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The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents...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.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
The information contained on this web page
was taken from the book Mondamin Centennial 1868-1968. I
am grateful to these hard working individuals that gave
freely of their time to gather information to make this book
a part of Mondamin history. As you read these pages, please
remember that this book was written in 1968 and business
that were here then may no longer be a part of our
community.
On the west line of Harrison
County and the second township from the
north line, is Morgan Township, in which is
situated the town of Mondamin.
Morgan township was organized in 1867,
and derived its name from Morgan County,
Ohio, from which Capt. John Noyes, one of
the earlier settlers in Harrison County
came.
When Mondamin was first laid out as a
town site, Main street ran north and south
parallel to the east side of the railroad.
Across the tracks on the West side were
large wood lots where the railroad company
kept ties and fuel for the wood burning
locomotives. The first train on the new
railroad came through Mondamin on March 8,
1868.
After the coming of the railroad, a Mr.
Fletcher and Captain Noyes had the only
general merchandise stores. However in 1878
more business establishments were started
and main street became a lively place with
many business places along the east side.
On the West side next of the tracks
were located the corn cribs, and
stockyards. for all the stock was shipped
by rail. There were also two elevators,
hitching racks and a wagon shop.
Today
the only business places remaining on Main
street are the Hotel, owned by Mrs. Flora
Ruffcorn and Inversen's General Merchandise
store and Locker Plant and the big Co-op
Elevator and its building next to the
railroad.
In the early days on the south end of
old Main street, there was a Boarding House
where the Hotel is now. Then there was Ed
Springer's Jewelry Store, and a Harness Shop
run by Mike Husselstine. This building
later became the Lyric Theatre. Next to it
was a Drug Store owned by Dr. McFarlane
where he had an office and he lived in the
back part of the building. In 1892 the Odd
Fellows put up a brick building in the
business district. They had their lodge
room upstairs. It is thought that the first
business in the new building was a Drug
Store owned by a Charles Taylor. The
building has been used mainly as a General
Merchandise store through the years. One of
the earlier merchants was A. D. Gilmore and
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Goodman. Mr. and Mrs.
Raymond Iversen are the present owners.
It is not known just when the town
began to use Maple street as the main
business district. For many years there
were wooden sidewalks and no paving. Mr.
and Mrs. Bill Noyes operated a two story
Hotel on the corner where Keith's store is
today. Next to this was a meat marked owned
by John Crewdson. Later there was a Harness
Shop, Drug Store, and Klutts Opera House
built in this section of the street.
The Post Office was once located on
the North side of the street. Later Mr. W.
J. Blair had a meat market here and he sold
out to Les Crabb.
The old King of Trails Highway was
routed through the business district before
there was any paving. Later it became known
as Highway 75. There was much traffic
through town until Interstate 29 a mile west
of town was opened in December 1967.
In 1968 the population of Mondamin was
450 people with the following named places
of business. The big Mondamin Co-Op
Elevator Company, Hotel owned by Flora
Ruffcorn, Iversen's General Merchandise and
Locker plant, Mondamin Savings Bank,
Shafer's Hardware, Weldon's Laundromat,
Pepsi's Place, Louise's Place, Keith's
Barber Shop, Ron's cafe. Two Implement
Companies, John deer and Mixfelt's Farm
Supply. There are three Beauty Shops, two
Filling Stations. Since the retirement of
Ted Shannon in 1967, after 48 years in
business. Fred Keith holds the distinction
of being in business longer than any other
businessman in town.
Main Street South
"Mondamin, now a town of 450 people,
was founded principally
as a market place for its
namesake, Corn, has held steadily
to
that purpose, and is today content
with that ambition, but the
hardy, American spirit of its
people has transformed it from
a crude, muddy, little village into
a moderately clean, modestly
progressive, though still
slightly somnolent, modern
town."
Mrs. Joe Johnson
