POLK COUNTY HISTORICAL STUDIES --- DES MOINES, IOWA

The Polk County Historical Society dissolved December of 2006.

There is now a DES MOINES HISTORICAL SOCIETY you may wish to consider. 

P Meiners Webmaster
Email: a1hawkeye@juno.com
Home: (515) 278-1234

POLK COUNTY HISTORICAL STUDIES / Des Moines Historical Society  --- DES MOINES, IOWA

'DM' HISTORICAL SOCIETY

For further information about the DES MOINES HISTORICAL SOCIETY (of Iowa) see the website: www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/dmhs . 

The DMHS is varying meeting places, dates and times so as many as possible may attend and, at no charge, the only libraries we can use are North Side, Forest and South Side.Contact Pat Meiners at a1hawkeye@juno.com (an A followed by the number one, not an L) for further information.

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SEE THE HOTLINKS IN THE LOWER LEFT MARGIN FOR LINKS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY, IOWA.

You are invited and urged to submit your comments. See the 'Discussion Area' link on the left.

SPEAKER - a free presentation of about 30-45 minutes is available, and your group may be eligible. To schedule a presentation regarding DM becoming the Capital City contact us.

THIS WEBSITE WILL BE KEPT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

SESQUICENTENNIAL - October 19, 1857, the Governor signed the bill making Des Moines the Capital City of Iowa
~~~ PLEASE CONTACT US AT 515-278-1234 IF YOU BELIEVE THIS EVENT SHOULD BE COMMEMORATED. ~~~

FORT DM II, Des Moines Birthplace Cabin - Due to the new bridge to be put over the Des Moines River near the Cabin, it was first thought that the cabin would have to be moved. Now, in April of 2006, new plans have been made and it does not appear that the cabin will move.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2005 -The cabin was rededicated after renovations and a new historical marker was unveiled.

* ENLARGEN THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT.* Leroy Pratt (deceased 2007 admires the new historical marker at the cabin. He was one of the primary forces which established the Birthplace Memorial Cabin. A great city has come from these humble beginnings. In 1964 the PCHS established, and now maintains this cabin near the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers and Sec Taylor stadium, receiving city funding to help. In October, 2002 the cabin was repaired and stabilized, and further interior and grounds work is in planning. Both the Principal Riverwalk, and M.L. King Parkway, just 36 feet to the north, will impact the cabin site.

Scroll down and go to the link in the left margin for more cabin information.

<<< CHECK OUT THE MANY LINKS TO OTHER SITES ABOUT DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY HISTORY IN THE LEFT MARGIN.<<<

Historical Study & Preservation

THANK YOU to those responsible for preserving the history of the North Des Moines/Highland Park area of Des Moines and creating the displays at the North Side Library. PLEASE VISIT THE NORTH SIDE LIBRARY - it would be wonderful if we could have similar displays at all of the Des Moines libraries! We also wish to thank those members of the Des Moines Police Department who have created the Police Historical Museum in the DM Police Department Building, and those working on building and creating displays for the Iowa State Fair Museum.

- - - THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER MEETINGS OF THE PCHS - - -

~ ~ ~ Information regarding the topics which have been covered at the monthly PCHS meetings are recorded in newsletters which are on file with the Iowa Historical Society and at the Urbandale Library. Please e-mail us if you are interested in a subject and we can check the index to see if it has been discussed.

SOME OF THE SUBJECTS COVERED INCLUDE:
- The Italian Community, - - - Historical publications,
- The DM/Drake Observatory, - - - Henry Wallace,
- The Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge, - - - Wesley Redhead,
- Tiles, tunnels & trivia of the Iowa Statehouse, - - - The Saylor family of Saylorville,
- The Anderson-Erickson Dairy, - - - Auto Registration history,
- The DM Waterworks, - - - The DM River float trail,
- Polk County in the Civil War, - - - Merchants, tokens & scrip of Polk County,
- Rowat Cut Stone, - - - One-room schoolhouses of Iowa,
- Kurtz Hardware, - - - Theatres of DM,
- The Drake/DM Observatory at Waveland Park
-The Fort Des Moines Memorial Park - - - Riverview Park
-DM TV and Radio History
-The Underground Railroad & Jordan House - - -Iowa Coins & Stamps

The PCHS, founded in 1933, works to preserve information, historical facts, buildings and items relating to the history of Polk County, Des Moines and the Capitol City area.

+ + + PROJECTS IN PLANNING + + +

POLK COUNTY COURTHOUSE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION & REPAIRS FOR THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION - OCTOBER, 2006 - Estimate $25K - $30K to repair the clocks and bells - it appears the finances can be obtained. The PCHS has been asked to participate for: 1) information is needed about exterior lighting fixtures on the north and east sides of the building and it is hoped old or reproduction fixtures can be found; 2) grant and funding ideas; and 3) members of the celebration committee. The current building is the 3rd Courthouse, inaugurated October 31, 1906, so the centennial is about 2 1/2 years away. There may be costumes and bands of the period and buggy rides; and, because it comes during the Halloween season, the ?‘grotesques?’ (ugly mask details) around the building could be highlighted. The Downtown Community Alliance has offered to provide flood light fixtures for the exterior, but the county has not accepted due to the electricity and maintenance costs.

~ ~ ~ WOODLAND CEMETERY ~ ~ ~
Call Jeff Horn @ 285-7193 or e-mail airehorn@prodigy.net for information about improvments to Woodland Cemetery.

*** RIVERVIEW AMUSEMENT PARK HISTORY *** Nancy Suby-Bohn is collecting photos & stories about Riverview Park. The website is www.iowariverviewpark.com or e-mail her at MsSubyBohn@msn.com

FURTHER INFORMATION

* - * MEETINGS WILL NO LONGER BE HELD FOR THE PCHS - Please e-mail or check this website for further information.

---The PCHS organized as a non-profit entity in 1933 and is dedicated to preserving all documented historical facts involving all facets of life in Polk County, Iowa for the education of it's members and generations yet to come.

CALENDAR - CLICK THE LINK IN THE LOWER LEFT MARGIN.

Please go to ''Contact Us'' in the left margin, and e-mail this site to be put on an e-mail update list.



--- LINKS YOU SHOULD TRY ---
Scroll up, and look for further links in the left margin; contacts, Log Cabin, etc. Also, there is some very good information about the history of Beaverdale and the Northwest side of Des Moines that can be accessed through a link.