Search Results for: call to serve
BASE® Prepares for Annual Gomke Fundraiser
BASE® is preparing to kick off their annual fundraising efforts to support the local John D. Gomke Charity in hopes of surpassing last year’s goal of $5,000. A local Adel company, BASE® serves the self-employed and businesses across the country through the administration of tax saving employee benefit plans. BASE® is in their third year of supporting the local charity and hopes to increase efforts with the help of the Adel and surrounding communities.
The John D. Gomke Charity raises money to benefit organizations that assist in caring and providing resources to sick infants and families who have lost infants in and around central Iowa. However, their efforts don’t stop there. In 2012, the Gomke Charity was able to do the following:
- $5,000 was put into John’s Bereavement Fund at the Mercy Foundation—the SOLE fund that helps give keepsakes and coping education in the Mercy Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Emergency Room.
- 3 Defibrillators (AEDs) were donated to the Panorama School District—including 2 for the school buildings and 1 to travel with the athletic events.
- 1 Defibrillator (AED) was donated to the Adel-De Soto-Minburn School District to travel with the athletic events.
- 1 Defibrillator (AED) was donated to the Nodaway Valley School District to travel with the athletic events.
- Adopted a family who suffered the loss of an infant during 2012 to help cope with their first Christmas with a “Cheer Box”.
- Replacement pads and batteries given to the Adel-De Soto-Minburn School District for prior AEDs donated that were expired.
This year BASE® will once again sell Butter Braids with all proceeds benefiting the John D. Gomke Charity.
Something new that BASE® is planning, in hopes of generating more funds and awareness in the Dallas County area for the charity, is the addition of a Schwan’s fundraiser. If you are interested in supporting the Gomke Charity and are interested in participating in the Butter Braid or Schwan’s Fundraiser, then take note of the upcoming events:
- May 1-May 15 – Any gift cards purchased through www.schwans.com or by calling 1-888-SCHWANS during this time frame will help support the local charity. Be sure to use the campaign id: 43069.
- May 17 – A Schwan Truck Event will be held from 2-6 p.m. in the Iowa Realty parking lot at the corner of Hwy 6 & Hwy 169 in Adel. Stop by the truck and purchase products from a large variety of food items on the spot – drop in’s welcome!
- May 1-31 – BASE® will be selling Butter Braids and Cookie Dough for $12 each. Butter Braids come in a variety of flavors: cinnamon, apple, blueberry, cherry, almond crème, raspberry and strawberry cream cheese. Cookie dough flavors include: chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and peanut butter. If you are interested please call BASE® at (515) 993-5050 and ask for Joe Havenhill.
BASE® hopes you will join them in supporting this great organization, and help the Gomke Charity to do even more in 2013. To learn more about the charity visit www.johndgomkecharity.org. If you have questions about how you can support the charity through BASE®’s fundraising efforts, please email info@BASEonline.com with the subject line Gomke.
Base
601 Visions Pkwy
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-5050
Website: www.baseonline.com
Cedar Creek Now The Animal Hospital of Adel
Courtesy of The Animal Hospital of Adel:
Dear Valued Client,
I am excited to announce that on January 1, 2013, the Adel location of Cedar Creek Animal Clinic will become The Animal Hospital of Adel as I take ownership of the practice.
Our location will remain at 112 South 9th Street in Adel. You may reach us by telephone at 515-993-3410 or by e-mail at theanimalhospitalofadel@gmail.com.
The same great team will continue to serve you and your pet’s needs in our office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
For the time being, the clinic will continue to be closed on Wednesdays. If you have an emergency outside our normal business hours, please call the office to receive further instructions.
We have some exciting changes planned to continue offering you the very best pet care experience possible. To receive updates, please make sure we have your current e-mail address on file. You may also follow us on Twitter @TheAHofAdel and ‘Like’ our page, The Animal Hospital of Adel, on Facebook.
It has been an absolute pleasure serving as your pet’s veterinarian and becoming part of the Adel community over the past 5 years. I appreciate your support as we do our best to make this transition as seamless as possible. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have; I value your feedback.
Thank you for your business in the past and I look forward to continuing our relationship as the new owner of The Animal Hospital of Adel.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Hoffelmeyer
Owner, The Animal Hospital of Adel
Thank you for the support as the practice has made transitions in the last several years. I have faith Dr. Hoffelmeyer will continue to improve the standards of care. She has my confidence now and in the future.
Dr. John Holcomb
Cedar Creek Animal Clinic, Winterset
The Animal Hospital of Adel
112 S 9th St.
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-3410
Fax: (515) 993-5763
Email: theanimalhospitalofadel@gmail.com
Facebook: The Animal Hospital of Adel
Adel Family Dentistry New Office w/Pictures
Dr. Kelly Sedars is pleased to announce the opening of Adel Family Dentistry’s new home at 1202 Greene Street.
The beautiful new facility is conveniently located next door to their previous location.
Adel Family Dentistry is open from 7 AM to 5 PM weekdays and provides comprehensive general dental care.
Despite the challenging economic times, Dr. Sedars has invested in a new, 3400 square foot state-of-the-art facility for his patients.
He believes that his patients deserve the very best in technology and equipment right here in Adel.
The new dental office has incorporated many advancements including all digital x-rays, which reduce radiation exposure by 90% over traditional x-rays.
He has also installed computers in each treatment room so that his patients can view their x-rays or photos from an intraoral camera on a large screen.
