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Winter 2019

Creative card maker brings joy to the holidays

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11/19/19 3:36 PM

One of the Midwest’s largest independent clinics... because you deserve a choice in health care

Paul Ruggle, M.D. Family Practice

Steve Hill, M.D. Family Practice

Pat Edwards, M.D. Family Practice with OB

Orville Bunker, M.D. Family Practice

T. Y. Chan, D.O. Internal Medicine

Min Pak, M.D. Family Practice

Mureema Solberg, M.D. Family Practice

Zack Alexander, M.D., CCD Family Practice

Duane Jolivette, M.D. Family Practice

Andrew Cope, D.O. Family Practice

Darryl Johnson, OBGYN

Esgar Guarin, M.D., FAAFP. Family Practice with OB

Janice Gates, DPM Podiatry

Laurie Siddall, ARNP, FNP-C Family Practice

Beth Preston, ARNP, FNP-C Family Practice

Jodi Holloway. ARNP, FNP-C Family Practice

Angela Nelson, PA-C Family Practice

Past

Jeff Olson, DPM Foot/Ankle Surgeon

Kelsey Tish, ARNP, FNP-C Family Practice

Sarah Neal ARNP, Urgent Care

Future

Our roots were established as far back as the 1920s.

The providers of Newton Clinic have been caring for this community for more than 80 years.

Our clinic continues to grow to meet your needs. Whether you want a male provider or a female one, a new graduate or a veteran doc, we have the right health-care provider for you.

We want to make you better when you are sick, keep you healthy when you are well, help you grow your family when a little one is on the way, and help you say goodbye in peace when your journey is done.

Every patient has a choice. Thank you for turning to Newton Clinic. Thank you for letting us treat you... like family.

Present

Always

Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. • Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon Same-day appointments always available!

(641) 792-2112 • 300 N. 4th Ave. E., Newton • www.newtonclinic.com • www.facebook.com/newtonclinic ndt1_2019-12-31_2.indd 2

11/14/19 9:29 AM

Jasper County Living Winter 2019 5 --- Calendar HEALTH

7 --- Kula Yoga

food

11 --- Jasper County’s Sugar Shack

Shop

13 --- Handmade cards for the holidays

profile issue

15 --- Meet Larry Hurto 16 --- Food pantries holiday needs 25 --- Newton Main Street 31 --- Colfax Main Street designed by Pam Pratt and Jamee A. Pierson Official product of the Newton Daily News.

For questions about advertising or to advertise please contact us at 641-792-3121 ext 6540

Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

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11/15/19 9:25 AM

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Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

11/19/19 3:34 PM

Upcoming events December Dec. 6-14 “A Nice Family Christmas” Newton Community Theatre It’s Christmas Eve, and a young newspaper reporter on the brink of being fired has been assigned a last-chance story about a typical family Christmas, his family’s Christmas. He goes home to his recently widowed mother, his crazy uncle and his eccentric grandmother. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for youth.

For reservations, call the box office at 641-792-1230. Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7, 12-14 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 8.

the games. Bingo winners are awarded turkeys and hams. To add to the excitement, door prizes are given away between each game of Bingo. Each attendee will receive a door prize raffle ticket. Bingo cards are $2 each with a total of 20 games. There will be an intermission time after the 10th game. Games begin at 7 p.m.

Dec. 14 Second Saturday Stewardship Dec. 20 Neal Smith National Robert Deitch Wildlife Refuge Acoustic Volunteer to clean seeds Fore Seasons Golf in to assist with tallgrass prairie Newton restoration on the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.

Event will be from 9 a.m. to noon.

Dec. 14 Christmas Bingo Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Dec. 17 Classics & Conversation Book Club Every year, the Newton Newton Public Library Knights of Columbus conIowa duct community wide Bingo events. Hundreds of people from Jasper County attend

The Classics & Conversation Book Club is a library spon-

Christmas Bird Count Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

sored discussion group that reads a different selection of classic novels every winter. The group meets at 10 a.m. the third Tuesday of the month through March. Meetings are held in the library meeting room, and new members are always welcome.

If you would like to request the current month’s book, contact the library information desk at 641-792-4108. December novel will be “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte.

Robert Deitch’s music has been described as “vivid storytelling” delivered in a “powerful blend of country, soul and blues” voice. Currently a staff songwriter with Dan Hodges Music Publishing in Nashville, Deitch has earned the praise of some of Country Music Industry Elites. He will play from 8 to 11 p.m.

