HISTORY: Sabula Bicentennial This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Annette Lucas ClintonRoots@aol.com December 2003 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Jackson County, Iowa Please visit the Jackson County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/jackson/ ________________________________________________________ SABULA BICENTENNIAL DAYS CELEBRATION JUNE 25-26-27 1776-1976 The Bicentennial has truly been a united effort. Let us hope the cooperation in work and spirit will bear fruit for many years; that our community will become an even better place to live than it is now. CHAIRMEN: Coordinating Gred Markwell Decoration Marjorie Cotton Publicity Michael Cotton Traffic Ronald Stoddard Parade Richard Smith Historical Carl Haynes Projects Ethel Petersen Eva Haynes Gladys Driscoll Secretary Dorthea Papke Patricia Ackerman Treasurer Ida Harmsen Dolly Jennings Food Helen Cavanagh Laverne Miller Ellen Rittmer Judy Bowling Violet Smith COMMITTEES: J.C.'s Fred Knapp American Legion Michael Cotton Auxiliary Judy Bowling Businessmen Gladys Driscoll Republican Club Dorthea Papke Ethel Petersen Democratic Club Dolly Jennings Patricia Ackerman American Legion Dave Smith Ella Rittmer V. F. W. Leroy Hoyer Boy Scouts David Fondle Library Marjorie Cotton Girl Scouts Judy Bowling Margaret Peters Firemen Richard Smith Historical Carl Haynes Fyrettes Laverne Miller Eva Haynes Masons Ernest Rathje Juanita Haynes Ralph Giddings Librrary Staff Order of and Board Eastern Star Ida Harmsen Isaac Walton Martin Driscoll Rebekahs Emeline Ackerman Little League Albert Mangler V.F.W. Auxiliary Violet Smith Student Council Willian Tyne Middle School Karl Kuter Our Heritage The land now comprised in the County of Jackson was a part of the "Louisiana Purchases" and was transferred from France to the United States in 1803 in answer to the financial needs of the first Napoleon. Our area became, in turn, the Territory of Wisconsin, July 3, 1838, Jackson County was a part of the land conveyed in the treaty with the Sacs and Fox tribes in September 1832, and commonly known as the "Black Hawk Purchase" which opened the first land in Iowa for settlement. The Dubuque and Maquoketa country was the home of the Fox Indians. Few Indians, except Winnebagoes, were seen in Jackson County after the emigration of the white people. These tribes were peaceful. They moved farther West after the Black Hawk Purchase. At the time Iowa was a part of Wisconsin Territory, there were, for some years, just two counties west of the Mississippi River, Des Moines and Dubuque. The dividing line was the border of Clinton and Scott counties today. In deciding the boundary lines between Dubuque and Jackson counties, considerable feeling was aroused. In the settlement of the Territory, the legislature began by organizing counties on the Mississippi. As each new county was formed, it was made to include, under legal jurisdiction, all the country West of it, and was required to grant to its border settlers electoral privilege and equal share in the county government with those who properly lived within the geographical limits of the county. Nearly the entire county is underlaid by the Niagara Limestone, which, in many places, is exposed along the bank of the Maquoketa and other streams, often forming cliffs many feet in elevation. No other rock than this is seen in the interior of the county, and in the Eastern and Northeastern edges, the Mississippi and its tributaries have cut down through many feet. The spot on which Sabula now stands had been occupied as an Indian village. There were several families of Indians living here at the time the settlers came and afterwards. The spot was known to the French as Prairie La Pierre. This was the only point on the West bank of the river, between Lyons and Bellevue which would afford a good site for a town. The spot occupied by Sabula was first a claim of two settlers, Kinkley and Dorman. Dorman is said to have crossed the Mississippi on a log in 1835. E. W. Wood bought out Hinkley's share in the claim upon the former's arrival in April, 1836. Subsequently, Charles Swan and W. H. Brown purchased Dorman's interest and a portion of Wood's. The claim was then owned by Woods, Swan and Brown. These men employed Albert Henry, in 1837, to survey the claim and lay it out in town lots. The plat of the town was recorded in Dubuque, this being at that time a part of Dubuque county. This spot was the only point where a steamer could find a good landing unless it be where the bluffs came close up to the shore or were bordered by bottom lands subject to yearly over flow. The site of Sabula, apart from the landing place, was not an especially desirable one as it is cut off from the surrounding country by slough or swamp, and can only be reached from the country back of it during high water by the building of turnpikes or dikes across the lowland. This project of building permanent dikes or turnpikes was continued over many years. Sabula is located not many feet above high-water mark and yet is perfectly safe from overflow. The new town was first called Carrollport, a name which proved unfortunate for several reasons. A party by that name (Carroll) lived in the vicinity, who was quite unpopular, and some ill feeling was stirred up by the insinuations that the town had been named for a man of ill reputation. Then a box of goods from St. Louis was directed, by mistake to "Carrion Point" affording a discussion to those who cared about the new village. Soon then, the name was changed to Charleston, a name which seemed to the settlers quite appropriate because it had a Savannah so close at hand. Some imagined there to be some similarity between the name Charleston and Charles Swan, one of the proprietors of the place. But new troubles were ahead; a town in Lee County, Iowa also bore the name Charleston, and much annoyance resulted from the misdirection of letters, packages, etc. It was finally determined in 1846, to have a name that could be called for nobody and yet be simple. The story goes that on account of the sandy soil, William Hubbell thought to name the place after the quality of its surface deposit. He examined his dictionary for the word Sand and found the Latin word for sand was 'sabulum.' It was decided to change the Charleston to Sabulum, but a lady at a tea party, who heard of the proposed name, suggested that Sabula would not only be elegant but more easily pronounced. Her suggestion was adopted. Thus legend goes about the town of Sabula. The first log cabin in the place was built by E. A. Wood in 1836. The first brick house was built in 1842, by William Cameron, on the corner of Pearl and Division streets. The first saw-mill was erected by E. A. Wood in 1853 on the slough, The first flouring mill was built in 1855 by E. A. Wood. The first ferry across the river was a scow ferry, running as early at 1837, and conducted by Dorman, one of the first claimants of the site of Sabula, on the Mississippi River. The horse ferry was established in 1850, by Wade Eldridge. In 1859-60, a steam ferry-boat was started by Jacob Oswald and Matt Hodgson. The boat was named '76' and was sold to the railroad company as a ferry-boat. The company rebuilt the boat and named it the 'Iowa. The first blacksmith work was done on a forge erected by James Wood, the father of E. A. Wood, in 1836. The first real blacksmith shop was built by John S. Dominy in the lower end of town, near E. A. Woods residence. The first regular physician in the town was Dr. J. G. Sugg. The first school was taught by a maiden lady named Stearns about 1838. The first white child born was Luther H. Steen, son of Ulysses and Lucinda Steen. The first postmaster was William H. Brown appointed in 1836. The struggle of Jackson County for a railroad was a long and discouraging one. Unlike other areas of settlement. Eastern Iowa towns usually grew, groaned and struggled, bargained and held elections, then waited patiently until the iron pathway with its rumbling freight arrived. The Sabula, Ackley, and Dakota Railroad Co, was begun in 1870. Only eleven and one-half miles of the road was within the limits of Jackson Co. Cars were transferred across the Mississippi by a ferryboat in the summer season, and a temporary bridge over the ice in the winter, This helped bring industry to the town along with the availability of the Mississippi River transportation to St. Louis and the ocean. The question of purchasing a fire engine was discussed for several years by the town council, but in 1879 the equipment consisted of only a hose art and pump, along with score or so of rubber buckets and several ladders. The first paper was founded in 1856 by C. N. Beecher, called the Sabula Tribune. In 1862 the Gazette Co. was formed, and later the name was changed to Eastern Iowan, Sabula Union and finally back to the Sabula Gazette in 1879, by Frank B. Hand. The paper continued through the years as Sabula Gazette, with Thos. Lambert as editor and owner, then later Wade Guenther, as owner and editor. The original bank in Sabula was a private institution, organized in 1872, by J. Hilsinger, as President, Isaac Overholt, Vice President, Ira B, Overholt, Cashier. In 1839, a hotel called the Iowa Exchange was built and operated by Thos. Marshall. The Eldredge House was built in 1854. The Berner House was formerly a saloon. It was purchased and enlarged upon in 1865. The Blenner house was built in 1871. These were all needed to serve the needs of travelers, salesmaen, and new settlers of the fast growing town of Sabula, Several industries were operating in Sabula in 1876. The Iowa Packing Co. had their principle place of business in Sabula. The Young brothers had a flouring mill. E. and M. A. Long had a saw mill in 1872. The planing mill was built in 1875, Mississippi Jewelry manufactured sleeve buttons, combs, brooches, etc. from clam shell, taken alive from the bottom of the river. Later there was a cigar factory and more sausage plants. The first school were kept in private houses, supported by subscription. In 1844, the first school was erected. The Methodists desired a building for church purposes, and agreed with the citizens that if they would help build a church they would allow the building to be used s a school during the week. There were four graded school rooms and ten months of school. Male teachers received $65.00 and females $33.33 per month. One of the oldest social organizations in Sabula was the Pioneers Association, founded in 1875. The members were designated as