State of IowaDepartment of Human Services One of 4 Mental Health Institute’s in the State of Iowa. – the others being Mt. Pleasant, Cherokee and Clarinda. The “Mission Statement” of the Mental Health Institute, Independence is “To assure that the mentally ill adult citizens of Northeast Iowa and mentally ill children from Eastern Iowa have…
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The Malek Theatre opened in 1946 on land previously occupied by the Grand Theatre and was constructed in the still popular style of the age – ART DECO. The Malek was part of what was known as the Gedney Block, which contained a theater and a grand hotel called the Gedney Hotel, which was a…
Full Article >>King’s Hall, known formerly as King’s Opera House was built in 1876 by Charles King at an estimated cost of $10,000. Opening night, October 3, 1876 saw .75 seats or reserved seats for $1.00. For many years the great and non-great actors and actresses of the nation visited the hall to present stage productions to…
Full Article >>Crabb Gas Engine Company was organized in 1910 by Isiah E. Crabb and J.W. Dwyer. The Crabb engine featured a distinctive water hopper fabricated of sheet copper. In case of freezing the copper jacket would yield, thus preventing serious damage and expensive repairs. This improvement was covered under U.S. Patent 1,008,789 on November 14, 1911.…
Full Article >>In early 1906 John W. Smith filed patent papers covering a carburetor and another application on a governing mechanism. About 1908 Smith took a partner and formed Sherman-Smith Mfg. Co. at Stanley, Iowa. The plant site was soon moved to nearby Independence, Iowa. Patent 955,218 of 1910 typified the designs of Sherman-Smith horizontal engines. During…
Full Article >>“Seeland Brewery (now being remodeled as a private residence) located at 1010 4th St. NE and listed on the local Heritage Trail #18. Seeland Brewery was the smaller of the 2 breweries located in the city. Christian Seeland of Baden, Germany established the brewery in 1859 and manufactured 650 barrels of lager beer annually. The…
Full Article >>HOME BAKERY 223 1st St. EIndependence, Iowa Every community has had their own bakery at one time or another. Independence was no exception. The Home Bakery, was located on 1st St. E. In 1931 the bakery was owned by Milo Naxera who sold to Rose Brothers of Chicago in 1931. In 1932 Pete Gaylor became…
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