Lone Tree Community School - Elm Yearbook (Lone Tree, IA)

Page 18 text:

It was operated by W. F. Larew and Sons. The first sale is said to have drawn a crowd of about 2,500, with 179 head of horses bringing a total of $21,000. Opera Houses Before two fires in the early 1940's there were two large, well-equipped opera houses in Lone Tree. Many school activities, such as class plays and basketball games, as well as public dances and entertainment, were held in these buildings. The Grand Opera House was located above the Lone Tree Savings Bank building before the fire in 1940. It was a large room with a good stage and equipment. The Fisher Opera House was on the second floor, above what is now the Farmers and Mer- chants Savings Bank. A fire in 1 943 destroyed this building. Both of these buildings were first- class places for public entertainment. First Football Team TOP: Fisher Opera House (inside). BOTTOM: Grand Opera House. RIGHT: First Football Team. LEFT: E. N. Prentice. Leslie Holdeman, Louie Slaughter, Adolph Hots, Frank Hollenbeck, St. Clair Keve, George Klin», Hearst Riggs, Alton Wolford, Everett Neal, Holly Johnston, Alfred Snrdd, Sheldon Forbes, and Maynard Douglas. E. N. Prentice, superintendent and coach, is entitled to full credit for getting the game of football started at Lone Tree High School in 1919. The first season was closed with a record of two wins and three losses. This was a fine finish considering it was the first year for the team. Captain of the gridiron squad was Holly Johnston. The line up for the first team was as follows: Right End--Alfred Smid, Right Guard --Hea rst Riggs, Left Gua rd - -Alton Wolford, Left End--Maynard Douglas, Right Halfback--Frank Hollenbeck, Right Tackle - -Loui s Slaughter, Cente r --George Kline, Left Tackle --Adolph Hotz, Left Halfback --Holly Johnston, Qua rte rback --St. Clair Keve. 14

Page 17 text:

Today the company consists of 20 lines. A list of persons both rural and town who have telephones today is included in this history so that future '‘historians ’ will know the names. Electricity Around 1905, William Zimmerman found itnecessary to install electricity in his steel plant. Later he wired his own farm home and several other homes and businesses in the community. In the following year, September, 1906, an electric franchise for light and power for the town of Lone Tree was secured by William Zimmerman, and on De- cember 6 of the same year the electric light plant was put into operation. When it was first operated, the electric plant shut down at midnight and there were no lights until the next morning. H. C. Buell reported that when someone wished to have a party they had to arrange with one of the Zimmermans to stay at the plant for a longer time. Today, the Iowa Electric Company serves approximately 427 homes in Lone Tree and the surrounding community. The date that the electric plant was sold to the Iowa Elec- tric Light and Power Company could not be obtained. Parks Parks are not always considered essential in towns the size of Lone Tree, but residents of this community have come to know their two parks are very necessary as places for both recreation and entertainment. The first local park was laid out north of the railroad tracks in 1906 and has grown into a beautiful spot shaded by a variety of trees. A tree expert from Ames landscaped the park. Water has been piped to the area and picnic and playground equipment has been installed, making the park an ideal place for public gatherings. The first park commissioners were: S. C. Carl, H. C. Buell, and W. F. Lutz. The Depot Park was started about 1913 on the north side of Commercial (Front) Street, extending for almost a block. Included in the park are a few benches, a water fountain, and a band stand on which concerts are held during the summer months. ABOVE: City Park (1955). BELOW: Depot Park (1920's). Sale Pavilion The sale pavilion, which was built in 1906, was. located in the east end of town near the railroad tracks across the street from what is now the Frank Kaalberg residence.

Page 19 text:

Basketball Pictures and information regarding the first high school basketball teams could not be found. The picture at the right is of an independent team that represented Lone Tree on the hard court before a team (either girls or boys) was started in the High School. In the picture at the right are Paul Schmidt, Hugh Dunn, Donald Green, and Louis Slaughter. The other team member, Lacey Brinkmeyer, was not present when this picture was taken. Lodges and Clubs The existent lodges and clubs of Lone Tree and the dates they were organized are as follows: Abner Lodge No. 535 (Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons), June 14, 1894; Fern Leaf Chapter (Order of Eastern Star), October 28, 1896; Amega Lodge No. 728 (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), April 24, 1909; Hukill Rebekah Lodge No. 459 (Sister Lodge of the Odd Fellows), October 18, 1912; John L. Mumm Post No. 457 (American Legion), March 15, 1920; American Legion Auxiliary, January 28, 1921; Searchlight Club (a Federated Women's Club), 1912; Lone Tree Women's Club (a Federated Women's Club), 1950; Kens- ington Club (Social Club), 1912; and the Priscilla Club (Social Club), 1910. Fires Within 10 years Lone Tree had three fires which made it necessary for her to rebuild much of her business district. The first of these fires occurred on December 3, 1940, at 7:30 a.m. This fire, which was believed to have started by an overheated stove or a defective chimney in a barber shop, swept the west side of Devoe Street from the present site of the Lone Tree Savings Bank to the alley bordering V. Smid's harness shop. All buildings were razed to the ground with the exception of three walls of the bank building, which were later torn down as a safety measure. On August 21, 1943, another fire seriously impaired Lone Tree's business section. This fire burned the buildings from what is now the Farmers and Merchant Savings Bank to V. Smid's harness shop. It is amazing that Smid's shop escaped fire damages from both fires. The origin of the fire was believed to have been a rubbish pile in the rear of Krai's Grocery Store which was situated in the same location as the present Fellner and Marner Store. The third big fire took place on November 25, 1950, on Commercial (Front) Street. The fire destroyed the Case Farm Store and damaged several adjacent buildings. Although these three fires have brought disaster to the town, it has been rebuilt with many modern improvements. 15