old pioneers if they arrived before 1846 and old settlers if they came after. Then after, anyone who settled in the Mississippi Valley at an early day and now residing in the limits of the Association, would be eligible. The Society of Union Veterans, Sabula Brass and Corner Band, Women's Christian Temperance Union, Sabula Reform Club, The Juvenile Temperance Society, Sabula Bible Society, Lodges such as A.O.U.W., I.O.O.F., Masonic A. F. and A. M., along with a Sabula Library Association, all members of the board of directors being men. The Sabula Evergreen Cemetery land was acquired in 1847. It was always admired for the beautiful trees. - ---Taken from the History of Jackson County 1879. ---Taken from the History of Jackson County 1879. There must have been many good times as well as bad in reading the excerpts from letters written many years later and published in the Sabula Gazette in the 1940's. These have been picked at random. The Days That Were SABULA AND ITS ENVISIONS AS THEY WERE IN 1943 Dr. J. G. Sugg "In 1843 Sabula, then called Charleston, had few inhabitants and fewer dewllings. On the river street, from Long's sawmill to the present railroad bridge, there were only eleven buildings, namely: A large rudely built warehouse on the bank of the river, opposite the Henry Chort's residence, (Corner of Cherry and River Street); next was the old frame dwelling, then owned and occupied by James Leonard, (standing on the ground now occupied by Ackerman's Grocery). A short distance South of this, and in the street, stood an abandoned log house. Them came a frame building on the lost sout of the city hall (Tena Harmsen corner), which was until his death in 1845, R. H. Hudron's dry goods store. The 'Iowa Exchange', a large two-story frame building and the only hotel in the village stood on the site now occupied by the handsome brick residence of the late A. H. Berner. (Sorge residence). On the ground now occupied by the old stone store building (Arnold Jess residence), stood a rough log house built for the purpose of supplying the much needed "hash" for the few boarders of those early days. Next came the ancient frame building occupied by the late Dr. E. A. Wood as a general store, on the corner where George Laing's elegant home is now located. (Ila Hale residence). This was emphatically THE store, being with the exception of the small Hudson store, with its limited stock, the only store in the place. It had no competition nearer than Bellevue on the north and Lyons on the South. Even this store was closed at times while its owner was in Galena or elsewhere procuring new goods. A short distance south stood a respectable frame dwelling owned and occupied by Ulysses Steen as a dwelling and hotel. On the river landing opposite were two frame buildings, one being the old store house at the public landing, built by Wm. Hubbel. A short distance south was a two-story frame building, and lastly, on the southeast corner of Quarry street, stood a large rambling frame building frequently called "Wood Castle", then owned and occupied by James Wood and family, ancestors of the late E. A. and Jerry Wood. Returning to the North end of the village, there were on Pearl Street: First the brick dwelling house built by Wm. Cameron, standing on the corner now occupied by the Henry Courts dwelling (402 Pearl). South of this was all open ground until we came to Dominy's blacksmith shop, a rough board shanty standing on the ground now covered by Busch's meat market (Lester Rittmer Barber Shop), Goos Garber Shop, and Dallagher's cigar factory. At the rear of this shop, this worth son of Vulcan, made his charcoal for the forge fire, burning cords of wood at a time for that purpose. Adjoining the shop was a wagon shop presided over by our pioneer townsman, Fred Schrambling, who took in payment for his work, what he could get, 'just to accommodate', sometimes cash, sometimes produce, and at least once, stocking yarn. A little farther south in the same block was a goodly appearing dwelling, not altogether finished, the enterprising individual who started it leaving for parts unknown and failing to pay his debts. One of his victims sold it to our pioneer preacher, the Rev. Oliver Emerson, the purchase money being raised by subscription. The building was moved south to the lot now occupied by M. Gohlman's handsome home (Fred Markwell residence) and fitted up for a residence on the first floor, the second story, used for church services, being reached by an outside stairway. On the lost next to where the building first stood, was a small one-story house owned and occupied by one Miller. South of this on the East side of the street stood a frame building owned and occupied by J. S. Dominy, who some years later, moved it to the rear and erected a stone residence (Lawrence Gollobit's residence) in front of it. Across the street stood a small one and a half story frame residence, which later was greatly enlarged to become the "Western Hotel". (Last occupied by John D. Scarborough, razed and lot sold to Wm. Petersen). The next south was a frame residence owned by James Hudson on the lot now occupied by Mrs. Thos. Scarborough'' home. (Albert Miller residence). Then came the frame residence on lot 3 in the same block, recently rebuilt by E. S. Day for a tenement house. The residence on the corner of Pearl and Washington Streets (Lutheran Church) now occupied by Walter Willett came next, while in the middle of the same block was another frame house. Just north of Busch's meat market (Ben Highstrom corner) was a large frame residence, then owned and occupied by E. A. Wood, while on the opposite corner south was the Wm. Hubbel home, the Ne Plus Ultra of Pearl Street. From that point south all was vacant. West on Broad Street. on the lot south of S. E. Day's home (Emeline Ackerman's) was a frame building occupied by old Mr. Hudson. The next building was in the third block north where Thos. Marshall had just erected a large frame residence, many years later, transformed into a modern home by A. J. Copp (Alfred Flor's). One home three blocks further north completed Broad Street. There was a small shanty just northwest of the present milwaukee depot, but all the rest of the townsite was a 'waste-howling' wilderness without a vestige of street or improvement being visible. There was no church, nor schoolhouse, nor even a graveyard. There was no butcher shop nor bakery nor grocery store, but whiskey was abundant. The only available grist mill was Hubbel's, later owned by Dickenson's. A growth of tall, luxuriant grass covered every spot of untimbered lawland adjudent to the village. Immediately west of town, the grass grew so tall that a man on horseback passing from Sabula westward on the traveled road could not see men making hay a few rods distant. The grass was from five to eight feet high and had been known by actual measurement, to reach ten feet in some places. Leaving town and going northward, there were but nine farms between this place and Clarks Ferry, namely: Carroll's, McCabe's, Cavanagh's, Thomas Scarborough's, Plunket's. McMahon's, Newberry's, Campbell Caldwell's and Park's on the Maquoketa bottom. Returning to the road going west was the farm for many years, owned by J. G. Sugg (Francis Wulf's). On this farm Dr. Sugg had a story-and-a-half hewn log house, a log barn covered with hay about six acres under cultivation. To the west on what is now the N. C. White farm, (John Horst's) was a rough log cabin and a few acres that was held as a claim by Arthur Mullen. Next on the road was Andrew Smith's now occupied Peter Schroeder. The next farm claim of W. B. Beebe, now owned by John Kunau. Next was the James Westbrook farm now owned by Martin Harmson (Ralph Rathye's). Adjoining this, on the west was a place then claimed by one Say, now the Jerry Bruse Farn. (also Ralph Rathje's). Then came the farm owned by Thaus Radden, of which but a few acres were under cultivation. From this farm on to Copper Creek, as far as the eye could reach, was unbroken wilderness where wolves traveled fearlessly at noon day. If one took the road leading south through Canada Hollow, the first improvements encountered were a little shanty owned by B. Hudson on Section 24,, 84-6 and a small frame house where Joseph Doty lived and farmed the adjoining land now belonging to J. J. Summerville. (Leroy Hoyer's). Next was a hewn log house belonging to James Canfield. A little further south lived Peter Schrambling, and on the same creek, known as Scrambling Creel, lived that jovial and hardy pioneer. Joseph Mc EcElroy. From this pioneer dwelling to the site of the present Hauntown, except for a few acres lower down the creek on what is called the Hudson claim, the all- conquering axe or civilized plow had left no trace. Returning to the Maquoketa road and at the crossing of Elk Creek, following the stream southward, the first building one encountered was the home of Geo. F. Green and family, including the Kimball's. Next came the H. G Crary's farm, and still further south, but adjoiing was that of George Hollis. Most of the remaining land in this area was opened and unclaimed". Sabula Gazette-----Dr. J. G. Sugg REMINISCENSES OF THE 1850'S--- William Royal Oake "On the 16th day of May, 1852, my parents, William and Mary Riches Oake, with a family of seven children, left the shores of old England, embarking at Liverpool on the good sailing vessel "Warbler". After an uneventful, monotonous 52 days on the Atlantic, we landed at New Orleans, where cholera and scarlet fever were raging. We remained in New Orleans only two days, then we took a steamboat for the north. Near St. Louis we were held at the quarantine grounds several days and then were allowed to proceed to St. Louis where we awaited the sailing of the palatial steamer "Brunette". On the same day another steamer also started north and since there was rivalry between the two boats, it was a continual race until, a little above Le Clair, the "Brunette" took the lead and its competitor was lost to view. On the 30th of July, we arrived at our destination. At that time the boat landing was near where the brick residence of George F. Laing was later built. (Ila Hale residence). Those were the halcyon days of steam boating on the Father of Waters, there being no competing lines of railroads and no bridges to impede the boats. Early settlers along the river were employed to cut wood and rank it on the banks to be used as fuel by the many crafts passing up and down. In those days, very little coal was used, so every few miles, hundreds