THE ALGONA CHAUTAUQUA OF 1911

Going through some things that need to be scanned for the genealogical society, I came across a booklet entitled, The Algona Chautauqua.  I had heard of a Chautauqua before and was aware it was a type of educational program, but thumbing through this booklet made me want to learn more.  

Chautauqua was an educational and social movement which originated in the late 19^th century.  It was a method by which the average person could continue their education by listening to nationally-known speakers that covered a wide range of topics as well as enjoy some musical and light-hearted entertainment.  Scattered throughout were sermons or lectures with a moral or religious message.  These events were especially popular in small towns without access to the variety of speakers and entertainments in larger cities. 

The fourth annual Chautauqua which took place in Algona from June 24^th to July 2^nd in 1911 was just such a program.  Beginning at 3 p.m. each day with the exception of Sundays, the presentation would commence with a musical prelude which would be followed by a speaker.  After a break for dinner, a similar format was followed starting at 7:45 p.m. with musical entertainment after which the same speaker from the afternoon program would expound on another topic or a new lecturer or entertainer would present.  On Sundays a musical interlude followed by a sermon was added at 10:30 a.m. 

With no local venues large enough to hold the expected crowd, an enormous tent was erected on the playground behind Central School. Adult season tickets were priced at $2.50 and entitled the bearer to the entire nine-day experience.  Season tickets were available for children for $1.  You could also purchase day tickets for 50¢ each or single admissions for 35¢.  More than 300 season tickets had been sold in advance and the committee had hopes of selling another 700 at the opening.

The event schedule included 18 programs and 36 separate entertainments during the Chautauqua.  When the complete program was announced, the locals were delighted to learn that the Williams Jubilee Singers would once again be providing the musical productions during the first four days.  Their previous concerts here had been very well received and the planning committee knew they would attract a large crowd. This troupe of black singers was highly trained and extremely talented.  Their advertisement states, “Our selection of songs varies from the Opera to the Negro Boat and Cabin Songs” and included a large repertoire ranging from classic selections to plantation songs and even ragtime.  They had performed all across the United States and Canada with much success.

Speakers for the event included a United States Senator (W. S. Kenyon of Iowa), two state governors (Mississippi and North Carolina), a congressman from Indiana, a Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church as well as several other clergymen.  Other acts featured included a humorist, ventriloquist, and a lecturer.  Perhaps the most unusual speaker was Tahan, the White Savage, whose presentation almost did not take place.

Train travel in those days was not always the most reliable.  With all of their celebrities coming in by rail and sometimes scheduled to arrive only an hour or two before their scheduled presentation, it was common for one or more presenters to either arrive late or not show up at all.  Such was the case for Tahan, the White Savage.  He was expected to arrive on the 1:27 p.m. train on Tuesday afternoon, but the train itself was an hour late.  He was to give his presentation at 3 p.m.  When the train finally pulled into the depot, he was not on it.  The audience had gathered.  What was the committee to do?  Thankfully, humorist Opie Read had arrived in Algona early to have some quiet time to work on a book he was writing.  He was not scheduled to present until Friday.  Read was willing to go on and gave the same lecture he had the year before.  It was well received by the audience, many of whom had not heard it before.

And, just as Opie finished his speech, Tahan arrived on the late afternoon train.  He had simply missed his connection in Chicago.  The committee asked him to stay and promised him a spot if any other speaker did not show.  He agreed and when W. S. Battis, the interpreter of Dickins, failed to arrive on Thursday, the opportunity presented itself.  He appeared on the platform in full Indian dress and proceeded to tell his story.

