Back Roads

This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Correspondent Richard Siemers. Risen from the ashes

The interest James and Cordelia Parker had in area history has had impressive outcomes. They were from homesteading families and wanted to preserve what pioneer life had been like in Clay County, Iowa. Both were around 80 years old when, in 1960, they invited 20 community leaders to their house in Spencer and formed the Parker Historical Society of Clay County. They owned a lovely Arts and Crafts style home which was built in 1916. When the widowed Cordelia died in 1969, the house was given to the Historical Society and served as its headquarters until the Heritage Center was built.

The Society continued to grow its collection. Within the past decade the Historical Society moved into its new building, and gave the group the more current name of Clay County Heritage. They display Clay County history in two galleries in the Center, in the Parker House, and in a museum at the Clay County Fairgrounds.

The Center’s smaller gallery hosts changing exhibits. Until Oct. 16 you can see an exhibit on Spencer’s Sesquicentennial which coincided with the town’s celebration in 2021.

The main gallery has a permanent exhibit, “The Land We Call Home – Settling Clay County.” There are artifacts, photos, and descriptive information on the pioneer life and more. One segment is dedicated to the Spencer fire of 1931. Photos and a narrative of the disaster that destroyed much of the business district surround the main artifact: a fire engine used to fight the fire.

The fire had significant historical consequences, according to Kevin C. Brown, Vice President of the Heritage Center. A child dropped a lit sparkler into a fireworks display in a drugstore, setting off an explosion and fire which traveled through downtown. That fire was the incentive for a statewide ban on the sale of fireworks, not lifted until 2017.

Spencer, Iowa

Also significant is how business leaders came together to rebuild downtown in a short amount of time. Since Art Deco was popular, most of the buildings were built in Art Deco style, resulting in Spencer having the second largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the United States. The business district along Grand Avenue is on the National Register of Historic Places, as is the residential portion of north Grand Avenue. The Parker House still has the Parker family’s furnishings, plus other period items that have been donated. It was built with indoor plumbing and electric lights. Arts and crafts features include much oak woodwork and paneling, built-in cabinets, windows in series, and unique lighting, including columns with built in lights. Also on display is a rare square piano.

With the local spirit of collaboration, Clay County Heritage works with Clay County, the City of Spencer, the Chamber of Commerce, county towns and historical societies, and other non-profits in the county, to make the Parkers’ dream a reality.

The Clay County Heritage Center is located at 7 Grand Ave. and is open Tuesday through Saturday. The Parker House is open by appointment. For more information or to schedule tours, check their website, www. claycountyheritage.org, or call (712) 262-3304. v