In the early 1930’s the paving of the two highways that serve Algona was rapidly being completed. Highway 18, locally known as the A.Y.P., was located north of Algona and would become a transcontinental highway. Running north and south through the city proper was Highway 16 which had been known as the Daniel Boone Trail. In 1930 it was designated a U.S. highway and renamed 169.
These two highways intersected at a point some distance north of Algona city limits in an area previously used for agricultural purposes. One of the first to see the possibilities of operating a business at the site, Sidney Wallburg of Hutchins purchased a 112-acre tract of farm land from A L. Webster in March of 1930 with the intention of creating a tourist camp. The land was located on the south side of Highway 18.
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| Aerial view of Wallburg cabin camp, restaurant and gas station possibly 1940s |
By the end of May that year, a filling station and five tourist cabins had been erected. The structures were prefabricated and shipped in sections. Upon arrival they were bolted together which made construction quick and easy.
The five cottages resembled log cabins with rounded half-log siding which was painted orange. Each was designed to accommodate two people with a Murphy bed, a drop leaf table, two chairs, a kerosene lamp and a small oil stove if it was cold. Bathing amenities consisted of a small table that held a wash basin, water pail, dipper and cup. Bedding was available by request. Toilets were in a separate location. Within a few weeks, electricity was provided via the city so each unit then had electric lights. The cabins were nestled in the shade of timber along a creek which ran through the property.
The filling station was located near the southwest corner of the intersection and had the same orange siding as the cottages. Nearby a cabin building had been transformed into a small kitchen and dining area where barbeque pork sandwiches, hamburgers, homemade pie and other delights were prepared and served by Dora Wallburg, Sidney’s wife. It included a counter with several stools and two small tables.
Initially the family lived in the modest farm house located on the property about a block away from the station, making them the first inhabitants of “north” Algona. Sidney and Dora had four daughters-Evelyn, Letha, Ardis and Gladys. The oldest was married and living in Britt, but the other three lived with their parents. Marvin, their only son, was born after their move to Algona. Later living quarters were added next to the lunchroom and that is where Marvin was born.
Business was rather slow at first and money was tight—so much so that the first day Dora made one pie to sell and then used the proceeds to make two pies the next and so on. As you might imagine, the business of running a fuel station and restaurant kept the couple quite busy and their kids grew up there, napping in a corner or doing homework at a table and all helped out as needed. Eventually the two highways brought many travelers through Algona which made the business quite successful. However, not all customers were friendly as the couple and their daughter, Letha, found out one cold night in January, 1933.
Shortly after 11 o’clock on a Friday night, a 1927 Hudson sedan with three occupants drove up to the pumps. They told Sidney Wallburg to fill the gas tank and put in a quart of oil while they went in for a bite to eat. This was not an uncommon request and he recognized the men from other visits, including one earlier that same afternoon. They ordered soup and coffee from Dora and conversed very quietly while they ate. After entering the lunch room, Mr. Wallburg became suspicious of their demeanor and edged closer to the group in an effort to hear what they were saying. As they were finishing their meal, the pastor of the Algona and Emmetsburg Episcopal churches, Rev. Louis Denninghoff, came in to purchase cigars. While the Wallburgs were distracted by the new customer, the bandits seized the opportunity. One blocked the front entrance and another the back door while the third ran to the money box and scooped out the $10 that was there. He then turned to Dora and demanded to know where she kept other money. She pointed to a cigar box on another counter and he found an additional $3 in change there. Finding her purse, the bandit rifled through it, finding 4 cents. He then took her handkerchief and carefully wiped the handbag for fingerprints.
The other two bandits took turns standing guard and searching the back room for more money. Finding none, they took cartons of cigarettes and boxes of cigars as well as candy bars. They then turned to Rev. Denninghoff. During the excitement, the good pastor had discreetly dropped his wallet behind the stove. Knowing he had the wallet when he entered the room, the thieves began to verbally abuse the minister, telling him they would pump him full of lead if he didn’t hand over his money. The missing wallet was soon discovered by one of the robbers and he demanded the reverend’s watch and keys as well. All of the hostages, including Letha Wallburg who was also present, were instructed to lay down with their face to the floor with the exception of Mrs. Wallburg who was allowed to sit in a chair due to a heart condition. Two of the men then left to warm up the car and as the final thief left, he tore the telephone receiver and cord from the phone and threw them on the counter. They then headed west at a high rate of speed. An attempt was made to catch the bandits by a customer who came on the scene shortly after they left, but they were not apprehended.
