(Le Mars) — Le Mars will be celebrating its Sesquicentennial in June, but people have the opportunity to acknowledge the 150th year of the town’s founding all year long. KLEM radio teamed up with the Le Mars Historical Preservation Commission, and the Sesquicentennial Committee, and have collected photos from yesteryear in a commemorative keep-sake 2019
calendar. Each month shows a different photo from the time of Le Mars’ early beginnings. The photos were gathered from various sources. Some of the featured photos have never been seen by the general public. Iris Hemmingson is with the Le Mars Historical Preservation Commission and says the featured photos were enhanced by Steve Collins. She offers her opinion
of the calendar.
The cover photo features a photo of the original Plymouth County courthouse.
Hemmingson estimates the photo of the first courthouse was originally taken somewhere around 1890. As you open the calendar, the month of January features a couple of children shown ice skating at around the time of 1905.
February features a photo of the old Union Hotel which was located on the corner of 1st Avenue Southwest and Plymouth Street. Hemmingson says not only was the hotel historic, but the street also has historical significance.
The photo for March may be familiar to many people as the featured structure hasn’t changed much over the years. It is a photo of the old country clubhouse, built in 1913. Today, people will recognize it as a residence located at the corner of Central Avenue and 12th Street S.W. Hemmingson says there was a lot of Le Mars history at that area.
Several photos on the historical calendar showcase the downtown area of Central Avenue and Plymouth Street intersection, including July and December. The July photo displays the towns people gathering for the Independence Day celebration, dated 1909.
Other photos feature the Carolina Terrace home built in 1892, the circus, complete with a parade of elephants, coming to town at around 1920, the Chautauqua Week celebration at what is today the Cleveland Park, a “bathing beach” on the east side of town which is today known as the Lakeside Inn.
Other photos feature a steam tractor from 1920, the baling of hay in 1880’s, and the Le Mars Military Band, now known as the Le Mars Municipal Band.
The KLEM commemorative calendar can be picked up at the KLEM radio offices, or from one of our sponsors.
