Downtown Webster City has days where the hustle and bustle is fun and exciting DOWNTOWN VIEWS
By KOLLEEN TAYLOR
The view into downtown Webster City is full of promise and hope.
It’s the hope that our community will reinvest in itself. It’s the hope that our business community will create a succession plan. It’s hope that our children will have fond memories of growing up here.
The promises are the ones we all have to help keep.
We have to promise to show the respect for the people who have tried to take care of their buildings, run their businesses and raise their families.
We have to promise to support the businesses here in the town where we live.
We have to help keep things clean, to pick up litter, to make things look nice where we live.
We have to promise to show our children that a small town in Iowa is a good place.
And we have to promise Webster City that we will help.
Downtown Webster City still has days where the hustle and bustle is fun and exciting. It’s when the women gather to shop, and laugh and enjoy the companionship you find in a small town where you know so many people. It might be an event like Ladies Night Out, or Market Nights or JunqueFest.
The landscaping and sidewalk work that was completed 25 years ago is holding up fairly well. The trees branching over the sidewalks provide shade and enhance the relaxed stroll along main street.
A little maintenance, a little paint, a lot of elbow grease, spring flowers, trees greening, and the downtown will brighten up in just a few short months.
There is a lot of life in the downtown district. It has changed over the years, but what town hasn’t seen change?
The nostalgia we feel from those who remember the 1940s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s has to just be that — Good memories.
We need to think about it differently. We need to look to the future.
What would our downtown be if it wasn’t full of these buildings, these businesses. From the 400 block of Second Street to the 800 block, those four blocks are full of businesses that are industrious and personable. If you walk a block north or south on any of the intersections, you’ve got even more with coffee and ice cream, specialty items, artistry and home decor.
We essentially have four districts in our downtown area. Each district is only about a block long, but they are here. Webster City has a financial district, a service district, a retail district and an artisan district. They are not well-defined, and you might argue that the area is not large, but it is defining.
But it takes wandering into the businesses themselves that really shows off the strength of the downtown district. People who are enthused and happy, people who care and want to make a difference. People who have invested into the city where they live and work.
Webster City is on the upswing,
Working together to enhance the business community throughout the city, but with a strong focus on retail is the Chamber of Commerce organized retail committee. This group has met every other week for several years and brainstorms activities which will draw people to Webster City. Those activities are usually in the downtown district, events like Market Nights, Junquefest and Ladies Night Out.
Seated around the board room at the Chamber office are from left to right are: John Marvel, Tricia Rupiper, Peggy Joslin, Ariel Bertran, Amelia Oliver, Jordan Johnson, Miranda Hilpipre, Sunshine Duffy, Ketta Lubberstedt-Artjes and Robin Streigel with her back to the
with remodeling and repairs happening throughout the community. New stores are getting ready to open, new life brought into old buildings, new product into the stores. Everyone can help spruce up Webster City. Elsewhere in this Progress edition we focus on some of the big stories; change of ownership, the additional businesses, the
move of the distillery and the renovation of The Elks. But there are more stories. There are innovators, and hard working families taking a risk, managing businesses and hiring people to energize the community. Take a look, talk to a local business owner. And think about how you and your family can be part of their story.
From the 400 block of Second Street to the 800 block, those four blocks are full of businesses that are industrious and personable.
The view down the 600 block of Second Street, even in the dead of winter, is scenic,
Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Kolleen Taylor
camera.
Mornin’ Glory, and Brick and Bloom both sit just south of Second Street, an easy stroll for the central business district.
The First State Bank has expanded with predominantly a brick facade, which nods to the historical district that is predominantly built with brick. The beauty of the new brick, or properly restored brick is undeniable.
The finish line is in sight
Elks renovation is progressing
By JANE CURTIS
The finish line is in sight.
With more than $3 million in grants and donations and eight years in the rear view, the challenge now is to complete the second-story ballroom of The Elks in time for a fall 2026 opening.