In the spring of 1933, the Wallburgs endured their first flood when snow melt and spring rains caused water to rise three feet deep around the cabins and station. Over 300 gallons of gasoline in storage tanks were damaged when water rose above the air intakes. All of the mattresses in the cabins were ruined and a coating of muddy silt was left behind on every surface it touched. Although this was their first flood, it would not be their last.
In 1937 the Wallburgs built a new gas station slightly to the west of its previous site and the old lunch room was converted into tourist quarters. Five more cabins were added. They constructed a brand-new restaurant with living quarters upstairs. The new place had booth seating and many new amenities. Given the flooding history, all of the buildings were raised to at least a foot higher than previous flood waters had ever risen.
Their daughter, Letha, had married Harold Van Allen in 1936. Following their marriage, the young couple lived in one of the cabins until the new restaurant building was completed. Then the Wallburgs moved into the new living quarters and the Van Allens moved into the home vacated by the Wallburgs. Letha ran the restaurant while Dora took care of the cabins – there were now 17 – while Sidney continued managing the gas stations. Harold worked at Botsford Lumber during the week and helped cook at the restaurant on weekends. The Van Allens’ son, Jim, was born in November of 1937 and their daughter, Pat, in 1939.
During WWII, the Van Allens moved to California. Harold worked in the shipyards and Letha in an aircraft plant. Several people ran the restaurant during this period. When they returned from California after the war, they purchased a cabin camp and restaurant in Britt that the Wallburgs had acquired in their absence. After one year of operation, they sold the business and moved to Algona, buying the restaurant and changing the name to “Van’s.”
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| From the 1956 Algona High School Bulldog |
In February of 1950, the Van Allens again took possession of the restaurant, just in time for the flood of 1951. At that time the restaurant offered a drive-in feature during the summer which was quite popular. They were famous for their Hi-Boy burger which contained two hamburger patties, cheese, lettuce, mayo, and all the trimmings. The café was open six days a week and as late as needed on weekends, often keeping Harold and Letha on their feet long past midnight. Their children too grew up in the business often standing on pop cases to do dishes and clearing tables as soon as they were tall enough.
The restaurant had a wide appeal – it was often crowded on Sunday mornings for the after-church crowd, numerous organizations held their meetings there, and it was always full and noisy on Friday nights following a football or basketball game. It was also the place to go with your date or after “dragging main” with your friends. Whether for an order of fries or onion rings to go with your cherry Coke, Van’s was the place to go. For the better part of 26 years, Harold and Letha Van Allen were the faces that greeted you behind the counter. Harold was a good-natured, well-respected host who let the young ones have a little fun, but also knew when to draw the line.
The restaurant was remodeled on several occasions – sometimes by choice and other times due to damage from floods. In 1965 a bar area was added under the name “Van’s Hideaway Lounge.” It was planned by Jim Van Allen and featured a Spanish-Colonial theme and was decorated in deep reds and antique golds, with wrought iron dividers.
In 1976 the Van Allens retired from the business, selling it to Ed and Sheri Fuoss who retained the familiar “Van’s Café” name. In 1979 the enterprise was sold to Scott Christensen and Bob Spencer and it was rebranded “C & S Café.” The café survived the tornado of that year which passed slightly to the north of its location, but flooding later in the year caused massive damage again to the structure. In 1980, the restaurant and the surrounding property was sold to make room for a shopping center. The destruction of the building that held so many wonderful memories did not even merit a photo or a news story—at least one that I could find.
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| Photo of C & S Cafe taken in 1980 shortly before it was razed |
Sidney and Dora Wallburg had passed away in the 1950’s. Their son Marvin ran the cabin camp for time, but he moved to Storm Lake in the mid-1960’s. As needs changed, tourist camps went out of style as more and more travelers elected to stay in hotels with additional amenities.
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| Harold Van Allen |
Although the building has been gone for more than 40 years, memories of meals enjoyed with friends and loved ones linger on in the minds of their many customers, a reminder of good food and happy days. The mere mention of Van’s Café brings smiles to the faces of those who had the privilege of dining or working there – a legacy of which the Wallburg and Van Allen families can be proud.
Until next time,
Kossuth County History Buff
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