This technology makes it easier for patients to understand concerns that were difficult to visualize with just a small mirror. And as an added bonus, when the screens are not being used for viewing teeth, they double as televisions so his patients can now enjoy TV or movies during their visits.
All the new dental equipment was made in the USA by the A-Dec corporation in Newburg, Oregon.
“We are incredibly excited about our new office,” said Erin Sedars, Office Manager at Adel Family Dentistry, “Our new office demonstrates our commitment to providing our community with the highest level of care and comfort.
We wanted to create an environment that was warm and inviting so that our patients will look forward to their dental visits. When we designed our office, our goal was to make it seem more like a cozy home than a cold medical facility.
We know that for some patients, visiting the dentist can create anxiety. We wanted to eliminate that fear as much as possible.
From comfortable seating in front of the fireplace to the beautiful, custom art-work, we wanted each detail to communicate our pride in our facility and our excellent services.”
Over the years, the Sedars have listened to the suggestions that their patients have made regarding the dental office and they tried to incorporate as many of those suggestions as possible.
“We now have five fully-equiped dental treatment rooms and have room to accommodate for future growth. This will allow us to have even more efficient scheduling to help busy families,” said Dr. Sedars, “It will also help us to better serve emergency patients without inconveniencing patients who have scheduled appointments.”
Dr. Sedars has also expanded his sterilization facilities to include a dedicated room featuring a 12 foot A-Dec Sterilization Center. This high tech space utilizes many hands-free features to protect staff members and ensures patients the highest level of sterilization and infection control.
The new facility also has dramatically expanded its parking area and eliminated stairs to assist those with mobility problems. “In every aspect of our planning, our patients comfort was our top priority.”
Dr. Sedars is celebrating his 10th year as owner of Adel Family Dentistry. He is happy to provide care to patients of all ages from babies to the elderly. He feels it is an important service to his patients to be able to skillfully provide nearly every aspect of general dentistry, including preventive care, periodontal treatment, pediatric dentistry, root canals, extractions, and cosmetic services like whitening, crowns, and veneers.
By providing comprehensive care in Adel, he is able to save his patients both time and expense as opposed to having them seen by specialists in Des Moines. Dr. Sedars is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and is member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association. He attends many continuing education seminars to stay abreast of the latest techniques and technologies.
If you are looking for an exceptional dental practice in Adel, you can call Erin at 515-993-3701 to make a reservation for your initial consultation. Additional photos of the new office can be viewed online at www.adelfamilydentistry.com or on Adel Family Dentistry’s Facebook page.
Dr. Sedars also invites you to visit his office during Adel’s Holiday Open House on December 7th to indulge your sweet tooth.
Adel Family Dentistry, P.C.
Dr. Kelly Sedars, D.D.S.
1202 Greene St.
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-3701
Email: afdentistry1004@qwestoffice.net
Website: www.adelfamilydentistry.com
Facebook: Adel-Family-Dentistry-PC
Good Samaritan Food Pantry of Adel
Helping Hands
215 N. 11th St.
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 478-3760
Website: www.adelfoodpantry.com
Facebook: Good-Samaritan-Food-Pantry
We are located in the old Adel Middle School Lunchroom at 215 North 11th Street Adel, Iowa. Please enter through the Blue door on the NE corner.
We serve the residents of the ADM School District and the Van Meter School District.
We are open Monday and Tuesday from 12pm – 2pm. If you work during our open hours, please call to schedule an appointment.
Fareway Foods – Adel, Iowa
The first Fareway Store opened in Boone, Iowa in 1938 with the simple purpose of providing good jobs, good food, and great service to happy customers. Over the past 74 years more than 100 stores across the Midwest have kept this idea alive.
Chris Mars, Communications Manager of Bow & Arrow Productions Inc.
(Republished from February 2011 Newsletter)
Adel is full of surprises around every corner with many important businesses silently accomplishing their day to day work as people walk by and wonder, what’s going on in there?
At the corner of 9th and Prairie, inside a former church you will find Bow & Arrow Productions Inc. known around the world for their strong Iowa character, exceptional stage designs, and video productions.
This month we spoke with Chris Mars, Communications Manager and Production Assistant to find out more about Bow & Arrow’s prestigious work.
In the early 1990s Owner and Creative Director Michael Mars was a professional singer as part of the Day of Discovery Christian music group. Michael recorded hundreds of songs and created corresponding music videos to be aired in both the US and Canada. Michael realized his passion for production during those performance years and began drafting audio and video designs for church festivals.
One day an insurance company was scheduled to give a big presentation and hit a snag. The original ideas they had for displaying their banners simply wouldn’t cooperate. Frustrated, they called Michael to help. His professional courtesy and technical skills were well received, and Bow & Arrow Productions was born.
Many of you may remember the classic Richard Simmons infomercial shot in Iowa in the early 1990s. If you do, then you are witness to Michael’s first live production!
Originally, Michael and his team were hired to build the set and stage pieces for that iconic show but things changed when the original producer was nowhere to be found. Chaos ensued as the video and audio teams were unable to communicate with one another and the deadline to the live show approached. In this time of stress Michael stepped forward and saved the day.
As the crew began to tear down the stage after the otherwise smooth production, Richard Simmons thanked Michael for a job well done by running across the room and jumping into his arms, screaming, “I love this man!” No longer content to only build sets, Michael redefined himself as a Producer and Bow & Arrow as a full-service event production company.
Over the past 20 years the company has designed lighting concepts, built stages, fulfilled audio/video needs, and overseen productions around the world for entertainers such as Bill Cosby, James Taylor, and Keith Urban while continuing to meet the needs of local businesses and church groups.