That hinges significantly on a $104,926 grant through Iowa Economic Development, according to Darcy Swon, president of LIFT WC — Local Initiative for Transformation WC Inc. — the nonprofit that undertook the monumental task of rehabilitating the 1906 brick building at 713 Second St. in Webster City.
“That will give us, with what we already have in reserves, that will give us enough to complete the ballroom,” Swon said recently. “So, we have to wait before we can do anything.”
Not that things are at a standstill. On the main floor, Wildcat Distillery is feverishly completing its interior buildout at The Elks with the goal of a spring opening.
But upstairs in the ballroom that hosted many an iconic event for multiple generations, the studs are still exposed, awaiting wall finishing. The ceiling treatment is also not complete, though a rendering by Alissa Nelson, the commercial interior designer and Wildcat Distillery partner who designed Wildcat’s look, offers a glimpse of what to expect.
Like runners in a marathon, the LIFT board is winded from what initially looked like a $1.5 million or so project. In this latest leg of what turned out to be a whopper of a learning experience, the members find themselves cheering each other toward what will eventually be a stunning accomplishment.
Through it all, those members — Shannon Swon, Lindsay Henderson, John Hawkins, Jake Pulis, Zach Chizek and Swon — have doggedly met challenges since the building was first purchased by the City of Webster City in 2018 and then turned over to LIFT. In that beginning, Henderson, who was then the city’s Community Vitality director, recognized that the cost for the facade repairs on the masonry building could come from existing Community Development Block Grant funds.
“The Iowa Economic Development Authority has given us the directive to spend down some CDBG funds that we’ve had for some time,” Henderson said then. “Some of those funds are going to be revolving back in over the next five years. They no longer want us to do revolving loans; they would like it spent in their entirety.”
With those funds in hand, what followed was an intense journey focused on the rehabilitation — and use — of a historic building.
The full 2018 purchase price of the building — $40,000 — hinged on the owner removing the building’s burgeoning content. Ultimately, he did not. That cut the price by $15,000 according to the agreement and left LIFT with three floors of what most people would define as junk. Thousands of pounds of stuff had to be removed before anything could be done.
What followed were long, sweaty days. But in one of the many moments that made it all feel worthwhile, someone on a recent guided tour approached Swon and Hawkins and said, “Man, you guys haven’t cut any corners.”
In telling this, Swon rolled her eyes.
“John looks at me and I look at him and we’re like, we have done every single thing we can to not, like, not overpay for something, but still have things look as nice as we possibly can.” She continued, “We have a very tight budget. We’re a nonprofit. We don’t have money rolling in. You know, we still need donations. We’ll always be accepting donations because that building, as you know, is not just about renting out a facility, it’s about generating revenue to help us put money back into the community and other things. So, we’re always going to be looking for charitable gifts, and they’re all tax deductible and all of that.
“But yeah, we are really trying hard to pay tribute to the era of the building as financially responsibly as we can. And the bathrooms, when I was in there two weeks ago, stunning, but we didn’t pay a fortune for them; we just were smart in what we chose. So that’s kind of exciting.”
With so much already done, Swon said the whole board is looking forward to what’s ahead.
“So, it’s more of the finishing elements, the flooring and the bathrooms, the catering kitchen, building out the bar, building out the stage, the electrical wiring, the HVAC, bringing it on upstairs. That kind of thing. So, it won’t take long once we get going.”
With that in mind, Swon says fall is the target opening.
“So that’s why we’re thinking September,” she said. That hinges on news of the pending grant coming in March. “If we can get that timeline,” she said, “we should be good to go. But I’m not going to book anything for the building space until we know.”
This rendering gives a glimpse of how the finished project will look.
Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Kolleen Taylor
The north side of The Elks now sports an elevator which allows access to all three levels of the building. The north side also has a large parking area which will allow easy parking for large events.
