FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
Information contained on these Web Pages
came from the Modale Centennial Book. I have
tried to copy as much information as space
will allow. People looking for ancestors in
Harrison County will be able to obtain a
little information on life in an earlier
time.
Missouri
Dale becomes Modale
In 1870, Benjamin
Martin platted a village site at this point
and named it Martinsville. In March 1874,
Alonzo Beebe platted land adjoining this
plat and named it for the post office he had
secured for ten years. Its name came through
an accident, which turned out right in the
end. In sending it to the department at
Washington, the petitioner desired it to be
named Missouri Dale, but as they abbreviated
it thus, Mo.Dale, the clerks at the national
capitol took it to mean "Modale".
Hence the name. The post office was
established in 1858 through the efforts of
Thomas A. Dennis. Prior to that, someone
would go to Kanesville (Council Bluffs) and
bring back letters and newspapers.
City on the
Move
Modale became an
incorporated town in April 1881 by a
vote of twenty-six to sixteen. Many of
the early business people did not lack
ambition. for some reason or other when
they erected a building, they decided it
wasn't a suitable location, so moved it
to another site.
The school was built on the
southeast corner of Anderson and Main,
so when Ross Addition was annexed, the
school was moved to where the present
school is located. When they decided to
erect a new brick building, the old one
was moved again, two doors north and
became the
Masonic Temple.
The
Commercial house was no longer used as a
hotel. so it was divided and made into
two homes, one for "Doc" Wiltse, and the
remaining portion was remodeled and used
by J. L. McQueen and his family. The Odd
Fellow Hall was built, first where the
present Legion building stands but after
the school was moved, it was moved to
its present site on the southeast corner
of Anderson and Main.
After living in Modale and seeing
the size of some of these buildings, I
was always surprised when told they had
moved that building to it's final
resting place.
Main Street
In 1874, F. H. Ludwig
was the first to engage in business in
the town, opening a warehouse. In the
fall of the same year McAllister and
Ludwig put in a stock of merchandise.
Ludwig was the first to deal in grain,
lumber and agricultural goods.
J. J. Anderson was the first hotel
proprietor of the Ogden; Morgan & West
druggists; Samuel Brownrigg, livery
barn; George Stebbins, harness shop; H.
B. Broughton, blacksmith; Ruben Martin,
merchant.
The
1952 Flood
The great flood of
1952 is an experience the residents
will long remember. Before dams were
constructed, the Missouri River
would overflow its banks. Due to
record snowfall in the mountains and
a rapid thaw, there was water from
bluff to bluff and the entire
Missouri River Valley was inundated.
Modale did not escape. Fortunately
there was no loss of life. Only
boiled water and typhoid shots for
everyone. In the early days of
Harrison County flooding was a
threat to the residents each spring.
