NDN-MAG Jasper County Living

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Winter 2020

Small shops find clever ways to reach customers this holiday season

One of the Midwest’s largest independent clinics... because you deserve a choice in health care

Paul Ruggle, M.D. Family Practice

Steve Hill, M.D. Family Practice

Pat Edwards, M.D. Family Practice with OB

Orville Bunker, M.D. Family Practice

T. Y. Chan, D.O. Internal Medicine

Min Pak, M.D. Family Practice

Mureema Solberg, M.D. Family Practice

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Kelsey Tish, ARNP, FNP-C Family Practice

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Our roots were established as far back as the 1920s.

The providers of Newton Clinic have been caring for this community for more than 80 years.

Our clinic continues to grow to meet your needs. Whether you want a male provider or a female one, a new graduate or a veteran doc, we have the right health-care provider for you.

We want to make you better when you are sick, keep you healthy when you are well, help you grow your family when a little one is on the way, and help you say goodbye in peace when your journey is done.

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(641) 792-2112 • 300 N. 4th Ave. E., Newton • www.newtonclinic.com • www.facebook.com/newtonclinic

Jasper County Living 5 --- Get to Know Jasper County Health Department Administrator Becky Pryor leads during a challenging time

7 --- Grab some Joss & Beans Baxter coffee shop is “pressing” on in unprecedented year

11 --- A step back in time Sully native restores hardware to its former glory

14 --- Shop small, think big Local business owners find clever ways to reach customers this holiday season

21 --- A look at history Numerous fraternal organizations found a home in Newton’s Main Street district designed by Jamee A. Pierson Official product of the Newton Daily News. For questions about advertising or to advertise please contact us at 641-792-3121 ext 6540

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EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

Get to know Jasper County Health Department Administrator Becky Pryor leads during a challenging time Growing up, what led you into the field of medicine? I became a nurse to help people. Public Health allows me to do a different variety of nursing that is challenging and interesting. I am constantly learning something new every day.

What is your background (education and personal) and work prior to coming to Jasper County? I have an Associate Degree in Nursing and a BS degree in Organizational Leadership.

I worked at Fayette County Health Department in Illinois for more than 15 years. I started as a billing and environmental health clerk at the health department and worked full time while going to nursing school.

Prior to coming to Jasper County Health Department, I worked at Grinnell Regional Medical Center as the Director of Public Health, Home Health and Hospice.

How did you land at the Jasper County Health Department?

In 2016 when Jasper County decided to move Public Health back to be a County based public health department from Skiff Medical Center, the Board of Health hired me as the first administrator. The Board of Health’s role is to protect the health of Jasper County. I had worked at a county based and hospital based health department and had a wide range of experience with public health.

Since starting, how has your work evolved in the county?

Public Health is constantly changing and using more technology. More education is being done by social media. We are mostly paperless now as compared to when I first started in healthcare everything was on paper. I believe we should all be visionary leaders, so we keep building and trying new things and programs.

What has brought you joy while serving the communities?

1. Team work I work with a great team at Jasper Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

County Health Department. In the office, we have a hard working office assistant, Melissa Gary. Kristina Winfield and I are both registered nurses. The team work is exceptional with Melissa and Kristina. I enjoy mentoring staff and watching them grow in their positions.

2. Emergency Preparedness I have been training for public health emergency events for more than 20 years.

A number of years ago, I worked during H1N1 but it was nothing compared to COVID-19. I have enjoyed working with the Jasper County Emergency Operation Team during the pandemic. Jim Sparks, EMA, has been a constant source of knowledge and wisdom. Josh Harding, EMS, has been the logistics and planning expert. Ryan Eaton, IT, has pushed us to advance with technology and equipment needs for the County. Kristina Winfield, Public Health Coordinator, has been working on COVID cases since March and we constantly rely on each other to bounce situations and ideas back and forth. Sheriff John Halferty and Chief Duane Rozendaal have provided guidance from the medical examiner perspective and guidance for the COVID proclamations. Kathy Ellis is always helping me with billing or computer issues. When the EOC was operational, we also relied on Danielle Rodgers as the Public Information Officer and Jarrod Wellik from Newton Fire Department. When we have Jasper County meetings, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge, along with compassion, to make great things happen in Jasper County.

3. Community Collaboration I feel the community collaboration is strong and we have lots of resources available to help those in need. We have built a strong relationships with all the schools in Jasper County along with medical providers. The school superintendents, principals and school nurses have went above and beyond during COVID-19 to protect the health and serve the students

and staff in Jasper County. Knowing that we can always rely on each member of the team.