Joseph K. Griffis was born in the frontier near where the city of Gainesville, Texas, is now located.  His father was a well-known United States scout known as “California Joe” and his mother was a quarter Osage Indian.  When he was two years old a band of Kiowas raided the Osage settlement where he lived with his mother.  She was killed trying to protect him.  It was the intent of the young warrior who killed his mother to kill him too, but he reconsidered and the child was presented to Kiowa Chief Zepkho-eete and his wife, Tsilta.  When she learned he came from Texas, she named him “Tahan” which means Texas man.  He was accepted into the family and raised with the chief’s other children.  As his life unfolded, at age 10 he was returned to an uncle in Texas but growing homesick, he returned to the Kiowas.  He served as a scout in the Army, was court martialed when he refused the order of a young officer to polish his boots, and sentenced to death.  While awaiting execution, he escaped from prison and wandered for three years, suspicious and afraid.  It was while he was in London, Ontario, that he was befriended by a member of the Salvation Army and became a Christian.  He learned to read and write, became a Presbyterian minister, and received a pardon from President Grover Cleveland.

Joseph K. Griffis a/k/a Tahan

The audience found Tahan’s presentation very pleasing and many complimentary remarks were received.  Senator Kenyon’s speech was also a highlight of the event.  Some other speakers did not receive such glowing remarks.  Thomas Brooks Fletcher spoke on the topic, “The Martyrdom of Fools.”  The Algona Courier described him as follows: “He is young, impulsive, and conceited and possesses a good deal of natural ability.  He talked fast and furious and worked himself into a frenzy and a sweat. . . His talk was at times highly dramatic and was interspersed with wit that kept the audience in good humor.  But he didn’t know when to stop.  He talked a good half hour too long and made the audience tired and added nothing to the essence of his lecture.”  The newspaper also panned the performance of Magician Hal Merton stating that “It pleased the children though it was not a very good exhibition of magic art and was scarcely worth what it cost.”  

Rounds Ladies Orchestra

The other two other musical groups, the Rounds Ladies Orchestra and the Castle Square Entertainers, were found to be quite entertaining.  The orchestra consisted of nine women who played a variety of instruments as well as performed vocal solos, duets and quartets.  The group was directed by Herbert O. Rounds and featured his wife, Flora Sprague Rounds.  The Castle Square Entertainers billed themselves as “a first-class quartette of popular entertainers with excellent voices, whose ensemble work has been perfected by several seasons of successful concert work.”  Their repertoire ranged from humorous songs to Irish monologues, and dramatic readings.  Both were well received by the audience, but it was mentioned that neither measured up to the Williams Jubilee Singers.

On the last evening, the Castle Square Singers closed the event with a concert of sacred music.  Members of the Chautauqua committee then addressed the crowd, thanking everyone for their patronage which allowed them to cover all of their expenses leaving a modest balance.  The audience gave the committee a standing ovation in thanks for the excellent experience and unanimously expressed their favor of continuing the Chautauqua another season.

The Chautauqua events continued on for many more years, coming to an end in the late 1920’s or early 1930’s.  Times were changing and the programs no longer attracted the crowds of the past.  But they were long remembered for bringing culture and high-quality entertainment to small town America.

Until next time,

Jean

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CHRISTMAS EVE 1874

I want to share this article from The Algona Republican published December 30, 1874.  It describes two different events held on Christmas Eve that year sponsored by area churches.  The first gathering was hosted by members of the Universalist Society and the second was a joint venture between the Methodist and Congregational churches.

In those early days churches did not always have a permanent home and were used to being somewhat mobile.  According to the History of Kossuth County published in 1913, the Universalist Church was first organized here in 1873 by Rev. H. B. Butler and services were initially held in the Baptist church. 

The Methodists were holding services in the chapel of Algona College in 1874 as it would be some years before the beautiful church their congregation enjoys today would be erected.  Services of the Congregational Church at that time were being convened in the old town hall which they had purchased in 1868.  Neither facility would hold a crowd as large as the one expected for the Christmas Eve celebration and so they joined forces to use the “hall” at the new courthouse. 

Santa’s helpers were busy as the article discloses.

