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Iowa's Antique City - Walnut, Iowa
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Our Community
  About Us
  Community Videos
  Demographics
  Our Churches
  Our History
  Our Schools
  Significant Events in Walnut History
  Walnut Community Center
  Where is Walnut?
  Calvary Baptist Church
  First Presbyterian Church
  Monroe Methodist Church
  Our Savior Lutheran Church
  Peace United Church of Christ
  St. Patrick's Catholic Church
  Business Plan
  Community Center Rental Agreement
  Fitness Center
  Schedule
  What's Happening at the Community Center



Our Community » Significant Events in Walnut History
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Significant Events in Walnut History

1869    Walnut Creek Station, a water stop on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (CRIP)

 

1869    Railroad agent E.R. Hinkley markets land

 

1869    The town plat is done by the Allen Company

 

1871    O.F. Lodge begins first general merchandise store

 

1872    Miss Jennie Hall teaches students in one room of old hotel

 

1872    John H. Phillips organizes the Union Sunday School which met initially in the railroad depot. 

                It later met in the Hinckley home, Snyder's Hall, and in the Presbyterian Church in 1878.

 

1872    Dr. Frank Hanna practices medicine in Walnut from 1873 until 1936

 

1873    Layton Township formed (previously part of Knox)

 

1873    Catholic Church built

 

1875    Walnut School built for $5,000

 

1876    Presbyterian Church built – still standing

 

1877    Town of Walnut incorporated

 

1877    J.B. Johannsen opens real estate and insurance business, later acquiring E.R. Hinkley interests

 

1878    Walnut News, later Walnut Bureau, first published

 

1880    City Water Works built; population reaches 1,000

 

1881    Fire destroys most buildings on west side of Main Street block

 

1887    Another major fire destroys 17 buildings, yet another later takes 8 more

 

1887    Underground water mains and standpipe installed

 

1897    24 gas burning street lights installed

 

1898    German Church (Peace Church) built

 

1910    Boy Scouts organized with sixteen members

 

1911    Hansen brothers build the River-to-River Garage

              (Walnut was on the “River-to-River Road”, a “named highway”)

 

1915    Walnut brick street laid

 

1917    Wrestler Earl Caddock becomes world heavyweight champion

 

1920    Walnut Community Club organized by Walnut businessmen

               Hugh Burmeister first temporary chairman

 

1926    Meyer Ruback and Abe Baker opened a grocery store

               (this was to be the Baker of Omaha’s Baker’s Supermarkets)

 

1938    Railroad overpass (viaduct) built

 

1944    World War II made an impact on Walnut when a B-24 bomber crashed south of town

 

1951    Stan Olsen purchased the Drea Motor Co

               (this was to be the Stan Olsen auto dealer of Omaha)

 

1953    Last train through Walnut

 

1957    Girls’ basketball team goes to State tournaments

 

1964    Peace Haven Retirement Home dedicated

 

1964    Interstate 80 construction

 

1984    Walnut Improvement Co. publishes tourism vision

 

1987    Walnut designated “Iowa’s Antique City”

 

1990    New Fire Station is completed

 

1991    Old-fashioned street lights are installed on Antique City Drive

 

2003    New water tower is erected

 

2009    New water plant is operational

 

2010    “Walk of Honor” Eagle Monument is completed

 

2011    Splash Pad is installed in Fireman’s Park

 

2016    Walnut I-80 Bridge Dedicated as the Detective Kerrie Orozco Memorial Bridge

 

2016    Classes end at Walnut Community Schools

 

2018     New well dug to a depth of 2,615 feet

 

2018    City takes possession of former school property

 

 

 

Facts Compiled by Bob Greenwall of Walnut, Iowa

 

 

For a CD containing accounts of the Walnut fires, the “River-to-River Road” and more, contact: 

 

Walnut Genealogy Society at [email protected]

 

 

 

 



           
 
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City of Walnut 229 Antique City Drive, Walnut, Iowa 51577 - Phone (712) 784-3443
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