PHOTO ILLUSTRATION by Section 23 Media: Images of Holstein, Iowa, residents at the turn of the 20th century are superimposed on a photograph of the city's 1897 German Day Parade. From left: Mr. and Mrs. Hiram J. Leonard; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schneckloth and sons; Mr. and Mrs. Conrad "Coonie" Claussen.

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BOOK IT!

Section 23 Media created the Holstein Quasquicentennial Memory Book of photos, shown at right. With vivid color photography, crisp design and creative content - reproduced on high-quality glossy paper stock - the 88-page book showcases our photography, copywriting, and design skills. Click on book to view selected pages.

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COMMUNITIES COULD LEARN FROM HOLSTEIN

The Holstein Quasquicentennial Celebration was such a success that the Sioux City Journal suggested other Midwestern towns use Holstein as a template when planning their community celebrations. According to the Journal: "A few communities could learn something from this proud and largely German community of 1,470 residents. They value their history and their art. And, it appears, they know how to throw a party at least every quarter-century." The memorable event received media attention locally, regionally and in Germany. Please come back soon to Holstein, where you are always, "Willkommen Freunde!" E-mail lori@section23media.com for ideas on celebrating your community's heritage.

FOUR BOOKS AVAILABLE

Purchase your centennial and quasquicentennial books today by clicking on the link above or by calling Stubbs Memorial Library at 712-368-4563 or Vollmar Motors at 712-368-4614. Four books are available: the centennial book from 1982; the update book from 1992; the quasquicentennial "big book" containing 500 pages of Holstein history and family bios; and the 2007 memory book of photos by Section 23 Media. Each book in the four-volume set complements the other and together they give you and your descendants a detailed picture of what life was like in Holstein, Iowa, from 1882-2007.

YOUR HOMETOWN

Here in the Midwest we love to celebrate Hometown Heritage and Homespun Fun! If your hometown is celebrating any of the "centennials" in 2008 or 2009 - quasquicentennial, sesquicentennial, demisemiseptcentennial or quartoseptcentennial - write to us and we'll include your event.

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QUASQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION

New officers have been elected to the Holstein Quasquicentennial Commission. The outgoing and incoming officers, as well as the rest of the Commission, are listed below:

Kathy Vollmar, incoming president

Terri Nobles, incoming treasurer

Mayor Mary Gross, incoming secretary

Mike Clausen, Commission member

Lorna Vollmar, Commission member

Justin Georg, Commission member

Lana Conover, Commission member

Gloria Leonard, outgoing president

Dolores Meyer, outgoing treasurer

Shirley Ewoldt, outgoing secretary

HOLSTEIN HISTORY

The initial lots in Holstein were sold and the town was platted on Nov. 10, 1882. But the first location was sited three years earlier, 1 mile north and 1 mile east of the present-day Holstein, and was then known as the “German Settlement.” The location featured a blacksmith shop, dance hall and saloon, and became a favorite stopping place for travelers between Ida Grove and Cherokee. When the railroad was completed in 1882, the depot was built south and west of the German Settlement, which effectively moved the town to its present location on Highway 59, just north of Highway 20. Many of the early settlers came from the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and they decided to honor their homeland by naming their new home after their old one. By the 1890s, Holstein, Iowa, was a proud, vibrant, growing community. The descendants of many of the early settlers still live here today and the town is populated with those family names of: Bagenstos, Bauer, Clausen, Ewoldt, Friedrichsen, Fritz, Goettsch, Grell, Hansen, Kolb, Kuchel, Lamp, Leonard, Meyer, Schmidt, Schroeder, Volkert, Vollmar, Werner, Wienert, Wiese and Wulf.

FAVORITE SPOT IN THE MIDWEST

The town of Holstein is not named after the dairy cow, but we're proud of our spots nonetheless! You'll notice the black-and-white motif throughout the town, even though the community is named for a German province, not a Friesian bovine. Enjoy our town, our heritage and our friendly citizens. Willkommen Freunde means Welcome Friend! Come and visit us and you'll see why generations descending from the original settlers still call Holstein home, and why we believe this is one of the best SPOTS in the Midwest!