Cherokee County & City Business News
Postcard photo courtesy of David Shedlock
The Lewis Hotel was built in 1898 by Robert A. Lewis.
It
may be a surprise to some to know that the galvanized cornice for the
Lewis hotel is being made in Cherokee. W. H. Millard has the contract
and it is now being turned out. It is very elaborate and
complicated and the fact that it can be tuurned out in Cherokee is an
evidence that Mr. Millard is right up with the times and well fitted
for producing anything in this line.
(Source: The Cherokee Democrat Semi-Weekly, Sep 6, 1898, pg. 4)
The Fort Dodge Stucco company
secured the contract for plastering the Lewis hotel. The work was begun
yesterday morning and a good sized force of mud slingers will push it
along rapidly. In all lines the work is now being rushed.
The hotel
is also being fitted with gas pipes as well as electric light wires. A
private gas plant may be put in. It requires over two miles of gas
pipe.
(Source: The Cherokee Democrat Semi-Weekly, Sep 20, 1898, pg. 4)
W. J. Coakes has secured the contract for painting the new Lewis hotel.
(Source: The Cherokee Weekly Times, Nov 17, 1898, pg. 5)
F. L. Martland,
the druggist has secured a lease of the store room in the Lewis hotel
building and will occupy it as soon as it can be fitted up. It is a
fine room and a fine location and Mr. Martland is to be congratulated
on securing it.
(Source: The Cherokee Democrat Semi-Weekly, Mar 21, 1899, pg. 4)
The Lewis is Saved
One
day in July 1900, a fire broke out in downtown Cherokee and the Lewis
Hotel was at great risk. The following was reported in the news: "For a
time the pride of every Cherokean,the Lewis hotel was in great danger
and if it had gone, - well we haven't time to speculate on results. The
heat was so intense that some of the iron shutters on the rear end
could not be closed, although brave men, in suffocating smoke, tried
hard to do it. The fires escapes and water pipes were also useless on
account of the heat. Many times the cry went out, "There is fire in the
Lewis" and every call redoubled every energy to save it. Fire got
through some of the rear windows, but at every point,was repulsed. It
got under the roof at the east division,but a hole was chopped in the
roof and water did the rest. At this writing it is hard to estimate the
loss at the Lewis. Some put it as high as $3000. Many of the good
carpets ruined are the best - in the hall and best rooms. Water went
through all three stories. On the east side, where the roof had to be
cut through, there is considerable damage to be repaired."
(Source: The Cherokee Democrat Semi-Weekly, July 31, 1900, pg. 1)
It Didn't Go Yet
For the Third Time Fire Threatens the Lewis Hotel
Defective Wire Causes Blaze Tuesday Night - Good Work Done by Firemen
It
looks now as if the Lewis hotel had come to stay. For the third time in
the history of this popular hostelry, fire threatened its destruction
on Wednesday night. It was about 12:40 when people about the depot and
the restaurants on the south side of Maple street discovered flames
shooting up in the drug store, located in the Lewis building. An alarm
was sounded and in a remarkably short time, several firemen were on the
scene, together with others.
The fire was evidently caused by a
defective electric wire, located close to the rear door of the drug
store. Close to it was a box filled with wood shavings, such as are
common about a drug store. Among the first to act were Night watchman
Payton and First Assistant Fire Chief Emerson. Payton got the small
hose from the hotel, and after breaking the door in, played on
Emerson's hands while the latter pulled out the box filled with
shavings.. Bill can tell you how hot it was. The flames were
extinguished without any serious damage being done.
(Source: The Cherokee Democrat Semi-Weekly, Oct 18, 1901, pg. 1)
A. C. Merrill has renewed his lease of the Lewis hotel for a period of ten years.
Although there hasn't been big money in it, the business has been quite
satisfactory since the hotel was built. The hotel has the reputation of
being one of the best and the public in general will regard it as
satisfactory that Mr. Merrill is to continue as its landlord.
(Source: The Cherokee Democrat, Dec 14, 1903, pg. 4)
The Lewis hotel in Cherokee has changed hands.
The new management is the Her Hotel Co., which has the Bradford hotel
at Storm Lake and one at Staples, MN. Mr. Elliott, the retiring
landlord, has managed the Lewis for a number of years.
(Source: The Marcus News, Nov 7, 1912, pg. 5)
- Among the recent improvements in the Lewis hotel is a complete telephone system
recently contracted for. There will be a telephone in every room and
all will be connected with long distance as well as local points. With
this latest improvement, the popular hotel will be as nicely equipped
as any in this part of the state.
- (Source: The Marcus News, Marcus, IA, mar 30, 1916, pg. 1)
- Hotel Lewis Will
Shut Friday
- Hotel
Lewis and the Chief Cafe will close Friday, owners Mrs. Hazel Goldie and
Mrs. Birdie Goldie said today. The hotel is a Cherokee landmark.
Mrs. Hazel Goldie said the hotel was being closed down because of difficulties incurred in current operations.- She
said the hotel will be shut until a time when it may be released.
Mrs. Goldie said she feels the city of Cherokee "needs a
hotel
badly" and that she regrets the closing. Mrs. Goldie said it's hoped
that anyone who leases or manages the hotel in the future would live
there.
- Under
present plans, the restaurant, all its dining rooms, hotel rooms, Iowa
Coaches Bus Line services and the Western Union services will be shut
down. A decision is to be made on the future status of the J.
Barber Shop and Andrea's Beauty Salon also located in the building.
- Source: Newspaper
clipping from unknown source dated 14 Dec 1966
Hotel Nears Opening
Lewis
Hotel, now named Sheffield House, is nearing completion of extensive
remodeling and owner Shefield Kline is rushing cafe portion to open in
the near future.