The Wildcat Way
Four family members are taking their business to the next level
“At Wildcat,” their website states,
By JANE CURTIS
This spring, those spunky local distillers Wildcat will throw open the doors of their latest endeavor: an expanded tasting room and lounge at The Elks.
Far roomier than its previous incarnation at 626 Second St. in Webster City, the new Wildcat encompasses the entire west side of the main floor of the restored building at 713 Second St. Wildcat closed the 626 location late in 2025 in preparation for its move to 713.
Right now, behind closed doors, Wildcat is creating a vibrant local destination that will serve its signature locally distilled whiskeys and select other beverages, including sourced wine and beer.
“This is really going to be the tasting room,” Alissa Nelson explained during a recent tour of the under-construction space. “We do have a very small kitchen. It’s become very apparent that people want food. So we’re still working through the food that we’re going to be offering, but our intent is to at least have small plates. We’ll still continue to serve pizza from Pop’s Pizza and just add a few more other things.”
Nelson has 20 years as a commercial interior designer in her portfolio. She is head of Events, Marketing and Creative Director for the family-run business.
“I handle all design-related work for Wildcat, including the distillery, our first tasting room, and the new tasting room at The Elks. I also provided design direction with LIFT for the upstairs ballroom and main levels. In addition, I manage all marketing design and messaging, along
with planning our events and live music.”
Those skills have taken center stage as the build-out of the new space continues.
Equally important, though, are the other three co-owners that complete Team Wildcat.
Nelson’s brother Brad Lemke is head of Operations & Production.
“My brother, and also the farmer who raises all of the grain, (is) the lead distiller, our chief contractor who’s working on the build-out of The Elks, and of course the lead mad scientist behind all of our recipes. He has a background in chemical manufacturing and has worked on our family farm since he was born, so he has a lot of background knowledge,” Nelson explained. Amanda Lemke is head of Business Operations.
“Brad’s wife (is) my sister-in-law, and also the one who keeps all of the bookkeeping, insurance, payroll, and all of the boring stuff going behind the scenes. She also helps work the tasting room, particularly on Market Night Thursdays.”
Nelson’s husband Tony Nelson is the Business Development, Compliance, and Tasting Room manager.
“Tony is in charge of getting us shelf space at retailers, staffing the tasting room and ensuring we have all of the necessary products on hand. He also makes certain that we are in compliance with local, state and federal regulations.”
Behind this latest task was the creation of what the four call The Wildcat Way. That is: Till. Mill. Distill.
“we’re committed to creating high-quality products that we’re proud to put our name on. That’s why we’re a TRUE Iowa Distillery, using locally grown grains and fruits from our family farm.”
That farm is near Duncombe. “We handle everything onsite, from fermenting to distilling,” the website states. “Our spirits are crafted with the purest water from the same spring that carved our cave.” Wildcat Cave, the distillery’s namesake, featured prominently in Brad and Alissa’s childhood explorations of the family farm.
A few years ago, Mike Naig, Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, toured the 626 Second St. tasting room as part of a Choose Iowa initiative.
“This is very special,” Naig said after listening to Amanda Lemke explain the business. “Look, (what) we’ve got big picture here is that you’ve got a convergence of a couple of things. One is just an increased interest and desire on the part of consumers to know where things come from, to buy local, you know, farm fresh and to know more about that, to have an experience with their food and beverage. And you marry that up with something that we all experienced — COVID — which was supply chain disruptions and I think a growing interest in just again understanding where things come from. How do you shorten the distance between the farm and the table?
“We see that converging here in Iowa. We’ve got a great brand for agriculture. And who better to do farm fresh than us?”
Choose Iowa began in 2022 with an intent of making products from things already grown in Iowa, he said.
“In this case, it’s corn and other grains that they’re producing right on their farm just west of town and turning it into something that’s got incredible value, is fun for people, and there’s demand for what they’re doing.”
At the new Wildcat, the historic front room will feature lounge seating around the building’s fireplace and a place for live music performances. The bar stretches along the west wall of a separate space where patrons can relax on built-in banquettes. Tucked closer to the building’s north entrance that was created when the elevator was installed, is a tiny speakeasy. That room, with its own bar, will accommodate up to 12 people.