Dec. 21 Saturday Night Sips Van Wijk Winery All are invited to join in weekly Saturday Night Sips at Van Wijk Winery. Event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. No cover charge, reservations are encouraged. Reservations are accepted either by calling the Winery at 641-594-3325 or email to reservations@vanwijkwinery.com. Provide the number in your group, arrival time and the first and last name for the reservation.

January

Jan. 4 Christmas Bird Count Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

Help scientists collect important data about Iowa birds.

Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is a great time to lend a hand and learn more about our feathered friends. The findings will allow scientists to study the health of bird populations. The Friends of NSNWR will provide a free lunch. Pre-registration is required by Jan. 2, by calling 515-994-3400 or emailing Karen_Vistesparkman@fws. gov. Event will be from 8 a.m. to noon.

Jan. 6 Tales of Iowa History Newton Public Library Join storyteller Darrin Crow as he brings Iowa history to life. Crow entertains with delightful tales of early Iowa — featuring The Great Honey War of 1838, when Iowa was nearly invaded by Missouri.

This program is open to the public and is free to attend.

All ages welcome. Event begins at 6 p.m.

Jan. 8 Brown Bag Lunch and Learn Jasper County Historical Museum The historical society hosts a monthly lunch and learn event.

5

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Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

11/19/19 3:34 PM

Find your ‘tribe’ at Kula Yoga

By Pam Pratt

M

ary Tiso discovered her love of yoga three years ago after a life-changing experience during a class. While in class, something clicked for her and she knew she wanted to provide that to others.

“I have a buddy his name is Ben. He teaches yoga,” Tiso said. “He just taught such amazing classes that I was like ‘I’m into this. I want to do this.’ So jumped head in with him and end up going on a yoga retreat to Mexico with him.”

After her experience south of the border, Tiso went on a whirlwind journey that took her to Santa Clara, Calif. for eight months. There she took part in an immersive six-month training learning how to become a yoga instructor. After six months, she stayed for another couple months to learn about prenatal yoga. “(It) was a really incredible two-month experience spent up on a mountain in the Redwoods where we had all of these fabulous women that did all sorts of things. The women themselves made the experience. They were nurses and doulas and encapsulation specialists, chiropractors and they all brought their own wealth of knowledge to the situation,” Tiso said.

After receiving her training, she returned to Newton ready to share her knowledge with the community. With the help of a friend, Barb Ferguson, who owns the Posh Spa & Salon on First Avenue, Tiso found her space to begin offering classes.

The pair worked to remodel the upstairs rooms at Posh to proWinter 2019 • Jasper County Living

vide space for Kula Yoga.

“I actually named it Kula because Kula in sanskrit is the word for tribe. So I’m people can form some connections and find their tribe here that are like minded to them,” Tiso said.

Tiso offers a class almost every day of the week.

Tiso’s favorite class is on Sundays, which is her restorative class.

“Restorative is all about super relaxation. The poses are held for an extended period of time. You’re totally supported by props. It’s really about unwinding and letting yourself be nurtured, feeling good,” Tiso said.

Tiso doesn’t like to put a price tag on her classes, asking only for free-will donations.

There is a suggested $10 donation for every class, but she would never turn anyone away for lack of funds.

“It just makes it so accessible to people that I wanted to pay that forward and continue the accessibility and hope that people will find the love of yoga in the same way I did without being forced to shell out a ton of money for it,” Tiso said.

Class Schedule Monday 5:30 p.m.

Yoga Flow (all levels) Wednesday 5:30 p.m.

Yoga Flow (all levels) First and Third Sundays 7 p.m.

Restorative Yoga

Why Yoga?

One thing I think about yoga is I don’t like to put it in the fitness workout category exclusively. I really believe that yoga is for everybody, everyone can do it. I think more so than it is a workout, it is a lifestyle and an opportunity to connect yourself to your breath, to your body, to your mind, to the people around you, to the energies, but I really think it’s worth giving it a shot. We can always modify it for every injury, body type or age group.

If I had one tip before you start the practice, it would be that your breath is so important when it comes to yoga.

It’s almost like the entire asana practice is a this beautiful dance between your breath and the movement. So I like to always take a moment before class starts and have everyone sit down and have a moment to connect to their breath and really ground into the present movement and take that opportunity to connect to yourself and be mindful of your breath throughout the entire practice.