In 2008, Michael was riding his bike along the Raccoon River Valley Trail and stopped at the Dairy Shoppe in Adel for a treat. Taking in the sites around town, Michael passed the For Sale sign in front of the former library. At that moment he made the decision to move his former home-based business to Adel.
The library, originally a church, had recently been remodeled as Hanney’s Restaurant. With the help of family and friends, the building was restored to it’s original glory with custom woodwork, traditional and modern elements, and was infused with a palpable creative energy that the team hopes to share with the community.
When asked why this big company is in Adel, Iowa Chris laughs. It is a question he hears often and proudly states that it is because of the experience clients have when encountering Adel’s charm. “There are fundamental character traits you get from Iowans that are really unique.”
It starts with the scenic drive into the Raccoon River Valley, and is punctuated as the clients are given a walking tour of town while they brainstorm production ideas. Clients feel pampered in our small town as they are treated to local restaurants, visits to one of a kind shops, and small town hospitality like they have never experienced before.
Chris admits it can be a challenge to get clients to visit, but only once. After they have taken in the beauty of Adel and experience the creative energy of Bow & Arrow’s workspace, they request to meet here and book extended stays.
Even with its international scope, Bow & Arrow Productions Inc. is a family business at heart. The 5-person team consists of Michael and his son Chris, Technical Director Tom Ford, Office Manager Nina Easley, and Ashley Reutter. Chris remembers building sets in the garage and his first assignments tapping down cords and carpet.
After Chris graduated from Simpson College in 2009 with a Communications degree, he joined the family business full time as the Communications Manager and Production Assistant. He is now responsible for video productions and gathering information from clients to help present their vision to their audience, with his golden retriever by his side. Katie greets visitors at the door and follows Chris wherever he goes, before lounging in the conference room in front of the fire.
It is important to note that Bow & Arrow Productions Inc. is not a gear house. Most companies within this field focus mainly on renting equipment.
“They throw it all at [the client]. They sit down with the client and say ‘how can we spend your money.’ Our goal isn’t to pack as much stuff in one room as we can. We focus on communication, we are need driven. We ask ‘what are your goals after this meeting?’ We take notice and really care what the client needs.”
To accommodate small productions, Bow & Arrow has a storage facility in Adel to meet your audio, video, and design needs. Think Adel the next time your needs range from a few speakers and microphones to lighting schemes to projection screens and stands.
Even though the team is often winging it’s way cross-country, Bow & Arrow makes time to support a charity they are passionate about, the Special Olympics.
Bow & Arrow has worked closely with the Special Olympics since the 1st National Games took place in Ames, Iowa in 2006.
Last year, Chris helped produce a video sharing the lives of exceptional US athletes that was shown at the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics 2010 National Olympics.
The video, witnessed by 16,000 people, was made right here in Adel and featured stories of acceptance, overcoming adversity, and outstanding talent.
In his spare time Chris coaches basketball, as he did throughout college, and is responsible for the Corey Moore Classic charity basketball tournament. As his basketball coach, Chris had taken Corey under his wing and together they forged a path for Corey to further his education after high school.
Unfortunately Corey’s life was cut short in a tragic swimming accident in 2005. The charity classic unites Alumni teams and raises money to fund the Corey Moore Scholarship program.
Bow & Arrow is happy to play host with a large conference room that is the perfect spot to reserve for gatherings such as business meetings or bridal showers.
“One of our goals is to network more with the community and share our space with people. All the elements are here for a great gathering…” including a small kitchen, comfortable lounge area, and natural light. Call today to schedule a tour of the facility to see photos of past productions and hear tales of the art scattered throughout the space.
The local community may not have known Bow & Arrow is here, contently focused on small and big projects at hand. Or that the business reaches the four corners of the world, returning after each project to call Iowa home.
But the world is learning about Adel as Michael, Chris and the team bring more clients here and continue to spread praise about our small town charms to all they encounter. Bow & Arrow Productions Inc. is truly a great business and we are proud that they chose to plant their roots in Adel, Iowa!
Bow and Arrow Productions
820 Prairie St.
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-1063
Website: www.baproductionsinc.com
Email: cmars@baproductionsinc.com
*Photos courtesy of Pat Tierny and DiscoverAdel.com
Pat Rohret – Adel Veterinary Clinic
(Republished from the May 2011 Newsletter)
Nostalgia isn’t a term often used when referencing a medical facility but it describes the large brick building located on Highway 6 with the quirky sign to a T.
The Adel Veterinary Clinic has been an Adel standby for nearly 4 decades, serving generations of pets and their families.
Left: Dr. Holland, Middle: Dr. Rohret, Right: Dr. Beeman
This month we spoke with the doctors of the Adel Veterinary Clinic to find out what makes this Adel standard so well loved.
The Adel Veterinary Clinic has been serving Adel, Dallas County, and the Des Moines metro faithfully for 37 years under the direction of Dr. Pat Rohret. Dr. Rohret was just an intern when the clinic first opened its doors in 1974. After graduating from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Sciences, Dr. Rohret remained at the clinic and later purchased the business in 1997. While his techniques have advanced with the times, Dr. Rohret’s bedside manner and style of care are deeply rooted in trusted practices that have served veterinarians since the time of house calls.
These traditions and values have drawn not only customers but also like-mindHed professionals to his door.
When Dr. Scott Beeman graduated from Iowa State University in 2010 he began looking for a practice to call home. Of the options he looked into, many missed the mark. Dr. Beeman sought a clinic that provided professional, first-rate care. He also wanted to find a welcoming, collaborative atmosphere that would allow him to grow in the field.