“This is where we’re going to host our guided tastings,” Alissa Nelson said.
Wildcat Distilling LLC has signed a two-year lease for approximately 2,200 square feet on the main floor of The Elks. That contract is with LIFT WC —– Local Initiative for Transformation WC, Inc. — the local nonprofit that restored and owns the building. The lease began on Aug. 1, 2025, according to Nelson.
“The space will be used for alcohol service and retail, with Wildcat serving as the exclusive alcohol provider for the building, including upstairs events. The agreement includes phased occupancy during renovations and an option for Wildcat to lease additional space if it becomes available.”
ABOVE LEFT: A wall niche will provide patrons with a glimpse of the distillation process.
ABOVE: The ceiling above the bar exhibits Alissa Nelson’s eye for detail. She is a commercial interior designer and co-owner of Wildcat Distilling Co.
Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Jane Curtis
John Hawkins and Alissa Nelson pose in the lounge area of the new Wildcat space at The Elks in Webster City. Nelson is one of the four owners of Wildcat Distilling Co. Hawkins, Webster City’s mayor, is a member of the LIFT WC board, the nonprofit that owns and restored The Elks.
The bar of the new tasting room is under construction. Banquette seating will run along the wall opposite the bar.
One of the many artifacts discovered in the building when McNiel took over ownership, was a buried Civil War headstone that was likely broken during the process of creating these markers for every veteran who served during the war between the states. The building was originally owned by a gravestone company.
Step by step
McNiel making progress on downtown building
By KOLLEEN TAYLOR
It’s been seven months since Chris McNiel saw the barricades go up around his building located in the 500 block of downtown Webster City. Progress is being made, but there is still a lot of work and some frustration as McNiel works to save his building.
A walk through of the building shows a lot of work in progress, most of it is structural, work that can be done from the interior between paying jobs. The harsh and early onset of winter prevented much exterior work to be done, although he was able to hire masons who did a thorough job of tuck-pointing about one-third of the east wall.
“We’ve done emergency tuck-pointing on the remainder,” he explained. His next step will be building a temporary restraining structure for the facade.
“It’s had some tinkering way back when,” he explained. “It was pretty beautiful.”
The restraint is a safety precaution, he continued, similar to the restraint used on the Webster Theatre.
“The facade will have to be dismantled and rebuilt, eventually,” he said, “and I have a plan for that.”
The weather conditions this winter prohibited him from working on the north side, with the winds and cold hitting early and staying most of the last five months. With the barricades still in place, working on the north side is still challenging. John Harrenstein, city manager for Webster City, sympathized with the challenges facing property owners like McNiel.
“There is an implicit tension between building owners facing repairs and the safety requirements around it,” he
A closeup of the masonry stone unearthed on the McNiel property, shows the name Geo Y. Boyd….assuming it is George Boyd, who had served in the Civil War in Company C.
said. “The city has taken a very flexible approach to the properties who have tried to address the structural issues. The issues surrounding the removal of barricades is this: If the work satisfies our building code, they will come down.”
McNiel is a Webster City native, graduate of Webster City High School, and is an experienced electrician, plumber and engineer. He has been quietly working when he can to shore up the problems a lack of knowledgeable building maintenance had created.
These were not problems McNiel created, but they are the problems he has inherited, as he chose to purchase the 518 and 520 buildings at a price he thought was better than constructing a pole building to serve his storage needs. The two buildings, he explained, were originally one building.
The building housed the former Monroe Office Supply business, which specialized in office equipment. Built in 1890, according to the Hamilton County Assessors page, McNiel has uncovered bits of history throughout the building, including a grave marker from the Civil War.
“It was originally the Graves Monument Company,” he explained. “After the Civil War ended, every Civil War veteran got a Civil War grave marker.”