What has been your biggest challenge?

The pandemic of COVID-19 has been very challenging. We also had the derecho storm while in middle of COVID-19.

We have been working seven days a week since March. It is hard to disconnect from work and balance family and work life.

Another challenge is that Jasper County has not had a public health department in many years prior to 2016. Some don’t understand the function and strengths that public health can bring to save money or lives. I would love to see more support of preventive health and wellness programs. Our health department is small but mighty and we are always looking for ways to better serve out community.

What are you most looking forward to with the department moving forward?

The Board of Supervisors has purchased a building to house several county offices and I believe this will be an opportunity to better serve the community in one location. We are excited to have space for meeting rooms onsite.

Also, I look forward to the pandemic being over so we can focus on other public health programs.

— Jamee A. Pierson 5

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Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

Joss & Beans in Baxter brings caffeinated joy to community Joss & Bean’s first year has been one for the history books. But even through shut downs, pandemics and more, the Baxter coffee shop is “pressing” on.

Owner Janell Travis opened the caffeine mecca in October 2019. Living in the small Jasper County town, she wanted the community to have a local coffee shop and with her downtown location near just about everything, business was hopping.

“When you walk into one, the smell, it just feels good, it makes you happy,” Travis said.

Also the owner of a salon, the front of her building at 103 S. Main St. became vacant after tanning services were no longer offered. In an effort to work smarter with her space, she came up with an idea to open a coffee shop.

“I thought I could put something else in here to make money that we don’t have in town and I just wanted a coffee shop,” Travis said “I hear a lot of people ask for it. I already have overhead here, it is not new money to me. I just wanted it, so I made it.”

With no coffee experience behind her, Travis spent a lot of time on Pinterest looking at floor layouts and menu boards, piecing her favorites together for her shop.

“I have never worked at a coffee shop before. I order a Peppermint Mocha every place I go,” Travis said. “I

Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

watched a lot of hours of videos, recipes that I found from the company I got my syrups from.”

She did have an idea of what to name the new place, showcasing two of the most important people in her life.

“My youngest daughter is Jenner Jean and when she was born my oldest daughter (Joss) called her Beans, Jenner Beans, and it just stuck,” Travis said. “I toyed around with a few names and I wanted Beans in there and it worked out, it made sense, Joss & Beans, it was like it was suppose to be.”

Business was good at the coffee shop. She had “habitual offenders,” or people who stopped by regularly to get their energy fix. Along with coffee, Joss & Beans also offers smoothies and bites to eat created by herself, Ellen Hill of Simply Homemade by Ellen and Z’Marie’s in Newton.

But like a lot of small businesses, the pandemic has had an effect on the shop. Sales dipped as hours were shuffled but they kept on.

While Travis works to continue to adjust through any challenges brought her way, she hopes to keep providing the extra boost to people’s day.

“I love walking around and seeing Joss & Beans cups,” Travis said.

— Jamee A. Pierson

7

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Leaders of St. Nick’s Christmas Club

After more than 30 years, the St. Nick’s Christmas Club still helps bring Cristmas to children in Jasper County.

What started out as group of friends helping a few familes at a time, the idea grew into a full-fledged holiday assistance program. Many of the same people continue to be involved with the program, however because of concerns surrounding COVID-19, some of the leaders have had to take a more behind-the-scenes approach.

Jessica Lowe Vokes was asked to take over as president of the club this year, but she is far from new to the group. This is her 16th season with the group. She is working to carry on the tradition of the club, despite a challenging year.

“The people who have been in charge for many years wanted to continue to do it but due to COVID and some healthier related issues, they just were unable to do that this year. Kudos to everyone who’s been involved before and they are still helping provide some background assistance,” Lowe Vokes said.

Because of her past involvement with the club and her work with other organi-

zations in Jasper County, board members asked Lowe Vokes if she would step up and be president of the organization. She first got involved when she was working at the Newton Daily News when then editor Pete Hussmann was in charge of St. Nick’s.

Even as she takes them helm, Lowe Vokes doesn’t want to take away from the original elves who have been involved since the group started in 1987. Hussmann’s wife Julie Bak has been coordinating the club since his untimely passing in 2014.

Russ and Lorie Leix are still helping, but just in

a more behind the scenes way with the finances and coordinating the mail. Lowe Vokes also mentioned the work of Pat Coady and her family along with Kathy Doyle among others who have helped form the program into what it is today.