The Adel Veterinary Clinic instantly intrigued Dr. Beeman as it is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association’s Standards of Accreditations. This evaluation is used to measure excellence in veterinary medicine. The Adel Vet Clinic is continually rated on over 800 standards that directly correlate to the care provided to pets.
During his daylong working interview, Dr. Beeman was able to experience this high level of care first hand, working along side his future colleague Dr. Elizabeth Holland and the large staff of technicians
Dr. Elizabeth Holland joined the clinic three years ago, seeking the same levels of professionalism and teamwork as Dr. Beeman. Dr. Holland enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine, specializing in small pet care. The two young vets value the encouragement Dr. Rohret provides the team while allowing each person opportunities to pursue niche fields within their area of expertise.
Dr. Beeman focuses on small animals such as cats and dogs, with an added interest in exotic pets like ferrets, rabbits, birds, hamsters, and Guinea pigs. Dr. Beeman’s family has raised Guinea pigs and knows first hand how difficult it can be to find veterinarians who will see all these and other unusual pets. “Doctors are not comfortable with them, it’s a learning curve as these animals are not as common, but they need care too!”
Dr. Holland is especially drawn to Eastern medical practices and has brought Chinese herbal medicine and pet acupuncture to the Adel clinic. Acupuncture uses very fine needles, placed at designated points over the body, to treat an array of issues facing pets. It has been shown to help alleviate symptoms associated with arthritis, kidney and liver disease, muscle atrophy, chronic allergies, and skin conditions.
Herbal remedies are another holistic approach to pet wellness, affording another course of action for trouble cases.
The doctors are passionate about the level of care they provide, researching the newest, latest methods to diagnose and treat small animals. This includes continuing education opportunities, therapeutic laser treatments, a full radiology department, and in-house laboratory testing. The staff makes an effort to be aware of the latest advances in veterinary medicine, which impact us all.
Dr. Rohret tells us “Veterinary medicine moves at the same rate as human medicine.” Doctors now breed pigs with human genetic defects so that they can test different treatments that they hope will one day eliminate deseases like cystic fibrosis.
The long-standing clinic and knowledgeable staff creates a sense of trust with its patients, with generations of pet owners returning to Adel. Local pet rescue spot, AHeinz57 also uses the facility to vaccinate and treat all the homeless and abandoned animals they receive.
It is unfortunate that many of these animals have been neglected, abused, and deprived of vaccinations, however this unique opportunity is beneficial to the clinic. Working with the animals grants the doctors the chance to treat uncommon issues that the general pet population does not encounter. “We get to see first hand the importance of vaccinations,” remarks Dr. Beeman.
Holistic care starts with baby animals and continues through the life cycle. An area of pet care that is often avoided is Euthanasia. The staff at the Adel clinic understands that it can be emotionally straining to discuss this type of care and believe that handling these delicate situations with a kind heart is of the utmost importance. “First impressions are important,” says Dr. Holland, “but the final impression is just as important. We want to make the experience as comfortable as possible for the pets and their family.”
All three doctors believe that preventative health care is essential to ensure our pets have full, healthy lives. From pet obesity to dental care, to senior wellness, these hot topic issues are addressed at the Adel Veterinary Clinic. The clinic offers annual wellness exams, nutritional counseling, and senior wellness services.
Oral health care is also incredibly important to pet health. You’ll find dental exams, cleanings, and extractions available.
The clinic uses a digital x-ray machine. Dr. Rohret states “Most dentist treating humans aren’t using this state of the art in their practice.” The digital X-rays greatly decreases the time that the patient is being examined.
Walking into the clinic you will be struck by the first impression they make. The friendly staff is attentive and eager to help. Unlike other clinics, there is a sense of calm created that helps alleviate stress in both pets and their keepers. This is deceptive, as behind the doors the doctors are busy at work providing personal care to each animal.
This welcoming atmosphere is on display every day as clients’ drive past the building with it’s well known sign. Dr. Rohret posts laughable quotes and announcements for those driving into Adel from the west; fun word puzzles for visitors headed east. This tradition has been going for some time, with drivers going out of their way for this weekly smile.
The Adel Veterinary Clinic is always accepting new clients and welcomes pets and their families to schedule their next appointment or over night boarding experience at the clinic. To find out more about all the services offered, please visit http://adelvet.vetsuite.com.
Adel Veterinary Clinic
619 Greene St.
Adel, Iowa 50003
Phone: (515) 993-4707
Email: adelvet@mchsi.com
Website: www.Adelvet.com
Wells Fargo Foundation To Make Donation To Adel Library
Courtesy of Adel Public Library Published: March 2011
Presentation at the Adel Public Library, Monday morning at 11:00 am.
Wells Fargo Foundation has purchased an Early Literacy Station for our young patrons.
We are excited about this gift and wanted to share our good news with you. I have enclosed our press release so you can learn more about it.
I hope you can make it to the library Monday morning.
Thank you,
Paula James
Library Director
515-993-3512
The Adel Public Library and the Adel Public Library Foundation announces the acquisition of the Early Literacy Station (ELS), a complete educational solution loaded with 50 educational software titles for kids ages 2-10. This generous gift was purchased by Wells Fargo through a $2,600 grant from its foundation.
The Early Literacy Station offers children a safe, stand alone computer not connected to the Internet that is age-appropriate, engaging, and academically relevant for children. The ELS has a colorful keyboard and tiny mouse to promote easy learning and discovery.