of cords of wood could be seen ranked ready for the boats to use. Our cabin was covered with what were called "shakes" in those days. Settlers building houses would select a fine straight-grained oak tree and cutting its trunk into three foot lengths, would then, by using a frow, split them into shingles and lay them length-wise on the roof. Being oak, they would soon warp.. Many a time in the winter of 1853 I have lain abed in the attic of that log cabin and watched the twinkling stars. It was no uncommon thing, on awakening in the morning after a fall of snow to find an inch of snow on the bed covering. During the summer of 1853 our family, not being acclimated, was troubled with ague most of the time and more or less, with malaria, as are settlers in all of the new countries. Some of the family was shaking ill of the time so we were constantly calling on Dr. J. G. Sugg for quinine. We used so much of it that our cabin was the sobriquet of Pill Hill. As for clothing, overshoes were unknown and boiled shirts and paper collars were not supposed to be worn by common people. Give a woman a sunbonnet and a calico dress and a man a hickory shirt and a pair of overalls and they were attired for either church or a dance. The road across the bottom was the old north pike, a few rods north of the present one. In times of high water there was no way of reaching Sabula from the west end of the pike except by boat, so many a time has the old horse ferry plied between Sabula and what is now (106) the Garfield residence. "Uncle Wade", father of C. G. Eldridge, a sturdy old pioneer, whose name was as good as his bond, was the horse-ferry man who envoyed people across the Mississippi River when on their way to seek new homes in the wilds of Iowa. As Sabula was quite an important point at which to cross the river, at almost any time, long lines of prairie schooners drawn by oxen could be seen crossing and then winding their way to the New Eldorado. Although not having the luxuries we are having in this present age, I think the early settlers enjoyed themselves full as well. They may not have been able to dress as well or ride in fine carriages, but they generally managed to get enough to eat, such as it was-cornbread and pork with a liberal supply of game, which was very abundant. In those days the bottom lands back of Sabula as well as the islands, would teem with thousands of ducks and geese so it would require no very expert marksman to kill a wagon load in a day. Game that inhabited the islands was just as plentiful, such as deer, turkeys, pheasants, quail and prairie chickens. I remember once of having seen 27 deer in one drove. Such great changes have now taken place in the face of the country that one returning after a lapse of fifty years would hardly know it. Once it was cov with heavy timer which had mostly been cleared and replaced by fine cultivated farms. In most cases every vestige of the stumpage of that splendid body of timber has disappeared. While living in our cabin I saw my first threshing machine in America. It was called the "Traveling Machine" and has long since gone out of date. You would hitch a team to it, drive up and take on board a dozen shocks of grain and then start the team. This would start the machinery, scattering the straw all over the field. When all on board was threshed you would load and start again until the whole crop was threshed. It could not thresh quite as fast as a steam thresher of the present time (1901) but it was satisfactory in those days of small crops). ---Reminiscences of the 1850---Wm. Royal Oake EXCERPTS FROM GLENN DAY'S CONTRIBUTION TO "THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS" " I cannot help but feel we were far more contented then than in our present day rush and push to keep up with the other fellow. When I was a boy, Sabula had no water works, electric lights, hard surfaced roads or up-to-date heating systems. We has a hard coal burner in the front room and a wood stove in the kitchen. By the way, I had to carry in wood for said stove every night after school-and it was a big box! I recall the old board walks where you got splinter in y our bare feet and lost your marbles down the cracks. Young people of today think nothing of going hundreds of miles for a weekend. In our day, if we boys got as far as Preston for a date we were doing something. There was no heater in the cutter if it happened to be winter and when we reached home we took care of the horses before out trip was finished. Today the young man slams the door on his car and goes to bed. There was the old Rink on the river front where the caamp fire supper and dance was held. Everybody turned out for a wonderful feed and big dance with G. V. Spring as caller and Fred Schrambling as vocalist. Other attractions usually included a mouth organ by Albert Day and August Weiks. The old Midget ferry was owned by Uncle Jay Kimball and Tom Lambert. I had many rides to Savanna and that ferry was a swell place to dive from at night, though I was thrown from the tip many times by the older boys. Harry Smith could hold a lighted cigar in his mouth, dive off the top and come up blowing smoke, Some stunt! Sammy Gunnell's restaurant, down near the depot, was a place where you could get anything a kid wanted for one cent each. Another "landmark" was Ike Marr and his 'bus' pulled by 'Old Jerry' from the depot to the hotel and post office. It was great sport to snitch a ride on the back step and maybe bounce up and down until the whip came around to chase you off. I mention the fact the Mother would say 'Run up to Peter Busch's market and get 15c worth of round steak for dinner-and you got plenty for a family meal, and Mr. Busch would often times give us a weiner on the side. At a later date the bicycle arrived, without coaster brakes and the fancy trimmings. If you were fortunate enough to own one, you could join in the Sunday afternoon parade. The ladies wore long dresses and once-in-a-while got them tangled up in the gears. In high school days Dad bought me a driving pony. I had many a good horse- race with Charlie Callaghan, Ed Doyle, Clause Kross and George Bryant. Many times this was down through the store section and we got called on the carpet for racing on the main street. Yes, those were the days of the old hitching posts. The Old Settlers Picnic held out on the San Ridge was in grove where foot races,, tug-of-war, horse races and contests of all kinds were held and always enjoyed. I got in a running race with 'Old Colonel", equipped with a blind bridle and no saddle. When I got the old horse relly running he went a half mile beyond the finish line before I could get him stopped. He was then ready to take on any of them. I can't help but mention three men of my boyhood days-Charles Lambert, Fred Schrambling, and Lon Spore-who kept me worried a good deal of the time, by taking "Old Colonel", then hiding him around the corner while I was in the sore or putting me on backwards. They told me the old horse had a wooden leg, but he would stand by the hour in the swimming hole on Hubbell Island let the kids dive off his back. EXCERPTS FROM F. J. TIENAN'S CONTRIBUTION My school days began when at age four, in a new gingham dress, I entered the north and primary school (Bonderson house) with Miss Lizzie James as teacher. At that time the pupils from the south end of town went to school in a building on the corner north of Rathje's store. Classes for the upper grades were held in the rock school, (which is not the Masonic Hall). In those days there was a constant feud between the north and south end boys and the Grammer School marked the boundary line. Those were the days of spelling matches, merit cards and McGuffey's readers. No report cards were issued showing our attendance so truancy was pretty common. I know several of us hid our books under John McEroy's barn after the first day of school and played hooky until Jerry Goos found us out. We'd never heard of a boy getting an allowance and even earning money wasn't easy. Boys did such jobs as selling paper and rags to Joe Day, tying lath into bundles at the saw mill, bringing in the 80 to 100 town cows from island pasture, cutting up slab wood for 50c a cord and catching crawfish for the fisherman. In the evenings we had the best fun of all playing Run, Scout, Run, or meeting the gang at the sawmill. We would work like beavers helping Mike Hanlon, the night watchman, clean one saw dust for the privilege of playing at the mill afterwards. He also allowed us to use the big square reflector lanterns so we could read from our Nick Carter library we kept hidden there. Charlie Lambert was the leader of this gang and took charge of all of the games and gymnastics at both the saw mill. He tried to keep our muscles and joints in fine shape with generous applications of sun-rendered angle worm oil. In tumbling, John Goos was one of the very best in the crowd, and Joe Smith, who later became a circus performer, was our best actor on the horizontal bars. Fishing was popular with our barefoot gand and we know all of the good places within walking distance. The prettiest place was ot at John Dickinson's mill. If we had no luck fishing, we could take the rake that was there for clearing driftwood away from the mill wheel and rake some bullheads out of the mill race. The handiest place we kids ever had was when the water and fish in the park (present school grounds). If we got warm we'd just dive off, swim a while and then climb out and fish again as we dried off. At that time men and teams were kept busy hauling rock from the quarry to raise the north pike. Rafts made up of several cribs of timber were often tied up along the river front. The men who came down the river with those rafts used to sell their skiffs and oars for one dollar and then go North again by boat or train. On Sunday afternoons in summer Sabula was pretty much deserted when folks went out to the schutzenfest in Pumpkin Center. There you could listen to the band playing in the big round pavilion, buy refreshment at the stands, and enter the contests for the young people, We'd watch August Berner, Charles and Robert Schroeder, Jerry Blenner and others shoot at a turkey's head sticking from a cage at 500 yards. If the marksman drew blood, he won a prize. Some remember the Sunday School picnics that were held in the beautiful grove near Dr. Wood's home. (Ehl's Harbor). Sometimes there were more than 100 of the Esmay family in attendance. We were always interested in the little roundhouse nearby and