Tales from the Aisles
By Mickey Thomas
Historical tidbits
Here are some tidbits of Osceola history from the August 2, 1951 Centennial Issue of the Osceola Sentinel and the July 30th 1959 100th Anniversary Edition of the Osceola Sentinel.
Sidewalk to the Depot
The fall, prior to the arrival of the first trains in Osceola on Jan. 15, 1868, impatient citizens expressed their anger that the ordinance requiring sidewalks to be extended from the square to the depot grounds had not been completed. “Where is our street commissioner and what is he doing, are we to plod to the depot in mud?” The depot was near the end of West Jefferson Street.
Gossip Ordinance
A gossip ordinance was passed in 1869. “Whereas, several idle, gossiping women make it their business to bum around the city from house to house, inventing and spreading false and scandalous reports of good people there of, and thereby sow discord between men and their wives, and sons and daughters,” etc. The ordinance went on to say, “Any woman henceforth convicted shall be punished by ducking her in the muddy waters of the Park pond, at the east corner of the square.”
Streets Stunk
Osceola streets stunk in 1869 according to an account of that day. “Perfumery, the aroma arising from mud holes on the street running down the east side of the square, is sufficient, if gathered and concentrated, to make asafetida sufficient last one generation a plum month, and have enough left over to scent the handkerchiefs of the generation to come once a week for forty years.”
First Brass Band
The first brass band was formed in 1869. A committee was appointed consisting of Aaron Johnson, George Wilson, and Julius Goldwater to solicit money to assist in purchasing instruments. It was printed, “Practice is to start under the leadership of Mr. Armstrong, a musician of no ordinary caliber, and under whose instructions rapid advancement toward perfection is expected.”
Fencing the Square
In 1883, an iron fence was built around the park in the center of the square in Osceola. Inside the fence was a board walk. Outside, hitching racks of posts and chains were installed.
1885 Census
Osceola had 3,172 persons in 1885. J. W. Estes assessor and census taker at that time, stated that “Osceola, founded in 1851, has not grown greatly in population.” He listed 1,097 male citizens, 1,109 female citizens, 17 foreigners not naturalized, and 949 children between 5 and 21 years of age. There were two blind citizens, two deaf mutes, 19 persons who were 75 years of age, 12 who could not read or write, 19 who could read, but not write, and one idiot.
A total of 229 cattle were kept within the city limits, as were 254 horses, 14 mules, 155 swine, and 72 dogs.
Osceola Citizens Promote Highways
U.S. Highway 34 was the first all-paved highway across Iowa. It followed the markings of the Blue Grass Trail that Joe Long, Editor of the Sentinel from 1897 to 1912, promoted.
After leaving Osceola, Long edited a good roads magazine in Des Moines. Throughout Iowa this highway is a memorial to the U. S. Army “Red Bull” 34th Division, which in World War II was mostly composed of Iowans.
Osceola citizens took a leading part in the organization of U.S. Highway 69. One of the first vice-presidents to plan the highway was Johnson Richards, father of the late
Mrs. A. F. Canavan, wife of “Casey” Canavan, former Sentinel columnist. E.G. Banta, Paul Simmons, and Roy Armstrong were among others active in promotion of this route known as the Jefferson Highway.
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