Des Moines Historical Society
Oct. 2011 newsletter - text only
The Des Moines Historical Society
Newsletter
Vol. II, No. 4
October, 2011
Join us to study, preserve and present the history of Iowa’s capital city.
NEXT MEETING
“Des Moines Notables: Names From Des Moines
That Have Become Famous”
Thursday, October 27, 2011
6-8 p.m.
Iowa Genealogical Society, 628 E. Grand
Free parking in ramp at E. Grand/Penn
This program is the first in a series that will explore people,
places and things from Des Moines that have become nation-
ally and internationally recognized. There are more than you
might think! Those who attend this meeting are in for some
surprises - you don’t want to miss it!
Complimentary refreshments will be available. The DMHS
business meeting will follow the program about 7 p.m. For
more information call President Pat Meiners, (515) 278-
1234.
Happy 160th Birthday, Des Moines
Fort Des Moines was incorporated Septem-
ber 22, 1851. The name was shortened to,
and officially incorporated as, Des Moines
in 1857.
At the time Fort Des Moines was incorpo-
rated, land prices were $1.25 per acre. A double log cabin
could be built for $70 and butter was $.10 per pound. The
Rev. Thompson Bird was elected the first mayor at the first
town election held October 28, 1851.
Members of the Des Moines Historical Society Board participated in the annual
Beaverdale Fall Festival parade Saturday, Sept. 17. The parade went very well...
after it dried up! It started raining that morning, and then again after we got the
candy and all put in the back of the truck. Fortunately it didn’t last too long.
Tim and Alex Payne drove their ‘31 Model Acoupe and Rick Meiners his 31 ‘A’pick-
up. Karen Hanley looked lovely in her circa 1900 outfit and some beautiful heirloom
jewelry and accessories. Alex joined in the fun with suspenders and a 1930s-era hat.
Chris ‘CJ’ Johnson was a “big hit” in his Des Moines Demons baseball uniform
complete with ca. 1910 Des Moines Glove Co. gloves and vintage bats.
We tossed a lot of candy and about 200 flyers about the DMHS to parade watchers.
A BIG THANK YOU to Tim, Alex, Rick, Karen and CJ for a job well done!
Des Moines Historical Society Members in Beaverdale Fall Festival Parade
Pat Meiners, President
Pictured above, from left: Tim Payne, Rick Meiners,
Alex Payne, CJ Johnson and Pat Meiners. Inset:
Karen Hanley gets ready to ride in the ‘31 Model A
Coupe (Alex Payne in passenger seat).
KAREN HANLEY
DMHS will hold an open house the Des Moines Birthplace/
Fort Des Moines II log cabin (just north of Principal Park) on
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 from 10 a.m. - noon.
Drop by during the Downtown Farmer’s Market to see this
magnificent piece of Des Moines history and learn more about
the Des Moines Historical Society.
Cabin Open House Oct. 15
The Des Moines Historical Society Board of Directors pro-
poses the following change to the Des Moines Historical So-
ciety Bylaws:
CURRENT:
Section 7. LIMITS. No member shall hold more than one of-
fice at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more
than two consecutive terms in the same office. All officers
shall be members in good standing in the DMHS.
PROPOSED:
Section 7. LIMITS. No member shall hold more than one of-
fice at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more
than two consecutive terms in the same office. There shall be
no limit to the number of terms a member may serve in any
office. All officers shall be members in good standing in the
DMHS.
The proposed change will be voted on by the membership
during the Oct. 27, 2011, quarterly meeting.
Given presentations to local organizations about Des
•
Moines history
Featured with WHO-HD’s Andy Fales for reports
•
about historical Des Moines citizens and other topics.
Assisted in coordinating the Centennial Celebration of
•
the Des Moines Municipal Building in 2009; helping
organize and gather items to be placed inside the City
Hall Time Capsule.
Organized special Members Only events such as
•
behind-the-scenes historic tours and research work-
shops.
The Des Moines Historical Society
2
NOTICE
DMHS Members Treated to Rare Tour of EMC
Insurance Archives Room
DMHS M
EMC Insurance is celebrating 100 years in business in 2011 and members of the Des Moines
Historical Society were invited to a special members only event Aug. 6 that allowed them in-
side the company’s Archives Room. Employers Mutual Casualty Co. began in 1911 in Des Moines as an
association of business people providing workers’ compensation coverage to Iowa manufacturers.
Included in the EMC archives is the photo, above, of the employee’s annual picnic Aug. 10, 1950 at Riverview Park in Des Moines.
The second photo at right is of an album created for the company’s 50th anniversary in 1961, “A Message to All Branch Offices.”
Thank you to EMC and especially Collection Manager Dan Miller for allowing DMHS members to tour the Archives Room!
DMHS Seeks Board Members
At its annual meeting in January, 2012 (date TBA), the Des
Moines Historical Society will hold board elections.
If you are interested in learning more about Des Moines histo-
ry from people with similar interests, please consider running
for a volunteer board position. The DMHS board meets once
per month throughout the year, in addition to special events
and quarterly meetings.
Some things DMHS has already done:
The Des Moines Historical Society
3
July DMHS Meeting Recap: Des Moines & The Civil War
The fact that it was an extremely hot and humid day for an
outdoor meeting only enhanced the nature of the topic: Des
Moines and the Civil War. After all, soldiers dressed in wool
uniforms in the summer as well as in the winter, right?