These people have been forced to take a less visible role this season.

“There’s a lot of people even I’m not mentioning who still have their hands in it and they are helping behind the scenes but they just can’t do it the way they were because of COVID,” Lowe Vokes said.

Lowe Vokes was adamant to give a “huge shout out” to the people who came before her. She credited the program’s success to their leadership and spending “literally decades of their time and talents every Christmas season.”

But as Lowe Vokes settles into her new role as president, it is clear she has a passion to continue to follow in the past leaders footsteps.

“It helps like 600 kids a year have Christmas and the thought of kids not getting Christmas, not having enough food to eat, not having clothes to wear,” Lowe Vokes.

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Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

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Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

A step back in time

Sully native restores hardware to its former glory As you approach the historic hardware store building on the south side of the square in Sully, it’s impossible to miss the impressive glass storefront that provides a literal window into what lays beyond.

As the original 20th century front door swings wide, it’s hard not to imagine what it was like to set foot in the structure when it was first built in 1910.

With a refurbished tin roof and period correct lighting, the building owner Craig Maasdam has worked to restore the building back to its original look and feel.

He purchased the building in December of 2012 and has spent the past six years working to save the building from its dilapidated state.

As a Sully native, Maasdam remembers going to the hardware store in the mid to late 1960s, purchasing his shotgun shells and fishing equipment. It’s that personal connection to the building and a love of vintage architecture that helped push him toward buying the building.

Maasdam had heard the building was Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

on the verge of being condemned and torn down and he could not let that happen. So over dinner one evening with his wife, Barbara, he pitched the idea of buying it himself to prevent losing the building forever.

“I really hated to see one of the last his-

torical buildings on the square go. So she said, yeah let’s go for it. So we bought it and saved it,” Maasdam said.

With the building in poor shape, there was so much to do, but one of the first

Continue — 13

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From — 11 undertakings was to remove the building that had been constructed between the original hardware building and the storage building that sat just behind the store.

That was the first step.

While Maasdam admits he had no vision when he bought the building, his main goal was to restore the original look and feel. The original building was one big open space, but in the late 1970s the building was split in half and two separate businesses were run out of the area.

“Most people only remember it as two businesses. One side was a U.S. Cellular for years. The other side was always Brand Plumbing Heating and Electric,” Maasdam said.

The Brands closed their business in the early 2000s and the building sat mostly unused until Maasdam purchased it from the Brand family.

Original Pieces When Maasdam was bidding on the hardware store, one caveat in the bid was that the original pieces stay with the store, like the original cash register, scale and display cases. The appeal of the building was its history and it wouldn’t be the same without some of those pieces included.

“There’s some historical pieces in there from the original railroad depot and the bank and different things around town.

When I bought it, the agreement was ... I put a little note in there that I would like the following items to stay with the store for historical reasons,” Maasdam said.

Many of the pieces Maasdam found as he was cleaning up the place now adorn the walls as decoration. He has signs from some of the original tenants and businesses that were housed within the walls from the likes of people like Lubberen and Van Genderen; Boat and Kruseman and DeJong.

One of the oldest pieces in the store dates back to the 1920s — a glass tube cutter still with its price tag on.

Maasdam found countless items in boxes that still retained its original tag.

Things ranging from a kerosene chicken heater to a variety of spice racks.

“I saved everything I could that was original,” Maasdam said.

Some pieces he added from his own collection that were period correct. On the west wall hangs an American flag with 45 stars, the flag that would have flown in 1910 when the store was built.

Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

One item Maasdam never got to incorporate was a Case tractor that his grandfather purchased in 1934 from the store when it sold farm machinery.

The Work Taking on a project of this nature has never been about money for Maasdam.

It’s all based on taking pride in a project he is passionate about and not letting a piece of Sully’s heritage be forgotten.

“If you’re to fix a building like this up, financially it’s stupid,” Maasdam said.

“But if all you do in life is look at the money side of it, nothing gets done.”

Funding for the project came 100 percent from Maasdam. He never applied for any grants and did much of the work himself. He hired others to help him install the glass, blow in the insulation in the attic and enlisted help from his mother, Deloris Mckeag, and other family members with painting and lifting objects he simply couldn’t by himself.

