Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

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The old river bridge provided shade for fishermen
nearly 70 years ago, just as it does now. Here. A.L.
Fairbanksfishes under the old iron bridge. and at the
old dam at Anamosa. The bridge was restored as a
bike and walking path. under a program sponsored
by Mayor Joe Legg and the city council. This photo,
which belongs to Mrs. Tom (Bertha) Stimpson, was
taken about 1908-09, and shows her grandfather, Mr.
Fairbanks. He came to Iowa in 1854 and farmed in
Cass township. The farm is still in the family. Mrs.
Stimpson's mother died when Bertha was eight days
old, and Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks raised Mrs.
Stimpson. Notice the ice houses in the background
and the chutes used to pull the blocks ofice into the ice
houses. Mr. Fairbanks was about 76 or 77 years old at
the time the photo was taken. (This article was
reproducedfrom a Journal-Eureka in 1975)
Another by-stander remembered the time John
McCann made a wager at the mill that he could carry a
200 lb. sack of flour to the Fisher House (now the Iowan
Hotel building) without resting and that he would pay
double if he failed. He won.
The moving of the old mill was made necessary by
the contemplated improvements by the Electric Light
Company. The old wheels needed to be taken out and
the flume completely rebuilt of concrete and enlarged
and new wheels put in.
In 1985. when the present dam was being repaired, it
was estimated that two to three thousand persons came
to view the activities. One can imagine the attraction
the demise of the huge old mill for the folks at that time.
The fixtures of the old mill were taken up town and
placed in the brick building on North Ford Street, in the
former Huggins Gr Griffith wagon and tile spade factory.
Corn was ground at the rate of 50 bushels per hour.
They also ground rye. buckwheat graham. A corn crib
on the north side was used for storage. The plant was
operated by a 30-horse power motor.
The old mills on the Buffalo creek were used until into
the early 1920's when with the decrease of wheat
growing in Iowa and, with the farmers raising more
hogs and com, the old mills gradually faded from the
scene. Cyrus Matthews even traveled to Nebraska for
wheat to ship back to the Matthews mills. This was
done after several thousands of dollars were spent
revamping the mill on the Buffalo.
In 1939 the mill fixtures of the great stone mill on the
Buffalo were dismantled. The building was just a shell
when Clyde Chipman. now deceased. of Anamosa. reroofed
it and remodeled the interior for a night-spot.
Many persons can still remember the war years of the
1940's when the place was going strong. At times the
entertainment included illegitimate cock fights and
professional betting.
The late Tait Cummins. well known sports
commentator for WMT radio-TV. wrote a weekly
column for the Witnesss, a weekly newspaper
published in Dubuque and owned by the Catholic
Archdiocese of Dubuque. One of Tait's columns
concerned the “Old Mill“. excerpts of which are used
here with permission of The Witness. Tait. quoting
Clyde, wrote. "We really were proud of how nobody
ever knew about those cock fights and I think one of the
reasons was that nobody who lived in Jones county
could belong to the club. We had members from as far
away as Sioux City, Mason City, Des Moines and
smaller Iowa towns. but most of the members were
from the Quad Cities. We had 18 doctors among our
members and they really loved to fight those roosters,
although many had ‘tenders’ who actually put the
rooster down in the pit for the fight to begin. We also
had an understanding with our county attorney and
our sheriff. both of whom are dead now. We never had
an ounce of trouble with the law. The fighting chickens
came mostly from South Carolina and Georgia where
they grow them.
“Betting was a big part ofit".
Concluding, Chipman said. “It was funny what
ended it all. We had a fairly big day and for some reason
or another. a whole stack of dead roosters was thrown
onto the front steps of a lady's house not far from where
all the fights took place. She called the county attorney
the next morning. And he called me, saying he guessed
that would be all; and it was. We never staged another
cockfight."
There has been an extensive mention of the names of
Edmund Booth and his son. Thomas Booth, in this
history book. However. were it not for the Booths, the
knowledge of Anamosa‘s history would, undoubtedly.
be considerably reduced.
Thomas‘ parents. Edmund Booth and Mary Ann.
were extraordinary human beings. In addition to being
completely deaf. Edmund had vision in only one eye.
Mary Ann was a deaf mute, having lost her hearing at
Edmond Booth 8: Son
‘EUREKA’ Editor
by Bertha Finn
age 4. Their story is one of hardship, romance and
adventure.
In 1839, Edmund followed Mary Ann Walworth from
Hartford. Conn.. to the virgin prairies of Iowa. He had
been her teacher at the Hartford School for the
Deaf. (She came, to what would later be known as
Anamosa, the year before, with her parents. brothers.
and sister). After traveling for 11 days by stage coach,
eastem railroad cars. and steamer. Edmund Booth