Livonia Site Donated ~ Mumford Building ~ Sales Diary ~1871

DICKIRSON, MUMFORD, SALES, WEST, PENSON, ALLEN, ROSA, BOGARDUS, KING, COBB, CONNELL, CLIGGITT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 11/18/2014 at 12:23:34

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, June 01, 1953
Mason City Centennial Edition, Section 3

DONATED LIVONIA SITE

[Section 3, Page 13] James Dickirson donated the ground for the courthouse when "Livonia" was awarded the county seat. Construction had started on the buildings when Mason City was once more awarded the distinction of having the courthouse and county jail.

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MUMFORD BUILDING

[Section 3, Page 13] The three-story Mumford building, described in A. R. Sale's diary, was erected as a hotel by J. V. Mumford in 1871 on the corner now occupied by Younkers at First and S. Federal. The building operated originally as the National Hotel. It was later sold to John West, railroad contractor, and in 1919 it was purchased by George Penson. Both the corner and the adjoining building were torn down in 1938 for erection of the present structure.

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SENSATIONAL HAPPENINGS PUT IN DIARY

[Section 3, Page 13] The erection of the old Mumford-West-Penson building at the corner of First and S. Federal, present [1953] site of Younkers, created wide attention back in 1871. That at least is the notation A. R. Sale, pioneer resident, made in his diary back in those days.

Sale's diary brings out, among other things, that Mason City had its bad fires, its big parties, weddings, cold weather, its fistic altercations and other events in the days when the railroads were first coming into town. His diary shows considerable building was going on as part of the boom brought by the railroads. Sale at that time was a 16 year old boy.

Besides the Mumford-West-Penson building, the Allen House [later known as the Dyer House], north of the park on Federal, Lloyd and Tuttle hall (present site of Montgomery Ward and Company building) and other structures were going up.

Excerpts From Diary
Here are some excerpts from the Sale diary:

June 3, 1871 - Mumford putting up his second floor joists. His little girl fell from these joists to the basement floor, 30 feet, but was able to run about again the next day.

Aug. 21, 1871 - Dr. Allen putting in doors and windows in his hotel building.

Aug. 23, 1871 - Mlle Rosa turned a summersalt (sic) over 10 horses at Robbins circus.

Aug. 25, 1871 - Wagon loads of prairie chickens being hauled into town. Twenty-five cents a pair.

Aug. 30, 1871 - New spire on Congregational Church completed. Four brick layers at work on second story of our building (Lloyd-Tuttle block).

Sept. 2, 1871 - Mumford's front bricked up today.

Sept. 2, 1871 - (Sunday) Big force of men on bridge over Willow Creek for new Iowa Central Railway.

Sept. 8, 1871 - Commence track laying on I.C.R.R.

Sept. 10, 1871 - Iowa Central track laid to Calumus Creek.

Sept. 13, 1871 - Putting on joists of our building (L-T).

Oct. 7, 1871 - Iowa Central track laid to Northwood. Mumford finishes his store front. Wheat $1 a bushel.

Chicago Burning

Oct. 9, 1871 - Chicago burning up. 100,000 people homeless, $500,000,000 loss.

Oct. 16, 1871 - Went hunting in Trap Grove (Forest Park) to celebrate. 1 rabbit, 1 gray squirrel.

Oct. 23, 1871 - All the town out to fight a prairie fire near Hoteling's farm.

Nov. 5, 1871 - Ed Bogardus married in Methodist Church.

Nov. 8, 1871 - Big dance and dinner at Allen House opening.

Nov. 12, 1871 - Putting roof on our building (L-T).

Nov. 28, 1871 - Twenty-four degrees below this morning.

Nov. 13, 1871 - Mumford blasting for city fire well.

Dec. 21, 1871 - Pork 4 1/2 cents, wheat 94 cents, corn 25 cents, potatoes 25 cents.

Dec. 23, 1871 - I gave the first alarm on our new city fire bell at Mumford's corner. Cobb's hotel roof on fire from chimney (hotel site where Penney's store is [1953]).

Dec. 29, 1871 - No trains, mail or freight for one week. Snow and cold. Thirty degrees below.

Water Gave Out

Jan. 16, 1872 - Big fire 2 a. m. King's grocery, Connell's harness shop and Dutch saloon burned down. Water gave out. Threw snow on fire. Two kegs of beer and box of crackers for firemen.

Jan. 16, 1872 - Doc Allen, president of the school board, kicked principal of high school down stairs from Mann's hall. Baker swore out a warrant and Allen paid fine of $7.50.

Jan. 17, 1872 - City council fixed saloon licenses at $200 per annum.

Jan. 22, 1872 - John Cliggitt takes Baker's place in the high school.

Feb. 5, 1871 - Santill's Constellation plays Uncle Tom's Cabin in our hall (L-T).

Feb. 8, 1871 - Mumford has the new city fire well blasted down to 16 feet.

Photograph courtesy of Globe-Gazette
Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2014

Cerro Gordo Documents maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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