Callender High School - Cadet Yearbook (Callender, IA)

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HISTORY OF CALLENDER In the heart of the level low-rolling prairie land of north central Iowa, fifteen miles southwest of Fort Dodge on the M. St. L. R.B. and state highway No.5O, is the small but full fled- ged town of Callender, with a total area of 333 acres. Turning back the pages of time we find that the first record of settlement in this vicinity was in the year 1869. It was in this year that the Des Moines Valley R.R. built a line through here to Fort Dodge. A depot was built but because of the lack of bus- iness, was loaded on a flat car and taken to Tara, H depot was again built in 1875. This small settlement out in the midst of many acres of swamp land, was known as Kesho, which was probably an Indian name. As the pioneers, immigrated westward, many Scandanavians stopped off at Kesho and settled and Callender today, with a population of approximately 350 persons is truly a representative of this race. It was about this time that the citizens of Kesho, decided to move to the west side of the tracks and change the name of the town to Callender, naming it after its founder Agnes and James Callender. The Callender's then donated to the town the area of the park which is 79,500 so, ft. and the area of the school grounds which is 85,300 sc. ft. The first mayor of Callender was Peter L. Dustrude. In 1880 the first school house was built. It was then known as the Community Building but is now known as the Town Hall. This school house served the purpose until about 1898 when the old frame building which was razed In 1956 was built. Callender was very proud of this school as it was one of the best in the county. It was not only used for school but by all church organizations for their church services, all political or public meetings, and all elections. The school house which was torn down in 1966 to make room for this structure was finished in October 1899. The first blacksmith in Callender was Ole Larson, whose shop stood on the same location as the vacant lot next to Grocertia. The second blacksmith was Syvert Thorsrud, who was also the dentist of Callender. Some of the other business establishments in Callender were, Hardware Store, Grocery Store, Stock Yards, Restrarants, Bank, Furniture Store, Gas Stations, Garages, Livery Stables, Meat Market, Jewerly Store, Elevators, Lumber Company and Creamery. Callender prided itself on its baseball teams and gloried in its band carnivals, the first one being held on June 16 a 17, 1897. The programs included horse races, bicycle races, baseball games, balloon ascensions, cash prizes, and many other attractions ln- cluding uniformed bands from many other attractions including uni- formed bands from many of the neighboring towns, A half mile race track was built just south of the present location of the school house and a grand stand bordered both the race track and the ball diamond. At this time Callender possessed a forty piece uniform band of its own. The first doctor to practice in Callender was Doctor Sommers, who was also the mayor of Callender. There were also two veter- anarians. Callender had two theaters and also a dance hall. A success- ful newspaper was also established and was called the Callender Times, Many things have we hope that for some many fond memories of We would like to changed in Callender through the years but of you this article has helped to recall the past. thank everyone who has been so cooperative in giving us the information necessary for this town history,

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Wonder who that distinguished looking man over by the Dupont display ls? Why its Dennis Thorson, now a designing engineer for the Dupont Company in Deleware. Dennis was chosen to represent his company at the fair this year because of his outstanding work in engineering. Well look who just stepped out of the fortune tellers booth!!! Mrs. Maurice Johnson, formerly Dee Ann Olson, a member of our class. Dee is kept very busy caring for her family of three. Find out anything that might interest us Dee? Who is that comming out of the flower exhibits, why its Mrs. Dale Means, the former Dee Ann Vinchattle, seems as though she had to leave early as her three children were busy re-arrang ng the floral display. Vern Jones makes a very impressive looking picture in his uni- form. He is making a career of the Navy and has advanced to the rank of Admiral. Looks like he and his family are going to attend the Auto Show. Just entering the fair grounds, are Mr. and Mrs. Donald Houde- shell. Mrs. Houdeshell is the former Joyce Thompson. Looks as lf their first stop will be the merry-go-round since their twins have raced off in that direction. One of the winning horses entered in the rodeo belongs to Joe Taylor. Joe moved to Texas after his discharge from the service and now owns a ranch and several oil wells. Mr. and Mrs. T0m Agnes seem to be very interested ln the model home exhibit. Its no wonder though, because Mrs. Agnes, the former Jean Schuster was the interior decorator. Jean designed the home for family living, because she knows from experience that srmll child- renhhave a way of mutilatlng attractive objects which happen to be w n reach. The motor cycle exhibition seems to be a. very exciting show, and no wonder, look who the performer is the mechanic of our class Dale Gerkin. Careful Dale At last the names of the cake baking champions have been posted. We should have known who the first place winner would be. Another of our classmates, the former Judy Pearson. Judy gets lots of cake baking practice by keeping her family of six well supplied. At last at the end of a long and tiring day we find a First Aid Station from which we could all benefit and who should be working here but our classmate, the former Judy Coplen. Judy finds being a regis- tered nurse a very interesting and helpful occupation that enables her to rear two heal thy happy children. And so having been reunited with our former classmates, we once again go our separate ways, vowing to nnet ten years from now, at the 1977 Iowa State Fair.

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