The Early Literacy Station’s educational software covers seven curricular areas: reading, math, science, social studies, writing, arts & music, and reference. The system is designed to attract and educate toddlers through early elementary school ages.
“The Early literacy Station is an invaluable resource for our toddlers to 5th grade library patrons,” says Director Paula James. She adds, “The Adel Public Library is grateful for the generous support from Wells Fargo and for their commitment not only to the community but to the Adel Public Library as well.”
“At Wells Fargo, we see education as one of the most important investments we can make in the future of the communities we serve,” said Travis Etchison, Wells Fargo’s Business Banking manager for several Des Moines-area communities, including Adel. “We’re excited to be able to support a learning station that will engage children in Adel to learn and grow.”
History
History buffs are sure to appreciate these local gems!
The City of Adel, Iowa: Population 3,435
Founded as the county seat, Adel Iowa was originally called Penoach and is the oldest community in Dallas County. Native American artifacts found in the area provide evidence of earlier residents including Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in whose language Penoach means “far away”.
Adel Historical Museum: 1129 Main Street
This two-story brick building, built in 1857, was once used as the second Adel schoolhouse. The museum contains 8 rooms filled with artifacts from the history of Adel. Volunteers throughout the community help with opening and manning the museum on Saturdays from May to September. Other times the museum may be toured by reservation by calling 993-1032. The two main events of the Adel Historical Museum are the Holiday Home Tour in December and the Corn Festival in August. Learn more about the history of Adel with museum Curator Jan Price!
Nile Kinnick’s Boyhood Home: 219 North Twelfth Street
This private residence was home to the Adel hero and Iowa legend, Nile Kinnick. Nile Kinnick was born in Adel on July 9, 1918 to Nile Sr. and Frances Clarke Kinnick. He was a standout athlete at Adel High School before winning the Heisman Trophy at the University of Iowa, having scored 107 of the 130 points scored by the Hawkeyes that year. Nile Kinnick was a Navy pilot during World War II and died on June 2, 1943 when his plane went down. Highway 169 going north & south through Adel is named Nile Kinnick Drive in his honor.
The Dallas County Courthouse: 801 Court Street
An outstanding example of French Chateau architecture, the (fourth) Dallas County Courthouse was built in 1902 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The interior of the courthouse has undergone a complete restoration and is the cornerstone of Adel’s Historic District. The Court House remains in commission and tours may be scheduled through the Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce by calling (515) 993-5472. Read an interview with Bill Clark about the Court House here!
Adel’s Historic District
Centered around the Dallas County Courthouse, Adel’s beautiful Historic District comprises the downtown square and brick streets. Recently designated to the National Register of Historic Places, Adel is the only location to have registered both the buildings and roads as historical landmarks. During the summer of 2010, the City of Adel renovated the streets and is one of the only street projects in Iowa to reuse the authentic bricks.
The Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul Depot: 218 South 9th Street
This early 1900s train depot was built to serve the railroad running through Adel until 1952 when the last passenger train ceased service. The Depot was home to a restaurant before the law firm of Hefner and Bergkamp P.C. remodeled the historic train stop. interior decor includes a collection of historic photographs of Adel and original wood. The railbed is currently the Raccoon River Valley Trail which now boasts 125,000 users a year!
Raccoon Valley State Bank Community House: corner of Eleventh and Main Street
Constructed in 1862, the Methodist Episcopal Church was the first church built in Adel. It was used by the congregation for 25 years and later became a private residence. In 1995 the building was renovated by the Raccoon Valley State Bank for use by community groups. Interior decor includes a collection of historic photographs of Adel which can be viewed by appointment. The building is frequently reserved for social gatherings of all types. For tours and reservations, please call (515) 993-4581. George W. Clarke House: 207 North 15th Street This private residence was the home of George W. Clarke, Iowa Governor from 1913-1917, both before and after his term in office. He practiced law in Adel and maintained his office in the Adel State Bank where he nearly lost his life in the famous 1895 robbery of the Adel State Bank.
Adel State Bank: 107 North 9th Street
This building was the scene of the March 1895 famous bank robbery. One robber was killed and six Adel men were wounded. George W. Clarke practiced law on the second floor. During the robbery, one of the hold-up men pulled the trigger on Clarke at pointblank range but the gun misfired and the future governor was saved.
Jan Price and the History of Adel, Iowa
Reissued from the DiscoverAdel.com April 2009 Newsletter
DiscoverAdel.com has asked Jan Price of the Adel Historical Society to help showcase this theme by highlighting the historical points of reference throughout the history of Adel.
Jan has been the volunteer manager of the historical museum for the past 4 years. She grew up in Adel, and recently returned to the community with her husband Donald in 1999.
When they retired, after more than 30 years of professional careers in education, they moved to Adel and purchased a home on Locust Street.
Jan and Donald love living in Adel and have become active in various organizations. Jan was gracious enough to help DiscoverAdel readers answer the questions of how this small community came to be.
Q.What is a brief history of Adel?
Dallas County was made available for settlement on April 30, 1843. A year previous the land was purchased from the Sac and Fox Indians and it was stipulated in the contract that all Indians were to be removed within a period of 3 years.
In 1846 Iowa was admitted into the United States. James Polk was President and the Vice President was George Mifflin Dallas. Our county was named after him.
In 1846 our county was organized. The first settler in Adel Township was Samuel Miller who settled in what became known as the Miller Settlement. It was a short distance east of where Adel was later built.
