Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

shy about leaving legacies to Anamosa. I hear on every
side that the people of Anamosa are not public spirited .
. . we are each a part of the public. and to each one who
will not do his or her best will fall a part of the blame‘ '.
The Daughters of the American Revolution. along
with other public-spirited individuals. achieved their
goal with the building constructed and furnished in
accordance with the instructions left by Mr. Benton's
trustees.
The members of the first Board of Trustees were Rev.
W.E. Glanville. Clifford Niles. Helen Shaw. Rev. Robert
Powers. Park Chamberlain. Mrs. E.R. Moore. F.O.
Ellison. Mrs. H.R. Remley (a grandmother of Howard
Remley. a current trustee). and Mrs. F.M. Bagley. The
first librarian was Miss Comelius McCarn.
In the spring of 1973 the exterior of the building was
sand-blasted. In 1979 the basement was converted into
a children's reading room. and a lift for the use of the
handicapped was added at the entrance of the library.
Three Federated Clubs of Anamosa. working with a
representative of the DAR. commissioned the erection
of a combination sign and planter. which was
constructed by the late Clayton Healy. Anamosa
mason. The Stone City stone sign. in which red
geraniums are planted each spring. reads Anamosa
Public Library. and adds a special feature to the front
awn.
At this writing. the library is open on weekdays from
2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and again from 7:30 p.m until 8:30
p.m.. excluding Friday evenings. The library recently
began extending the hours to include Saturday
mornings and afternoons.
At present there are 15.000 books on the shelves and
the library subscribes to 50 magazines. A count. last
taken at the end of 1986. shows 26.000 materials were
circulated by 1 5.000 patrons.
In 1983 the library was one of three Eastern Iowa
libraries entered in the National Register of Historic
Places. An article published in the Cedar Rapids
Gazette at the time. states that the library was built
principally by John Ronen of Stone City. with much of
the stone donated by J.A. Green. These men were
Stone City quarry owners.
The present members of the library board of trustees
are Howard Remley. Ann Williams. Wilma Remley. Jo
Haverly. Peggy Ketelson. James Poulter. Ann Ure.
Charlene George and Joan Hackett.
Anamosa Area Ambulance Service
submitted by Donald B. Goodman
In June 1972 the funeral directors of Anamosa gave
up their amubulance duties. The city took over for a
couple of months. until a separate department was
established. Don Goodman volunteered as manager of
the ambulance board. The first Ambulance Board
members were Jon Hatcher. Donald Hagen. Art Siver.
Barbara Denniston, Leo Leesekamp and John Huerter.
Through donations. the Goettsch Funeral Home
ambulance was purchased for $1.500 and the
ambulance was off and running.
It was not too long before it was discovered that the
station wagon-type vehicle being used was inadequate
and the ambulance service. in cooperation with the
Anamosa Jaycees. sponsored a fund drive for
contributions to purchase a new ambulance. As a result
of the drive. a new fully-equipped ambulance was
purchased in February 1975 for S17.215.50. The
original station wagon was donated to the Marielle Fire
Department.
The area covered by the new ambulance service
included the Anamosa Community School District.
plus Viola and Springville.
Another ambulance was purchased in the spring of
1983 out of the ambulance funds. This vehicle was just
double the price paid for the one purchased in 1975.
At the present time. this ambulance is housed in the
garage at the Anamosa Hospital. The 1975 vehicle is
used as a back-up and is housed in the Anamosa Fire
Station.
Since its inception. ambulance calls average better
than 30 per month. There are presently 17 volunteer
Jones County Conservation
Central Park the Centerpiece
submitted by Renee Dooley
attendants; 10 of these are EMTs. In emergency
situations the Anamosa police are used for back-up.
We have had a very succussful 15 years and it is
hoped that we have the same degree of success in the
future.
The following names include all of the members who
have served. or are presently serving. on the Anamosa
Area Ambulance Service: Harvey Lee DeSotel. Leo
Leesekamp. Mary Leesekamp. John Huerter. Delbert
Dresbach. Robert Walderbaeh. N.J. Urbanek. Joyce
Merritt. Del Rose Kostiha. Garret Cass. Charles Stivers.
Richard Stivers. Mary Jo Moore. Jack Nims. Carl Clang.
Allen Conrad. William Kline. Michael Shaffer. Robert
and Dixie Danley. Gena F. Bonifazi. Renee E. Potter and
Michael R. Potter. David E. Bertling. Richard Snavely.
Loren D. Hoeischer. Jack E. Johnson. Jr.. Charles Graf.
Robert Hail. Mark Schirm. David R. Kleis. Paul
L. Sadler. Douglas Hilton. Larry Coder. Greg Gecker
and La Tisha Becker. Pat Kula. Robert C. Algoe.
Richard D. Barrett. James White. Debra J. Cook.
William Oliver. Dale Barnes. Larry Farrington. Mark
Austed. Timothy Fay. Brenda Crowley. Sarah
Chevarie. Nancy Anderson. Elizabeth Lovell. Kris
Wickham. Roxanne Dunyon. Colleen Wild. Christina
Flynn. George Nash. Steve Feteke. Dick Stout. Dianna
Ball and Dave Ball. Diane Kmmm. Mary Smith. James
Sieck. Kenneth Merrill. David Smalley. Dorothy Austin.
Roger Dunyon. Becky Barner. Owen Domer. Helen
Gray. Glenna Bergman. Lynn Thomas. Bill Rindy.
Connie Meade and Kenny Armstrong.
The Jones County Conservation Board was the county. These people serve without compensation.
established in 1960 by a vote of the residents of the Their duties include leasing. purchasing or acquiring
county. It was made up of five persons from all parts of land for recreational use in the county. The program is
175