The marker he discovered was buried in the earth, and they located it while working around the building. “Geo Boyd” was the name engraved on the short white granite rock.
McNiel knew the building needed a lot of work when he purchased it. He didn’t
— Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Kolleen Taylor
One step Chris McNiel took to stabilize the front of the building was to reinforce the over-sized second floor window. The two by fours used that are visible from the street was a key step he took for safety and to reinforce the facade.
Fashion forward
Sonia Rodriguez looks to a bright future as she takes the helm at Osweiler’s
By ROBERT E. OLIVER
After owning Osweiler’s Fashions, 625 Second St. in Webster City for 42 years, Ron and Kathy Birkestrand officially sold their store to Sonia Rodriguez on Feb. 2, 2026. Rodriguez, who some readers may remember by her maiden name of Sosa, is well-known to the store’s regular customers as she’s worked there the last 16 years, starting right after graduation from Webster City High School. Rodriguez’s Webster City roots run deep. Born in a tiny village near the resort city of Veracruz, Mexico, a city famed for beautiful beaches, and as Mexico’s largest seaport, Rodriguez moved with her family to Webster City in 2000. Flashing her engaging, trademark smile, she enthusiastically saids, “I’ve loved this town from the moment I arrived!”
Although retiring, Birkestrands plan to remain in Webster City. They literally live “over the shop,” on the second floor, and are leasing the store to Rodriguez. The main floor beauty shop, Creative Images, remains under separate ownership, and will continue operating as usual. Paul and Shirley Osweiler moved to Webster City from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in 1949. They opened Osweiler’s Fashions in 1955, operating the store until their retirement in 1983, when they sold the store to Ron and Kathy Birkestrand. Osweiler’s slowly expanded to become a small chain of four stores, which included locations in Algona, Fort Dodge and Storm Lake in addition to Webster City. With the closing of the Storm Lake store in September, 2025, only the original flagship store remains today.
Based in a small, rural market like Webster City, Osweiler’s has always carried a wide range of women’s fashions, in effect trying to have “something for everyone.” Describing the store’s present assortment, Rodriguez says, “we have a good selection of denim, capris, jeans and tops. We still carry dresses, and for very special occasions, we carry fancy jackets and pants.
“And we always have a full line of petites and plus sizes, too.”
While most clothing sold in Osweiler’s today, as at most other clothing retailers, are made from synthetic fabrics-polyester, rayon, nylon, acrylics, or acetates, Rodriguez adds, “we still carry 100% cotton clothing, too. It’s more expensive, but there’s nothing like the feel of real cotton, and we still have customers who prefer it.”
With Osweiler’s long history in Webster City, you’d expect it’s built-up a loyal clientele locally. And it has, but Rodriguez adds, “we draw regular shoppers from
Des Moines and Indianola, and have a large group of regular customers from Ames.” With its reputation as a destination store for special occasion clothing, Rodriguez also wants readers to know, “we stock casual and everyday clothes, too.”
As Osweiler’s new owner, Rodriguez knows her clothes are de-facto advertisements for the store.
“Everything in my closet is from Osweiler’s. I get lots of compliments on my clothes, and am always proud to say you can buy it in Webster City.”
According to Women’s Wear Daily, a trade journal, 98% of women’s clothing sold in the U.S. is imported.
While Osweiler’s has imported goods on its floor, it’s always carried American brands. Some of these include Ruby Rd., based in New York City; Wild Palms, a maker of tees, tanks and tops suitable for resort wear; and
Liverpool, an American brand with a casual denim look. As its name implies, Chicagobased Cotton Connection makes activewear clothing with high cotton content. It also owns the well-known Fruit-of-the-Loom, Hanes, and Gildan brands.
As global chains and E-commerce marketers have expanded in recent decades, distinctive one-of-a-kind shops like Osweiler’s are no longer common. But independent clothing stores are seeing increased sales in recent years. With their focus on quality merchandise, and personal, caring service, independent shops offer what many younger consumers crave today: attention from sales clerks, and help in making style and color choices. It’s old-fashioned, of course, but when it comes to customer service in women’s clothing, everything old is new again.
