Willkommen Freunde means Welcome Friend! Thank you for celebrating the Holstein Quasquicentennial with us in June 2007. Two books were created to commemorate the historical celebration: the Holstein Quasquicentennial Book featuring historical facts and photographs; and the Memory Book of photographs highlighting the events during Quasquicentennial Week. Both books are available by contacting Stubbs Memorial Library at 712-368-4563 or sending an e-mail to the address above. Click on the photo links at left to view a small sample of the nearly 500 photographs that appear in the Memory Book.

The Holstein Quasquicentennial was a well-attended, memorable event that received media attention locally, regionally and in Germany. Seven days of activities featured: Old-Fashioned Costume Ball, The Country Store, parade, carnival, Farmall Tractor Promenade, fireworks, Antique Car Cruisers, Tour of Homes, pig mud wrestling, beard and costume contests and crowning of King and Queen Pete and Betty Paulsen. Thank you for joining us and please come back soon to Holstein, where you are always, "Willkommen Freunde!"

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COMMUNITIES COULD LEARN FROM HOLSTEIN

The Holstein Quasquicentennial Celebration was such a huge success that the Sioux City Journal suggested other Midwestern towns might want to use Holstein as a template when planning their community celebrations. According to the Journal: "Maybe 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."

ORDER YOUR BOOKS TODAY

Order your Quasquicentennial books today by contacting Stubbs Memorial Library at 712-368-4563. We've had a few questions about why people would want to buy both books so we want to clear that up. Both books do, indeed, celebrate Holstein! But beyond that, the books are very different. The "big book" contains 500 pages of Holstein history, facts, homes and family bios. It was created to coincide with our Quasquicentennial, but it does not cover any of the Quasquicentennial Celebration itself. The "picture book," that's the one that comes out December 1, will be 88 pages of color photographs of Holstein sights and citizens from during Quasquicentennial season. Each book complements the other and together will give you and your descendants a detailed and accurate picture of what life was like in Holstein, Iowa, during the early years of the new millennium.

YOUR HOMETOWN

Here in the Midwest we love to celebrate Hometown Heritage and Homespun Fun! If your Midwestern 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 date and details.

QUASQUICENTENNIAL SUCCESS

The Holstein Quasquicentennial Celebration was a huge success! Thousands of people turned out to celebrate and take part in the many events planned by the Quasquicentennial Commission and numerous volunteers. Please e-mail lori@section23media.com to order your commemorative books or for more information on Holstein's event and ideas on how to make your upcoming community celebration a success.

THE COUNTRY STORE

The Country Store, located on the west side of Main Street between the stop lights, was open for business and served as Quasquicentennial headquarters for more than six months. Visitors delighted in their finds at the store: crockery, afghans, arm bands, bow ties, buttons, period clothing and lots of friendly faces. Some merchandise is still available, so please contact any of the Commission members or send an e-mail to the address above.

QUASQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION

The Holstein Quasquicentennial Commission worked more for than two years with many volunteers to plan and prepare for the upcoming celebration. Below is a list of officers and Commission members.

Gloria Leonard, President

Dolores Meyer, Treasurer

Shirley Ewoldt, Secretary

Kathy Vollmar, Commission member and Book Chair

Mike Clausen, Commission member and Parade Chair

Lorna Vollmar, Commission member

Terri Nobles, Commission member

Mayor Mary Gross, Commission member

Justin Georg, Commission member

Lana Conover, Commission member

QUASQUICENTENNIAL REPRESENTATIVES

Pete and Betty Paulsen were named Holstein Quasquicentennial King and Queen during the Old-Fashioned Ball, and Delores Witt was named Grand Marshal of the Quasquicentennial Parade. These beloved members of the community were grand and royal representatives of our community throughout the festivities. Congratulations and thank you!

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!

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Images of Holstein residents at the turn of the 20th century are superimposed on a photograph from the 1897 German Day Parade as it travels down Main Street Holstein. From left: Mr. and Mrs. Hiram J. Leonard; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Schneckloth and sons John and Harry in one of the town's first autos; Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Claussen, better known as Coonie and Ma.