Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

We don't know if they succeeded or not. but the hay
and corn disappeared in a most lively manner. An
ordinary ship's anchor wouldn't stand the ghost of a
chance before the onslaught of a couple of common
street cows."
In 1866 a town survey was made to determine the
location of sidewalks. While this task was being
performed. it was leamed that there was scarcely a
street already laid out that was in accordance with
section lines. Gamavillo was found to be several yards
too far west. The same was true for Ford Street. On
North Ford. property owners found themselves not only
in the street. or too far away. but discovered that they
had built on the neighbors’ town lots. It
was reported in the local paper that one individual.
supposing he owned two lots. found that one lot. except
for about three inches. “existed not at all“. Up to 1868
over I50 houses were built. including uptown and
downtown. and it looked like the town fathers would be
impressed. Well. they were. with the exception of
Anamosa‘s lower section below Jackson Street. where
the citizens were in a state of rebellion. Even the advent
of the dentist's (Dr. J.J . Dickensen) new use of laughing
gas would not help the problems. For the downtown
people. it was no laughing matter.
The citizens ofdowntown held a meeting and came to
the conclusion they were not deriving enough benefit
from the taxes they were paying. They complained that
their taxes were twice what the people up town were
paying and they never saw the street commissioners
within 40 rods of the place. They wanted to see the
town incorporated into a city with four wards. so that
they could have representation. Letters to the editor decried
the taking of the courthouse uptown calling it
“fraudulent and false representation” and a “nefarious
affair.” Realizing that the cause would not be settled
until after 1870. and unless the census revealed a
population of over 2.000. the downtown citizens
decided to take the matter to court.
Quoting one letter to the editor: “One question that
amid the excitement of getting out has been overlooked
— what shall we call ourselves? Shall we retain the one
by which we are frequently called: namely. that of the
illustrious metropolis of Erin?” (the writer was taking
the uptownites to task. for referring to that section as
Dublin).
To add insult to injury. a new street sprinkler was
purchased but only sprinkled the dusty streets as far
west as Sales Street: the reason given was that the
business men paid for it.
The downtowners took their case to the jury. which
was discharged due to no unanimous agreement. The
issue of a separate town came to naught. and in 1872
the town of Anamosa was incorporated with four wards
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