There is a stone monument on the north side of Highway 6 marking the settlement and the Miller cemetery is on the south side of the highway. There the first sheriff of Adel, Jesse K. Miller, is buried. Samuel Miller built his log cabin during the winter of 1847-48 and used it for the 1st schoolhouse in Dallas County.
In 1847 a new town given the name of Penoach, an Indian word meaning “far away” came into existence. The original town plot extended from the Raccoon River to High (11th) Street and from Grove Street south to Greene Street.
This town not only became Dallas County’s first settlement to be classed as a town but it was selected as the county seat by the state legislature that same year. About 2 years afterward in the fall of 1849 the name of Penoach was changed to Adel in honor of “a very pretty child with a prettier mother”.
Q. Who can be considered the “Founding Fathers” of Adel?
Leroy Lambert: During his life in Dallas County, he was one of the leading businessmen.
He was elected to the state legislature in 1853,1858, 1860, 1861, and 1869. In 1868 he entered into banking opening the first bank in Dexter, Iowa with Martin Smith. Later, in 1869 they opened the Dallas County Bank in Adel.
In 1850 he was active in starting up the Christian Church.
Dr. T. J. Caldwell came to Adel in 1853. He was repeatedly elected to Mayor. He was the president of the railroad built from Waukee to Adel and continued its president until after its extension to Jefferson.
He was for many years the president of the Adel State Bank.
S.H. Greene was one of the first settlers in Adel. He was a promoter of Adel’s early railroad. His store was located where the jail now stands. Greene Street was named after him.
He was the father of Arletta Clarke who married Governor George Washington Clarke. They were the grandparents of Nile Kinnick.
J.B. White was a lawyer of unusual ability and also a man of rank in literary circles.
He taught school in Adel in 1873 and was active in business, civic political education, and religious and social matters.
George Washington Clarke moved to Adel in 1877. He served four years as Justice of the Peace and in 1882 formed a law partnership with John B. White.
He was successful in the legal field. He was twice the speaker of the House of Representatives. He was Lieutenant Governor from 1909-1913 and became the 21st Governor of Iowa for 2 terms from 1913 to 1917. After stepping down as Governor, he was Dean of Drake University Law School from 1917-18 and practiced law in Des Moines.
Q. How was Downtown established?
A state road was established across the state of Iowa and passed through Adel. This road from the East crosses the Raccoon River by ferry, and then followed, what is now Main Street on west, to California. It was heavily traveled during the “Gold Rush”.
The third courthouse was located in the same place that the current courthouse is located. It was here that the downtown began to develop. The original town plot extended from the North Raccoon River to High (11th) Street and from Grove Street south to Greene Street.
Q. When did the Dallas County Fair begin?
The Agriculture Society was organized in Adel on December 31, 1855. Archibald Crowe was elected chairman responsible for organizing the very first fair. In 1903, twenty-three acres on the north side of town was purchased for $3,200.00. With the exception of a few years, the fairs were held on this land, which became know as Riverside Park (now Kinnick Feller Park).
Q. How did the Adel Historical Society enter the picture?
The Adel Historical Society was organized September 26, 1972 with 30 charter members. They purchased the building that stands at 1128 Main Street.
This two-story brick building, built in 1857, was used as the second Adel schoolhouse for 12 years and then for many years after that as a residence for different families. For 26 years the Society used this building as its headquarters, improving the structure, collecting antiques and using the building for card parties, potlucks and other activities to raise money to support the museum.
In October of 1998 the Society disbanded, deeding its 129-year-old schoolhouse to the city. The city raised money along with a $7,000.00 grant given by the State Historical Society of Iowa for a new roof and a heating, cooling and ventilation system. Main Street Chamber Offices were located in the building. More renovations were made as contributions came in.
The Chamber offices were later moved to the new city hall (the former Adel Manufacturing Company making bonnets and gloves). The former chamber offices were made into a museum shop where many items relating to Adel are sold.
The upkeep for the museum is now paid for by the City of Adel. The museum contains 8 rooms filled with artifacts from the history of Adel.
The museum is run by a volunteer manager with the support of a Museum Committee consisting of members from three Questers’ organizations: Like Skillet, Raccoon Valley and George Mifflin Dallas. Donations are given regularly by Adel Women’s Club, the Questers’ groups and the Adel Historic Preservation Commission.
Volunteers throughout the community help with opening and manning the museum on Saturdays from May to September. Other times the museum may be toured by reservation by calling 993-1032. The two main events of the Adel Historical Museum are the Holiday Home Tour in December and the Corn Festival in August.
Q. What is the Adel Historic Preservation Commission?
The commission was formed in the mid 1990s by the Adel City Council. In 2002 the commission received a grant from the State Historic Preservation Office of the State Historical Society of Iowa (SHPO) to do an intensive survey and evaluation of the downtown commercial district surrounding the courthouse.
In 2006 the commission received another grant from the SHPO to nominate the Adel Public Square District to the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination was to be completed in June of 2008. As of this date the commission is waiting for word that Adel has received the nomination. The Courthouse and the Wagon Bridge are already on the National Register.
Q. What is Adel’s connection to the Circus?
Ortonville, located between Adel and Waukee on Highway 6 was named after Hiram Orton, who moved to the site in 1866.
But Ortonville wasn’t just any town. It was home to a traveling circus show that started in 1852. Orton purchased nearly 200 acres as the winter headquarters for the circus.
At one time the community of Ortonville included a cafe and grocery store, gasoline station, elevator, post office, stockyard and two telephone companies.
