The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 27, 1905

Library Receives Many New Books

Books of History, Reference, Fiction and Travel Among Them.

They Are Much in Demand

Library Continually Increases in Patronage and is Constantly Visited by Streams of Booklovers – Popular Novel Appeals to All.

Just as unceasingly as books go out of the public library to be read in the homes of the city, are they coming in from the publishers to satisfy the constant craving for reading matter and especially for new books.

There is such an abundance of new books, that while not classics, are not of the lower class of books, so that they seem especially to fit in for moments of pastime when perhaps the brain is too tired to cope with one of the heavier books in English literature. The modern novel is in a way educating the people, because it is several steps higher than the paper covered book of a few years ago, and is yet within the understanding of all, and even for those who cannot grasp the finer and meritable points, the story appeals to them and becoming accustomed to the better grade of story, they find it harder to return to the old unscrupulous love tales of doubtful authors.

Every day the numbers of people who take books from the library is increasing and if one sits inside for even a short time he will hear many applicants asking how they are to get cards of membership.

If anything, there are more children who delve among the books there than there are grown people, and it is surprising to see the children whom you scarcely believe can read, asking for all sorts of books, and going off in high delight with them, much as they would treasure a new doll or slingshot.

Every time a new list of books is published, the librarian states that it takes scarcely two days for them all to go out and every often several of them are asked for many times, when they have already been given out. A new consignment has just been catalogued and reads as follows:

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 26, 1906

Historical Society Organized Last Night

Shall Be Called Webster County Historical Society – Meeting July 10th.

Enthusiastic Meeting Held

Committee Appointed to Draw up Constitution and By-laws – it will be Affiliated With the State Historical Society at Des Moines.

A small, though very enthusiastic crowd of people interested in the organization of a local historical society met at the Baldwin studio last evening to discuss the feasibility of the venture. Captain H.M. Pratt acted as temporary president and chairman of the meeting and H.O. Baldwin as secretary. During the evening a motion, which all present were in favor of, towards exploiting the scheme, was passed and an organization was affected.

The early part of the evening was devoted to the discussion of the various plans as suggested by those present, a committee composed of the following members being appointed to draw up a constitution and by-laws:

Mrs. Johnathan P. Dolliver, Mrs. S.C. Carpenter, Rev. R.L. Breed and Captain H.M. Pratt, who was made chairman of the committee.

Arrangements for the next meeting which will also be an open one, on the evening of July 10th, were made. The meeting will again be held at the Baldwin studios, talks, illustrated by steroptican (sic) views preceeding (sic) the enrollment of the charter members of the organization.

The name decided upon for the society is the Webster County Historical Society, and membership to it will not be confined to the city, but will be granted to any resident of the county who is interested and willing to lend his or  her assistance in the interest of the society.

There are at present but eight societies in the state outside of the two state historical socities (sic). They are: Lucas and Decatur counties which were organized in 1901; Linn and Jackson counties organized in 1904; Washington and Poweshick (sic), organized in 1905; and Scott county organized about two months ago.

All these county historical societies are affiliated with the old state historical society, whose head quarters is at Iowa City. The Webster County Historical Society will also affiliate its organization with that of the state society, and will become an auxiliary member, at once, which will entitle it to one vote on all matters before the state board, and all historical publications issued by the state society.

At the close of the next meeting of the historical society five officers will be elected: A president, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer and a curator.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 16, 1904

The Jolly Peanut Club

A New Fun Finding Organization is Organized.

Eight Young Ladies Band Together As Eight Kernels in a Peanut Shell.

Seven members of the Jolly Peanut club, accompanied by Mrs. Harry Vincent as chaperon and Bruno Schroeder as coachman, left the city this morning in a large carryall for Humboldt, where they will spend the day in the various manners of enjoyment best known to young girls. The club was organized some time ago, but this is the first expedition into other lands as an organized band of funfinders.

The young ladies, eight in number, spent the night at the Schroeder residence, sleeping all in one bed, arranged by laying two big mattresses on the floor side by side. This was done in an attempt to live up to their name, it is supposed, like eight little kernels in a peanut shell. The girls were up at 4 o’clock this morning to be ready for their lark, and all in their big carryall passed thru the streets at 6 a.m. , rousing the town from its slumbers with the  hubbub of tin horns secured by them the night before the occasion.

The Peanut club was organized by the  young ladies for a good time organization, and they plan to follow as closely as possible the life and doings of “Eight Girls and a Dog.” The dog is not as yet forthcoming, but the club is otherwise complete with eight as lively girls as are often seen in a bunch.