It is safe to say that the last anniversary of Christmas-eve was celebrated by our citizens with as much of solid, sensible mirth and enjoyment as any of its predecessors.  For several days our merchants were kept busy from early morning till late at night, displaying their Christmas wares, fanciful and substantial, for the inspection of the numerous agents of Santa Claus.  Truth to tell, the amount of money expended in holiday gifts in Algona, this season, exceeds the calculations of the most extravagant.  Where all the money comes from is more than a seven days’ wonder, and puzzles while it pleases the dealers.  The rapid disappearance of holiday goods from numerous show windows and cases was proof positive that many happy recipients of favors were to be added to the list of admirers of the “jolly old elf,” the children’s patron saint.  On Thursday there was a hurrying up and down in our streets.  People of all ages and conditions, carrying mysterious looking bundles, might have been seen at almost any hour in the day, directing their steps to Court House Hall or the Universalist Church, where their packages were deposited with as much of secrecy as the circumstances would admit, preparatory to their display upon the Christmas-trees.

AT THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

The late Fair given by the Universalist Society had so infringed upon the time and taxed the energies of a majority of the members as to influence a decision adverse to any unusual Christmas demonstration.  Nevertheless, the preparations for the evening were such as would have done credit to any society at any time.  Two fine evergreen trees had been procured and were arranged very tastefully, on each side the speaker’s platform, connected by garlands of evergreen.  These trees were heavily laden with a profusion of St. Nicholas’ favors, from the smallest toy for the little juvenile to the more valuable gift for the child of a larger growth.  Placed conspicuously over the desk and between the tops of the trees was a representation of the Child cradled in a manger.  Over it rose and set a beautiful star, whose evolutions continued during the evening.  The exercises of the evening opened with a prayer by Rev. Butler.  This was followed by singing and recitations by the children of the Sabbath School, after which the distribution of gifts began.  The house was well filled by the friends, and nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion.

Congregational Church - former Town Hall

AT THE COURT HOUSE HALL

The Methodist and Congregational Sabbath Schools had arranged for a union celebration of the occasion at Court House Hall, and the result was probably the grandest success ever achieved in that line in this part of the dominions of Santa Claus.  Court House Hall was early in the evening crowded as never before, and before the exercises opened, both the main floor and gallery were densely packed.  We have no means of estimating the number of those present, but the wonder was expressed on all sides as to where so many people, of all ages, could have come from.  We were glad to see large numbers in from the country.  The windows were brilliantly illuminated, and the Hall gaily decorated, the latter being mostly the work of the ladies.  Two large oak trees had been provided to bear the gifts, and their wide spreading branches were heavily loaded.  But the trees proved quite insufficient for the purpose, and presents were deposited on tables in front of the speaker’s platform, and stowed away around the foot of the trees, and in every available place.  The gifts were in good proportion to the vast audience.  The Cornet Band was present and furnished several fine pieces of music while the audience was being seated. 

Kossuth County Courthouse built in 1872-73

The following programme of exercises was carried out previous to the distribution of presents:

        Prayer by Rev. C. Taylor.

        Singing by children.

        Address by Milton Starr.

        Song—“Ring Christmas Bells.”

        Three-minute speech by Rev. Underwood.

        Song—“Glory be to God on high.”

        Rev. Webster declined to extend the exercises by further remarks, and the task of distributing gifts was proceeded with.  It had been announced that Santa Claus would be present and take a conspicuous part in the proceedings, but other duties appear to have claimed his attention.  The Committee showed themselves equal to the emergency, and before a very late hour the tokens of love had been placed where they would do the most good.  The utmost good feeling was preserved throughout the evening, and all seemed to thoroughly enjoy the occasion.

        At the conclusion of the exercises the members of the Band were treated to an oyster supper at Hollar’s Restaurant.

As I finished reading this article I couldn’t help but close my eyes and picture the hustle and bustle of downtown Algona during the Christmas holidays in 1874.  In my imagination I see sleighs or wagons with their horses tied to hitching posts while owners shop or gather around a warm stove for a cup of coffee and gossip with their neighbors; stores of various sizes and construction with holiday gifts and displays in their windows to entice window shoppers to come inside; and the crowd gathered inside of the new courthouse near two oak trees covered in gifts while children sing carols.  And it warms my heart to know, even back then, they had numerous “agents of Santa Claus” who, because of their generosity, made sure that area families had a blessed and joyous Christmas.    