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Holiday Hours: Closing at noon on Christmas Eve Closed Christmas Day & New Years Day

Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

11/18/19 3:28 PM

Do you know where your syrup comes from?

by Dustin Teays

Maple syrup, it goes on your pancakes and waffles, and sometimes your eggs. Do you know where it comes from or how simple it is to make?

Greg Oldsen, a naturalist with Jasper County Conservation, helps make maple syrup from the trees at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve. The Sugar Shack is where the syrup is made and is also on location.

“When I started as a naturalist here I thought that would be a good way to involve the kids with something else outside during the Spring,” Oldsen said.

When the making of syrup first started six years ago it was on a much smaller scale than it is now. They were tapping 13 trees on the preserve and the boiling process was vastly different. Plus, they had to bring the sap back to the armory building. “(We) came to the realization that it took a long time to process a big amount of sap over a turkey fryer,” Oldsen said.

The sap typically starts flowing when the weather is above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. The goal for the coming year is for 150 taps. Taps are making a hole in the tree to access the sap, which is very time intensive.

“It takes us a full day to go through and get all the trees tapped at the park and the buckets placed out there,” Oldsen said. “It is a daily grind to get it all done but it is fun.”

The process of collecting the sap is actually pretty simple, Oldsen said.

A hole is drilled into the tree, then a tap is put in place to drain the sap in to a bucket. After the bucket is filled, it goes to the Sugar Shack where the evaporator is located which boils the water away from the sap.

“You dump it into the pan and you boil it down until it gets to the consistency that you want it to be,” Oldsen said. “Just getting the water off of it.”

Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

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The syrup has another process it must go through after it has reached the right density, Oldsen said. This process removes minerals that have concentrated during the boiling process.

“Once we get it to the correct density, we have to run it through a filter,” Oldsen said.

Syrup usually tastes pretty sweet as there is generally a lot of sugar in added to the brands found on the shelves at the grocery store. The syrup made by Jasper County Conservation tastes a little different than what you might buy off the shelf.

“You can definitely tell the difference in it ... It is not the corn syrup sweet you think,” Oldsen said.

Jasper County Conservation primarily taps the Silver Maples at Jacob Krumm. People could ask the question if tapping the trees leads to any lasting damage after drilling a hole into them.

“It does not. You do have to be careful if you tap a tree year after year you have to make sure that you move the position of the bucket and the tap,” Oldsen said.

Jasper County Conservation does plenty of education programs and the Sugar Shack has opened up more opportunities. Now that the scale of the operation is larger they have been able to sell syrup with added benefits.

“All the money goes back into the Environmental Ed Trust Fund,” Oldsen said.

The Sugar Shack has allowed Jasper County Conservation to open new doors to education and monetary opportunities. Moving forward into next year more people will be able to learn about the process and eat the sweet delights of it too.

“It is always an opportunity for families to come out and learn something else about nature and how we are connected to everything,” Oldsen said.

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11/15/19 9:24 AM

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Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

11/19/19 2:03 PM

COVER STORY

She’s a card

by Jamee A. Pierson

A little more than 10 years ago, Ann Johnson decided to take her scrap booking skills in a new direction. The long process of creating detailed scrap books was not her style and she decided to give card making try. Thousands of cards later Polka Dot Ann cards are mini pieces of art shared among friends and family all over the country.

“They are just something you can give away and give to other people and make them happy,” Johnson said. “I really started about 10 years ago and then shortly thereafter there was a little store in Newton and I started selling cards there. The owner was the first one that said I have to sign the back of my cards so that is where Polka Dot Ann came from. It has just gone from there.”

Creating more than 700 cards a year, Johnson doesn’t like to mass produce only a few designs. She finds joy in the personalization of the cards and doing something new and different each day.

“I have never met a rubber stamp that I didn’t like,” Johnson said. “I just love making stuff and I usually don’t make things twice. I am not a cookie cutter producer of things. When I sell and make things, it means something.”

Having been in the business for more than a decade, materials have changed and improved substantially. According to

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Johnson, the quality of work has also progressed from the first cards she created.

“When you look back on those first things that you did and say oh, my gosh you thought that was cool,” Johnson said.

“Card making has advanced and the tools have really improved. I don’t do the electronic die cutting but I have a crank and the die cuts are amazing these days.”

Buying inks and stamps from small companies is important to Johnson. Besides having more and more creative selection, it also helps out the small business owners.

“Everywhere we go, I find a place to stop. My kids say, ‘you know where they all are,’” Johnson said.

The advancement in the internet has also aided Johnson with online tutorials helping her further her process.

