Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

'
A Word on BehalfofSmall Towns
I
Someone once said. A small town is a place where
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everyone knows what everyone else is doing, but they
read the newspapers to see who is getting caught. "
To those who have never lived in a small town it may
suggest boredom. a certain stagnation. a limitation of
ability. a complacency that results from not caring to
better oneself. a need ofgrowth and development.
lt is true that those who live in a small town live with
gossip, disagreements and complaints over small
issues made big. They live without freedom of
movement to the extent that all of their activities are
noted. to be spoken ofand digested by almost everyone.
It is also true that out of the ‘latest’. most likely, a
helping hand is extended.
Those who move to a small town from a city may
miss the “feeling of the pulse of the city". They may
notice the loss of anonymity. of freedom of movement
that is not questioned. They may note the lowered
income. due to 'a smaller market for their products and
services. They may miss the great sporting events. as
either spectator or participant.
A small community lives without the hustle and
bustle of city life. There is an absence of crowding.
indifferent, efficient. impatient waves of humanity that
wash over those in a metropolis.
The pulse of a small town beats slowly. But within
this pulse beats the heart of man that may not be
discemable within a city. For with all its possible
shortcomings. there is an awareness. perhaps because
there is time — time to be concerned. time for
conversations. time to welcome a stranger. time to
come to know him, time to live. time for a sincere
appreciation of life itself.
The small towns are not, in this day and age. the hick
towns of the United States. With the modern methods
of communication and travel. they are ‘in the know‘
with their city cousins.
The miracle of birth. of knowing love. hate. success.
failure or contentment — the art of living. is not
confined to a city of millions or a village of 500. No one
has a priority on this
The above article was published in THE CEDAR
RAPIDS GAZETTE in 1962. and was written by this
writer with Anamosa in mind. l have been taking notes
for a history of Anamosa for many years. i am not
surprised that not too many people are interested in
spending thousands of hours in researching the past:
and while many do spend an enormous amount of time
tracing their family trees. the history of a given place is
only a sideline for them.
If. when this history is completed. published and
read. and it is enjoyed for only one certain passage.
chapter. or section, then our efforts will be justified. It is
our hope that it will bring a smile. recall a memory . or
be read by the young who have not experienced many
of the events that are contained within, but have an
interest in learning ofthem.
We are aware that there will be omissions and errors
in this book and we will regret them as rnuch as the
reader. Let us make it known at this point, that we
cannot make an entirely fool-proof compilation. No one
person. or persons, has lived through the past 150
years, and were it possible to have those persons on
hand. they would see things differently. colored by pre-
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judice, politics. feelings conceming certain people, or
the lack ofall of these; or in other words. a disinterest.
Stating this. then. we will take our own compilations
and those of our contributors, and together, await the
final result.
The history of the founding. and subsequent
development of the city of Anamosa. could be
duplicated with the history of many other cities and
towns in Iowa. The ultimate difference is the names of
the people. and the names of the places of business.
This personalization is what makes it Our History. The
people who lived and worked here before us. is what it
is all about.
I wish to acknowledge the help. and support. of my
family during the past 18 years. while writing historical
articles for the newspapers; and the past three years
while working on this history book. it could not have
been THAT entertaining to hear of the history of
Anamosa digested at every meal and every other
occasion. Their patience and understanding has been
of tremendous value.
The History Book committee. Advertising
Committee. and the Finance Cgmmlttec were
unfaltering in the giving of their time to this cause. The
Sesquicentennial Committee. while busily engaged in
their own necessary activities. rendered assistance to
the preparation of this publication. This was greatly
appreciated. To the purchasers of the book. where