the three little engines with the brass all shining. They were used to hook onto the cars that were ferried across the river by the J. P. Gage transfer boats. The first ball games I recall were played north of the pike with George Beesley as pitcher and Tom Lambert as catcher. No gloves were used. Charles Eldredge also was on the team but I can't remember the other players. In the winter we always kept the ice between Sabula and the Towhead clear of snow, even if we had to borrow a horse and scaper to do it. Big crowds of skater would gather there in the afternoon and evenings. Fred Briggs, Jim Cottral and Charles P. smith were all expert skaters. There were also some small pleasurers that we enjoyed like catching a ride on Pat Reardon's dray, sliding down the buggy runs and riding the livery stable horses out into the water on Sunday mornings so the caretakers could soap and scrub them. We would eat with relish a handful of oatmeal grabbed from Young's mill but nothing was quite as good as the pieces of hot, juicy bologna given to us by old Mr. Erke at the bologna factory One winter, after we's moved to the farm, I came to town to attend Pete Spring's Select School which was held upstairs in the building just north of where Ross McElroy now lives. Mr. Spring's scholars advanced rapidly for he was a thorough teacher and very strict in regard to discipline. If you did misbehave, you had to stay after school to 'have your jacket tanned!' and no exceptions were ever made. I would like to mention some young fellows of the 'Gay Nineties' who sang loudly, if not too well. They were Dr. Maskesy, Jim Gage, Johnny Brandt and Charles Welch. What they did with such numbers as "After the Ball is Over" and "Two Little Girls in Blue" kept many good people awake. Occasionally these boys and some others, including Joe Cotton, who was some younger would take a boat from Jake Lambert's and row over to Savanna for a big day. R. A. Schroeder coached several plays which we put in Sabula and also in the Miles and Charlotte opera house. Those I recall taking part are: Emily Doesrick, Ella Schroeder, Maude Tomlinson, Nettie Tibbals, Wade Eldridge, Nibs Schambling, Walter Newsom, Oscar Huffman, and Joe, Otto, Martin and Lou Petersen. 'Nibs' really brought down the house with his specialty song "When I Dance the Hoochey Koochey in the Sky". When I was a boy, a large crew of men worked in Long's sawmill during the summer and at the Stiles packing house in the winter. Supt. Thos. Cossar said that these men worked together better than any crew he had seen in the large packing plants in Chicago. When I went to work at the scrapping bench there were three of that older crew, Lars Jensen, 'Curly' Petersen, and Nick Ohje, still on the job with three younger ones, Orrie Spring, Nick Wanderscheid, and myself. We scraped on an average of 100 hogs per hour by hand. Those long days over the hot steam were not without their lighter moments as when we would accidentdently (?) drop a wad of hog's hair down in a spectator's face, or when Charlie Wells would lasso an onlooking farmer's neck using and entrail with uncanny precision. EXCERPTS FROM F. A. LYNCH'S CONTRIBUTION The note from the "Old Maestro" really put me in a reminisent mood about old Sabula and the things and places that one never can forget: the old swimmim' hole- the ferry boat and ferry landing-Charley Lambeert's ice cream and peanut fudge- fishing down by the dike or near the flume-catching sunfish on a hot summer day with nothing to break the silence except the occasional jumping dog fish-the raucous cray of a crow-the mournful song of a turtle dove-the tinkling of a cow bell, coming from somewhere up on the bluff-the 'knee deep' and 'Up to your neck' of an old bull frog-maybe the cry of the loon, watching a bell diver-kingfishers diving for minnows. Decoration Day and the Sabula Cornet Band with S. E. Day and his E flat cornet-a towheaded kid hanging around and wishing he could play in the ban-Old Settler's picnic and maybe a whole 25c to spend on one big day. The old packing house-packers on the river, whistling for the bridge, oh gee! Four toots for a landing and off to the river to see the freight un-loaded-old Towhead island-Nettie's Point-the big cave-Big Spring and water cress-Lovell's Greenhouse-school picnic in Steen's Hollow-Blenner's Hall and maybe a minstrel show and the famous concert by the Sabula Juvenile Band with Cliff Day and Frank Lynch singing "Keep me away from the Monkey House"-Jolly Barney Miller-the old sawmill-Al Swift bringing in his morning catch-clam boats on the river-the old J. S. Excursion boat with the caliope playing "Good Morning, Carrie"-a free 'weenie' at Pete Busch's meat market-kids in the dusk knocking at the myriads of bats with fish poles-early to bed and a lullaby of a million frogs-tree toads-katy-dids and crickets. Summer's here for Mr. Bubby is in town reciting Shakespear-The old Italian organ grinder with his red capped monkey walks into town out of nowhere-Norman Anderson brings the first bunch of spring flowers from the bluff-Dutchman's Breeches, Jack-in-the-Pulpit and others. Autumn rolls around and walnuts are laid out on low roofs for later shucking- kids in school with badly stained hands that probably stayed that was until the first snow-piles of cord wood and the buzz of bucksaws-bobsled, sleighs and sleigh bells, especially, the fine Swiss bells on Marr's bus. EXCERPTS FROM JOHN KINTER'S CONTRIBUTION On the Fourth of July mornings, with the assistance of Dan Morris and the old cannon on the river street, the veterans would wake up the whole population. The old cannon (turned in for scrap metal during WW II originally) belonged to Capt Jerry Wood and was used on his steamer "War Eagle". He presented it either to Sabula or Savanna and it was stolen several times by the young men of one town or another and carted back and across the river, but Sabula finally hung on to it. Generally a collection was taken up around town to buy powder for big days such as the 4th of July, reunions, and for Dewey's victory in Manila. Dan (Mortar Box) Morris would insert a cup of powder, wad it down with a few handfuls of sod and then light the fuse while the spectators held their ears. I remember the drum corps made up of Civil War Veterans marching down the street playing "The Girl I Left Behind Me" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". It was really thrilling. EXCERPTS FROM ARTICLE BY L. J. JESS OF BELLEVUE The picnics on Old Settler's Day used to be held annually and, for a time were in the oak grove along the Sandridge Road. In later days these fine celebrations were in Sabula proper and included foot, horse, bicycle, and boat races, boxing and wrestling matches, and ballgames. There was the big picnic dinner at noon and a dance in the evening, too. Remember that old lemonade barrel of "Uncle Ol" Kindred's. Boy, he made good lemonade! I recall that good old peanut wagon of Charlie Lambert's too. It used to be parked out in front of the restaurant on Saturday nights. What a nice aroma those fresh roasted peanuts used to be for us kids. Yes, we had plenty of fishing holes. If you liked bullhead fishing you could catch all you wanted in the vicinity of the lower turnpike and there were many times when the black bass hit pretty well there, too. Then, there was that group of lakes just north of Sabula-Dead Lake, Eldredge Lake, and Alligator Lake-all good spots for a day of fishing. EXCERPTS FROM ALBERT DAY'S ARTICLE There was the engagement at Bellevue on July 4, 1900, which climaxed with a grand band concert by the Sabula Brass and Concert Band in the river front band pavilion. For one engagement at Maquoketa we ledft Sabula at 4:00 A.M. via John McElory's wonderful team, old Jeff and Rowdy, hitched to a hayrack. Away we went over those dust, dirt, roads. Indeed it was a most sad day when we learned the J. H. (Pete) Esmay would leave old Sabula for his new home in Douglas, Wyoming. I recall our parting when we served refreshments and presented 'Pete' with a saddle. From that period, Chas. Esmay directed our band. However, one by one, the old members gradually drifted to other parts and some new musicians came in and joined our ranks. Eventually, Charles Esmay and August Weihs also went to Wyoming and Lou Petersen left to travel with the "Two Merry Tramps" show. The once popular band dwindled down to just a few of the old timers and faded out. It was at this point that I started the Sabula Juvenile Band. The Sabula Juvenile Band lasted from 1906 till 1917. CHRISTMAS 1874 The tree was a splended one, fully twenty feet high and about ten feet across at the base. The branches from floor to ceiling, were laden with presents. Gold and silver watches and chains, ladies and gentlemen's jewelry, shgawls, scarfs, ruff, dress patterns, costly books, etc. along with the usual display of toy and candles for the little folks hung on the burdened tree. One lady had a present of $75.00 sewing machine. Four [persons were made happy by receiving deeds to town lots worth $100.00 each. It is estimated that the presents on the tree would approximately be worth $2000.00. The evening ceremonies were opened with singing by the choir and a prayer, with a few happy remarks by the minister. Thus Christmas Eve 1874 was celebrated in one church in Miles, Iowa. -Sabula Gazette THE WEDDING On New Years Day in 1857, two of Sabula's young couples loaded into a sleigh and drove to Bellevue on the ice, a novel wedding trip, not experienced by many. On their way they were obliged to stop at a farm house to get warm. Arriving at Bellevue, they were married at the hotel, by the minister in the presence of the guests at the hotel. The guests in turn presented the newly-weds with a purse of money. Pictures of the happy event were taken and the couples returned to Sabula, by sleigh taking the same route and stopping at the same farm house. (They lived to celebrate their golden wedding).-Sabula Gazette THE DEADLY TORNADO-MAY 21, 1898 A hot, humid, atmosphere had prevailed during the afternoon until about four o'clock when dark clouds began to gather in the northwest and lighter ones in the southwest. Soon a peculiar motion was noticed among them, each strata of atmosphere appearing to move in an opposite direction from the one above or below it. Then all of the clouds seemed to scurry toward a common center in the west growing blacker and more dim as the concentrated their forces. The first formation of the funnel-shaped mass, as it appeared to those watching it from this place, was directly west of the north end of town, where it was seen to hang, swinging back and forth. For a time it appeared as if the whirling mass would swoop directly across town. Then, as it appeared to be nearing the top of the bluff, it rose up, and when it descended, swept southward with a force that was terrific, even to look at. It crossed the bluff this side of Clinton County line, about two miles below Sabula, then went whirling and roaring over into Illinois. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property were destroyed and many persons were killed in clinton County and Illinois. The only damage done in Sabula was the unroofing of the Cotton and Bryants large warehouse. A number of persons were standing near the building watching the whirliong mass below the bridge, when, suddenly the massive iron roof raised from the building and came down in the street, narrowly missing the watchers. An intense heat was experienced at the moment and it is firmly believed by those present that an electrical current of some kind had more to do with removing the than the wind. ---Sabula Gazette 1898 "Sometimes a youngster comes along nowadays and says to me, 'Captain, do you think I could learn the river?' abd U like to lean on an old pilotwheel and say, 'Well, son, it's hard to tell about that. Some of the big, husky fellows I've taken on to 'learn' weren't any account at it-wasted four year-all for nothing. Then again, some little puny fellow who didn't look as if he could whip a cat, just up and come in a winner. One thing certain: you can't MAKE a pilot out of ANYBODY; a man has to have it born in him: pilotin' comes natural". ---Captain Frederick Way, Jr. REPOSE On the last heat of summer's drum The Chilling winds of autumn come. The goldenrod shuts her bright eye, Gentians and asters bid good-bye. Bright butterflies go flitting past, Jolly grasshoppers dance their last. On the hillsides the maples stand In red dresses, they look so grand. The Silvery cobwebs fill the air, Are angels weaving threads up there? What will they stitch when they get through, Soft clouds of purple, rose, and blue? And who shall wear this gorgeous shroud? Why Mother Nature who is proud. In this she shall repose and dream Until spring melts each icy stream. -----Alice Schroeder INCORPORATING THE TOWN On July 5, 1864, a petition was filed by J. O. Bard, Israel Day and Thomas Esmay, acting as agents for the town, requested the privilege of incorporating the town of Sabula. The petition was granted and in due time, the bounderies declared. This included the area in the town today, along with the lake, but at that time was swamp. There was also a Portion west of the present railroad tracks taking in the land owned by Tom Hackling, Francis Behan, Jr. and Menna Offringa. This section was known as Dominy's Addition. All of the streets were names at that time including Dominy's Addition. These names remain unchanged today with two exceptions, Spring Street is now Lake Street and North and South Water Street is known River Street. The first town election was held at the Iowa Exchange Feb. 3, 1865. H. G. Crary was elected Mayor and J. F. Fairban, recorder. Trustees were M. C. Lawrence M. Hein, D. K. Lincoln, J. Scarborough and Virtus Lund. An election Was held March 16, 1865, to issue bonds in the amount of $6,000 for the purpose of building a suitable jail for the city and a turnpike leading north out of town. This passed with only four opposing votes and the project was let to J. C. Pitkin for $4,700. However, it was found upon survey that 50 percent more fill than was estimated would be required. $2,300 was appropriated from the county treasury and in 1867 $2,000 more was spent for the completion of this road, making the entire cost $7,181.65. Because the turnpike cost more than was anticipated, there was not enough money to build the jail. In 1870 another bond issue was approved by the voters. The city council proposed that a two story brick building be erected, the first floor to be occupied as a jail and the second floor as a council room and town hall. The council advertised for sealed bids from contractors with the following bids being received: M. C. Lawrence, $987; Henry Heckert, $1,000; and W. H. Reid, $940. The contract was awarded to Reid. The building was used as a town hall until the middle 1949's. the alarm bell was also located there and used to notify the volunteer fireman until the installation of the fire siren. This bell also rang at the close of World War I and World War II. In the 1930's the town purchased the K. of P. Auditorium and the city offices were moved there. Then later to the Wendall Allen Building until the erection of the present combination fire station and municipal building on Broad Street. The present building was built during the term of Mayor Wendall Allen and designed by C. B. Cotton. The old town hall facing the river was sold and torn down. On its site is the present Albert Hathaway home. In 1868, it was discovered that there was no plat of the town of Sabula on record at the court house. In 1836, when a portion of the county was part of Dubuque County in the Territory of Wisconsin, a plat had been made of what was then known as Carrollport and supposedly placed on record in Dubuque, but an attempt to find it resulted in failure. The people in Sabula had no legal claim on their property so the State Legislature was called in to resolve the problem. A re-survey of the town was made and this was placed on record in Jackson County. The town council then made a request to the state providing for an act that the titles of land or lots should continue valid, the same as if the new plat had been recorded all the time. The request was granted. EXCURSION BOAT DAY Oh. Loud the whistle blows, The bridge is swinging wide. We barefoot kids go racing Down to the riverside. The J. S. heads for shore. Black men are gayly calling As we, entranced, watch as they leap And on huge ropes start hauling. Shrill caliope music plays While grownups line the bank And we look with envy On the lucky ones walking the plank. ------Elizabeth Henricksen Ferry Boats Sabula's nearest neighbor is Savanna, directly east across the Mississippi, a distance of about two miles. From earliest pioneer days there has been some means of getting back and forth across the river. Probably the earliest ferry was the scow operated by Isaac Dorman in 1837. It was a flat boat propelled by poles or oars. Bear in mind the river was much narrower and less deep in those early days before the dams were put in to raise the water level, except, of course, in times of spring flooding. By 1850 Wade Eldridge had a horse ferry in operation. It was a large barge like affair with a cent shaft, one end attached to a paddle wheel and the horse hitched to the other. As the horse moved back and forth, the gears controlling the shaft caused the paddle wheel to turn on and put the boat in motion. Such a boat could accommodate up to six wagons and horses and a dozen persons. In 1859 a steam ferry was put in operation by Jacob Oswald and Matt Hudson. Technical difficulties caused it to be discontinued. And then Captain Kimball of East Dubuque brought his horse ferry to Sabula and hired Captain Sam Marsden to run it and a little later John Woolweever. In 1895 Thomas Lambert and J. L. Kimball had a steam ferry built, called the 'Midget', which was in service for ten or twelve years when it was sold to H. H. Leonard. He dismantled it and had a fine sternwheeler built for traffic between the two towns. This boat was far too large for the business and costly to operate so it was sold to an excursion boat company and in its place, Leonard put in service a gasoline launch called the 'Hiawatha'. He operated it a few years then sold it to G. L. Manning who, in turn sold it to George and Walter Whitney in 1908. The ferry consisted of a small barge 12 x 20 feet long pushed by the 'Hiawatha'. A year later the Whitney brothers built a larger barge and purchased the 'Irene D'. The smaller boat was used to tow logs and lumber to the Box Company at Clinton. By 1911 both ferries carried passengers to Clinton and Savanna as well as freight. In 1916 the two brothers dissolved partnership and George Whitney bought his brother's interest in the business. That same year, he built a new boat, the 'Lola May'. The boat contained a pilot house and an enclosed cabin for passengers. The boat was in service between Savanna and Sabula night and day. More people were using the ferry as many people were employed by the railroad of which Savanna was then a terminal. With so many car, people were venturing further distances. The ferry was considered part of Highway 117, Ellen Gage, a Sabula girl, had the honor of being the contest winner for designating the highway as "BeeLine-Shortest route between Cedar Rapids and Chicago". By 1928 a larger boat was needed and the "Iona Pearl" was built. It was similar to the "Leona May' except considerably larger and boasted an upper deck. The boats were named for the two Whitney daughters, Mrs. Whitney was a licensed pilot and often assisted her husband. Their son Howard received his river pilot's license in 1928 and he took his turn at running the boat. The ferry operated on a regular schedule seven days a week and the hours were long. The season opened as soon as the ice went out of the river in the spring and continued until the river froze over in the winter. The cabin was heated so the passengers were comfortable in cold weather. In 1932 when the Sabula-Savanna bridge was nearing completion, the 'Iona Pearl' mad her last trip to Savanna. Mr. Whitney had been offered a position as toil take on the new bridge, but the life of a river pilot was too strong. He loaded all of his possessions on his ferry and with his family started southward to Louisiana with the first snow storm of the winter. Here he operated his ferry until his death. His wife and son still live there. BOAT TALK The language when are afloat Is not to be ignored; You don't get on a boat, You always go ABOARD. You may want to say it is a floor, But you call it a DECK instead. The kitchen is the GALLEY, The bathroom is the HEAD. To go BELOW to the cabin You use the COMPANION WAY, Coming up, you go TOPSIDE To see the light of day. The equipment you carry is your GEAR, And you ought to know it. Also, you do not put it away, To be correct, you STOW it. When you have stowed your gear, Your education will resume. After explaining MAINSHEET, We'll tackle TRANSON, BATTEN BOOM… The front of the boat