The show animals were over wintered at Ortonville because the fertile soil provided good crops and grain for the animals. The circus traveled by horse drawn wagon from one community to the next, making their way throughout the upper Midwest. According to one source, the Orton Circus was the largest wagon circus in the world.
Animals in the circus included monkeys, horses, elephants, lions, dogs, camels, tigers and leopards. Additional entertainment was provided by a band, trapeze artists, tight wire and slack wire walkers, swinging ladder and rolling globe performers, contortionists and acrobats.
Q. What are some of the historic aspects of town?
J. C. Corbell built the first house in the town in the fall of 1847. It was used as a dwelling house and post office. The first brick building in the town was a one-story structure occupied for many year by G. W. Campbell who operated a tailor shop.
The first two-story building was the school built in 1857. The first hotel in the town was a small story and half house managed by R.R. Bailey. Soon afterward Jacob Frush built the Plank House which was the temporary home of many pioneer travelers and also headquarters for the first station west of Des Moines on the stage coach line.
The first church in Adel was the Christian Church organized in 1847 by Elder John P. Glenn. The Presbyterians started a church in 1856, as did the Methodists about the same year.
The first newspaper in Adel was “The Ship of State” published in 1856. The first bank was established in the early 1850s by J. R. Van Meter. The first electric light plant was built by W. W. Hancock and L. M. Macy. The first flourmill was built in 1856 by J. H. Strong and J. H. Moffatt. The first tile and brick factory was started by Kerns and Hubbard in 1882.
Q. What can you tell us about the Nile Kinnick Museum?
Currently, we do not have a Nile Kinnick Museum. We have an Adel Historic Museum at 1129 Main Street, but we have begun to talk about building on a Nile Kinnick addition to the 1857 schoolhouse.
There is to be an auction April 20th at which time three items will be up for sale: A 1940 American Legion Program signed by Nile Kinnick, Nile Kinnick’s 1939 Iowa University Letterman’s sweater and a 1935 high school football leather helmet probably used by him when he played football in Adel.
We would like to purchase these three items for the future museum addition but presume they will go for a very high sum.
To find out how to help in this effort, or for tour information contact Jan Price at 993-1032.
Adel Historical Museum
1129 Main Street
Adel, Iowa 50003
515-993-1032
August 26th, 2010
We have scheduled a street meeting for tomorrow that will be cancelled. We encourage everyone to attend the sustainability workshop which will be held at 5:30pm in the library.
Regarding the street project; work is progressing nicely and on or ahead of schedule. Bases for the light post are in and nearly complete, the brick are almost all up and palletized and storm utility work is up to the intersection with Main St.
Please note that to accommodate the storm utility work on the west corners of the intersection with Main and 9th, the pedestrian portion of the corners will be closed to access beginning August 25th. and lasting for approximately 48 hours – these pedestrian walk ways should be open again by Monday morning. The inconvenience is necessary to dig the required trenches to install the concrete storm intake boxes.
One interesting find this week – while trenching in the utility line for the lights, the contractor came across a large chunk of concrete. Once it was excavated and an attempt at removal was made it was determined that the concrete was a 12’ diameter bowl that either served as a horse drinking trough or an old fountain of some sort. The buried structure was so large that the Caterpillar track hoe on site had a very difficult time removing the thing. There is a reward leading to the identification and aging of the structure if anyone has any information on what it was and when it was in service. The reward is one antique original Adel Street Brick. Please call City Hall with any information at 993-4525.
In the construction meeting yesterday there were no other issues raised by contractors or engineers. Work is progressing nicely.
As always, please let me know if you have questions or concerns.
Thanks again for your understanding and cooperation – please contact me for questions and comments.
Chad
Chad A. Bird
City Administrator
City of Adel
515-993-4525 • Fax 515-993-4527
Nile Kinnick Museum Article
We’ve had several requests to re-run the March Newsletter article we ran on Nile Kinnick. With the passing of June and the anniversary of his death, it seems only fitting to honor one of Adel’s native sons. We hope that you enjoy. (July 17, 2009)
– Courtesy: Julie Bailey – Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce.
The community of Adel is well-known for its brick streets, beautiful County Courthouse, and the Sweet Corn Festival. Adel is also the hometown of Nile Clarke Kinnick Jr., the winner of the 1939 Heisman Trophy for the University of Iowa. The football stadium at the University of Iowa is named in his honor.
The Adel Historical Museum and Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce are pursuing a vision for a Nile Kinnick Wing of the current historical museum in Adel.
In April 2009, a few select pieces of Nile Kinnick memorabilia will be available through an online auction. The Adel Historical Museum is fundraising in an effort to purchase all or part of this memorabilia and bring it home to Kinnick’s community where he spent his childhood. This would also complement the Kinnick items currently held in the Adel community and support the beginnings of a museum addition to highlight Kinnick’s life.
Nile Kinnick was born on July 9, 1918, in Adel, Iowa, the grandson of a governor. His grandfather, George Clarke was Governor of Iowa from 1913 to 1917 and practiced law in Adel. Nile was a star athlete in football and basketball at Adel High School before the family moved to Omaha, Neb., after his junior year.
In 1939, Irl Tubbs was out as coach, Eddie Anderson was in, and the path was cleared for Kinnick’s senior season at the University of Iowa. A halfback who was the team’s main passer, Kinnick threw for 638 yards and 11 touchdowns as well as rushing for 374 yards on 106 carries (3.5-yard average). He also made 11-of-17 dropkick conversion attempts and scored 41 points. By passing, running or kicking, Kinnick was directly involved in 107 of Iowa’s 130 points that season. He also made eight interceptions. He finished his career at Iowa with 1,674 yards rushing, 18 interceptions (an Iowa record that lasted half a century) and an average of 39.9 yards per punt.