The members of the club are as follows: Doris Olney, Hazel Schroeder, Olive Maher, Lulu Kepner, Talma Kitchen, Jean Marquette, Beth Wright, Hazel Clark.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: June 8, 1903

Juvenile Band is Coming to the Front

Has Received Invitation to Play at Waverly on Occasion of Woodmen’s Picnic Next Tuesday.

Graham Brothers’ Juvenile Band has been invited to participate in the band concert to be given at Waverly on next Tuesday at the Woodmen’s picnic. It was decided this morning that the band will go. The band is  under the direction of Mrs. Sultzbaugh and Mrs. Chiquet who have organized the band t his winter. That the band which has only been organized for a few months and is composed entirely of beginners has been requested to play at this contest is considered an excellent testimonial to the leaders and players. The management wish it understood that the boys will not be allowed to participate in any of the pernicious amusements which usually are a feature of gala days.

The band is composed of the following boys:

Cornets –
Verne Chiquet
Harry Sultzbaugh
Frank Isaacson

Slide Trombone – Fred Chiquet

Valve Trombone – Frank Bostwick

Tenor – William McDaniels

Basses –
Clifford Vonstein
Lester McGuire

Altos –
Will Todd
Melvin Roscoe
Clyde Boyden

Drums –
Gilbert Chiquet
Allen Brown

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 17, 1906

Manson Will Celebrate

Commercial Club Meets and Decided to Celebrate the Fourth.

Mansion will celebrate the Fourth of July. The Commercial club of that city held a meeting Wednesday night and decided that the city should do itself proud. Committees will be appointed and preparations started at once. The Manson Democrat says regarding the celebration:

“It will take over $500 to do the thing up right, but there is not the least doubt that such an amount can be raised very quickly if the right start is made. One of the best speakers in the nation will be hired, one of the best concert bands will be engaged, two of the best amateur baseball teams in the state will play and several good free attractions will be engaged. It will be a celebration worth coming fifty mies (sic – should be miles) to see and enjoy and will be the means of re-establishing Manson as the amusement center of this section on the Fourth of July.”

The Fort Dodge Messenger: May 16, 1906

Historical Society is Exploited

Residents of the City are Considering the Matter Seriously.

May Be Organized Very Soon.

Scheme Provides for the Exhibition of Objects of Historical Value and Filing of Authentic Records – Interest is Manifested.

A movement is on foot to organize a local historical society.Nothing has been done as yet towards making the mater (sic) an actuality, other than to discuss the feasibility of such an organization, its requirements and mode of maintenance, but it is very probable that within a short time amtters will be so arranged that it may be placed before the public.

The promoters of the idea first conceived the scheme of organization during the recent Golden Jubilee of the First Congregational church in the city at which time Rev. Breed delivered a stereoptican lecture on the “Faces and Scenes of Fifty Years Ago.” The lecture dealt with the early pioneers and the old land marks which are fast disappearing to make way for modern life and progress in such a manner as to cause a few to realize what the city of fifty years ago really means from a historical standpoint and how we are letting the means of authentically recording this history slip from our grasp. They immediately set about to reduce things to a practical basis and in very short time a meeting will be called which will be open to all those desiring to lend their individual aid along these particular lines.

The scheme, as it has formulated itself so far, is to maintain a temporary home for such objects of historical value as would be either loaned or given to the trustees of the society which would be on exhibition to the public at all times. When funds and occasion permit a permanent home for these relics of other days would be erected. A plan for the gathering together of all material of historical value dealing with the early pioneer life  of the city, that not so remote, and the later history will be followed up and placed in such hands as would make it an authentic record, which will be placed in a place of safety for generations to come.

When it is realized how small the number of pioneer settlers is how fast that number is being made smaller then will be realized the importance the organization and the maintenance of such a society.

Many years (ago) Major William Williams wrote a history of Fort Dodge. This is the only thing of its kind that the city has, and to which the citizens may refer in case of desiring to learn the things which transpired during the earlier days. The only other documents we have are human ones, and from them will be gathered that which will fill in the gaps necessarily made.

All interested will undoubtedly give this matter their individual attention, and assist in what way they may in the organization of a local historical society.

Northwest Chronicle: May 14, 1890

Permanent Fair Grounds

Few Enterprising Citizens Subscribe to Buy The Property.

It Will be Held in Trust Until the Agricultural Society is Able to Buy It. Webster County Will Have its Annual Fair, Right Along.

The fair grounds are as good as bought for the future use of the Webster County Agricultural Society. Several of our leading business men, who have no use for the word fail, got together as soon as it became apparent that the effort to get the general public to purchase the property would not work, and each subscribed a sufficient sum to make the total amount asked for the property.

