Jasper County, Iowa

IRA CENTENNIAL COMMITTEES
FOR JULY 4, 1983 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

(Sponsored by Ira Fire and Park Department with cooperation of Ira) (United Church.)

Sponsoring Committee:
Co chair persons - Connie Wright, LuAnne Shaffer. Virginia Myers, Judie Keagle, Vela Bucklin and Charlotte Cray.

Sub-Committees:
Announcements through day - Marie Carpenter.
Auction of Quilts and Afghans - Melvin Montgomery.
Bingo at Firehouse - Mark Howe, Dave Morgan.
Brunch at Church - WSCS.
Contests at Park - Dick Gipe, LuAnne Shaffer, Sam Frakes, Jolene Treinen.
Carnival Booths - Connie Wright (see chart to sign up for work time and place)
Dance - Rick Crozier, Jeff Goalie.
Exhibits at Church - Judie Keagle, Virginia Myers, Linda Withrow.
Fireworks at Park - Max Bucklin, Lee Atkinson.
Flee Market at Church Yard - Betty Warner.
Food at Park - Vela Bucklin, Marge Taylor, Maxine Rankin, Laverna Cornelison, Bessie Coiner.
Newspaper and Publicity - Marie Carpenter, Robert & Jean State, Layman & Laverna Cornelison, Connie Wright, LuAnne Shaffer, Linda Withrow.
Parade - Layman and LaVerna Cornelison.
Parking & Traffic Control - Cecil Carpenter, Dorwin Bucklin, Laymand Cornelison, Lee Atkinson, Robbie State, Joe Keagle.
Programs at Park - Cecil & Marie Carpenter, Judie Keagle, Janet Altes, Florence Lane, Robert & Jean State.
Slide Program at Church - Joan Scott.
Shuttle Bus - Joe Beem, Max Bucklin.
Souvenir Stand - Connie Wright. (see chart to sign up for time to work)
Ticket Sales for Carnival Booths - Sue Atkinson.
Soliciting for Prizes (Bingo & Door) - Val Crozier, Sam Frakes.
Maintenance Engineers & Miscellaneous - Dorwin Bucklin, Lee Atkinson, Cecil Carpenter, Max Bucklin.
Chores -- including Moral & Monetray - Henry Coiner, Steve Wright, Jack Bucklin
Supporters -- Rick Shaffer, Layman Cornelison, Tom Gray, Don Weston, Sam Frakes, Karla Perry, Sharon Witherspoon, Rodney Altes, Zach Rupe, Josh Brown, Dan and Connie Bucklin, Conrad and Lavon Hunter, Tom Carpenter, Jolene Treinen, -- and many, many more who are not named on this sheet.

Thanks to one and all that helped in any way to make the event successful.

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IRA CENTENNIAL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES JULY 4, 1983, IRA, IOWA.

9 AM - 12:30 PM   --   COFFEE & ROLLS - Church Basement

9 AM - 4 PM   OUTDOOR FLEE MARKIT - Church Yard

9 AM - 6 PM   EXHIBITS - At Church - Old Pictures, Family Histories, Other Items, Map of Town with pictures of homes - Sign your name by each home you have lived in and dates.

10 AM   SLIDES - Shown at Church Auditorium.

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM   BRUNCH - Church Basement - buffet & salad bar line.

11:00 AM   BICYCLE RACE - Free Contest - On Railroad Street near Park.

NOON    CARMIVAL BOOTHS at Park - Includes Duck Tank, Tip Cat, Feed Frog, Speed Ball; 7-11, Rope Climb, Jail, Circle Car, Turtle Pond & Treasure Chest.

Parade

The Camp Fire Girls marched to call attention to their fine organization and it's activities.

Dogs from the Jasper County Obedience Class Drill Team and their owners displayed their skills.

A goat and cart was shown by owner Clyde Jontz of Baxter.

Reno Milligan of Collins had his large dog pulling a cart in which granddaughter Shellie Atwood rode.

Sue Fales and Brittany Perry of Mingo and Angie Jay of Oregon were dressed in old fashioned clothes and pushed antique doll strollers.

A bevy of Clowns added to the luster and the fun. They were the Jasper County Jokers of the Masonic Lodge and included: Bill Auten, LeRoy Jolly, Paul Craven, Harold Crowell, Herman Jagua of Newton; Norma Miller of Mingo; Harold Hanes of Kellogg; Ted Ritter & Orville Weston of Laurel; Ellis Brown of Grinnell; and Connie Gajewski of Newton. (Norma & Connie were on their own)

The Lane Girls paraded their calf.

Colorful Fire Trucks were from Baxter, Ira, Mingo and Rhodes.

A Mr. Shannon from Des Moines had donkeys hitched to a cart.

A Trainland U.S.A. vehicle advertised the miniature train land north of Colfax and pulled a trailer promoting the Mingo Centennial Celebration of 1984.

A horse and surrey owned and driven by Dr. Keith Cogley, veterinarian, of Colfax drew attention to the old days. His passengers appropriately attired.

Mr and Mrs Mike Cannon of Mingo and their three boys riding in their horse drawn carriage of by gone days.

There were pony carts and miniature automobiles.

