Jasper County, Iowa

HISTORY OF IRA SCHOOL

Early day pupils attended the Elm Grove School. In 1901 the Ira School District of Independence Township was formed. Part of the first term of school was held in a down town store building. Wm. F. Rippey donated the land and W.I. Price built the first school house in Ira. Dota Boyd of Colfax taught the fall and winter terms. Carrie Jeffries of Ira taught the spring term.

In April of 1913 the Ira Independent School District was formed. School began on September 8, 1913 with 51 pupils and two teachers, Miss Faye Lowe for the first thru the fourth grades and Miss Aileen (Babe) Lowe for the fifth thru eighth grades. Each teacher received a salary of $50 per month. For that term the old school house was divided by a partition.

In 1914 a new two room school house was built. It had large rooms and the halls were spacious. Two large play rooms were in the basement.

0n Friday night, August 23, 1914, before school was to start on the following Monday morning, the new school house caught fire and burned to the ground. School had to be held in the old school house which had been moved down town until the new school house was rebuilt.

On December 22, 1936, the Ira school house was destroyed by fire. Class rooms were rented in a downtown store and community building for the balance of that school year and the next term.

In the spring of 1938 a new two room school building was completed with the help of W.P.A. workers. It was of modern brick construction. A community hall was in the basement.

Since the Ira school population had decreased, the 1950-51 term began with one teacher for all eight grades.

For the 1954-55 term the Ira school was for the one thru sixth grades. Other students were bussed to Mingo. In 1955 the Ira Independent School District became a part of the Mingo school system. Students went via buses to Mingo.

The school building was sold to the Ira Grange. Community activities were held for many more years in the basement.

Grange activities about died out, so recently the old school building was sold to the United Church of Ira. Considerable remodeling has transformed the school room floor into a fine Church. The basement has been kept as a community center for many activities including a pre-school.

(NOTE: The last few terms of the Ira school were reported incorrectly in the first printing of the History of Ira, published in 1937. Corrections appeared in later printings. The editor regrets the error.) Donald A. Price, Editor.

HISTORY OF IRA BANKS

Although the community of Ira does not now have a bank the first bank was opened for business on October 7, 1901. It was owned by the Wood brothers of Colfax. Charley Weston was the Cashier. It closed December 4, 1903.

In January 1904 the Charter for Farmers Savings Bank, Ira, was issued. The capital stock was $10,000. B. F. Baker was President, Wm. F. Rippey, Vice-president and Charles S. Weston, Cashier. A brick bank building was built on the west side of Main Street.

W. I. Price became Cashier in 1908 and he served for 28 years. In 1916 the Capital Stock was $15,000, and the Surplus was $2,500.

On July 31, 1936 the Charter was moved to Mitchellville and the Capital Stock increased to $25,000. The Ira location became an office of the Mitchellville Bank with W. I. Price as the manager. Mary Logsdon became manager on June 30, 1937. At the close of business December 31, 1939 the Ira office was discontinued.

The old bank building was torn down a few years ago.
By Donald A. Price.

News item April 21, 1886: "The good people of Ira have passed prohibiting our young men from to Baxter after dark; and it's a good one."

Oct. 21, 1913 -- The Newton Daily News reported a devastating fire in Ira that hit the east side of Main Street early this morning.

The fire had gained considerable headway when discovered about 1 A.M. in the Al. H. Campbell general merchandise store. A large hall was on the second floor. Fanned by a swift wind from the north it rapidly spread to the two-story Clem L. Palmer building which housed the post office, a restaurant and the Palmer residence. Next in line was the brick building which housed the George A. Rumbaugh general store. The flames then jumped the alley to the Christopher C. Barbee hardware store and the Barbee attached residence. Across the alley back of the hardware store a large barn was also consumed by the fire.

How a large wooden building on the corner south of the hardware was saved is unknown as Ira had no fire department or equipment to fight fires.