The property is to be held in trust, one of the gentlemen who donated acting as trustee for the rest, until the Webster agricultural Society is able to buy the same. This deal makes it a settled thing that the Agricultural society will continue to be at  home to the people of this and adjoining counties on the “round prairie.” This fact should please everybody in the county.

It is now positive that we will  have yearly fairs, which means the getting together of the people of this community once a year to exchange greetings, to demonstrate the ability of many among us, which at the same times hows the work of the rich producing soil of Webster county, and the industry and frugality of her inhabitants.

The Chronicle has watched with anxious eyes the different steps taken toward the purchase of this property, and is delighted to know that the dark cloud which hovered over our heads for so long a time had a silver lining.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: April 10, 1917

Memberships in Red Cross Jumps to 564

Organization Wants 1,700 in Webster County

Lehigh Women Will Enroll

May Have Three First Aid Classes Here

Fort Dodge women are giving their loyal support to every branch of the Red Cross work. Membership in the Webster County Red Cross chapter has jumped to 564. Thirty new members were received this morning. The mark of “1700 new members for Webster county,” as set by the national headquarters no longer seems impossible and in a short time that number will be reached.

Lehigh Women Enroll.

Lehigh women are anxious to organize an auxiliary. This will be done at a meeting at the home of Mrs. John Marsh Thursday afternoon. One of the Fort Dodge women will talk to the women and explain the methods of organization. The local chapter is known as the Webster County Red Cross. Any other organizations in the county will be auxiliary to this. That means that the money that will be raised will be distributed to the general fund here and work will be apportioned out to them from the headquarters here.

“Any Rags, Any Rags?”

Officers of Company F and company G has asked the Red Cross Chapter t collect as many rags as possible for them. These are used to clean rifles. Any rags, any color and of any age of service will do for this purpose. It is a simple request and with housecleaning on the program an opportunity will be given housewives to collect them and send them to the headquarters at the Municipal rest room.

White rags, such as old pillow cases and sheets are also needed for making the oakum pads. These may also be sent to the local headquarters.

May Be Three Classes.

If membership in the First Aid class increases as rapidly as it has started there may be three classes formed. At present there are forty members enrolled. It is the intention that the members should have one general meeting. Depending upon the size of this classes will be subdivided. Each class will then elect officers and choose its time for meeting.

The largest crowd that ever attended  a work session was present at the Municipal rest room Monday afternoon. Every chair was taken, but there was plenty of work for all and it is hoped that this attendance will be kept up.

Wednesday Evening class.

For the benefit of those whose work keeps them from attending the after noon sessions a class is held every Wednesday evening. The attention of young women and girls who work is called to this. The lighting facilities are excellent.

J.M. Plaister, manager of the Fort Dodge Telephone company, has donated a telephone to the Municipal rest room for use of the Red Cross members. This will be a great convenience and a saver of time.

Mrs. R.P. Atweil has been appointed chairman of a committee to arrange for lunches at the close of the work sessions. A small price will be charged for this and the money raised will go toward the general fund.

Visit Sherman Laundry.

Nearly 100 visitors were at the Sherman laundry Monday, the first day of the all week benefit for the Red Cross chapter. for every visitor F.V. Sherman will give ten cents to the chapter. Automobiles were kept busy going back and forth. St. Margaret’s guild after their meeting in the Boston Store tea rooms, attended in a body.

The Fort Dodge Messenger: March 7, 1906

Move Started for Modern Hospital

Subscription List is to be Circulated Through the City

Knights of Columbus in Move

Physicians Agitate the Project – Planned to Have Sisters in Charge – Board of Trustees to Care for Funds to be Selected

A move has recently been started by a crowd of Fort Dodge physicians which is backed by the Knights of Columbus and the people of the city in general, by which it is hoped to push through to a final end the much talked project of a modern hospital for the city.

A subscription list has already been formed which it is planned to circulate through the entire city for the purpose of raising funds, and the work will probably be started at once. A committee headed by Mayor Bennett and consisting of other prominent men of the city is being formed for the purpose of receiving the proceeds, which are to be expended on the recommendations of the committee, the Fort Dodge doctors and the Knights of Columbus. In case the hospital is built it is planned to place it in charge of the Sisters of Mercy.

Fort Dodge has long needed a large modern hospital, and in view of the size of the city and the excellent reputation of Fort Dodge’s medical men through the state it is fast becoming a crying need. The present move will no doubt meet with the approval and encouragement of the entire city. The cost and size of the hospital will depend on the success that is met in soliciting subscriptions for the purpose.