounding towns and do advertising for the celebration and Chautauqua. Anyone is welcome to participate. Cars will line up on Main Street about 7:30 a.m. and will head west to distribute advertising materials. The MBA band will provide musical entertainment at each stop. Stay tuned for next week's post to learn how the day turned out!

Business

The O.K. Restaurant has been leased to C.C. Horstman for one year starting on June 25. Owner, Will Kessler, plans to take a year off with his wife for some much-needed rest. The Kessler's have been running the restaurant for 12 years. Mrs. Kessler has not been feeling well which has prompted this decision. They plan to spend most of their time with relatives in Canada. It is expected that the Horstman family will live in the Kessler's home south of the Methodist church. Mr. Horstman was a previous owner of the O.K. Restaurant so townspeople will be in good hands under his management.

Entertainment News

Upcoming Entertainment Course Set

A subcommittee of the Commercial Club has set the entertainment course for the coming season. The subcommittee members are B.E. Barkdoll, C.A. Keidel and Lee Aldrich. They have met with the representative of the Redpath-Vawter System and purchased an entertainment course. The numbers secured are:Schildkret's Hungarian Orchestra, Killarney Girls, Laurant the magician andWeatherwax Male Quartet.

 

Farm News

Farm To Be Sold To Highest Bidder

Andrew Krambeck has announced that he will sell his farm at public auction on June 20th. Many people are interested in this sale and plan to bid. According to the Dysart Reporter, "whoever puts the high bid will have a home that many people will envy". (Editor's note: I remember there being a house on this piece of property when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s but always thought of it as abandoned. A newer home is there now.)

 

Several Barns Going Up Around Dysart

New barns are being erected at the C. Seebach farm a mile north of town. The building will be 30x50x24. More than a dozen friends helped raise the barn and the finish carpentry will be done by Myers and Jessen.

Gust Weiben is also building a new barn on his property six miles south of town. The building will be 48x56x24. Ed Nordon is having a new house building on his farm five miles south of Dysart. It will be 30x30 and two stories tall. He has also just had a new barn finished which is 40x56 with a gambrel roof. Meanwhile John Brandau is having a 30x30 two story house in town.

Farmer Injured

Henry Hupfeldt received serious injuries recently when his clothes became caught in the governor of an eight horse power engine. He was shelling corn when the accident happened and was alone at the engine. The governor broke and the engine stopped. Sam Sturtz found Hupfeldt unconscious. He was taken in to the house and for some time it was feared that his injuries would be fatal. He was bruised about the head and needed stitches. He also has several broken ribs but he is getting along nicely now and a good recovery is expected.

School News

Dysart High School Graduation

Commencement Services for the Class of 1914 were held on May 23rd. The class consists of ten members; six girls and four boys: Anna Marquardt, Gertrude Schreiber, Alma Sturtz, Fern Gnagy, Inez Creps, Amanda Hix, Ed Hix, Kenneth von Lackum, Cecil Sturtz and Freeman Pippert. Each member has completed the work described for the course in Dysart Schools except for Ed Hix. Owing to the automobile accident in which Ed was seriously injured last fall he was unable to continue his work with the class. He was determined to do the work some way even with his sister, Miss Eva, tutoring him, but his physicians held that the work would do more harm than the diploma would good. Therefore, he has been continuing with his treatments. He will receive a certificate of the work he has completed thus far.

The No. 5 school in Clark Township, two miles west of Dysart, closed their term with a picnic. Eleven pupils achieved the honor roll or were neither absent or tardy. Those students were Alma, Lorena and Linda Jansen; Myrtle, Frank and Raymond Heckroth; Thurza Kinderman; Bertha Nelson and Helga Dengler.

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