And that is my wish for you, dear readers.  May your every wish come true!

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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KOSSUTH COUNTY'S FIRST 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Today we celebrate the 243^rd birthday of America.  It is a day to acknowledge and give thanks for the freedom we enjoy, won by the blood of many brave patriots.

The first celebration of 4^th of July in this county occurred in 1856.  The small group of citizens who had settled here gathered together around a flag pole made from a tree, flying a flag pieced together from a sheet and a dress.  Can you picture this small group of strangers who had come to this area from various places and for various reasons who now circled around this sturdy wood pole as neighbors and pledged their allegiance to this great country? 

Page 307 of Ben Reed’s History of Kossuth County describes the first July 4^th celebration in the county like this:

        “July 4, 1856, was celebrated in Cresco Township.  The gathering was at a spot about a half-mile southwest of the Brown cabin.  A tall, slender oak tree was set up for a flag pole, and on it floated a flag Mrs. Brown had made by tearing up a sheet and her daughter Jennie’s (Mrs. Altwegg’s) red dress for stripes.  The settlers enjoyed the first celebration dinner in the county.  The flag pole stood there for many years before it was removed.  Some old settlers who were here at the time are of the opinion that on this same day a celebration was held in Algona.  Mrs. Jane Thompson and Miss Emma Heckart who came in the spring of 1856 are of that opinion, and narrate events to justify their conclusions.  Mrs. Stacy who was present at the celebration on July 4, 1856, is certain that from what was said at the time that no celebration in Algona had occurred the year before.  This is also the opinion of Lewis H. Smith, who came to Algona, July 4, 1855.”

And the memories of Florence Call Cowles in the same book at page 415:

        “Another liberty pole which excited my childish imagination and which seemed almost a living thing, stood in Cresco township, ‘near the lone tree.’  Here, my father told me, Cresco people held a celebration, in 1856, when the flag staff was erected.  For over thirty years it stood alone on the prairie, at first proudly erect, a solemn monument of the intensity of feeling of our people in the North, which in 1856 was crystalizing and concentrating for the impending struggle.  With the weight of years the old liberty pole bent lower and lower, and when in the ‘90s it fell crumbling on the prairie, with no eye to witness its dissolution, it seemed a fitting symbol of the passing of that sectional bitterness which it seemed so difficult for us to give up, but which we realize must go, if we are to exist as one great family with common interests and a common future.”

In the late 19^th century, a collection of historical memorabilia was collected by a Mr. Pettibone and put on display in the courthouse.  Among the souvenirs was a remnant of that first flag pole.  It was given to him by Alex Brown, a descendant of Mrs. Brown who made the flag. 

A portion of the first flag pole
in Kossuth County erected July 4th, 1856.
On display at the Kossuth County
Historical Museum.

A piece of the first liberty pole is owned by the Kossuth County Historical Society and on display in the museum.  Could it be the one that was part of the Pettibone collection?  We may never know.  But we can be sure that no flag pole was ever loved so much for what it represented.

Happy Independence Day to you!

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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AMBROSE A. CALL STATE PARK

I don’t know about you, but I have very happy memories of the time I have spent in Call State Park, which is located just a mile or so south of Algona.  I have enjoyed hiking out there over the years and have introduced some of my grandchildren to its beauty, although I have to admit I now avoid the trails that go up and down the steep cliffs. 

When I was in Girl Scouts there used to be a day camp there which would take place every day for one full week in the summer.  From the raising of the flag in the morning to the singing of “Taps” in the evening, the day was packed with activities, crafts and food.  Sometimes I wish I still had the cigar box which I had so beautifully decorated with shells, buttons and other sparkly things.

