Kellogg, Iowa Historical Museum

The community of Kellogg, Iowa would like to invite visitors to view the results of what a small town with a big dream can do. Nestled on the side of a hill, Kellogg prospered with the coming of the train. The track ended here for several years, returning east by using a round-table. The town boasts a six building museum complex including the main two story building, a factory/bank museum, a country school, a church, and a blacksmith shop.

It all began in 1980 and we have been preserving our heritage since. We have restored old run-down buildings in our business district into useful productive buildings.

The two-story museum was the former Simpson Hotel, built in 1909 after the great fire swept the business district in 1908. The hotel was built to house the many passengers arriving here from the East by train. Sleeping rooms filled the up-stairs, while the downstairs was the central dining room where Mrs. Simpson served her guests family style from big tables. Later this building served as a furniture store; undertaking business; several cafes; and a barbershop in the basement. When the Midwest factory had a fire devastating the office area, this building became their offices. In more recent years, the upstairs rooms were converted into apartments and the downstairs became a business housing a carpenter shop.

On the main floor, the Library and Auxiliary Gift Shoppe welcome you. Constructed of area historical materials, the floor is the original Rushville School floor (a village no longer existing). The bulletin board frames are from the old Moberly Hardware - a main stay of Kellogg's earlier years. There are many photo albums, scrap books, and reading books to browse through and a corner on Genealogy including cemetery records. There is a "Brick Room" of miscellaneous items, as well as various business machines.

The ANDERSON-CRAVEN ROOM houses artifacts from generations of both families. They financially restored this room and gave perpetual care. A.J. Anderson was a leading pork producer in the state. In the Craven's part, many of Dr. F.A. Drown's memorabilia can be found. He was the town veterinarian for over 50 years. Items from J.E. Craven's term in the Iowa State Senate are also there.

Adjoining this is another big room displaying the old post office complete with old stamps and postcards; doctor's office with quarantine signs; barber and beauty shops with equipment; nice military display of uniforms and memorabilia of all wars; and showcases full of merchants' "give aways" of the past. In the double door between the two rooms is a beautiful portiere made on a foot-pedaled non-electric lathe to be found in the barn out back.

Upstairs there are seven rooms depicting a kitchen, laundry, and sewing room; a dining room; and a bedroom of years past. There's a Lions Club room housing the town's organizations memorabilia. The PAULSON FAMILY ROOM shows things of early immigrants from Denmark. Four Paulson boys immigrated in 1874 and the trunk and spinning wheel they brought with them are on display, as well as immigration papers and family photos. The room is completely furnished with articles from the descendents of these four brothers. The KID'S KORNER shows us what games, toys, furniture, and clothing were used in former days. The enclosed back porch upstairs houses collections of cans, bottles, and vacuum sweepers. The museum has a chair lift on the enclosed back porch steps for those who have trouble walking upstairs.

     

The two-story barn displays items from the very smallest wrench and oil can to the biggest horse-drawn sleigh. Tools, harnesses, farming machinery, corn husking tools, corn shellers, cream separators, egg crates, and hoes, will be found here. The loft is constructed from a barn the directors dismantled. This native lumber has been utilized many ways in the museum complex.

The building was constructed in 1919 for the Kellogg Savings Bank. A corner of this building displays banking artifacts, complete with safety deposit boxes and the vault. In the office of this museum, you will see photos of Jim Roth, who started his fifty year banking career here in 1921, and of Art Holmdahl, founder of Midwest-One Minute Mfg.

Because the Midwest-One Minute factories were the mainstay for the Kellogg families over the years, we felt it was important to preserve articles manufactured there. One would have to see the vast array of items produced over the years to believe it. Midwest is still going strong today, as it produces flywheel ring gear units for leading car manufacturers and vehicle lights.

The One Minute Washer Co. was moved to Kellogg from Newton. Washing machines, both wringer type and automatic, were shipped all over the U.S. as well as many foreign countries. The old washers on display are very interesting.

The Bethel Methodist Country Church was built in 1877 and still has the original furniture and fixtures. It was moved into town from southeast of Kellogg in February 1992 and is a wonderful addition to the museum complex.

The Rock Creek Country school was moved seven miles into town in 1989. The floor and windows are the originals of the building. It houses everything you might imagine seeing in a country school. Syrup buckets used for carrying lunches are on display, as well as a water cooler, blackboards, cursive alphabet, a teacher's pointer, and much, much, more. Displayed items are from local area country schools. The pictures of Abe Lincoln and George Washington came from the Barrett School and the books from Amboy/Janeway and Rushville areas, as well as other country schools. There are items from junior high and high school days as well.

We now have a membership of 650 people from coast to coast. The Kellogg Historical Museum Library provides many resources for genealogy research, which is a speciality of the society. Membership dues are $15.00 a year.

"The Kellogg Enterprise" newsletter is published by the society and is sent to all members at no additional charge. Many surnames and pictures are always in this newsletter, along with reports of progress in historical preservation, and community events being planned. Please mail your membership dues to:

The Kellogg Historical Society
218 High Street, Box 295
Kellogg, Iowa 50135-0295
Be sure to print your name and address clearly and enclose your check!

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