However he did a lot of the necessary demolishing and stripping of the building with minimal help. He worked on the cinder blocks of the building to grind out joints and tuckpoint it all. He worked to refinish the flooring and refurbish a lot of the original pieces now on display. But he admits he didn’t do it himself to save money, he did because he genuinely enjoys the work.

“Working on this has been like a hobby, it’s been fun. I enjoyed it. ... And figuring out how to do it was the challenge of it,” Maasdam said.

Maasdam was 54 when he started the project and worked on it “part-time” as liked to phrase it. He credits his unique background of a wide range of jobs that prepared him to do this kind of work.

“I have a lot of abilities and skills. I learned a lot from my grandfather, on how to do certain things. From my dad doing road construction, from all my jobs through the years. I can fix just about anything myself,” Maasdam said.

The Stove One of the pieces that Maasdam is most proud of is restoring the original potbelly wood stove he found in pieces in the storage building. When he was a kid going into the hardware store, he remembers there was a group of older men who would sit on a bench around the stove all day drinking coffee and keep an eye on the store.

Continue — 19

13

think BIG Shop small,

14

Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

Local business owners find clever ways to reach customers this holiday season Julia Prendergast, owner of Fine Things Reclaimed, has spent most of the year adapting her Newton store to the needs of her customers while simultaneously complying with public health guidelines. Much of that has carried over into the holiday shopping season, which she said can be “make or break” for retailers.

Ever since state officials declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic in Iowa, store owners like Prendergast have developed new ways to reach their quarantined customers. Local businesses quickly turned to social media, and Prendergast thinks that will certainly play a part this holiday season.

If customers won’t come to the stores, the stores will come to the customers.

Fresh Flowers by Fine Things, located inside Fine Things Reclaimed, was already delivering bouquets before the pandemic was ever declared. Delivering merchandise was a natural transition for Prendergast and store manager Michaela Wood. And they expect it will continue for Christmas shopping.

“We’ll go and put it by their door,” Prendergast said.

“We’re all about staying in business, so we need to do what we need to do to make that happen.”

By now, practically every business has curbside pickup, too. People haven’t shied away from shopping in-person, either. Even though foot traffic may not be as frequent as it used to be before the pandemic, people seem to enjoy visiting a local retailer who is not as likely have huge crowds browsing the aisles.

Wood added, “Folks from out-of-town — not just the Jasper County area. They could shop in Des Moines, but they travel to the small towns in other counties to shop local. I think it’s awesome and I think it’s great.”

Out of necessity, local businesses have innovated with online options. When the pandemic subsides and a reliable vaccine is able to be distributed, it’s likely some of these

Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

store adaptations are going to remain. However, the brickand-mortar shops will need that in-person foot traffic to keep them in business.

Prendergast said, “If they continue to shop only online in the future, that’s all their option is going to be in the future.

We can’t stay in the business without their support. People have been amazing.”

If it seems like local businesses are going out of their way to attract or inform customers, that’s not an accident. Prendergast says business owners have to come up with no ideas and step out of their comfort zones to make a living during the pandemic-ridden holidays.

Cheryl Wiggins, owner of Twice Blessed in Prairie City, knows a great deal of her business comes from DIY craft classes. Before Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds gave her primetime address on COVID-19, Wiggins was scheduling what she calls “friends-and-family” classes.

“So it’s a small group class of people who are comfortable being together, like the members of your household, co-workers, people you’re already spending time with,” Wiggins said. “You could select a date and time and come to my business and do the project.”

That, itself, was an alternative to Wiggins’ open-to-thepublic classes. Now, she’s found another one.

Instead of holding in-person group classes, Wiggins is distributing DIY project kits with both print and video directions. Who is the star of those instructional videos? None other than Wiggins herself, of course. Admittedly, she will miss hosting the hands-on classes but realizes group events probably aren’t acceptable right now.

“You could pick up the project pieces, or they’re available for shipping as well,” she said. “I’m also offering electronic gift certificates or gift cards that can be redeemed at the store … I’m rolling out some new options. You have to

Continue — 17

15

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From — 15 to adapt and change, take the risk and try new things.”

Wiggins is also giving more attention to how her products and consignment goods are portrayed to potential customers online. The storeowner now uses a lightbox photo studio to take high quality images of Twice Blessed merchandise. It’s a small detail, but a little extra effort goes a long way — and pay off.

Vicki Wade, president of Destination Downtown Newton Alliance and owner of Olive ‘et Boutique in Newton, said she’s been using video to her advantage. Facebook Live lets Wade showcase new products, while FaceTime gives her a chance to give a customer an electronic tour of Olive ‘et Boutique merchandise.