The lumberyard south of the street was also saved as were the buildings on west side including the barber shop, a two story store building, the bank, the Mead harness shop and residence and the hotel.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF INTEREST

March 20, 1930. The Ira railroad station closed for business, but the trains continued to run for many years thereafter. Business for Ira was then conducted at the Mingo office. In the early forties one could still have the mail messenger flag the passenger train down and ride it to Des Moines. Marie (Koon) Carpenter rode the train to Des Moines every Monday morning when she attended AIB the summer of 1943. Jean (Warner) State did the same a couple of years later when she worked in Des Moines.

April 10, 1940. -- Will James has opened a barber shop in the old Ira bank building.

Jan. 1, 1941 -- Mud roads are so bad cars had to be left at hard surface roads and people returned to the horse and buggy days.

February 17, 1949 -- Mail cars were taken off the trains and the Star Route carrier began bringing mail to Ira.

Oct. 8, 1945 -- The 37th Anniversary of the Ira Christian Church was celebrated. There were 26 people present who had also attended the dedication in 1908.

1948 -- Electric lights were installed in both the Christian and Methodist Churches.

QUEEN AND KING continued from page two.

Mrs Warner moved to Ira in 1927 and although she has resided in seven different houses during that time she has been in her present residence for 33 years.

Neva (Prine) was married to Otis Warner in 1919. They had five children: Kenneth of Denver, Co.; Velma Hanan of Cataldo, ID.; Jean State of Ira; Janet Rumbaugh of Colfax; and Keith of Cedartown, GA. She also has 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Her husband Otis was killed in a car/train accident in 1968.

Ross moved to Ira in 1933 but has lived all his life in this immediate area. He and Marvel were married in 1929 and had two children, Joan Scott of Cedar Falls, LA., and Clayton of Chicago, He has five grandchildren.

Ross was a construction foreman and helped build many of the bridges and culverts in Jasper County. His wife Marvel was Postmistress in Ira for over 36 years, the longest tenure of anyone to hold that office in Ira. Marvel passed away in 1972.

The King and Queen will be transported in the Centennial Parade by another long time resident, Pat Sieg, in his 1965 Mercury convertible.

Another resident, Roy Bucklin, was a classmate of Neva and Ross when they attended Old Baxter country school before any of the three moved to Ira.

HISTORY OF IRA COMMUNITY
WATER SYSTEM
By Robert and Jean State

Prior to 1967 each home in Ira had its own well and water system. Progress came when Marvel Beardmore advised the town people of the possibility of government monies being available for unincorporated towns to be used for water and sewer systems.

Such projects were made possible by government legislation introduced by Representative John Kyl and Bert Bondstra who were helpful to us in getting the proper paper work submitted and approved.

Twenty-three interested property owners signed a letter of intent agreeing to become a charter member by pledging to pay $50 as the initial fee and agreeing to pay a monthly rate as set by the corporation.

The first meeting to set up the corporation was held in August, 1964 with County Supervisor Robert Russell and was finalized February 8, 1966. John Graves was the following F.H.A. Supervisor.

The first officers and board members were: Robert State, President; Max Bucklin, Vice President; Vernon Bucklin, Secretary and Treasurer; Jack Koon and Charlie Koon, Board Members.

Current officers are: Layman Cornelison, President; Cecil Carpenter, Vice President and Registered Agent: Robert State, Secretary and Treasurer; Henry Coiner and Dorwin Bucklin Board Members.

Mr. & Mrs. Robert State (Bob & Jean) donated the property for the well site.

The Corporation received a $2,000 advance loan from the F.H.A. in December of 1965 so the well could be dug. The well was bored by Verwers Well Co. of Pella, Iowa, in the summer of 1966. The well depth was 201 feet, and it came in as an artesian well. The cost was approximately $2,000.

The total cost of the well, building, water treatment and distribution system was approximately $40,000. A $14,000 grant was received and the remainder was borrowed from the Farmer's Home Administration for 40 years at 5% interest.

Consulting engineering work was done by Garden Engineering of Oskaloosa, Iowa. All legal work was handled by Lewis N. Girdner of Newton, Iowa. The orders to start work were sent to the contractors April 4, 1967.