THE LOCATION

Most people in the area know that the park was named after one of Algona’s founders, Ambrose Call, who once lived there.  In fact, there is a bronze tablet mounted on a large boulder situated at the fork in the road that memorializes the location.  It states, “The first log cabin in Kossuth county was built near this spot in July, 1854, by Ambrose A. Call. This tablet placed by the Algona Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.”

In his speech at the semi-centennial celebration in 1904, Ambrose described his home which he built with the help of William Smith who accompanied the Call brothers on their trip.

 “We reached the edge of the timber two miles south of Algona about the last of July, and here we built our cabin.  It was 14x16 feet and the logs were as large as two men could raise.  Asa returned towards the last of August and remained a week or ten days in marking our claims.  He then went back to Iowa City and in the following November brought up his wife.

        “My cabin had a door made of puncheons hewn from basswood logs; a sash window, 10x12, a chimney made of sticks, and mortar made of yellow clay; the fireplace of boulders and the hearth of dirt.  In those very early days we had no sod houses.  Our cabins were all made of logs, just as our grandfathers in the green mountain state built them, a little improvement on the cabin in which Abraham Lincoln learned to read his bible.”

THE PURCHASE

It was always my perception that the land on which the park sits was donated for use as a park by Ambrose Call himself.  However, I have discovered that my perception was in error.  In the mid-1920s there was interest in securing a park for Algona and vicinity.  A committee composed of W. E. McDonald, Al Falkenhainer, T.P. Harrington, Mrs. Tom Kain and Mrs. J.O. Paxson was elected following a community meeting held at the Algona Hotel.  Florence Call Cowles, eldest child of Ambrose and Nancy Call, was presented with a plan to acquire the tract formerly owned by her father for use as a park.  She donated $3,000 which was combined with $400 donations from both the Algona Community Club and the State Conservation Board and other donations.  A tract consisting of 128.16 acres was purchased.  Two other gifts – one from Eva Arend of 1.02 acres and another of .47 acres from Robert and Emma Donovan – brought the total acreage to 129.65. 

Besides its use as a park, many citizens were interested in its conservation.  The site was home to many native trees, plants and animals.  The rugged timberland contained black walnut trees, some over three feet in diameter, as well as red and burr oak, butternut and elm trees.  It was hoped that the park would cultivate a love and reverence for things of nature by future generations. 

BECOMING A PARK

The first task to turn the tract into a park was the installation of roads and a well.  W.E. McDonald, who was also serving as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors at the time, was instrumental in getting these improvements completed.  First a road was built which included the construction of a bridge over the ravine near the entrance of the park.  A well was dug on the north side of the road, but it proved to be unsatisfactory due to seepage of surface water into the well.  Later a 200 foot well was drilled near the lodge.

In August of 1927, Paul Wille was hired caretaker.  He immediately began cleaning up dead limbs and underbrush.  John R. Fitzsimmons of Ames was hired as landscape engineer.  He was tasked with planning the landscaping of the park and designing the lodge and residence.

The construction of the shelter house began on June 27, 1928.  The red and white logs used for the walls were shipped from Bellevue, Iowa.  The lodge was 64 feet 6 inches by 89 feet 10 inches in dimension and faced slightly southeast.  A large fireplace made of stones from the area was at the west end of the main room.  When it proved to be unsatisfactory, it was torn down and then was rebuilt by Hal Cowan who also laid the cement floor in the lodge and porches.  The shelter house was surrounded by a 12 foot porch on three sides with four large doors that opened to the porch.  The four foot pillars at the entrance to the park were also built from native stones. 

Caretaker Wille built ten tables and thirty rustic chairs for use in the shelter house.  Native shrubbery such as wild currants, elderberries and wild plum were planted around the lodge and entrance to the park.  Bluebells were transplanted from an area called “Bluebell Valley” into the park along with ferns that came from Ella Thompson’s home in Algona.  Maple and hickory trees were added.