Service is impersonal or nonexistent in online shopping, and not being able to see, feel and tryon clothes bought online has resulted in high dissatisfaction and return rates. Osweiler’s has always prioritized customer service. Rodriguez emphasized long-time sales associate Alesia Ridenour will continue serving customers.
“Alesia is just wonderful, and knows everybody in town,” said Rodriguez. “She’s naturally friendly and it’s obvious she enjoys helping people.”
Asked how she plans to attract new customers, Rodriguez replied, “People are online all the time, so I think we need to be there, too. I want more than just a Facebook page, so we’ll be looking into our own website and, possibly, an online store,” she said. Rodriguez is committed to continuing the store’s successful post card mailings. “We do them at Christmas, in spring, and for our private sales, that are announced in advance to our customer list only,” she said.
Buying a store, especially one so successful and beloved as Osweiler’s, is a big decision, and not one Rodriguez took lightly.
“I’ve loved working with Ron and Kathy here in the store, and Osweiler’s has meant so much to me over the years, but this was a last-minute decision,” she said. “I talked to my mother, sisters and husband, my friends and customers about it. Since the word went out that I’d be buying the store, people have come in to congratulate me, give me flowers, and pledge their support. I know I’ve made the right decision.”
For his part, Ron Birkestrand said, “Sonia’s like a daughter to Kathy and I. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure she succeeds.”
Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Robert E. Oliver
It’s smiles all around as Webster City’s successful and beloved women’s clothing store, Osweiler’s, in business at 625 Second St. for 70 years, changes hands from Ron, left, and Kathy Birkestrand, right, to new owner Sonia Rodriguez.
Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Kolleen Taylor
Sonia Rodriguez loves to show off their great inventory, and helps with pairing colors and styles, making her a natural for helping continue the stores great tradition of dressing women who want to look put-together.
Ace Hardware Store
New life in downtown hardware store location
By KOLLEEN TAYLOR
If a town could take a collective sigh of relief, the news that Ace Hardware would be coming to Webster City would do it. If all goes well, the former True Value location will be open by summer with a new name in the same location we are all familiar with at 541 Second St.
This building is essentially the anchor of the downtown retail district, and the community at large found it a handy location to purchase items needed quickly for repairs and all types of hardware needs in the central part of the city. It’s just a few blocks off of the residential areas, and at the edge of what is essentially a financial district in Webster City.
Bernau Capital Management, who purchased the building and will be managing the franchise, is working directly
McNiel
Continued from Page 4B
with Ace Hardware corporate offices to get the facility ready. Bernau Capital Management is owned by Tom Bernau, a multi-franchise operator based out of West Des Moines.
According to Kim Drautz, who is with Bernau Capital Management and operations manager for the Ace Hardware project, the corporate team has already been here, scanning the building and preparing a design to determine the store layout, where equipment will be placed, and ordering product.
“Ace is very involved with the store layout,” said Drautz. “That scan team uses
AI, and provides a 3-D rendering.”
The rendering will identify not only the store layout, but also the placement of all the inventory. “All the inventory will be new,” said Drautz.
Bernau Capital Management bought the building and shelving, but none of the remaining inventory from the True Value store.
“We are starting to order product to be delivered in late March and April,” she continued. “It will be all ACE branded.”
The steps to getting a building open takes more than a store front and inventory, of course. Behind the scenes, a lot of work is being done.
“All of the city ordinances are being tackled this week, so when product is delivered we will be ready to go.”
But that part takes people.
“Our goal is to be open by June 1,”
she said. “But there is a lot of work to get that done. The first step is having someone within the community and getting people hired. And they help decide what special inventory needs there are for the community.”
Drautz said they are on schedule for staffing the store.