is the BOW And the rear end is the STERN. And if you don't know STARBOARD from PORT Brother, you better learn! --Nellie Knuth Sabula's Hotels In those early days of difficult and slow transportation, every settlement had a 'public house' or hotel. Since its earliest times, Sabula has had hotels and rooming houses, which were home to many a traveler. The first in the village was the "Iowa Exchange", built in 1839 by Thomas Marshall, quite a noted character in those days. It was a large two-story frame building, facing the river near the public landing. Nearly all of the business buildings were on that street. Here the first town election was held, as well as many other important meetings. The building was purchased by A. H. Berner, who tore it down and it its place, built a beautiful brick home, now a Sabula landmark, and the home of Mrs. Mildred Sorg. The Western Hotel was another of the early hotels., located on pearl street. After it was no longer used as a hotel, it was converted into a two family dwelling, and for many years the home the late John O. Scarborough. It was here that the first meeting was held to organize an Independent School District on October 8, 1860. William Petersen has built a new home on this location. Sabula's most pretentious hotel was the "Elderidge House', built in 1854 by Wade Eldridge, and conducted by him until 1861. At one time the first floor was rented as a drug store. This building, which is remarkably preserved, has a colorful history. Because of its size, it became the gathering place of many of the earlier organizations and civic meetings. On the main floor was a large display where the traveling salesmen showed their wares. It has had many proprietors and has been known by different names, but for many years it has been known as the 'Riverside Hotel', although many old timers still refer to it as the 'Eldriodge House'. The Hilsinger Bank was in the Pearl Street side of the building, for many years, as well as a department store. There was a store in the basement at one time. The building is now owned by Bill and Joe Cotton, who have converted it into attractive apartments. Part of the lower floors are offices. The Teeds Grove Savings Bank have their Branch Office here the old Hilsinger Bank was located. Carol's Beauty Shop now occupies the office that was occupied for some time by Jim Gifford Insurance Agency. Ike Goos had his barber shop for many years in the present office of Cotton Bros. Plumbing and Heating Co. The V.F.W. occupy the basement area for their club rooms. The 'Berner House' was originally a saloon, but was purchased in 1865 by A. H. Berner, who enlarged it and equipped it for a hotel. The south part of the building was torn down in 1914 when the K, of P. built their auditorium. The remainder of the building was used at various times as a bakery, feed store, oil station and dwelling home. In 1965, it, too, was torn down to make way for the Speaker Company expansion. Another old time hotel, still remembered by Sabula's older people, was 'The Blenner House', built in 1871 by Jerry Blenner. Besides the hotel proper, there was also a saloon on the north end and over it, Sabula's only opera house. Many home talent plays as well as professional actors thrilled the public. It was used as such until 1914. Here the first moving pictures were shown and still later, used by the school for basketball practice and games. During World War I, with the dining room no longer in use, it was used as a mess hall for about 100 soldiers who were stationed here for several months. After the war, the American Legion held their meetings here. Later, the rooms were rented for apartments, and in the mid 1960's was purchased by the Speaker company to enlarge their plant. Today Sabula has a motel for the tourist and sales persons visiting our Island City. It is operated by Charles Calentine and his family, Industries By far the most important industry in Sabula past or present, was the Iowa Packing Company. In 1860, two brothers, Perley and Josiah Stiles, began the business of pork packing in Sabula in a two story stone building, located on a lot opposite the present funeral home on the east side of the street, facing the river. In a short time, a much larger building was needed. A three story building of brick and stone, 40 by 300 feet, was erected on what is now River Front Park. A second addition made the mommoth structure 70 by 360 feet with four stories and a floor space of over two acres. Besides this, the pens occupied almost an entire block and an ice house on an adjoining lot was built. The ice house had a capacity of storing 10,000 tons of ice. At the peak about 200 men were employed and the plant ranked fourth in the state with only Dubuqque, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines doing more business. The big packing concerns of the large cities gradually killed the business of the smaller packer and in 1904 the building was razed to the ground by a Chicago firm for the material it contained. In 1869 a flouring mill was constructed by Risley and Day, who operated it until 1872 when it was sold to Young Brothers. It operated 18 hours a day and could grind 390 bushels of wheat. In 1878 a third partner, Abraham Beesley, was taken into the firm. During the 1880's the mill changed hands several times and was finally torn down. A residence n ow marks the spot where the mill once stood and today is the home of George Parks. In 1877 Young Brothers put up an oatmeal building on the river front. It was later sold to Sugg and Lambert who called the establishment the Centennial Oat Mill Co. At the time of the building of this mill there were only three similar establishments in Iowa. Most of the meal was shipped to New York. After several years of successful operation the building was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt. Probably the longest running industry in Sabula was the saw mill. The first saw mill was built by E. and M. H. Long, father and son, who came to Sabula in 1863. They built their mill on the water's edge at the north end of the town in 1871, equipping it with the best machinery on the market at the time. The mill operated steadily from April to November. The logs were floated down the river. It was sold about 1910 to John Wisdom and Son who also had a barrel stave factory. They continued to do custom sawing until 1914 when the mill was completely destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt on a much smaller scale and operated until the early 1920''. In 1870 Francis Esmay built a planning mill in the north part of town for $5,000 on the location of the present home of Mrs. Anna Jepsen. It burned in 1877 but almost immediately was rebuilt and operated as long as there was a saw mill in Sabula. It was torn down in 1938. In 1875 a second planing mill was built on the lot near the C. M. & St. P. depot. This firm was in operation only a few years. Another industry that sprung up in Sabula and proved very popular because of its novelty was the manufacture of Shell jewelry. Sleeve buttons, combs, brooches, etc. were made from the shell of mussels taken alive from the river. Henry Rogers was the first to engage in the making of these novelties in about 1870. Early in the 1900's Scott Provin continued his trade in the shop along the river bank near the railroad bridge until his death in about 1910. About 1895 Sabula had become known for the production of celery in the rich bottom lands back of the town. Two and a half tons was the average shipment going to Duluth, Ft. Worth and as far west as Montana The first button factory began in 1895 in a building that had previously been a creamery. The blanks were cut and finished here. The factory employed about 15 men and 10 women. The business was sold to H. Chalmers of Amsterdam, N, Y., in 1905. He erected a building on the south side of the present day Highway 64 and Lake Street. The machinery was moved to the new plant and the building was again used as a creamery until 1918. It is now being converted into a home by Gerald Pinter. The Chalmers plant was known as the Iroquois Button Company. Barney Binhoff was its superintendent. At its peak 100 men were employed either as cutters or as clam fishermen. Peal buyers were weekly visitors to the clam fishing waters, paying from $5.00 to several hundred for a pearl. With the widespread use of modern plastics and the invention of the zipper, the pearl button industry gradually phased out. In 1930, after a fire and being closed intermittently for the preceeding five years, the button factory closed. The building was razed and in it place is a dilapidated building owned by the town. It is soon to be torn down. The land now belongs to the government. Also there was William Lovell's greenhouse just west of town in the Dominy Addition. He was the leading florist in the area and was known far and wide for his beautiful floral arrangements which were in great demand in eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Sabula also boasted a modern livery stable on the site now occupied by the Union 76 Gas station. It was the first owned by W. J. Leonard who sold it to Fred Schrambling in 1899. A horse and carriage could be rented by the day or for longer periods for a modest fee. Stalls, also, could be rented to house horses. In addition a full line of feed, harnesses and the latest models in rigs were for sale. The last owner of the business was E. L. Smith. With the coming of the automobile, the livery business faded into oblivion as so many other businesses have. The Sabula Speaker Company began operating here late in 1958 in the building once owned by the Knights of Pythias which the city had purchased for a town hall. They make speakers for radios and televisions and by 1960 had commenced the manufacture of transformers, employing mostly women. Subsequently, the transformer operation was discontinued, but the plant continued to expand and more land was bought to build on, until now it covers most of a city block in addition to having two warehouses. It is now owned by the Oxford Speaker Company and employs about 100 men and women. The company is not unionized, but the employees receive most of the fringe benefits as those of the larger companies. Richard Dickenson has been plant manager since the beginning. The company has contributed considerably to the economy of the town. This, briefly, is the story of Sabula's industries. There are many that have not been listed, for lack of information, such as the Excelsior plant., the Cement