“The internet is amazing. Tutorials, there are a lot of card makers out there that do online videos,” Johnson said. “You learn, you get more skilled. That has been the most fun. There is always something new to do or a new gadget. It has been a pretty amazing journey for that reason, too.”

Making cards is also a way for Johnson to find time for herself. Being completely different than her full-time job as a pastor, she has the craft as an outlet outside of her

regular day.

“It is totally different then what I do for work. Dyes and paper don’t talk back. It is something I can do by myself,” Johnson said. “Particularly when my kids were here I could do this little part-time gig and not leave the house.”

Through the years she has heard from people who have received her cards. Their compliments on her work let her know people appreciate the effort she is putting in to each piece.

“The thing that sticks with me and why I keep doing it is because people will tell me years after they got a card from me, ‘I can’t throw your card away,’” Johnson said.

“They will tell me it is so beautiful or it means so much, that just warms my heart.”

She also uses the cards to give back to those who might be going through challenging times.

“The thing I really like to do is if someone is going through chemo or radiation, I like to keep sending them cards,” Johnson said. “When someone is going through that kind of thing, everyone is there at the beginning but that kind of peters out and I like to keep the cards rolling for where they are in their process.”

Polka Dot Ann cards are available at Van Haalen’s in Prairie City and Esther and Co. in Newton in Jasper County.

11/15/19 9:22 AM

Kirsten Weiland, Coordinator 301 W. Jefferson St. | PO Box 124 Prairie City, IA 50228 515.447.0948 | prairieescapepc@gmail.com

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Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

11/14/19 9:27 AM

Hi, I am Larry Hurto I was born in Newark, N.J. after my father got a position with the Maytag Company that relocated him to New Jersey. My twin brother Barry and I were both born in New Jersey before the family moved to Newton in time for us to start school. I attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, Central Junior High School and then finished at Newton High School.

After graduating high school I attended the University of South Dakota where I studied his-

ndt1_2019-12-31_15.indd 15

tory. After graduating, I spent my life doing many things. I spent nine years with a library, did social service work for Iowa for 18 years with teaching at the Newton schools along the way.

Since 1995, I have been teaching remedial reading for a private school out of Pella with most of the students I work with now being dyslexic which I continue to do.

I was the secretary of the Jasper County Bicentennial Committee and I also chaired the Jasper County Sesquicentennial Commission. In 2011, I was appointed by the mayor to the Newton Historic Preservation Commission and I have chaired this since 2015. I am also the author of three books on Jasper County history and have had articles published in various publications.

What fascinates you the most about history?

When I was a kid in 1961 it was the Civil War centennial.

Americans fighting Americans had occurred 100 years before that and when I was a kid I was fascinated by that whole thing. I think more especially since then it has been local history that has driven me over the years. It is interesting to consider the lifestyle and the culture of the pioneers.

I think it is significant we have had personalities in this community and in the county that have been so inspiring and so well motivated to do the things that they were able to do by way of inventions.

Do you have any moment in life with history that let you know you made the right choice?

After doing research for about two years on a really remarkable community of people who

lived about three miles north of Newton, there was a little community called the Wittemberg Community and that was founded in 1853 by people who came here largely from Ohio and they were of the Presbyterian faith. Those folks contended the main line Presbyterian Church was not strong enough on the institution of human slavery. Slavery was, they considered, a sin against God and a crime against man and so they came and settled in this place in Jasper County, Iowa. They were part of a reform movement of the Presbyterian Church. In fact, they formed their own denomination called the free Presbyterian Church ... I did research on this for two years and made application to a program called the Network to Freedom ... I learned in September of 2014 we got the Network to Freedom designation for Wittemberg Church and the Wittemberg Cemetery where a lot of the folks who assisted these freedom seekers are buried. They are the only properties in Jasper County that are listed in the Network to Freedom program. I take a really personal satisfaction in that.

Why did you choose that path for your life?

I guess I have always been interested in public affairs. I have read a lot of history, politics, religion. I guess that brought me to the conclusion that if a community has been good to you that you owe something to give back. I think that ethic was instilled in my brother and me by our parents. That was their contention that if the community has been good to you, you have a certain obligation to give back and I think that was part of it. I still very much have an interest in local history, do a lot of research and so as such I still continue to spend an awful lot of time at the Newton Public Library, Colfax Public Library reading microfilm of old historic papers. History is what drives me as a personal interest and I do writing in that as well as reading in it.