Under Paul Wille’s guidance, the park was fenced in and six picnic areas were installed, complete with tables, benches, fireplaces and parking areas.  Trails were made with bridges, railings, and steps for ease of movement.  Almost immediately the park began attracting visitors.  Thousands of people visited the site the first year.  On just one day--October 30, 1927--close to 500 people attended a big Halloween bonfire held there.  The next year Wille built a miniature log cabin in which was kept a visitor’s registration book to keep track of attendance. 

Preparation for the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the founding of Algona began in earnest in October of 1928 with plans to celebrate the following July.  It was decided to formally dedicate the park at that time. 

Clara Zahlten and August Slagle gifted to the park a cabin which had once belonged to August Zahlten, a settler who came to the area in 1855.  The local Kiwanis Club arranged to move the structure to the park in June of 1929.  The building whose flooring and roof beams were cut in a saw mill just north of Algona, had served as a granary and never as a home.  However, its construction was typical of cabins built in the pioneer days and it presented a fine example of pioneer workmanship. 

Zahlten Cabin

Park staff worked hard completing projects and getting the park into shape.  On June 28^th of that year a flag pole was put in place.  The park was now ready for its dedication scheduled for Monday, July 15^th. 

THE DEDICATION

Threatening clouds and an overcast sky did not prevent a crowd of over 2,000 people from attending the dedication.  The program began at 2:30 p.m. with a band concert by the Algona Municipal Band.  Rev. C.H. Seward opened the festivities at 3 p.m. with prayer.  Attorney T.P. Harrington presided over the program which included addresses by State Senator George Patterson, U.S. Representative L.J. Dickinson, and Iowa Secretary of State Ed Smith.  Florence Call Cowles was scheduled to present the park to the Iowa Board of Conservation, but on her way to Algona, she became ill and had to return to her home in Des Moines.  Her son, Gardner Cowles, Jr., made the presentation on her behalf.

Heads bowed as Troop E of the United States cavalry raised the flag over the park for the first time while the national anthem was played. 

CUSTODIAN PAUL WILLE

In 1931 the custodian’s house was built near the entrance to the park.  It was a two bedroom with living room, bathroom, kitchen, dining room, and a full basement.  Paul Wille and his wife, Eva, moved into the home upon completion and took great pride in creating beautiful landscaping.  Gravel paths meandered through the property lined with ferns and native plants.  Large rocks had been placed at intervals on the hill near the site and a lily pond was set in a recess in the hill and stocked with goldfish.

Within a few years the protection the park provided to the preservation of native flowers became apparent.  Wille began to find blossoms of species that were thought to have been extinct in the area.  For the most part, visitors abided by state law prohibiting the picking of flowers and the now unmolested vegetation was spreading rapidly.

The new shelter house became a real attraction and Call State Park soon became a favorite place for dances, parties, family reunions, and other gatherings.  Visitor attendance was high.  In 1931, official attendance records show a total of 88,815 people visited the park. 

The custodian continued to work on establishing the five miles of walking trails throughout the park.  Help was provided early on by members of the CCC in 1933 and later prisoners from Camp Algona helped with construction.

Paul Wille

With the exception of one year, Paul Wille served as custodian of Ambrose A. Call State Park for almost 20 years.  At that time park custodians were encouraged to retire at 65, but due to the war, he was asked to stay on.  He officially retired on February 15, 1947 at the age of 69.  His retirement was short-lived.  He suffered a stroke while driving down State Street on May 16th of that year causing his car to hit a light pole and a truck.  Although he only sustained minor injuries from the accident, he died later that day from the results of the stroke. 

A SANCTUARY

The Shelter House in 2017

A.A. Call State Park has now served the area for almost 90 years and has seen some changes.  The shelter house underwent a major remodel in 1998 and the Zahlten cabin has been restored.  The roads have been paved and camping areas installed.  But through it all it has managed to maintain its original purpose – to be a sanctuary preserving the native wooded habitat for study and enjoyment by future generations.  

