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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