Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

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Sesquicentennial Committee
Front row: Charlene George. Anna Parham. Neita Huerter. Second row: Mike Payton. Betty Shover. June
Eggers. Helen Gerst. Al Bierbrodt. Third row: Jim Nehl and Dave Odeen.
1976 — Bicentennial Celebration
The 200th anniversary of the American Revolution
was celebrated in Anamosa in 1976. as across America.
The Anamosa Bicentennial Committee was
appointed by Mayor. Joe Legg on Jan. 5. 1976. Those
appointed were: Dale Condry. Robert George. Malinda
Engelbart. Garret Cass. Keith Vernon. Marvin Marek
and Josephine Russell. Officers elected were Jo Russell.
chairman: Kay Dougherty. vice chairman: Joan Marlin.
secretary: and Earl Beisell. treasurer.
Ana.mosa was officially recognized as a Bicentennial
community and the Bicentennial flag was presented at
the City Hall on Saturday. Feb. 14. 1976. Scott
Newhard. member of the Iowa House of
Representatives. presented the official flag and
certificate to Mayor Legg and Chairman Russell
The Color Guard was made up of members of the
VFW. AMVETS. American Legion. and their respective
Auxiliaries. The Boy Scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance
and David Marshall. high school vocal music
instructor. sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and "God
Bless America”. Rev. Marvin Mueller gave the
invocation. and Rev. Brown Garlock gave the
benediction. Price Slate was master of ceremonies. Dale
Hackett. Jones County Bicentennial chairman. brought
greetings from the county Bicentennial Commission.
A book. “Discovering Historical Iowa". was
presented to the Anamosa Public Library by the Iowa
American Revolution Bicentennial Commission.
The committee's float entry won First Place in the
Grant Wood Art Festival parade. This winning float
featured an Indian Maiden and was entitled. "Let‘s Call
it Anamosa". This float also won Second Place in the
Jones County Bicentennial celebration parade at Jones
County Central Park. on July 4. 1976.
The committee raised $200 from an auction arranged
by Earl Beisell. This money. and the parade prize
Submitted by Josephine Russell
270
money. was invested for several years and was then
used to commission a painting by Shirley Shotwell.
well-known Martelle artist. of an Indian Maiden. The
painting. entitled "Anamosah" was officially presented
to the mayor and council. The oil painting presently
hangs in the "Anamosa corner" in the Anamosa Public
Library. Those attending the presentation were Debbie
Burkey. who represented the Indian maiden on the
float: Joan Marlin. Norma Brady. Anna Parham. Ardis
Hagen and Jo Russell. Others who worked on the float
were Anna Brickley. Don Hagen. Fay Oltmann. Donna
Oltmann and John Parham. -
A list of the following projects of various community
organizations. were sent to Washington. D.C. where
they were placed in a book. to be opened at the
country's Tricentennial: Anamosa Community Theatre
Group for its first theatrical production. "George M.":
Anamosa Hospital Auxiliary. for making a quilt with
blocks depicting older homes and buildings in
Anamosa: Anamosa BPW for preparing data on “First
Women in the County"; Wapsiketa Chapter. IWLA. for
sponsoring a Wayside Park on highway 151. a mile
north of Anamosa: Cass Homemakers for sewing a
quilt. and selling it to raise funds for the restoration of
the Cass Church and Cass Center School: the AMVETS
for presenting an American flag to the city: the
Evangeline Rebekah Lodge for arranging with local
merchants to provide chairs for elderly persons to rest
while shopping. in their places of business: the City of
Anamosa. for the restoration of the town clock and
painting the bell tower: the Grant Wood Art Festival for
dedicating its successful 1976 festival to the
Bicentennial; the Anamosa City Council and volunteers
who repaired the old Wapsipinicon Bridge for the use of
bicyclists and pedestrians: Bess Sherman. who
instigated the repair of the Upside-Down-Bridge in the