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

Each year as Christmas approaches, I find my mind fills with childhood memories more so than at any other time of the year.  I remember the downtown Algona of my youth with many beautiful holiday displays in the windows.  At that time, we had a JC Penney store, S & L Department store, Harrison’s Variety store, and many others.  I loved walking with my mom as she did errands.  She probably did not enjoy it half as much as I did as she would often have to hurry me along as I drug my feet, stopping to press my nose up to each window to get a better look. 

Of course there was the visit to “Santa’s House” each year.  We would wait with excitement to see Santa come to town on the firetruck.  He would alight at the southwest corner of the courthouse lawn and enter a festively decorated wooden shelter erected especially for his visits each year.  The line to see him would stretch down the whole block.  I don’t know if it was the cold or the anticipation that made us antsy, but it seemed to take FOREVER to finally reach the jolly old man.  I don’t remember any of the requests I made to him over the years but I will never forget the brown paper sack filled with hard Christmas candy and peanuts in the shell that we received each year.

There was one store that we had to stop in every year whether we had anything to buy there or not.  The Chrischilles Store was one of the anchors of the downtown at any season, but the store was always beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays.  The display windows had an eye catching theme each year and a very large Christmas tree adorned with tinsel and ornaments was usually located on the upper floor.  I can remember standing in awe gazing at the tree towering over me and thinking I had never seen anything more beautiful.

I am pleased that the children of Ted Chrischilles have generously allowed me to share with you some photos of the store during the holidays in the 1940s and 1950s.  These are almost all before my time (my childhood memories mostly are of the 1960s) but the photos nevertheless remind me of a more innocent time when a Christmas visit to a local store could bring such joy into my young life.  I hope you will enjoy the photos as much as I do and that they bring back a few memories for you as well.

Chrischilles Store Main Floor 1948

Christmas Tree 1948

Main floor 1952

Christmas Tree 1955

Christmas 1958

The last photo above shows the staff gathered in front of the tree.  Left to right in the back row are Twila Bartholomew, Mildred Hernan, Florence Peterson, Rose Scanlon, Isabelle Koepke, Dorothy Reiken, Marie Dutton, and Leola Zeigler.  Middle row is T.H., Jack and Ted Chrischilles.  Sitting in front are Marie Hogan, Mildred Miller, Ruth Garman, Alene Hemphill (a/k/a Hempie) and Minnie Blinkman.  

A big thank you to Ted's children, Kathy, Julie and Gene, for allowing me to share these photos with you.  I hope they bring back wonderful Christmas memories for each of my readers.

Until next time,

Merry Christmas!

Jean (a/k/a Kossuth County History Buff)

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May Fete of 1915

How many of you have ever seen local picture postcards labeled “May Fete – May 17, 1915”?  The photos are quite eye catching-- children dressed as various flowers and vegetables, chickens and blackbirds, as well as farmers, Indians and prize fighters.  Over the years I have seen many postcards bearing this label and wondered what type of celebration would include the elaborate costumes pictured.  Since 2015 marks its centennial, it seems like a good time to do a little investigating to see what the May Fete was all about.

Library Aid Society Fundraiser

Flower Girls

Sponsored by the Library Aid Society as a fundraiser, the production, authored by Mrs. E. B. Wilson of Jefferson, Iowa, was originally scheduled to be presented on Friday, May 14^th.  Souvenir buttons were sold for 25¢ each and served to admit the wearers to the fete.  They were about the size of a nickel and featured the state flower in the center on a blue background with the saying “The World is Better for its Play Days” wrapped around the edge.  One could also be admitted to the extravaganza on the day of the event for the payment of 25¢.

Over six hundred men, women and children were needed to execute the extravagant program.  The city school teachers assisted the Library Aid Society in the production.  All of Kossuth County was asked to participate in the fete and the Algona business houses agreed to close between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m.  Thousands were expected to attend.  And then, as is often the case in Iowa in the spring, weather intervened.  Heavy rains fell on Thursday evening, May 13^th, and Friday dawned with a drizzling rain.  The occasion was regretfully postponed until Monday, May 17^th.