The Chicago Tribune’s version of the Big Ten MVP award preceded Kinnick’s winning the Walter Camp and Maxwell awards, further validating the prevailing opinion he was the nation’s best football player. On Dec, 6, 1939, his acceptance of the Heisman Trophy became a seminal moment – both in athletics and in oratory. Kinnick’s celebrity became so strong, he was named 1939’s top male athlete in the country by the Associated Press. The honor was particularly noteworthy considering his competition included Joe DiMaggio, Joe Louis and Byron Nelson.
In August 1941, Kinnick decided war was imminent and joined the Naval Air Corps Reserve. While waiting to be called to active duty, he was an assistant coach for Iowa that fall. On December 4, three days before Pearl Harbor, he reported for duty. On June 2, 1943, Kinnick was flying a training mission from the U.S.S. Lexington off the coast of Venezuela when he experienced engine problems. Rescue parties searched for several hours, but Kinnick’s body was never found amid the oil slick. Nile Kinnick was 24.
“A Nile Kinnick wing of the Adel Historical Museum would be a tremendous asset to the Adel community and the state of Iowa.” says Julie Bailey, Program Director for the Adel Chamber of Commerce. “Kinnick’s legacy is so large and it only seems fitting to honor him in the town he loved so much.” she continued.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Kinnick museum planning process or is interested in making a tax deductible contribution toward the purchase of the memorabilia to begin the new museum effort can contact Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce via email at chamber@AdelPartners.Org or phone 515-993-5472.
2009 Brick Street Classic Has A Great Show!
The Brick Street Classic Car Show in Adel is an annual event put on by the Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce.
June 6th started as a rainy day. Nearly an inch of rain fell between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 am. John Standley was standing in his kitchen getting ready for the scheduled Brick Street Classic Car Show anyway. The rain cleared off, the doppler showed that it was moving out of the area and he headed to his NAPA store in Adel to start setting up for the day.
8:15 saw John and one of his store assistant’s putting up the tent for the band. The band, Voodoo3 had called several times to see if the day was still on. John in his usual cheery self said “Why not?”
By 9:00 all of the tents were up, the vendor spots remarked, the previous night’s rain had erased the previous markings. T-Shirts were being hung in the Registration tent at the corner of Nile Kinnic and Court St. just across from Brick Street muscle. Gary Curnes, from Brick Street Muscle, His wife Mary, and his sons were carried over boxes of this year’s shirts for the show participants.
John’s wife, Mary set up the NAPA tent on Main Street as volunteers helped set up the vendors. The band, located on the East side of street across from Cameo Rose could be heard tuning up for the day. The vendors moved in and around the barricades setting up their tents and wares. Granpa’s Gifts from Earlham was the first to show up, followed shortly by Knitting by Annette. Brick Street BBQ, Grace Lutheran and Cafe in the Park soon followed.
CoolBeans had a constant stream of traffic in and out of their store as folks got coffee and oriented.
Phone calls were still coming in to John and Gary from car owners as to what the weather was doing in Adel. Many of the cars were coming from surrounding areas that were still seeing rain. Reassurances were given as most vowed to still come out.
John and Gary were understanding of the concerns. As Gary mentioned, “Most of these guys have a small fortune into getting these cars just right, and it takes three days to clean the underside when they get dirty”.
Still the cars steadily showed up. Keith Soffa of the Lions Club had a crew of Lions helping park the cars. Starting at the corner of Court St. and Kinnick and slowly progressing around the Square and then back.
Mary Curnes from Brick Street Muscle and Lori Brocka of the Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce took registrations and handed out participant packs, shirts and hats to the registrants.
The Sun played hide and seek, but everyone was in good spirits. The Noon whistle blew and suddenly the crowds appeared. The vendors were busy and the band was well into their second hour.
Over 80 cars were parked as Bob Ockerman, a Lion and Dallas County Supervisor, manned the front barricade directing particpants.
The red shirts of the volunteers could be seen everywhere helping participants, vendors and show goers. The smell of BBQ pleasantly filled the air as Brick Street BBQ and Cafe in the Park served their tasty wares. Grace Lutheran served cookies and baked goods.
The sun popped in and out of the clouds as everyone had a great time. John and Gary traveled between the crowds and the cars making sure all continued to run smoothly.
At 4:00 Gary announced the awards. Door prizes of certificates donated by Casey’s general Store and Red Lobster, car care items donated by NAPA and Brick Street Muscle were given out. 2o awards were given for the various classes, all voted on by the registrants. Best of show was awarded, this year’s winner will have his car featured on next year’s advertising and T-shirt.
For a day that started off rainy, it proved to be a hit as the crowds remained large right through the Awards ceremony.
By 4:30, John, Gary and the volunteers had everything restored to the square and the trailer loaded up to return the tents and the supplies of the day. Both Gary and John were in the same good moods that they had started the day off with.
If you missed this year’s show, Check out the Slide Show of the 5th Annual Brick Street Classic. Don’t forget to mark the show for next year down on your calendar as it is truly a first class event show casing some of the sweetest rides.
This year’s sponsors were, Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce, CoolBeans, McAnnich, Adel Auto Parts/NAPA, Arnold’s Auto Store, and Brick Street Muscle.