11/15/19 9:19 AM

Food for thought Holiday season is an important time for all,

by Christopher Braunschweig Ed Poe was minutes away from completing his shift at the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Newton, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that by looking at him. Although the facility closes by the afternoon most days, Poe isn’t the type of person to constantly look down at his watch.

Instead, he stared at a list of food items

before loading a small shopping cart with canned and pre-packaged foods, and some fresh meat. The recipient of the donation was already waiting outside rearranging items in the trunk of his van to make room.

On this particular day in October, there wasn’t an abnormally high demand for food. It was an average day for Poe, really. But come November, the pantry coordinator will be working double time to establish hearty meal boxes and fill the shelves (and hallways) of the pantry with newly collected, nonperishable food items. Poe says it gets hectic at the Salvation Army around this time of year, but he still finds the job fun and the cause more than worthy to dedicate his time to.

“Donations will start coming in for Thanksgiving and Christmas and at this place there’s just not enough room,” Poe said. “The community supplies so much that my pantry and all the aisles are full, the cupboards are full, underneath all my tables and the back rooms are full. Yeah, we might get 10,000 to 15,000 pounds of food in a month.”

P o e will sort, weigh a n d check for expiration dates on all items, just as he’s done at the f o o d pantry for eight years.

From the second week in No v e m ber until early January, the donations the Salvation Army Food Pantry receives is exponentially higher than any other time of the year. This food can usually last until March. About 240 families will be receiving Thanksgiving boxes this year, Poe estimates, which will be packed with a whole turkey and all the trimmings.

“It’s enjoyable and people appreciate it and that’s what makes it all worthwhile,” Poe said, adding that he knows just about everybody that comes in needing food boxes at this point. “They’re the same ones I’ve seen mostly for the past eight years … I’d just like to thank (the community). Never give up giving food because there are plenty of people out there who need it. They really do. Even if

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they’re working, they’ve got so many bills that it’s hard to catch up.”

Captain Janelle Cleaveland confirmed the Salvation Army in Newton sees an uptick in donations from area schools and churches in places like Sully, one of which brought a van and a trailer full of food. Businesses like Hy-Vee and Hawkeye Stages tend to donate food as well, or take part in events like the annual “Stuff the Bus.” Holiday donations can seem overwhelming at first, but it stocks the food pantry for several months, Cleaveland said.

Food accumulated during this time tends not to go away extremely quickly as one may think. Yet the Salvation Army in Newton certainly does not hoard its food supply. Families going to the pantry in Newton are allowed food every 30 days in order for the Salvation Army to remain financially stable. Those food boxes, Cleaveland said, are to act as a supplement to those families and are not to be their only food for the month.

“It’s just another resource for them to get food,” she said. “It helps them stretch their money and their food dollars more.

So we save the food and we get a lot of food that we can use in our Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance food boxes …

We don’t try to stockpile donations, but it just seems that in November or December we get a lot more donations than, say, July. So we make them last.”

This can also be attributed to an increased community involvement during the holiday season. Cleaveland doesn’t believe the Salvation Army Food Pantry or other food pantries in the area are forgotten about, but rather their presence seems to be highlighted more during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Initiatives like the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign, for instance, serve as prominent reminders of the good cause.

Local support for food pantries extends to towns like Baxter, too. Joellen Cross, who leads the Baxter Community Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

11/15/19 9:17 AM

(and a good cause) especially area food pantries

Food Pantry, said the organization regularly makes its own, fully-loaded Thanksgiving food box. In the town of more than 1,000 people, Cross said there are not as many people in need of the food pantry, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get any use. Unlike other organizations, the Baxter Community Food Pantry does not receive government funds to stay active.

“It’s all donations — it’s not always easy,” Cross said, noting the pantry has been around since the 1980s or 1990s and has taken on many forms.

“One lady operated it out of her house.

It’s been in a church basement. I guess it was at the library for a while. But now we’re in the city hall.”

Cross tries to keep the cupboards full with food items others had given or had been paid for using donated funds. When enough monetary donations are acquired, volunteers arrange gift cards for people to use at Baxter’s grocery store to buy fresh items like milk, eggs, cheese and meat. Since the food volume isn’t as high as other towns, the Baxter Community Food Pantry operates through appointment only.

“But the appointment times are very, very flexible. I think I’ve got 20 families on my list for Thanksgiving. Not everybody needs the food pantry every month. Some of the people on the list only came once this year or came every other month or something. We allow people to come once a month,” Cross said, adding that support from the town is strong. “Smaller food banks like us that don’t get government money or anything like that, it’s great to get food donated but it’s also great if people send a buck or two our way because then it enables us to buy in bulk.”

