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Marion History Fun Facts
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Excursionists in the 19th century went to places we probably wouldn't consider particularly attractive today. Marvels of human architecture and engineering were popular, including bridges, canals, factories, locks and dams, asylums, prisons, and the new-style landscaped rural cemeteries. Locally, Anamosa Penitentiary filled the bill as both an architectural showpiece and a marvel of civil and social engineering. Prisons were expected to be self-supporting at the time, so authorities welcomed the crowds for the income they generated and the opportunity to show off their progressive practices. By Iowa law all the income from the sight-seers went toward the prison library.
Excursions to the Anamosa penitentiary were a bonanza for the library and Anamosa merchants, but were probably not a minor disruption to prison routines. We have a good description of a typical excursion in Aug. 1876 when 300-400 excursionists from Dyersville visited. They arrived by train in Anamosa at 11 AM and were received by the Silver Cornet band, which led them to a shady grove near the station where the local residents had hung swings and set out croquet sets for their entertainment. The hosts also provided pitchers of ice water for drinking. The city hose companies brought out their pumps and blasted long plumes of water for a half hour in a demonstration of their fire-fighting prowess. With departure of the excursion cars not scheduled until 5 PM, there was plenty of time after the prison tour for eating, sight-seeing and shopping in town, and that's all some people came for. (Anamosa Eureka; August 31, 1876)
American penitentiaries were a new approach in criminal justice, which drew observers from all over the world, including excursionists. Penitentiaries promised real reform of convicts by holding them under conditions that would give them time to reflect on their crimes, learn new habits and experience something akin to a religious conversion, i.e. become penitent. Supporters believed, aside for the public disgrace, a stay in the "pen" wasn't punishment any more, but an "advantageous change of circumstances." (Iowa Joint Legislative Committee, 1876) Also, the inmates were mining the stone and constructing the Anamosa facility themselves, a common practice at the time, and that was the focus of interest for some excursionists.
Behind the public's interest in penitentiaries was the intense debate among prison reformers over two very different approaches: Iowa favored the Auburn (NY) "silent system," and; the other, the Pennsylvania or "separate system." Under the former, inmates lived, ate and worked side-by-side and were only alone at night in their cells. Absolute silence was maintained 24/7--communication with guards was by hand signals. Under the PA separate system, introduced in Pittsburgh in 1826 and Philadelphia in 1829, inmates were kept in solitary confinement 24/7, with in-cell work and reading materials provided after a "breaking-in" period, but they never saw another human besides their silent guards. Author Charles Dickens visited the Philadelphia prison in 1842 and afterward wrote a scathing critique comparing the system to being buried alive-- an experience that scarred men for life.
The penitentiary remained a popular excursion destination until about 1905 when the availability of automobiles ended the practice of large group-travel by train. Next time: a brief history of the Anamosa penitentiary. ... See MoreSee Less
4 hours ago ·
The lack of local "excurshing" attractions made Marion and Cedar Rapids marketing opportunities whose residents could for be lured away on RR excursions to other locales, often far down the line. Marion boosters regretted the lost income and called for the development of local attractions and nature destinations like Sulphur Springs, Winslow's Grove, the Palisades and various landings along the Cedar River to draw more excursionists here.
Open-air nature settings were the usual excursion destination, but sometimes participants just wanted to eat and go shopping and sight-seeing. Marion played host to 150 excursionists from Anamosa on July 19, 1870. Dubuque and South Western RR managers were christening a new engine they called the "Anamosa," a good excuse for celebrating! The Jones county excursionists filled two Pullman cars and left Anamosa at noon, accompanied by the Silver Cornet Band. The train went through Marion and disembarked in CR. There they toured the city by carriage and visited an ice cream parlor before departing at 4:30 PM. They disembarked again in Marion and spent about two hours here eating, shopping and gawking. A pile of lumber next to the Depot provided a platform from which the organizers gave speeches before departing, expressing their gratitude to their hosts for a pleasant day. The train arrived back in Anamosa at 7:30 PM.
Winslow's Grove, 3 miles north, near present day Hunter's Ridge Golf Course, was a popular recreational spot for excursionists and Marion residents in the 19th century The large oaks offered shade in the summer and the grounds were free from underbrush. Groups as large as 5-10,000 could be accommodated on major holidays like the July 4th and Labor Day. The natural slope made it easy to see and to hear the speakers.