“ACE has a very robust hiring system, they send it out to multiple channels where we have job postings,” she explained. “We did that almost a month ago, and we had several candidates applied.”
The next visible sign will be the installation of a temporary sign. Old signage should start disappearing within the next few weeks.
“Our branding will be evident by March 15,” she said.
Ace will be the place with the helpful hardware folks, right here in downtown Webster City.
know he had such a short timetable to correct the many problems. A certified electrician, plumber and engineer, he does most of the work himself, guiding people he hires to help with specialized tasks. McNiel has enough engineering knowledge to know he had to address the most critical aspects to keep the building together.
The first step was to clean it out.
Hundreds of unusable typewriters and office machines were thrown into the second story of the building, which first had to be removed. Thousands of pounds removed took pressure off the support to the ceiling.
Additions to the building included a porch to the south built directly onto a roof. This spring, the first order of business will be to remove the porch and reinforce the roof so his neighbors can access the repairs they need to make on their building. The sun porch was too heavy for the roof support, and removing it from the original building will relieve some stress and allow them and the neighbors to access and repair their brickwork.
“We are trying to accommodate the neighbors so they can continue their tuckpointing.” he explained. “They have been cooperative when I had to take down the chimney. I had to be on their property, now they need to use my building to access theirs.”
It’s a tedious project, each step has to be thoughtful for safe repairs and at a cost which would startle any businessman. Throughout the building he is reinforcing beams and timbers, and alleviate stresses on any areas which seem problematic.
“I’m trying to operate a pretty thriving business and take care of these things,” he said, “but when you get into these old buildings, it’s a different process, a different procedure for repairs.”
This second floor addition was built directly onto a roof that was never meant to sustain the weight of a second floor. This will be removed later this year to allow additional repairs on both the McNiel property and for continued work on the Dawson building located adjacent and west of it.
McNiel is working with Harrenstein, Ariel Bertran and the inspection department, and admitted he is developing a good relationship with them.
His frustration comes from an engineering report that exists.
“They want to follow an engineering report which is errant, speculative and does not truly address the needs of the building,” he said. The report, he further explained, does not take into account that the building is 135 years old, and following engineering guidelines established for new construction is pretty impossible.
And it would be the same problem for every building of that era in the community.
Harrenstein said this is all a balancing act.
“In my position, I encounter all ranges of opinions. The way we are acting is to be responsive to all.”
McNiel is quick to say that his age is not making the project easier, but he has intentions of getting as much done himself, so that a future owner can use it for retail, a service business or other type of offices. He doesn’t have a team of investors or a huge crew to help him. For now, he is doing as much as he can as quickly as he can to be compliant with the city, and be a good neighbor.
He still needs time, and of course, the money that it takes to complete the work.
It’s a goal that is unselfish, repairing the building for the future and helping to keep the downtown district alive.
It’s efforts like McNiel is making that takes the doom and gloom away from the downtown.
“People can be encouraged,” said Harrenstein. “A lot of people are engaged.”
It’s that engagement that can make the difference.
Tom Bernau
Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Kolleen Tayor
The former True Value store in downtown Webster City will soon open as Ace Hardware.
Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Kolleen Taylor
Over the Speed Limit — and stealing the spotlight
Senior theater group at WCCT ready to hit the stage
By ANNE BLANKENSHIP
On a weeknight when most people are settling into their routines, laughter fills the rehearsal space at Webster City Community Theatre. Scripts are shuffled, lines are rehearsed (and occasionally improvised), and stories — both written and lived — are shared freely. This is the home of the Over the Speed Limit Players, a division of WCCT created especially for older adults who still have stories to tell and a desire to connect through theatre.
The idea for senior theatre in Webster City began with inspiration gathered far from the stage itself. Loween Getter, director and organizer of the Over the Speed Limit Players, first learned about the concept while attending an American Association of Community Theatres convention. There, she heard from a woman who operated a company called Senior Theatre Resources — an organization dedicated to keeping seniors engaged in the arts.