Over the years many citizens have served on the Board. Of course rates have had to be increased as maintenance costs have risen since the system was installed.

Once again it shows what a group of people can accomplish by working together for a common cause.

The following is from the paper signed by Ira individuals who were charter members of the Ira Community Services, Inc.

"We, the undersigned, are desirous of installing a pure water system in the town of Ira, Iowa, and will pledge fifty dollars ($50.00) to become a Charter Member of the non-profit Corporation, also, will pay the monthly rate as set by the Corporation after installation."

(Note the figure opposite the name indicates the number of shares.) Curtis L. Harlin 1, Floyd L. Brown 1, Chas. Koon 2, Cecil Carpenter 1, John Geaheart 1, Ross Beardmore 1, Nellie Patton I, Louis Rettinghaur I, R.E. Loynachan I, Enos Gibson I, Jack Koon I, Max Bucklin 2, Roy Bucklin 2, Leslie Hamilton 1, Christine Whitehead 1, Robert W. State 3, Lee Otis Warner 1, Vernon C. Bucklin 1, Henry Comer 1, Anna Campbell I, Janet Trussler 1. John Scott and Jennie Taylor signed the paper, but moved out of town before the project was completed.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF INTEREST

Jan. 12, 1952.-- Mrs. Albert Sieg of Ira won a new car in a national "Name the Range" contest.

1958 -- D.C. "Zeke" Patton practiced barbering in the old hotel.

June 19, 1958 -- New (and first) electric street lights were turned on in the town of Ira.

1960 - - Max and Vela Bucklin acquired the Ira garage and gas station.

May, 1961 -- D.C. Patton made playground equipment for the Ira Wayside Park.

Pictured is the newly purchased Ira Fire Truck for our Volunteer Fire Department. Funds for the truck and fire departmentbuilding have been earned by the cooperative efforst of our citizens, past and present

HISTORY OF IRA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IRA PARK
By La Verna Cornelison

This community project was also started because one of our citizens had his ears open and advised others of the possibilities.

In the winter of 1970 Layman Cornelison was listening to the radio one morning when it was announced that the government was lending army surplus vehicles to small communities to be used for fire fighting equipment.

Layman was enthused about the idea and discussed it with Max Bucklin and Sam Miller. Sam submitted our name for a vehicle and through his efforts we were informed we would be issued a truck.

A meeting was held in Max's back yard to discuss having a Volunteer Fire Department. Layman and Max a1ong with Sam Miller, Cecil Carpenter, Tom Gray, Ronnie Brockett, Bob State, Charlie Koon, Vernon Bucklin, attended the meeting and decided to go ahead with the project.

Max, Layman and Charlie went to Camp Dodge and got the 1953 GMC Army truck to be used as a fire truck. Donations were accepted and a 2000 gallon water tank was purchased and mounted on the truck.

Layman was appointed Fire Chief and Cecil acted as Treasurer of the Volunteer Fire Department for Ira. LaVerna Cornelison was appointed Secretary- Treasurer in 1971.

In the spring of 1971 Ira's first Annual Fish Fry was held in the street in front of the post office. With the proceeds the Fire Department bought a 1953 FWD fire truck. Layman and Max went to Ames, Iowa, for it. It was bought for $800 as it had been wrecked.

The community held fish frys, ice cream socials, and auctions, which, along with many donations provided the monies to build up a fire truck.

Tom Gray did the welding needed. Charlie Koon was always there with ideas along with Cecil, Max, Layman, Ronnie and Vernon all of whom worked many hours on this truck. When it was finished the Army vehicle was used as a water truck.

During the first years the major fires which our department help fight were Betty Menken's home; Lyle McCulley's home; Max Bucklin's bulk plant; Bud Routh's home; Rick Crozier's home (twice); Dennis Bucklin's rental mobile home; Howard Martin's tractor; Morse Trusler's corn crib; Carroll Runbaugh's home.