“I can call a customer and I can actually walk through the store, show them particular products and we can interact back and forth with each other,” Wade said. “But they aren’t necessarily having to leave their home or apartment. And I Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

can deliver their products or arrange for curbside pickup.”

Collaborating or sharing ideas with fellow retailers and restauranteurs has helped, too, Wade said. Members of Destination Downtown Newton regularly met to discuss alternative methods and safe ways to provide service to customers. Stores, she added, are “hypersensitive” to recognizing customers’ limitations.

What will the holiday shopping season look like for local businesses? Wade said some Newton businesses already started in the fall, sometimes as early as September. Fall open houses allowed local shops to feature new products and goods more appropriate for gifting.

“We really are starting our seasons earlier and earlier every year, because we’ve found that a lot of our clients and customers are getting together and celebrating the holidays as early as Thanksgiving,” Wade said. “So we really have to be prepared long before December with our gift offering.”

— Christopher Braunschweig

17

HAPPY HOLIDAY ’S FROM THE NEWTON NEWS

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Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

From — 13 In the summer, that same group of guys would pull the bench to the front of the store and look out at all the people walking by the store.

Maasdam still has the old bench they used but unlike the stove, he moved it to a different building.

As he was working to get the old stove up and running, he found it wasn’t in workinf order and he would need more parts to make it work properly.

“I put it together and ran it but it was smoky,” Maasdam said.

He found a stove exactly like it in Ohio. He drove there to look at, bought it and brought it home. Then he worked to make one good stove from the two.

While the stove might not stay in the store forever, Maasdam is proud he was able to restore it to its original location.

“That’s the piece I remember the most when I was a kid,” he said.

Community Response Maasdam has been overwhelmed by the response he has received from the community while he was working on the building. He said there were many people that we so thankful he saved it.

“Tthe ‘thank yous’ I get. I’m amazed at how many people are so appreciative of what I did. That is worth more than the value of the money,” Maasdam said.

While he was working on the store, he would open it up to the community during the Fourth of July to allow people to see what he was doing and look at some of the pieces he had uncovered.

Maasdam said people were filing into the store for hours, wanting to see any progress he had made.

Now that it’s nearly complete, he has time to reflect on what the whole experience has been like. You can hear the pride in his voice as he explains every piece of the puzzle.

“This is one of my best accomplishments,” Maasdam said.

Bakery and Boutique In 2017, the majority of the building was completed and La Rose Marie Bakery opened up in the renovated space, run by Kellogg native Karli Nikkel.

This year, she expanded to the other half of the store to add a boutique to

Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

her business.

Both the bakery and boutique take full advantage of the original display pieces Maasdam refinished for the store.

What’s Next There are things still to be done at the hardware store but that isn’t stopping the efforts to restore even more history on the Sully square.

The second building he acquired with the hardware store is still a work in progress.

But Maasdam says he’s “gaining on” that one.

While still working on that project, he is already looking ahead to another future project.

He partnered with two of his cousins and purchased another building on the square that was built the same year as the hardware store.

It was originally an Ford car dealership, just two buildings east of the hardware store.

“The three of us have now bought that and we are starting to restore it,” Maasdam said.

This passion to hold onto the town’s heritage comes from his genuine love of history. While he says any town can build new buildings and make progress for the future, Maasdam believes there is something to be said for maintaining the place’s heritage.

He uses the example of when he travels, he is more interested in the history of the place he’s visiting.

“I want to see what it looked like. So I look at the history and the character of it.

I just love vintage architecture whether it is simple like this here or more complex.

I love that stuff,” Maasdam said.

— Pam Pratt

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Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

Numerous fraternal organizations found a home in Newton’s Main Street district

By Larry Hurto — Newton Historic Preservation Commission & Main Street Design Committee Albert C. Stevens, in his Cyclopaedia of Fraternities (1907), estimated that 40 percent of the adult male population in this country belonged to a fraternal order in 1896. W. S. Harwood, writing for the North American Review, said this provided a membership of 5,500,000 in lodges such as the Odd Fellows, Freemasons, and Knights of Pythias (the big three), and hundreds of other smaller groups.

These orders were of such importance to Newton’s business and professional men that at least eight of the top ten lodges of that period were represented here.

Mark C. Carnes, associate professor of history at Barnard College, Columbia University, argues that many men began to distance themselves from evangelical Protestantism in Victorian America “because it was becoming so clearly associat-

Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

ed with women and their concerns.” The ritual of secret societies served to undermine that potential threat of the church’s “emasculation.”