“She was very much into wanted seniors to be involved in theater, for them to continue what they’ve always done, or if they were newcomers, to learn about theater,” Getter said. “I think it started with assisted living facilities and city recreation departments where programming for seniors was needed.”
The concept struck a chord. Getter saw an opportunity not only to expand WCCT’s programming, but to create a space where creativity, community, and lifelong learning could thrive — regardless of age or experience.
Coincidentally, Music Theatre International recently released a series of Broadway productions adapted specifically for senior performers. When the announcement was made, Getter immediately saw an opportunity for the Over the Speed Limit Players and applied for the rights to present “Fiddler on the Roof Sr.” — a version designed to meet the needs of older adult performers while preserving the heart and music of the beloved show.
The cast of “Fiddler on the Roof Sr.” is currently in rehearsal and preparing for its upcoming premiere, marking a significant milestone for both the Over the Speed Limit Players and Webster City Community Theatre.
“WCCT is hosting the Iowa Community Theatre Association Convention March 27 and 28,” Getter said. “We will be performing the production on the 27th for convention attendees, and it will be open to the public as well.”
hopes the group will eventually take performances beyond the theat’ walls and into the community.
“Perhaps we could entertain at assisted living facilities or for Congregate Meals,” she said. “We want to be sure we offer outreach to the community.”
The Over the Speed Limit Players were designed with accessibility and enjoyment at the forefront. Rehearsals are relaxed, expectations are flexible, and the focus is firmly on participation rather than perfection. Some members return to the stage after decades away, while others are discovering theater for the very first time.
For Getter, that blend is part of the magic.
For Getter, the performance represents more than just a show — it’s an opportunity to introduce the senior theater concept to community theaters across the state.
“It’s just a feel-good way to have the rest of the community theaters in the state know that the concept is out there, and that there are a lot of ways it can be presented,” she said.
Tickets for the performance will be available soon at webstercitycommunitytheatre.org.
While “Fiddler on the Roof Sr.” is an exciting step forward, Getter emphasizes that it’s only the beginning. She envisions the Over the Speed Limit Players continuing to grow and diversify their offerings.
“Once we get done with ‘Fiddler,’ there are some other ideas we plan to do,” Getter said. “We’d like to do a reading for Ladies Night Out and perhaps something in the spring. I’d also like to see small groups working together on skits and short plays and then entertaining.”
Outreach remains a key part of that vision. Getter
“The goal is for people to feel comfortable,” she said. “This is about having fun, trying something new, and being part of a group that supports one another.” The benefits extend far beyond the stage. Participants stay mentally engaged, socially connected, and creatively active. Friendships form quickly, confidence grows, and laughter becomes a regular part of rehearsal. The performances themselves — often short plays or reader’s theater — resonate deeply with audiences, offering humor, heart, and insight shaped by lived experience.
As a division of Webster City Community Theatre, the Over the Speed Limit Players reflect WCCT’s commitment to inclusion and community engagement. They serve as a reminder that theatre isn’t just for the young or the professionally trained — it’s for anyone willing to step into a story.
And if the sound of laughter drifting down the hallway is any indication, the Over the Speed Limit Players aren’t slowing down anytime soon. In fact, they may just be hitting their stride.
Community members interested in participating in future Over the Speed Limit Players productions are encouraged to get involved. To learn more or express interest, email wcctboxoffice@gmail.com.
shades
Dane Barner and Loween Getter are working together as music director and director for the Over the Speed Limit players who are rehearsing for their up-aged version of “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Anne Blankenship
At a recent rehearsal of the Over the Speed Limit Players, cast members work on their lines. Pictured in the group are Sylvia Vust, Mary Sealine, Dean Evans and Mark Andrew.
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Van Diest Supply Company employs over 600 people, has over 55 buildings on approximately 270 acres in Webster City, Iowa, has 20 outlying Distribution Centers and serves over 6,000 customers across the Midwest. Join us as a part of our Winning Team by filling out an application today!
