This metal spatula from Charlson's Clothes Shop was recently donated by the Hook & Eye Questers.  As you can see from the photos below, one side of the handle has "Charlson's Clothes Shop, Story City, Iowa".  The other side has "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year".  Items like these were often given to customers to show appreciation for their business.  

Charlson's Clothes Shop was a long-standing business in the Story City community.  The Charlson Building is located on the southwest corner of Broad St and Pennsylvania Ave.  Today the building houses Edward Jones, InVintg, and the Story City Greater Chamber Connection. 

If you have Story City memorabilia that you would like to donate to the Historical Society, please contact us.  

May 1st, 2014
5:30 pm
Fairview Lodge, Grove Ave Story City, Iowa

Join us at the Fairview Lodge for the Historical Society's Spring Dinner. A free-will donation Scandinavian themed dinner will be provided, including Norwegian meatballs, potatoes, corn, and a variety of Scandinavian desserts! Traditional cooking utensils will be on display with their modern counterparts. Plus, you'll be able to take home recipe cards of the food provided!

Several examples of Scandinavian crafts such as rosemalling and hardanger embroidery will be on display. Linda Stole will be on hand to demonstrate the beautiful hardanger embroidery. 

Stop by to experience the Scandinavian history of Story City!

The Historical Society recently received this beautiful quilt from Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne.  It was made for Fran by her mother Bertha Bartlett and hand quilted by the ladies at Grace Church here in Story City.  

Bertha Bartlett (6/14/1888-8/27/1988) was appointed librarian in Story City in 1927 and held that position until 1964.  She was the only person to hold the distinction of being a student, alumni, teacher, school secretary, board secretary, and president of the school board - all within the Story City Public School System.  Our current library, the Bertha Bartlett Public Library, was named in honor of Bertha.  It was built in 1994 and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.  

As a way to share more of our collection, we will be posting a new collection item each week.  Since its spring and baseball season has begun, our first collection item of the week is a 1993 Conlon Collection reproduction Hank Severeid St. Louis Browns baseball card.  

Hank Severeid was born in Story City in 1891.  He played baseball locally for many years and was signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1911.  Hank played for 4 major league baseball teams throughout his career, including the Reds, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, and the New York Yankees.  He played in 2 back to back World Series, one in 1925 with the Senators and the second in 1926 with the Yankees.  Hank caught all 7 games of the 1926 World Series.  Some notable teammates were Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.  

Severeid spent over a quarter century as a scout, for the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, from 1944 until his 1968 passing, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 77.