Other places in the county like the PCM Food Pantry, located inside the Monroe Presbyterian Church, begin seeing a build up of food recipients in October. Pastor Ann Johnson, director of the PCM Food Pantry, said the numbers peak through the end of year Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

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between October and December. As demand increases during the holidays, more work is needed from the 20 or so volunteers at the PCM Food Pantry.

Open for three different shifts each week — Monday mornings and evenings and Thursday morning — the PCM Food Pantry cycles through its volunteers to cover shifts, stock its supplies and secure food for those who need it. The communities of Prairie City, Monroe and Reasnor — which represent and utilize the PCM Food Pantry — support the operation “very well” throughout the year, and not just the holiday season, Johnson said.

“Around the holidays, people do step up drives and stuff like that for food for the pantry,” Johnson said, noting that the schools recently collected soups. “That’s a huge need for us and it’s something we can’t get from the Food Bank of Iowa. There are always contributions coming in but we do see a spike in donations this time of year with people thinking, ‘OK, there has to be some folks having a tough time.’

And they want to help out.”

The PCM Food Pantry has been operational since 2010 or so. The Monroe Food Pantry that preceded it, Johnson said, had been around for much longer before it combined with its neighboring towns. PCM Food Pantry has also been collaborating with the Food Bank of Iowa since 2012 and is considered a partner agency. This means that PCM Food Pantry can purchase food from the Food Bank of Iowa at a reduced cost.

“That’s been really helpful for us because we can buy a lot of food from them for an inexpensive amount of money, and then with donations from our community people — churches, organizations, businesses,” Johnson said. “… I think people realize that there’s a need. They want to do something on a local basis. There are a lot of requests that come across from everyday life, but this one is a local concern.

People like to support the local effort.”

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11/15/19 9:16 AM

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• Developed Downtown Design Guidelines to help building owners keep the historic integrity of their buildings and remain part of the National Register of Historic Places.

• Helped invest $1 million dollars in our downtown through programs like the Downtown Improvement Grant.

• Partnered with the City of Newton on the Downtown Housing Grant to help renovate and update second-story living spaces.

• Received two challenge grants from IEDA totaling $150,000.

• Logged over 6,900 volunteer hours.

• Took over the long-standing Newton Farmers Market.

• Partnered with the University of Iowa on a mural restoration project.

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Business/Organization: ________________________________________________________________ Phone Number: _____________________ Email: ___________________________________________ Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________ State: __________________ Zip Code: _______________ INVESTMENT INFORMATION � 3-year pledge (2019-2021), investment each year: � $5,000 � $2,500 � $1000 � $500 � $250 � $100 � $50 � Other $______ � I would like to make a 2019 investment of: � $5,000 � $2,500 � $1000 � $500 � $250 � $100 � $50 � Other $______ PAYMENT INFORMATION �Enclosed check (made payable to: Newton Main Street) � Total included $______ �Mail invoice to investor address listed above Signature: _______________________________________ Date: _____________ PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM TO: Newton Main Street 113 1st Ave. W. Newton, Iowa 50208 Newton Main Street is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. No goods or services were provided in exchange for this contribution. Please consult your tax advisor with specific questions about your deductions.

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11/15/19 9:15 AM

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Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

11/15/19 9:15 AM

By Larry Hurto Newton Historic Preservation Commission Nellie Pangborn had a vision. She had in mind making an addition to the Harding Building which she owned at 201 First Ave. W. This formerly was the medical practice of Mrs. Mary R. Harding, a homeopathic physician whose assistant she was until Dr. Harding died in 1920.

“Work starts next week on the new two story addition which will be added to the Harding Building on the southwest corner of the square by Miss Nelle Pangborn, owner of the building,” The Newton Daily News announced Aug. 22, 1925.

“The structure which will be of a soft toned red brick and white stone trimmed, is to be built on a 66 by 22 foot lot and will be joined to the present building,” the Daily News said.

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features to be observed.”

A “commodious” 56-feet long storeroom was to occupy the main floor, while the second story would house four office rooms, the announcement story continued.“ It is also Miss Pangborn’s plans to give up her apartment which she has maintained in the building for a number of years. These rooms will also be used for office rooms.”

Pangborn did not believe in contracts. She was converted to the idea by her mentor, Dr. Harding. When the Harding Building was built there was no contract let.

