Altoona Area
Historical Society
104 2nd St. SE
Altoona, IA 50009
515-967-4815
Email |
 Thomas
Haines 84.3 KB PDF
Thomas E. Haines was one of Altoona’s earliest
settlers. He came to the area in 1868 and lived here until
his death in 1908. Haines was a community leader and local
businessman who was known for his generosity....
Thomas
Mitchell article - July 2007 88.7 KB PDF
Thomas
Mitchell Historical Society
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 Medal
of Honor Winners
The idea of a Medal of Honor was conceived by U.S.
Senator James Grimes of Iowa in 1861. It was approved by Congress
during the Civil War to recognize soldiers who had distinguished
themselves during armed conflict. The measure provided for
awarding a medal of honor "to such noncommissioned officers
and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their
gallantry in action, and other soldier like qualities, during
the present insurrection." Congress made the Medal of
Honor a permanent decoration in 1863. Nationally, over 3400
medals have been awarded. More
95.5 KB PDF
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|  Neal
Smith 95.9 KB PDF
Neal Edward Smith of rural Altoona was Iowa’s longest
serving representative in the United States Congress. He served
from 1959 to 1995 as representative from Iowa’s Fourth
and Fifth Districts.
Smith’s congressional career was marked by many achievements....
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 George
Kurtzweil 84.8 KB PDF
George Kurtzweil came from a family rich in agricultural heritage.
The family raised corn for several years in Iowa, but eventually
did research on other vegetables they could grow as seed crops....
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 Great
Train Wreck of 1877 81.8 KB PDF
In August of 1877, central Iowa experienced record
amounts of rainfall. Farm fields were flooded, rivers and
creeks were overflowing, and livestock retreated to safety
on higher ground. More
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