The celebration begins

The big day finally arrived, although quite cool for an outdoor event.  By 2 p.m. the participants were ready.  The parade formed on the Carnegie Library lawn.  Led by the Algona Military band, the beautiful floats passed through the business district on their way to the fairgrounds.  The pageant was staged in front of the grandstand, taking up about two and a half acres of land.  The grandstand was full of spectators, automobiles lined the fences, and hundreds of people were seated on the grounds near the Floral Hall.

The prologue presented the history of Kossuth County and was entitled, “Our Yesterdays.”  It began with a band of Indians who made camp complete with the men performing a war dance and the squaws setting up the tepees.  They were followed by emigrants driving prairie schooners with signs such as “Bound for Kossuth – Land $1.25 an acre, 1854” emblazoned on the sides.  Other presentations included a log cabin scene representing settlement and the uncertain time of the Civil War.

Parade Float

The floats then passed in review followed by four delightfully decorated automobiles.  The first was decorated in the national colors and carried several Civil War veterans.  The next marked the introduction of United States mail service and was filled with mail and packages and another carried several early settlers of the county and members of the Library Aid Society.  Still another brought forth much applause from the crowd as it passed, displaying banners with the words “Votes for Women” and bearing members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.  

After the floats and autos had passed, the couriers were the first to arrive.  They consisted of twenty young ladies who performed drills and counter marches.  A group of boys representing florists came next, bearing hoes and sprinklers. They were follows by August Huenhold who brought his home grown vegetables which consisted of a number of youngsters dressed for the theme.  

Farmers and agriculturists were represented by another group of boys wearing overalls and straw hats and carrying hoes.  

They were followed by children dressed as chickens and blackbirds.  Girls wearing aprons declaring “Good Cooks are the Angels of the County” passed by followed by boys dressed in white pulling a cart containing a churn and milk pails and dairy maids carrying banners setting out the number of pounds of butter manufactured in 1914 by the creameries located in the county.  Many groups of children clad in various costumes such as flowers, butterflies and bees passed in review.

And then, “Miss Iowa” arrived in a handsome car decorated with two white doves of peace.  Fittingly, Miss Iowa was portrayed by Miss Sheridan, the city librarian.  To honor her, a unit of young ladies representing all 99 Iowa counties entered, each bearing a wand with an ear of corn.  A drill was presented by a band of boys dressed as sunflowers.  The next group demonstrated the spirit of play and consisted of little girls with their dolls and boys with baseballs and the like.  A portion of the infield had been fenced into individual sections for each individual group to gather once they had passed before the grandstand which at that time faced west.  As the parade drew to a close and each group was in their assigned section, the scene created by their colorful costumes was quite spectacular.

The program begins

Grandstand View

After the entire troupe had paraded before the delighted crowd, the real program began.  A large platform had been erected in front of the grandstand which was now occupied by Miss Iowa and her attendants.  Each group then appeared individually on stage and presented drills, dances and songs accompanied by piano and the military band.  This even included a re-enactment of the Jack Johnson-Jess Willard prize fight by two little fellows, creating much merriment.  Amid patriotic songs and music, the United States flag was raised to close the program.

Jackson - Willard Prize Fight

According to the news reports of the time, an outdoor program such as this had never before been presented in Algona.  Attendance predictions for the original advertised date had been estimated at 4500.  Due to the postponement because of the inclement weather, numbers were drastically reduced.  Actual tickets sold were 1432, plus hundreds of children and all of the adults involved in the program were admitted free.  After deducting all expenses, the Library Aid Society was able to raise a little over $300 to be used for library improvements.

Story Book Characters

Harry Nolte, the well-known local photographer, appears to have taken photos of almost all of the groups featured in the fete.  He was able to preserve the memories of a very special occasion in the history of Kossuth County.  The postcards created from the images he captured are able to bring this event alive once again, one hundred years later.

If anyone has any of the original Nolte postcards from the May Fete and would like to send a scan of it, I will be happy to share it on the KCHB Facebook page.

Until next time,

Jean (a/k/a KC History Buff)

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