Post and Block Company owned and operated by Kimball and Walker, The Sand and Gravel Company, the creamery operated by J. F. Runkle, Ramey Kindred's Willow furniture, Jim Gage's Hand Laundry and Bottle Stic, the native brick kilns west of town, Charles Eley's cement Water Trough, the skilled stone masons who cut and fashioned the native limestone from which so many are still in perfect condition. Some of the stone masons were A. W. Giddings, Henry Heckert and Sam Gates Railroads There are many aspects in Sabula's past that have not been touched upon. Time and space does not permit one to go into extensive detail-still they deserve mention. Each event in its own way has a vital part in our town's history. Probably one of the most important of the industries, not yet mentioned, is the railroad, and the part it has played in Sabula's growth, not only in the past, but today as well. In 1870, the Chicago, Clinton, Dubuque and Minneapolis Railroad Company built a line from Dubuque to Clinton, which passed under the bluffs just west from Sabula's town limits. The first railroad tracks to pass within the town's border was the Sabula, Ackley and Dakota Railroad, which began in Sabula and ended at Marion, Iowa, built in 1872. Union Township voted a tax of 5% to aid in the construction of it. The Chicago. Milwaukee, and St. Paul later bought these railroads. After they became the property of this company, they ferried the cars across the river on the company steam ferry boat-The "William Osbourne". When the river was frozen, temporary tracks were laid across the ice. IN the fall of 1880, the Company began the construction of an iron bridge across the Mississippi, which took two years to finish. The work was very hazardous and several lives were lost and many were seriously injured. In 1906, this bridge was torn down and a new one, forty percent heavier, built in its place. All of the trains of the eastern division of the Milwaukee road passed through Sabula. Many of the passengers changed trains here and the depot was a busy and crowded place. There were several trains a day crossing the bridge at this point and all of them stopped at the Sabula station. When the streamlined diesel powered trains came into use, they made fewer stops, and only at the larger cities. In 1958, the Sabula depot was torn down, since it was no longer used, and local people found it necessary to to Savanna to get on a passenger train. The Milwaukee railroad and Union Pacific Company formed a merger and soon after the most passenger service was taken over by Amtak. Passsenger trains no longer go through Sabula, and the closest connection with Amtrak is at Galesburg. There are fewer freight trains, also. The large long distance trucks and the river barges carry more freight than the trains. Most mail is carried by air, and even the bus lines do a tremendous freight business. The railroads opened up our frontier and were largely responsible for the rapid growth of our country, but competition has cut into their business sharply. There was a time when trains were almost constantly going across the bridge or going under the bluff, with bells clanging as the neared the depot, and their mournful whistle could be heard throughout the countryside. More men in Sabula were employed by the railroad than any other industry, except the Savanna Army Depot during World War II. Besides the station agents, telegraph operators, bridge tenders, and section crews, a large number worked as baggage men and train men. There are still a number of local men working on the railroad, and during the past year, there appears to be some increase in the traffic. Electricity, Sanitary Sewer and Natural Gas Until 1913. Sabula's only street lights were kerosene lamps, placed in lamp posts on the street corners. It was the duty of the town marshall to see that the lamps were filled with oil and lighted each night. On March 8, th13, the People S Gas and Electric Company of Savanna, Ill. Made a proposition to the town of Sabula that they would supply electricity wholesale to the town if they would lay a submarine cable across the river and also, erect the pole line, which they estimated would cost about $5,000. After due consideration by the council, an election was held on April 14 to decide whether or not the town was in favor of such a proposal. Women were permitted to vote on this issue with separate ballot boxes for them. The men voted 264 'yes and 11 'no', 112 women voted-all for the affirmative. A second election was held June 9, 1913, on the question of issuing bonds to the amount of amount of $8,000 to pay for the cable and poles and to establish an electric fund. 208 men voted with only one opposing vote. 76 women voted---all in favor of the issue. Work was commenced immediately under the direction of Electrician Walter Long and his crew. It tool five weeks to set the poles and forty-five days to make the cable, which was ready to lay in September. The final connection was made on September 13, 1913 and the first building to be electrically illuminated was the Eldredge Drug Store. The first night the light were on, it was a common sight for people to turn on all their lights and then go outside to admire the sight of their homes so brilliantly lighted. It was said that the lights in Pete Hundevard's barber shop were switched on and off thirty times in the first half hour. Sabula purchased electricity from the Savanna company until it was absorbed by the Interstate Power Company. They follow the same procedure with the Interstate-buy at wholesale and sell at a slight profit. The under water cable was not used after the bridge was built across the river, and new poles set along the highway. Other companies have tried to sell electricity to the town and billing the consumer directly, but when it came to a vote several years ago Sabula citizens voted unanimously for the town to continues as it had in the past. Electricity has been a good source of revenue for the town ever since 1913. In 1966, a sanitary sewer plant was built at the south edge of Sabula on land between the south pike and the lower dike. An election was held for the purpose of deciding whether or not the city should purchase bonds amounting to $240,000-of these, $190,000 to be revenue bonds and $50,000 to be general obligation bonds, all to be paid off in 30 years through money received from sewer rental. This vote passed and the following summer the work was completed. Each household pays $4.50 per month sewer rent and no tax is levied against the town. One year later (1967) Northern Natural Gas Company brought their service to Sabula. This, also, had to be brought before the people by voting before the town could lay the gas mains. Bonds in the amount of $140,000 would be needed to finance the venture. This vote also passed and as soon as the work was finished over half of the residents changed from L. P. gas to the more economical natural gas, and today, the majority of Sabula people enjoy the convenience of this type of fuel for heat and cooking. The bonds were to be paid off in twenty years, and those, too, were revenue bonds, as no tax had to be levied. Sabula's Schools The first school in Sabula was held in the homes of the settlers in the early part of 1838. Miss Sterns taught the youngsters for several years in reading, writing, and simple arithmetic. By 1844 it became apparent that more was needed along the educational line. There were no public funds to build a school, but about that time the Methodists had run into financial difficulties in completing their church building. So the two factors got together and the church people let their be used as a school during the week with the town contributing to the cost of finishing the building. This buildin was on the corner of Pearl and Washington streets, directly south of the present Lutheran church. This arrangement proved, very satisfactory, both to the town and to the church, and continued until the erection, in 1856, of the stone school on the south end of public square, now the Masonic Hall.. By 1856, the new school was in full operation. The first year there were 57 male students and 93 female students who paid tuition of 78c in summer and $1.18 in winter. The school year consisted of 60 days in summer and 60 days during the winter months. There was no school during the spring or fall. During the first year a total of $165 was spent for teacher's salary. By 1869 it was decided that the time had come for a tuition free public school, and it should come from the taxpayers. A few years before, October 10, 1860, and independent school district had been formed with the first officers being president, Israel Day; vice president, H. G. Crary and secretary, John Hilsinger. The first school board members were W. H. Eldridge, O. G. Risley and Thomas Esmay. A contract was awarded for the construction of two frame buildings, one at the north end of town and the other at the south end. Repair of the stone building at this time was $2953. The North Ward school was located on the lot owned for many years by the Bonderson family and now owned by Raymond Kuhl. The South Ward school was on the corner of Union and Elk Street, now a vacant lot owned by Alice Williams. The two ward schools taught grades one through eight and the stone school had grades nioen, ten and eleven. The demand was growing for a full fledged high school, so on August 12, 1879, an election was held to approve bonds to pay for such a building, but it was defeated, 94 to 40. Three years later, March 15, 1882, an election was held on bonding the town in the sum of $10,000 for building purposes and this time it passed. The contract was let to Frank Esamy who sublet it to Peter Berg and on July 4, 1882 the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies and the building completed December 23, 1882. The school opened with regular sessions in January of 1883 with H. W. French being the principal from 1883 to 1885. The first annual commencement was held under Principal Ely, June 19, 1888. The school maintained a high scholastic standard and met all state requirements. During World War I, with patriotism running high, the study of the German language was discontinued and a huge bonfire made of all German textbooks. About that time, a domestic science class was added for teaching sewing and cooking for the girls and at the same time a room was made in the basement for manual training for the boys. A basketball team was organized for both boys and girls. Practice was held on the school grounds, but