Antique automobiles included a Studebaker driven by Oliver Osborn of Center Point; A '56 & '57 Chevy. by the Koon boys of Baxter; A '52 Chevy by Mr. & Mrs. Keith Thorp of Newton; A '29 model A Ford pickup truck by Rick Birkenholz of Colfax; A '39 Chevy by Milo Lands of Ira; A '.53 Buick by Betty Menken of Ira; A '48 Chevy. by Larry Lamb of Colfax; A '56 Chevy by Mary Lamb of Colfax; A '29 Chrysler by Lyle Jay of Mingo; A small handmade truck made by Leslie Dithrow of Newton;

A McCormick Deering farm tractor owned & driven by Bob Kregar of Newton and pulling an old road grader of the early '20s vintage & operated by Johnie Weston.

Richard Allspach of Baxter had a '24 or '25 Farmall tractor.

Jamie and Laura Rhone of Des Moines rode their saddle horses.

Robert Kreager of Newton had several tractors including the 1935 Red McCormick Deering mentioned above; A '24 Fordson tractor driven by Kreager;

A tractor driven by Howard Pyle of Baxter; A '30 John Deer G.P. driven by ElmerVessels of California; (The tractor pulling the road grader was driven by Bob Westerbeck of Arkansas.)

Charlie Brisel of rural Baxter had a '12 old Titan Tractor.

Gary Hanson of Newton rode a unicycle.

There were several other saddle horse riders whose names I did not get. I am sure we have left out some others for which we are sorry.

A '29 Farmall tractor formerly owned by Clarence Planalp and shown by Mechover Manufacturing Co.

Leland Atwood is the Trainland owner north of Colfax who had his ad train.

Riding in the parade were five generations of one family. They were Hattie (Mills) Welch, Bernice Brisel, Lois Brown, Doug Brown and Jeremy Brown.

On page 37 is a long, narrow picture of the W.E. Hoy road grading equipment. Mr. Hoy operated his business out of Ira for a number of years. He sold his outfit by auction on Saturday, October 20, 1917. It included 18 mules, 6 horses, 10 sets of harness, a wagon loader, 8 dump wagons, 10 wheelers, 4 scrapers, 2 bunk houses one 8 X 16 & one 10 X 24 and one 30 X 50 ft. horse tent.

W.E. HOY, Prop.; B.G. Graham, Auctioneer; J.M. Hackett, Clerk.

Noon Program

Cecil Carpenter --- Master of Ceremonies.

Presentation of Ming and Queen, Ross Beardmore and Neva War1ner.

Bill Gannon --- Featured speaker of the day. From Mingo.

Tom Gearheart --- Vocal solo. Accompanied by Janet Altes.

Sarah Gearheart --- Vocal solo. Accompanied by Janet Altes.

Donald Price --- Speaker, memories of Ira. Former resident from Des Moines. Was Post Master in Ira in earlys.

Kenneth Price --- Speaker, memories of Ira. Former resident now living in Orange City.

Cathy and Mike Wignall --- Vocal Duets with guitar.

Maude (Logsdon) Jontz --- Memories of Ira. Former resident from Newton.

Sing A Long --- Lead by Reva Lowery accompanied by Janet Altes.

"A Village Small" --- A poem written by Florence Taylor Lane. Read by Judie Keagle.

Introduction of Rev. Elton Nolte, new minister of United Church of Ira.

Evening Program --- 7:30 PM at the Park.

Opened with the Pledge To The Flag.

Songs by the Mingo Gospel Quartet. Janet Altes, Larry Hulse, Gene and Marilyn Leonard.

Sing-A-Long --- Lead by Reva Lowery accompanied by Janet Altes.

"A Village Small" --- A poem written by Florence Taylor Lane. Read by Judie Keagle.

Contest Winners.
Bicycle Races. There were speed races by age group, slow races and wheelie races. All contestants registered and a drawing was held for a gift certificate from Schwinn Bicycle Shop in Newton. Todd Weston was the winner of the certificate.

Bicycle Races Contestants were: David Bucklin, Jeremy Cochran, Chad Ray, Chris Milligan, Tim Wright, Dick Ruckleshouse, Bill Good, Rodney Fallow, Julie Brown (Hot Wheeler), Glen ? and Jody Rhone.

Tug-Of-War. --- First place Valeria Men's Team.

Second place Ira Men's Team.

First place Ira Women's Team.

Second place Mingo Women's Team.

This event was so enjoyable by contestants and spectators alike that it could have gone on all night, but had to be cut off so the evening program could get underway. The nature made mud puddle was perfectly placed for such a contest.

Rolling Pin Throwing Contest. Jerry Rhone won the men's and Kris Weston won the ladies. Both are from Newton.

In the raffle, the Doll House, made by Fred Iske, was won by Tim Shinn. Also in the raffle, the Centennial Quilt, made by Vela Bucklin, was won by Sandy Myers from Minnesota.

The Centennial Name Quilt, made by Johnie Lane, and town people's names signed on it with indelible ink secured by LaVerna Cornelison, was sold by auction to Dennis Bucklin for $300.00.

The Afgan, made by Edith Bucklin, was sold by auction to Dennis Bucklin.

Several other donated articles were also sold by auction.

State Representative Ed Parker was scheduled to give a talk, but he was ill and could not come.

The big map of Ira at the Church, with pictures of homes in place and occupants names, was prepared by Florence Lane and Jean State. The pictures were by Bill Lane.