The Fine Twine Co

from The Farming Families of Lyon County (IA)—March 2022

by The Farming Families Magazine

Agri-Tech Enterprises Inc

“The Big House” was built in 1881 used by the Sykes Co. as a “home for the English.”

Joe Schoenfelder in his Larchwood harness shop in 1910.

The west side of Larchwood’s Main Street.

The east side of Larchwood’s Main Street in 1900. Here is a sampling of prices paid for farm products in December 1905:

Wheat - 71 cents per bushel Oats - 23½ cents per bushel Corn - 29 cents per bushel

Real estate gained in value through the years. In 1900, a 160-acre farm was advertised for sale at $32 per acre. By 1905, land was being advertised at $50 to $65 per acre. In 1910, corn yield was approximately 60 bushels per acre and land prices had advanced to $100 to $125 per acre. The horseless carriage began appearing on the scene in 1903-1904, and, by the end of the decade, it was becoming well established. This caused a great deal of concern for the drivers of teams and wagons and buggies, with numerous runaways, personal injuries and property damage. George Castle became Larchwood's first automobile dealer.

Many of the old settlers' houses were replaced in the years 1910 to 1915. The new houses were of fine large design and furnished with the best materials available. Maple, oak, walnut and hard pine were used extensively in the interior decoration. Central heating and carbide lights or Delco light plants were installed, making them very modern. Indoor plumbing and pressure water systems appeared in some. Silent movies became a part of local entertainment in about 1916 in a building on the east side of Main Street, south of the present highway.

Butter - 18 cents per pound Eggs - 20 cents per dozen Hogs - $4.30 per hundredweight