when it got too cold for outdoors, they held their games in what used to be the Old Sabula Opera House. By 1920, the school was again becoming crowded and an election was held for funds to build an addition. This was defeated, so once gain the old stone school was used. July 25, 1924 another election was held on a $30,000 bond issue and this time was approved. The building was completed in January of 1927 and consisted of a gymnasium and four class rooms. In 1946, the school was consolidated and took in the rural schools of Union and Iowa Townships. Shortly after that there was talk of reorganizing the school districts and part of Elk River Township was assigned to Sabula and by 1960 had become the Sabula School District. Again the school was rapidly school becoming to small and the Odd Fellows Hall was being used for a hot lunch room and classroom. The State Department was making demands for increased curriculum, a larger library, etc. in order to be eligible for state aid. Once more the voters approved bonding the town, this time in the amount of $135,000. The new addition consisted of four classrooms and the removal of the bell tower and the old familiar school bell. By 1965 it was again necessary to use the Odd Fellow Hall, even though a mobile unit had been added. This unit was very unsatisfactory and used only a short time so another bond issue was voted upon for further addition, but was defeated. Sic months later another election for bonding was held. This passed a modular unit. The annex was used for kindergarten and music. During the administration of Mr. Hueholdt, the Miles or Sabula, wherever the class was to be held. James House, superintendent at Miles, also became superintendent at Sabula, dividing his time between the two places. This worked out very well and with the students of both schools sharing classes and teachers, the bond of friendship and school loyalty have been strengthened. For several years, the talk of reorganizing the school district had been going on with much opposition on both sides. None wanted to give up their school, but the demands of the state were bringing the possibility closer all the time. It seemed that the time had come to give serious thought on merging our two schools while we still had a choice of the district with which we would merge. So a study group from Miles and Sabula was organized to contact the citizens and to try to figure out the best way to make such a change The culminated, in an election to merge the two school districts. Feeling was running high and although Sabula passed the merger, it was defeated by Miles. Six months later, it was again voted upon-this time defeated by Sabula. Finally, due to declining enrollment and increased cost, it was again voted upon. Neither side made much of an issue. It was as if all had accepted the inevitable and given in to the changing times. March of 1974, and Miles and Sabula School Districts voted to merge and form a new district to be known as East Central Community School District, effective July of 1974. May 15, 1974, the first directors were elected. They were John Horst, Dan Smith and Donald Gray. William Koch was elected director-at-large and Herbert Jargo, was treasurer. SABULA SONG (Tune Boola Song) On the banks of the old Mississippi River Where the dear little flowers grow, On the dear old bluffs we will roam forever And look on the world down below We work and play the live long day As you will surely see We'll show to you the way we do In dear old Sabula, today. CHORUS O Sabula, dear Sabula, O, Sabula, Sabula dear, We will always dearly love you O Sabula, Sabula dear. (2) This Sabula town is know far and wide For its park, the pike and shady walk, Our ball team scores are our pride And we always mean to make them talk, Throughout the school, it is the rule To always do our best, For in this town, our hearts are bound By ties not elsewhere found. CHO: Sabula High School Alumni 1888 Mame Gage Jennie Sugg Floy White 1889 Agnes Preussing 1800 Eva Beesley Bertha Davis Wade Eldredge Kate Fulmer Hata Goos Thekla Ingwersen Albert E. De Reimer Lou Keimer Abavia Thorp Minnie Whitney 1891 Phoebe Gage DeEtta Seeber Hallie Shadduuck Minnie Sugg 1892 Effie albright Mamie Beatty Mile Cogan Sadie Esmay Mattie Kindred Mattie Preussing Herbert R. Sugg John Sugg Jessie Spore Jessie Walker 1893 Mary Chappiell Albert Cohrt Addie Esmay Hattie Kimball Ida Law Elwin Schroeder Eva Sutton 1894 Mattie Beaty Edith Bryant Ella Bryant Carrie Davis Hartley Flack Anna Gage May Joy Mildred Marsden Earle McElroy Isabelle McNally George Newsome Frank Paulson Charles Pitken 1895 M. Catherine Andersen John Gage Frank Geist Myrtle Hobbs Anna Petersen Lizzy Preussing Margaret Rogers 1896 Abbie Bedford Charles Esmay Laura Lovell 1897 Agnes Beesley Albert L. Day Maye C. Draper Ethel Edington Roy Flack Lena Grunnett Wade Guenther Lucy McDole Albert L. Parker 1898 Katherine Kimball Lula McElroy Hilla Petersen Alphia Potter Brune Schroeder Rae White 1899 Vess Beatty Chester Davis Mamie Day Agnes Joy 1900 Margaret Bahne Clara Collier Sara M. Grunnett Elsie Spore August Weihs Minnie Wulff 1901 Cameron Cotton Glen Day Paul Keller Anna Larsen Chalmer Law Lizzie Lynch Ada Sterling Maude Swift 1902 Fannie Clappison Guy Eldredge J. O. Gage Martha Grunnett Ira Hansen Cora Jones Josie Joy Spencer Kimball Adah Kindred Myrtle Law Fammie Morse Mamie Petersen Mattie Petersen Lenore Rogers Fred Warnecke Emil Weihs Joe S. Whitney 1903 thomas Freeman Alida Giddings Ralph Giddings Anna Mohr Andrew Petersen Marie Rasmussen Roy Scheckler Emma Swift 1904 Mary Beesley Milton Clappison Grace Cotton Clifford Day William Freeman Alice Gates Anna Haley Christina Jensen Flossie Lambert Aletha Law Willie H. Lynch Margaret Maloney Alma Schultz Eleanor Schramling Lulu Sterling Margaret Thompson Lee Thronburg Emma Wells 1905 Essie Blenner Inge Bonderson Gertrude Campbell Effie Esmay Freda Thompson 1906 No class 1907 Anna C. Busch Glen Densmore Margaret Hornett 1908 Winifred Bowers Beulah Kempter Clifton Simpson Bessie Smith Ella Weihs 1909 Beulah Babcock August Fritz Anna Giddings Hans Jess George H. Keller Hazel Lambert H. M. Mohr Charles Thompson Grace Thompson 1910 Frank Berner Louis Bowers Milton Gage Rex Huffman Merle Kimball Johnson Margaret Schramling 1911 Day Cotter August Daacke Agnes Helfert Myron Scarborough Blanche Thompson Theresa Thompson Edna Waidelich Edith Weihs William Wells 1912 Viola Brown J. C. Day Ruth Hodge Zillah Kempter Vivian Lambert John Mohr Adele Petersen Joe Schramling Alfred Smith 1913 Harriet Kempter Katie Thomsen Florence Thompson 1914 Irma Bowers Rose Peters Barbara Roeder Margaret Smith Ray Waidelich 1915 Mable Clark George Conklin Ruth Conklin Idah Kempter Lester Krabbenhoft Ione Schlaming Olga Thompson 1916 Sophie Busch Ralph Kunan George White 1917 George Densmore Albert Jorgensen Anna Petersen Harriet Spring Agnes Thompson Bess Thompson 1918 Josephine Gage Lucille Spring 1919 Amy Boyd Phoebe Dunham Deta Jorgensen Olive Kempter Edith Kindred Ray Kindred Lawrence Michaels Anna Papke Virtus Rathje Eva Thompson Evelyn Whitney 1920 Ralph Esmay Russell Gage Marjorie Goos Alma Waidelich 1921 Marion Brown Gerard Gage Marjorie Kempter Glenroy Kunau Alice Privin Harold Thompson Miles Wilson 1922 Claud Briggs Ralph Jorgensen Marie Petersen Viola Radden Elizabeth Tienan Elijah Wilson 1923 Vilas Brown William Giddings Madge Guenther Florence Harmsen Ida Harmsen Albert Hatheway Mathilda Heinecke Chris Jensen Emelda Kunau Louis Kyarsgaard Clarence Michaels Wilford Boeder 1924 Ethel Clark Bussell Cotter Henry Dickenson Helen Kempter Leo Kruse Leona Kuhl Carl Papke Helen Wilbur 1925 Edna Clappison Martha Clappison Harriett Dickenson James Esmay Gladys Fosen Gladys Helfert Kenneth Helfert Vivian Holm Clarence Kindred Lewis Markwell Gordon Martz Marjorie McElroy Ethna McLaughlin Bessie Norskow Paul Parrick Vida Rathburn Alfred Rathje Thelma Seeger LeRoy Thompson 1926 Carson Greene Hazel Henfrey Albert Kyarsgaard Donald Wilson 1927 Harry Babcock James Cotter Bessie Dickinson Howard Dynes Paul P. Kempter Winifred Lasinsky Esther McElroy Elva Rathburn Vida Seeger Edward Stoddard 1928 Lila Alton Fred Behn Marion Clausen Alma Cleman Jane Dickinson Gladys Dynes Ellen Gage Mildred Harmsen Harriett Harrison Jack Keller Nellie Leonard Harry Martin Ruth Papke Howard Pollack Arlene Rogers Milton Vicks Howard Whitney 1929 Anna Bitker Winifred Dickinson Walter Edlen Julia Freeman Helen Giddings Carrie Helfert Alvin Jensen Jack Kempter Soren Lund Jack Maloney Fred Markwell Elsie Oakes Ray Papke Clarence Peters Lester Petersen Marjorie Rathburn Gwendolyn Seeger Lewellyn Slade Gladys Summerville Edith Thompson 1930 Winston Adams Margaret Alton Avelda Clark Helen E. Day Kathryn Dickinson Ray Harrison John Hatheway Carl Johnson Edward Lasinsky Mable Pollock Evelyn Smith Donald Tillis 1931 Hazel Dickinson Mary Driscoll Russell Freeman Howard Grossman Joseph Hoyer Russell Krabbenhoft Eldon Kurth Eleanor Petersen Robert Petersen Herman Schepler Leola Whitney Welcome Whitney 1932 Hazel Bitker Tom Brooks Audrey Clark John Clark Bard Gage Anna Mary Giddings Aksel Johnson Glen Peterson Esther Summerville Thelma Whitney 1933 Lynn Babcock Jane Giddings Lois HeinrichMargaret Hilsinger Harry Hoyer Helen Keller Loretta Lambert Beulah Madsen Ruth Pollock Florence Wall Jane White D. C. Whitney 1934 Harold Brown Leo Driscoll Robert Gage Berniece Geronzin Lillian Gilbert Lillian Guyer Philip Hilsinger Wayne Hoyer Edwin Jepsen Bruce Lambert Russell Leonard Orville Martensen Jerry Meyers James Miller Clifton Robinson William Wacker Kenneth Wallace Anna Whitney 1935 Millard Bees Sarah Driscoll Anson Geronzin Julia Hitchcock Helen Hodges Wesley Horst Dale Hummel Irving Krabbenhoft Jane Larsen Lawrence Leonard Gladys Petersen Enid Ritchie Edith Tompkins Ethel Tompkins Gertrude Wacker Kathryn Wall Edward Wallace 1936 Bill Babcock Omer Clark Jane Hodges Harry Johnson Dorothy Keller George Knuth Alice Martensen Phyllis Matthew John Petersen Gerald Weber 1937 Louis Clark Helen Driscoll Ralph Giddings, Jr. Margaret Goos Floris Knuth Ethice McCabe Lorraine Meyers Helen Miller Harlan Seeger Dorothy Stanek Thelma Summerville Agnes Weber Lawrence Wells 1938 Buane Bees Robert Clark Charles Bill Cotton Cecil Giddings Jeanette Greve Jean Hardwicck Violet Peterson Lois Strait Francis Tillis Helen Wall Lilly Whitney 1939 Mary George John Goos Mary Hoyer Agnes McDermott Lois McMahon Hubert Robinson Ben Stanek, Jr. Marjorie Taplin Berdetta Wall Bernetta Wall Carmen Wall Carl Wells Donald Wilson Eileen Wise