Also like Dr. Harding, she had James Eastman construct the building. Only her choice of builder was James H. Eastman

Cont. to pg 28

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11/19/19 3:24 PM

Cont. from pg 27 (1873-1931), the son of the pioneer builder James Eastman (1832-1907), contractor and builder of the 1880s. Pangborn was so impressed with their work on other buildings (e. g., the Jasper County Courthouse) that she had the prominent Des Moines architectural firm, Proudfoot & Rawson (formerly Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson) design her building.

The Pangborn Building is located at 109-111 W. Second St. S. Research by Newton Historic Preservation Commissioners Rita Reinheimer and Mary Jo Niskin has the short-lived Ideal Grocery as the first occupant of the new building, in 1929. The 1930s found the storefront home to the Dawn Restaurant & Delicatessen and later the Otto C. Callison restaurant. In 1941, the ground floor space housed Leola’s Pastry Shop followed by the Blue Room Café in 194245. During the late 1930s and 1940s the ground floor also served as the bus de-

pot and a taxi service. From 1945 into the early 1950s, the Iowa State Employment Service office occupied the property.

By 1957, the interior of the ground floor storefront had been remodeled into space for two professional offices, each with its own separate entrance. Optometrists occupied the north office (now bearing the address number of 109) from 1957 to 1965, while a series of podiatrists were located in the south office (numbered 111) from 1957 through the early 1980s. Since that time the ground floor has housed law offices, stockbrokers, investment counselors and massage therapists, none for more than 10 years. Since 2017, it has been the location of Olive ‘et Boutique — Vicki J. Wade, owner.

In 1928-29, the Pangborn Building’s upstairs offices were occupied by the Iowa State Highway Commission, insurance agents Jno. F. Cavell and Chester S. Fleming and J. Harvey Gribben’s abstract/loan business. The American Legion was listed as a tenant in the 1930s. The N-U Club

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was located on the second floor in the 1950s and early 1960s. From the 1960s until about 2003, a law firm occupied the second floor.

The Harding Building “The Harding Building is one of the best constructed buildings on the square,” the Daily News contended. “There are three air spaces between the bricks, wall and back plastering. This was not an ordinary brick construction.When made it was built like a frame building and the brick veneer was then used.This was to assure it of warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer.”

The first office rooms were occupied

by H. B. Allfree and Miss Frances “Fanny” Carns, who were in the abstract and loan business. They contracted for the rooms before the building was finished, and their business appears in the 18991900 City Directory. Carns was one of the pioneers in the abstract business, having purchased her interest in the Carns-Allfree business from her father, I. B. Carns, one of the early settlers of Newton. She and Allfree were in business for several years.

The large, two-story brick Victorian-era building housed a number of businesses throughout its more than 60-year history. They included, besides Dr. Harding, the Bair Hat and Hemstitch Shop, which was located there in the late 1920s, as well as the law offices of M. J. “Monte” Carey. In 1928, a woman’s clothing apparel business, The Smart Shop, moved into the building and remained there until 1957.

Tenants in most recent years were the Shepherd Realty Co., 201 First Ave. W., and the Jasper County Barber and Beauty Shop, 103 W. Second St. S. The Harding Building was razed in 1960-61.

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11/15/19 9:13 AM

Showcasing Newton’s History — A Team Effort

by Rita Reinheimer Newton Historic Preservation Commission & Main Street Design Committee The downtown business district is the heart of any small community. In 2014, through efforts of the Newton Historic Preservation Commission, Newton’s Historic Downtown District was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Ours is the only downtown in Iowa listed on the Register as an example of the “Modern Movement” of architecture (a.k.a., “Mid-Century Modern”). Most of our commercial buildings were constructed in the 1800s but look much newer because they were refaced between the 1940s-1965. Clean lines, with little ornamentation, recessed entrances and light-colored brick reflect the mid-century design influence.

Also in 2014, Newton was accepted into the Main Street program. In addition to its goal of strengthening the economic base in the district, this program also places an emphasis on historic preservation. Main Street’s Design Committee works to improve the appearance of the downtown, while maintaining its historic integrity.

The HPC and the Main Street program work cooperatively, with one commissioner sitting on the Main Street board. Three other commissioners are members of the Design Committee. Both groups worked with the City and two consulting firm to establish historic district design guidelines and a downtown streetscape design plan, which will be implemented over time.