Sulfur Springs at junction of 10th St. and Indian Creek was also popular among excursionists in the 1870's, 80's and 90's. Promoters talked of turning Marion into the Saratoga of the West, and developing the property into a fashionable resort for the wealthy and infirm to come for rest and to enjoy the healthful effects of the highly mineralized water. Local physicians were enthusiastic about its supposed medicinal properties, but banker Redman D. Stephens was unconvinced, and development never went beyond constructing a brick reservoir around the springs.
The advent of automobiles made travel easier for families, and ended the era of the large group-excursions, as well as fashionable health spas and vacation resorts. Auto vacationers enjoyed the freedom of the road and generally didn't stay in one spot for more than a day or two. 19th century excursions weren't vacations, but they introduced us to leisure travel and sparked entirely new travel industries. By the start of WWII most people demanded and expected two weeks of paid time off for traveling every summer. Next time: Excurshing to the penitentiary. ... See MoreSee Less
3 days ago ·
A Temperance Excursion to Marion.
The motives for organizing an excursion were not simply to arrange a pleasurable group outing. Fresh air and sunshine were believed to have a beneficial effect by most medical authorities at the time, so health should be considered for any summer excursion to a nature spot, but fund-raising also figured in the calculations of many organizations. For some, a large flag waving parade at their destination, accompanied by a brass band, was a political statement. Such was the case in August, 1866 when the Good Templars "excurshed" to Marion to show support for the Temperance Movement in E. Iowa and celebrate the founding of the Order.
The International Organization of Good Templars (IOGT) was formed in Utica, NY in 1851. The IOGT was a fraternal organization modeled on the Freemasons, with similar rituals and regalia, which advocated for temperance. They admitted both men and women, and people of all races as full members. They still exist today with lodges worldwide and a membership roll of about 700,000.
The Good Templars Lodges of Anamosa, Sand Springs, Monticello and Springville boarded a special Dubuque & Southwestern train in Anamosa on Friday August 17, 1866, chartered for $200 by the organizers. The Good Templars were a potent political force in Anamosa; membership was about 200, but on this occasion they invited non-members supporting the temperance cause to join them. Fare was half-price, 95 cents for the round trip. The passengers nearly filled three cars. At Viola 60 more boarded. Waiting in Marion at the end of the line were the members of the local Marion Star Lodge and Cedar Rapids lodges. After a brief reception at the depot, the visitors assembled in the local lodge, arranged their garb and formed into lines. Then at 10 A.M. in full regalia they began their march north to Winslow's Grove with the Cedar Rapids Brass Band in the lead. After a prayer and welcoming address, Rev. C. G. Trusdell, a well-known Methodist minister from Clinton gave a rousing and "unflinching" hour-long speech in favor of prohibition and condemning the enemies whose "lukewarmness and cowardice" prevented them from taking a bold stand for the cause. (Anamosa Eureka; August 23, 1866) Lunch followed; most of the participants had brought their own picnic baskets but the good people of Marion provided for those who lacked. The afternoon included a couple more temperance speakers, some singing and music by the band and about 90 minutes of free time for relaxing and enjoying the woods. The visitors were back on the train by 4:00 PM for the ride home.
Winslow's Grove, 3 miles north, near present day Hunter's Ridge Golf Course, was a popular recreational spot for excursionists and Marion residents in the 19th century. Large oaks offered shade in the summer and the grounds were free from underbrush. Groups as large as 5-10,000 could be accommodated on major holidays like the July 4th and Labor Day. The natural slope made it easy to see and to hear the speakers.
Rev. Charles G. Trusdell (1826-1903) was born in NY but came to Iowa in 1855. He started his business life as a silversmith and then a dry goods merchant, but entered the ministry about the time of the Civil War. He served three years in the 2nd Iowa Cavalry as chaplain. He ministered to many Iowa communities after the war including Mt. Vernon, Clinton, Davenport and Marshalltown before removing to Chicago where he dedicated himself to the Temperance Movement and poor relief. See him at Find a Grave memorial # 82558620.
Next time: Another Excursion to Marion ... See MoreSee Less
1 week ago ·