In other words, it is Prof. Carnes’ contention that these lodges became the original “man caves” in our culture! The Masons, Odd Fellows, and Sons of Temperance all had a presence in Newton as early as 1855.

Not to be outdone, women were “converted” to the movement and formed and joined numerous auxiliaries, such as the Order of the Eastern Star, Daughters of Rebekah, and Pythian Sisters. They, too, wanted to get in on the “great ‘work.’”

(One has to wonder if, for some of them at least, it was a matter of “If you’re going to spend several evenings each week at the lodge, so am I!”)

By the 1890s approximately half a million women had joined the auxiliaries, Stevens reported.

In their earliest days, these fraternal organizations met in public halls and hotels (e. g., the Phelps House) located within the city of Newton. Later they built their own halls, also prominently located downtown.

Foremost of these, of course, was the Masonic Building, known in more recent times as the Masonic Temple, 208 1st Ave. W. “The first section of the present lodge home was built and completed January 15, 1870,” according to Thomas M. Logan’s account in A History of Newton, Iowa (1992). “Complete remodeling” of

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515-344-1606 KatherineMcClure.com Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

From — 21 the upper two stories was accomplished in 1977. Twenty years ago, the south wall of the lodge building was shored up, and, in 2004, the dining room was renovated.

Newton Lodge No. 59, Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons (est. 1855) is joined at its present home by Gebal Chapter No. 12, Royal Arch Masons (1856), and by Oriental Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar (1871). Newton Chapter No. 100, Order of the Eastern Star (1891) and Malachi Council No. 55, Royal and Select Masters (1963) also meet here.

Earliest records inform us that the Odd Fellows initially sought to share a meeting place with the Masons and the Sons of Temperance. Their hall was located at 122-24 E. McDonald (128 N. 2nd Ave. E.).

The top floor was for many years the hall of Central Lodge No. 73, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (1855), as well as Newton Encampment No. 16 and Margaret Rebekah Lodge No. 237 of the Daughters of Rebekah. The Newton Elks Lodge was instituted here in 1912. The old lodge rooms (and now the downstairs) presently provide space for Kay-

Winter 2020 • Jasper County Living

la’s Dance Company, which opened in 2016.

In 1880, the Jasper County Co-operative Association entered into an agreement and lease with Lodge No. 68 of the Ancient Order of United Workmen to permit the lodge to erect a second story above the Grange Store.

This hall, located at 109½ W. Main (109½ 1st Ave. W.), was, by 1910, known as Modern Woodmen Hall.

From 1880 to 1958 the upstairs of what was for years (1929 to 1996) the South Side Drug Store/Nollen Drug provided lodge rooms for numerous benevolent and fraternal orders, including the United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Neighbors of America, Woodmen of the World, Grand Army of the Republic, Woman’s Relief Corps, the Pythian Sisters, the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, Knights of the Maccabees, the Modern Brotherhood, and the Ku Klux Klan (!). It never was, as a previous owner claimed, the location for a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

Woodmen of the World Hall was located in the property occupied by S. Frank Neel’s Bakery and Lunch Room (non-extant), 218 W. McDonald (N. 2nd Ave. W.), also in the 1910 period. By

1920, Woodmen of the World Newton Camp No. 19 and Woodmen Circle Oak Grove Camp No. 56 met at Odd Fellows Hall. As noted above, the W. O. W. also met in Modern Woodmen Hall at some point in its history.

Newton Lodge No. 1651, Knights of Honor, was meeting in its rooms above John Meyer’s grocery store on the northeast corner of the square in 1884. Historic Hotel Maytag is there now.

The Knights of Pythias Hall (non-extant) was located at 114½-116½ N. Spring (1st St. N.). Delta Lodge No. 53 (1880) met there in 1910, as did Russell’s Division No. 26, of the Uniform Rank, and Hunter Temple No. 99, Pythian Sisters. By 1912, they were meeting in Castle Hall in the Clark Building on the east side of the square.

In 1913, a new fraternal order, Success District Court No. 1172, was organized in the K. of. P. Hall.

Today the Masons; Newton Lodge No. 1270, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, 111 E. 2nd St. S.; and the Loyal Order of Moose are all that remain of these fraternal organizations in Newton. The Moose Lodge Club 923 meets outside of the Main Street District southwest of town.

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