Spend some time walking around the downtown and you will see projects coordinated by members of these two groups. To date, the HPC has placed historic plaques at six buildings. Each small metal plaque gives a statement about Newton’s development, along with a brief history of the building and photos showing its early- and mid-century appearances. The plaques, financed by donations from a local Questers group, were placed in or on buildings on the north, west and south sides of the square. As additional funds are raised, more plaques will be placed, until every building in the historic downtown has one.

Continue walking along North Third and North Fourth Avenue West between First Street and West Fourth Street North and see if you can find 13 historic markers. Each aluminum marker, mounted on a red pole, tells a brief story of a building or buildings Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

ndt1_2019-12-31_29.indd 29

important in the history of Newton. The markers were created by Ken Barthelman, a member of both the HPC and design committee.

The HPC’s coloring book, featuring Jaci Pierce-Thomassen’s drawings of some of the city’s historic commercial and residential architecture, is for sale at several locations downtown and at the Public Works building.

The Main Street Design Committee also educates the public about the history of the downtown. Its downtown walking tour map highlights the architecture and history of twelve buildings in the district. Historic-themed articles by Larry Hurto, a member of the HPC and design committee, periodically appear in this magazine, as well in the Newton Daily News.

In 2016, the design committee sponsored the production of artistic works to celebrate our downtown’s mid-century modern appearance. Using colors popular in the mid 20th century, local artists submitted drawings of “What Newton Means to Me.” The eight winning artworks, including two by Newton students, were reproduced and mounted on the former County Garage building in the 200 block of South Second Avenue West. With the building due to be rehabilitated for a commercial business, the

artwork will be relocated next spring. Two drawings will be sited on the north side of the Advantage Credit Union. Locations for the other works have not yet been finalized.

A design committee project for next year will be covering of the new First Ave. traffic signal boxes with “wraps” showing historic photographs of the downtown. Images from the early- and mid-20th century will be used. Look for the first of these stylish wraps to begin appearing in the spring. As funds become available, more wraps will be added until all seven signal boxes from West Fourth Street to East Fourth Street are covered.

Next spring the HPC will submit National Register nominations for two residential neighborhoods along First Avenue. Commissioners have researched and written the history of more than 50 properties in the neighborhoods located immediately to the east and west of the downtown business district. If successful, these neighborhoods will be added to the Register in the fall of 2020.

Historic-themed programs about businesses and the First Avenue historic neighborhoods are being planned for 2020. Dates will be announced in the newspaper and over the radio. The HPC and Newton Main Street invite you to attend and Get To Know Newton’s history. It’s fascinating!

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Cocina Hernandez Mexican Restaurant Best Mexican Cuisine in Jasper County! & All Day Sunday Taco Bar 7 N. Walnut Street Colfax, Iowa • 515-674-9110

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Colfax Main Street would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays on behalf of Downtown Colfax. Winter in Iowa can be pretty brutal with a lot of snow and some extremely cold days, but it can also be magical. In Colfax, they try to keep the magic of winter alive by celebrating its annual Colfax Country Christmas event the first Saturday in December. Colfax Country Christmas has been held every year for more than 25 years and is a favorite among locals and surrounding communities. On that evening, the community has free horse-drawn carriage rides and local businesses host open houses or have holiday themed activities for children.

In years past, there have been different activities such as a scavenger hunt; coloring

Winter 2019 • Jasper County Living

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contests; letters to Santa; pictures with Santa and last year there was a Christmas Piñata Bash where kids had an opportunity to whack a piñata for Christmas candy. There are also have some fun contests for adults, like the Ugly Christmas Sweater contest which is a big hit.

This year the event is held on Dec. 7 and will be a lot of fun for everyone.Mark your calendars for the first Saturday in December 2020, so you can join us for the magic. Also, don’t forget the local specialty shops will be open on the Second Saturday of every month throughout the winter. Stop in and shop for holiday gifts for that someone special or erase that winter cabin fever throughout the dark days of January and February with a little shopping therapy!.

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11/15/19 9:09 AM

The Cisia Confrnce Cnt 5064 Lincoln Street Newton, IA 50208

Beautiful Wedding Venues New Indoor & Outdoor

Settings for ceremonies/receptions, including chapels

Fun Family Reunion Destination Summer Camp for all ages Hotel-Style Rooms

Family & Dorm Style Cabins Large & Small Meeting Spaces Great for Company meetings, parties, showers or retreat groups

Hiking Trails, Pool, Playground, Sand Volleyball & Mini Golf

641.792.1266 newtonccc.org

Call to schedule a tour today!

SM-NE3894778-1231

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11/14/19 1:36 PM