The Des Moines Historical Society held its summer quarterly
meeting July 24 in Redhead Park on Des Moines’east side. As
the nation commemorates the Sesquicentennial of the Civil
War (2011-2016), DMHS President Pat Meiners presented
a program of Civil War-related events that occurred in Des
Moines, beginning with the meeting location.
Camp Burnside was a muster and training camp during the
Civil War for soldiers joining the 23rd or 39th Iowa Volun-
teer Infantries. The camp was located East of the City of Des
Moines in 1862 on land now occupied by Redhead Park. The
area is now built up with residential houses and various in-
dustry.
In 1925, Grenville M. Dodge Aux-
iliary #8 dedicated the monument
located at the southeast corner
of the park. The 1925 dedication
program was attended by several
of the soldiers from the 23rd and
39th who were still living at the
time. The marker reads: “Site of
Camp Burnside 1862 A rendezvous for valiant volunteers
from Iowa to the Union Army in the Civil War 1861-1865
23rd Inf - 39th Inf Erected 1925 by Grenville M. Dodge
Camp Sons of Veterans Auxiliary No. 8, U.S.A. Div. of Iowa.”
(Iowa Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War)
KAREN HANLEY
January DMHS Meeting
Invites a “Showstorm”
The Des Moines Historical Society invites members and
the general public to bring their historical items for a
“Show and Tell Showstorm” at its January 2012 meet-
ing.
If you are in possession of items relating to facets of Des
Moines history, and would like to show them off or find
out more about them, bring them to this meeting! Guests
will be invited to share their objects and the history be-
hind them, or learn from others who may know more
about them.
Annual elections will also be held during this meeting, so
everyone is encouraged to attend. The date for the meet-
ing will be announced soon.
Visit www.desmoineshistoricalsociety.org for current
events and information about the DMHS.
The Des Moines Historical Society regularly holds special
“Members Only” events that give members the added “perk”
of touring historical homes, businesses or other special events.
To participate in “Members Only” events, join DMHS today
or make sure your membership is current. Fill out the Mem-
bership Application form in this newsletter and mail it in (or
fill one out online at www.desmoineshistoricalsociety.org) to
take advange of these special “members only” events!
Thank you for supporting DMHS!
JOIN TODAY
THE DES MOINES HISTORICAL SOCIETY of Des Moines, Iowa held its organizational meeting Sunday, September 27,
2009 at the Des Moines Birthplace/Fort Des Moines II Memorial Cabin. Article II of the bylaws states: “The purpose of the
DMHS is to promote the preservation and study of the history and heritage of Des Moines, Iowa.”
2011 DMHS Officers & Board Members
Pat Meiners, President
Natasha Moore, Vice President
Ted Lussem, Treasurer
Rick Meiners, Secretary
David Coates
Karen Hanley
Sarah Oltrogge
Jacob Shoemaker
Julie Thompson
The Des Moines Historical Society
M
EMBERSHIP
I
NFORMATION
4
Meetings
The Des Moines Historical Society holds quarterly meetings
in January, April, July and October. Every meeting is free to
attend and open to the public. You do not have to be a DMHS
member to attend. Each meeting includes a program related to
Des Moines history. The DMHS also holds “members only”
events such as private home tours and research workshops.
DMHS Meetings & Activities
4th Quarter Meeting: Thursday, Oct. 27, “Des Moines No-
tables: Names from Des Moines That Have Become Famous.”
6-8 p.m. at the Iowa Genealogical Society, 628 E. Grand, Des
Moines. Free and open to the public. Free parking in parking
ramp at E. Grand/Penn.
The DMHS works to:
Get the community involved in Des Moines history.
•
Make Des Moines history relevant and interesting.
•
Have quarterly programs to inform citizens about the history
•
of Des Moines.
M
EMBERSHIP
A
PPLICATION
Fill out a membership application online and pay dues* with a credit card at www.desmoineshistoricalsociety.org.
For updates or more information on DMHS, visit www.desmoineshistoricalsociety.org or find us on Facebook “Des Moines His-
torical Society.” Questions may be directed to Pat Meiners, president, (515) 278-1234.
Today’s date:____________________________________
NAME:________________________________________
ADDRESS: ____________________________________
CITY:_________________________________________
STATE:______________________ ZIP:______________
E-MAIL: ______________________________________
PHONE: _______________________________________
Home / Mobile / Work (circle one)
FOR 2ND HOUSEHOLD MEMBER or
BUSINESS/ORG. VOTING REPRESENTATIVE
NAME:________________________________________
ADDRESS: ____________________________________
CITY:_________________________________________
STATE:______________________ ZIP:______________
E-MAIL: ______________________________________
PHONE: _______________________________________
Home / Mobile / Work (circle one)
*Dues paid during the last quarter of a year cover the next full year also.
______ New Member
______ Renewal
CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP LEVEL & ANNUAL DUES:
__________
$10 Individual Membership
__________
$15 Household (2 voting members)
__________
$25 Not-for-profit organizations
__________
$50 Governmental organizations
BUSINESS CLASSIFICATIONS
__________
$25
Less than 50 employees
__________
$50
50 – 99 employees
__________
$100 100 or more employees
Make checks to: Des Moines Historical Society (DMHS).
Mail dues and application to:
DMHS Treasurer, Ted Lussem
2919 John Patterson Rd.
Des Moines, IA 50317-3136
Special interests:__________________________________________
I am interested in volunteering on a committee or as an officer
How did you hear about DMHS? _____________________________
OPTIONAL
For office use: Amt. Rec’d. $ __________ Cash ________
Membership # ___________ Check # ___________________
Posted
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