Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

awaited venture for the far-sighted souls living
in that era. This would not only expedite the
matter of bringing in goods for the merchants
but_ would aid the farmers also. For example.
before the advent of the railroad. farmers paid
25 cents per bushel to haul wheat to the markets by
wagon to Dubuque. In I860. the railroad carried it
in four hours for 6 cents. thus saving the farmers 19
cents a bushel.
The first depot was built in 1857 at the East end of the
town. as the early plans called for the tracks to be laid
to the east and south of the town.
In 1871 the depot built in 1857 was torn down. The
new one was placed 20 rods further west. The 1871
Union depot. built of stone. served the public until 1905
when the large Union Depot was built on this site.
In 1857. the townspeople spent nearly 3100.000 in
constructing businesses and homes. including $16,000
on Strawberry Hill. The town was still building new
homes and businesses in the old section and would
continue to do so for many years. The Strawberry Hill
citizens withdrew from the Anamosa corporation in
1873. not rejoining the city until 1901. At the other end
of town in the ‘Dublin’ section. dissatisfaction found
the citizens going to court in their attempt to withdraw
from the city of Anamosa. The center of the business
district is now located between these two extremes.
drawn together over the years.
In 1858 the brick school house on First Street in
Strawberry Hill was completed (this was located at the
south end of the Wapsiana City Park). as was the Hazel
Knoll stone building one mile north of town. (A wooden
school house was also built. The stone building is still
standing). Dr. N.G. Sales’ ‘palatial’ brick home was
built at the top of North Garnavillo.It was later mostly
destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt in 1883 by A.G.
Pangbum.
In 1858 many of the trees now growing along the
streets were planted by foresighted citizens. the city at
the time having only an abundunt amount of hazel
brush. The following year a city ordinace called for the
owners of real estate in town to be paid 25 cents for
each maple. elm. or walnut tree planted on any street.
It was further ordained that any person who hitched a
team. horse. mule or other beast to any shade tree
would be liable for a fine of 81.
In 1858 a one-story brick store was erected
immediately east of the Fisher House. The second story
was later added in 1898 and matches the next-door
two-story building.
In 1859 on Strawberry Hill. a brick store house was
built by William T. Shaw. It adjoined the stone tannery
and shoe store. built by Roswell Crane. The stone
tannery just across Fawn Creek. and on east Main
Street. was torn down several years ago. In 1859
Strawberry Hill boasted a blacksmith shop also and
several brick homes and a promise of more to come.
The homes now owned by Julius Wesphal and Dr. A.P.
Randolph. and the third owned by Lucile Zimmerman.
were all built in this era. The Westphal home was the
site of the Strawberry Hill Hospital. The next year.
Strawberry Hill boasted a blacksmith shop also. and
wagon shop. a carpenter shop. and 20 new houses. A
handsome stone Presbyterian church was built.
completing the community. ' ‘ .
Down at the lower end of Anamosa. on Locust Street
and Main Street. a large 2-story building was erected by
Joseph Fisher & Son in 1858. This was the last home of
Bill Porter and was tom down in approximately 1983
and a general store and service station was erected on
the site.
The big news of I860 in the town was the completion
of the three-story brick building by Shaw and
Metcalf. This site was two doors east of the Fisher
House. By'1862this structure contained the post office.
Metcalf Br Hollenbeck's large dry goods store. groceries
and farm implements. J.J. Dickensen. justice of the
peace office. five lawyers: G.W. Field. Scott & Sheean.
F.S. and John McKean: a public hall for general
assemblage. (the county courtroom. four years later):
Skehan’s Drug Store; Dr. French. physician: the Eureka
on the second floor: and a large room on the third floor
belonging to the Odd Fellows.
The Congregational Church was erected on the
corner of Booth and Main Street in 1861. This imposing
landmark stood until April 1904 when the new church
was completed. one block south. on First Street.
In 1865 the old blacksmith and carpenter shop. on
the northwest corner of Main and North Ford. was
Gordon's Dry Goods Bazaar, now the ofllce of the
Town Crier. (Submitted by Kathleen and Larry J.
Conmey)
_
Looking west from northwest corner of Main and
Ford Streets. Chas. Lull is shown in the white shirt
and boots. man with the beard is Mr. Webb. This is
one of the three oldest photos in this history book.
(Submitted by Mildred Brown)