(Source: Cherokee Daily Times, Nov 11, 1968, pg. 2)
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SODA FOUNTAIN
J. A. Cole has
put up the first soda-fountain ever brought to Cherokee and during
these hot days it is most refreshing to drink the cooling beverage
foaming from the icy fountain.
Source: Cherokee
Times dated June 7, 1872
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MID WEST
AUTOMOBILE INS CO CHEROKEE IOWA
General Review
History -- This company was incorporated under the laws of Iowa,
February I8, 1920, and was licensed to transact business in the State
of Iowa, May 22, 1920. It began to write business June 1,
1920. It has $150,000 authorized capital stock, par value
$100,
of which $100,000 has been subscribed and paid for in cash.
The
stock was sold at $125 per share, which produced an initial cash
surplus of $25.000. No commission was paid on the sale of
this
capital stock and the company was organized without any organization
expenses, which is commendable.
Management and
Reputation -- The company will write fire, theft, tornado, collision,
transportation aud property damage on automobiles and tractors.
The underwriting manager is Mr H. R. Spurrier, who was formerly in
charge of the underwriting and agency of the Bankers Automobile
Insurance Company of Lincoln Neb. He has had previous general
agency and local agency experience since 1912.
The superintendent of agencies is Mr D. L . Hollub, formerly state
agent for Iowa of the Employers Liability Insurance Corp., Ltd., of
London and the Bankers Automobile Insurance Co., of Lincoln,
Neb.
He has had insurance experience since 1900.
Officers -- President, F. J. Stanosheck, Cherokee, Iowa,
vice-president, of the Cherokee State Bank:
vice-president,
C. J. Maher, Cherokee, Iowa, attorney: secretary, CM
Sullivan,
Cherokee, Iowa, postmaster at Cherokee: treasurer, Roy H. King, vice
president of the First National Bank, Cherokee: vice president of the
First National Bank of Prlmghar, Iowa.
Directors -- The above officers and Gracey, Robert, president
of
the First National Bank of Holstein, Iowa: Hinman, Ralph,
president of the First National Bank Primghar, Iowa: Donahoe,
George, Dr. superintendent of the Cherokee State Hospital:
Anderson C. G., chief train dispatcher of the Illinois
Central
Railway, Cherokee, Iowa.
Source: May
10, 1920, Best's Insurance News
Vol XXI No. 1 page 31
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Source:
The Cherokee
Times, Cherokee, IA Friday, Nov 11, 1870, pg 3
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Boothby
Funeral Home Dates Back to 1889
The
Boothby Funeral Home is located at 203 E. Main Street in Cherokee.
This establishment is engaged in offering funeral merchandise
and
service to the community. Available records show that in 1889, a man by
the name of D. W. Adron was operating a furniture store here.
The
records reveal that somewhere near 1900, Mr. A. O. Scott purchased the
furniture business from Mr. Adron and entered the undertaking business
at the same time.
The undertaking trade, in early years,
seemed to go hand in hand with the furniture line, In 1902, Mr. W. L.
E. Appleyard came to Cherokee from Ida Grove and entered into the
service of Mr. Scoll. Two and a half years later, in august
of
1904, he purchased the business himself. In the year 1912, Mr.
Appleyard disposed of the furniture and continued with only the
undertaking service.
The location of these establishments was in
the East half of the Brummer Building on Main Street. By1926,
Mr.
Appleyard had decided to sell out to a John H. Wallace and in 1927, Mr.
Wallace purchased the Charles Nicholson home at 203 E. Main Street and
converted it into a Funeral Home. This same year, he was joined by
Thomas D. Boothby who entered the mortuary field under the supervision
of Mr. Wallace. In 1930, T. D. In 1930, Boothby and W. L. E. Appleyard
formed a partnership and purchased the business from Mr. Wallace.
Ten years later, in 1940, Mr. Boothby bought out Mr.
Appleyard's
interest in the business and henceforth became sole owner until 1947
when his son, Thomas Jr. joined him in partnership.
This
business, too, has seen many changes through the years, until today
more and more services have been added and new quipment has been
acquired in order to take care of the needs of a growing community. The
policy of the business has always been to render the best of service to
the people of our community. The Boothby Funeral Home and its
five associates form "An Organization that Serves and Serves."
Source: Cherokee Daily Times, (Cherokee, Iowa) 30 May 1956, Pg 58
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October 1892.
J. R. Ritcheock, the new proprietor of the exchange hotel, will open up
for business Saturday. The house has been renovated and placed in good
condition for accommodating boarders and the transient public. H
solicits a share of business and proposed to run the house in a way
that will please all who favor him with a call.
Source:
Former Cherokee County Historical Society Scrapbook. Newspaper article
titled "100 years ago - " and dated October 17, 1992.
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- October 1892. Mrs.
O. B. Weits has sold her railroad eating house business to Mrs.
Margaret Smith, who took possession Monday. Mrs. Wells has been doing a
large amount of business and made her place very popular with the
railroad boys, but the work was too much for her and she was obliged to
give it up. (Note the mis-spelling of the last name "Weits" and
"Wells". That is what it looked like in the article.)
Source: Former Cherokee County
Historical Society Scrapbook. Newspaper article titled "100 years ago -
" and dated October 17, 1992 |
- October 1892. Thomas Patton, of Cherokee, has purchased the Brown and Miller lumber yard at Cleghorn and will take possession at once.
Source: Former Cherokee County
Historical Society Scrapbook. Newspaper article titled "100 years ago -
" and dated October 17, 1992
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