Train at the Ireton Depot (early 1900's)

The town of Ireton owes its existence to the coming of the railroad.  In early 1882, the Toledo & Northwestern was planning a new route across southern Sioux County from Granville to Calliope (now part of Hawarden).  Area farmers persuaded them that one of the depot sites should be located in Section 7 of Reading Township, just north of the Pleasant Hill (Methodist) Church built in 1879.  In May 1882, the railroad announced that the second depot west of Orange City would be called "Ireton" after English General Henry Ireton.

Once the town site was selected, development was rapid.  By June 1882, several Le Mars businesses were expanding to the new town sites of Maurice and Ireton.  In July, Dr. Beckweth located here.  L. M. Black was appointed Ireton's first postmaster.  By late September, the railroad tracks reached Ireton.  The Northwestern put in three 1500-foot sidetracks at Ireton indicating that they "expect to do considerable business at this point."  The tracks were opened all the way to the new town of Hawarden by late October.  The first passenger train ran over the line on Sunday, November 5, 1882.

By December 1882, the town had its depot, a blacksmith, shoemaker, lumberyard, Close Bros. land office, grain elevator, hotel, 3 or 4 stores and several dwellings.  The town's early development was rapid.  Take a tour of the young prairie town in the photos that follow.

Ireton Depot About 1900.  From left to right, Mrs. Fred Vlotho; Mrs. Arthur Stafford (the agent's wife); Mrs. Stafford's brother, Cecil Cooper, and others.

The depot was located on 1st Street on the northern edge of the town.  When passengers disembarked, they often headed "up the hill" to the main part of town.  If they glanced back at the station, they would have seen the view above.

In this 1899 photo as visitors turned back to the south, they first encountered the town well (at left).  Then as they started up the hill, they passed the "Depot Hotel" (at the far right - west side of street) and lumberyards to their left.

When they reached the top of the hill (at the corner of 3rd & Main), they would see a wide variety of stores with the steeples of the Methodist Church (front) and St. Paul's Lutheran in the distance.  They would also see that the town was "modern" with electric light poles by the early 1900's.

If early visitors turned around at 3rd and Main, they'd see the Depot at the end of the street.  The dark building near the front at the right of the picture was the red livery barn.  A lawyer's office and Millinery are "down the block" on the left.

At the corner of 4th and Main, our visitors would have seen a variety of businesses when they looked north at the west side of the street.  E.W. Black's emporium on the corner next to the City Meat Market; J.A. Jenson's hardware down the block -- about 1908.

Visitors may have dined at Stewart's Restaurant (front right) or wandered down the street to Stewart's Blacksmith Shop, to the bank, barber or billiards parlor -- 1908.

Continuing on Main Street south of 4th Street, there is a millinery store on the left and then down the block on the right is Ireton's first bandstand.  Behind the bandstand are the steeples of the Methodist Church and St. Paul's Lutheran (distance).  On the left is Ireton's first water tower -- located at 6th and Main.

If our visitors continued south on Main they would have found the "German Lutheran Church" (St. Paul's) and Parsonage at the southwest corner of 6th and Main.  The church was built in 1894.  This was the second Lutheran church building and was used until 1950 when the current brick church was built.

Turning back to the north, the town's water tower was on the northeast corner of 6th and Main.  If our visitors were allowed to climb the tower, they'd see views like these taken by a photographer about 1900:

This shot is taken looking just slightly northwest from the water tower at the west side of Main Street between 6th and 5th.  The large house in the photo belonged to L.M. Black.  At the right is the United Presbyterian Church on 4th Street (steeple visible).  At the far right is a portion of the Methodist Church at the corner of 5th & Main.  Photo taken about 1900.

Panning a little toward the north, we see the United Presbyterian Church at the far left and the Methodist Church at the corner of 5th and Main (tower and steeple facing us).  This was the 2nd Methodist Church building constructed in 1884.  When construction was nearing completion, it was hit by a cyclone and required repair.  Then it was destroyed by fire in January 1904.

The Methodist Congregation rebuilt and "raised the bell" on its new church in 1908.  This church (pictured above) served the Congregation until April 30, 1922 when it, too, was destroyed by fire.  It was replaced with the current church - constructed of brick.

Our Water Tower photographer panned to the northeast and took this shot toward "Schoolhouse Hill."  The large building in the distance near the center of the photo is the school built in 1892 located between Oak and Ash Streets to the north of 4th Street.  To its immediate left is the Christian Reformed Church located at the corner of 4th and Ash.  The house to the furthest right in the foreground is the long-time Lockhorst home located at 506 East Street.

After climbing down from the water tower, perhaps our turn-of-the-century visitors would head northwest, passing the First Presbyterian Church (built in 1901) located on the northeast corner of 5th and West Streets.

One block north and one block east of the First Presbyterian Church was the United Presbyterian Church built in 1886  (members of the United Presbyterian later split off and established the First Presbyterian).

North of the United Presbyterian Church was this residential section on Elm Street between 4th and 3rd.

Heading back east approaching the corner of 4th and Main, our visitors would have found more businesses, including Henry Heeren's Implement shop down the block on the right.

Continuing east on 4th Street, our visitors may have  used the wooden bridge crossing the slough between East and Oak Streets (1908 photo).

As they continued east toward Schoolhouse Hill, they were headed toward the Ireton Ballpark in the southeast part of town.

At the top of Schoolhouse Hill, our visitors would have found the school built in 1892.  This wooden school housed all grades when first built.  An annex was added later.

By 1915, a new brick school housing all grades was built on the same site.

From the top of Schoolhouse Hill, visitors would have had a good view of "downtown" Ireton.  On the far right with the open door is the back of the "red" livery barn.  Peeking through the treetops on the left side of the photo was the home of D.R (Dan) and Alice (Biddie) Stewart.  Later the Noon home.  Now the site of the Ireton Community Center.

To the east of the school, our visitors find the Christian Reformed Church on the northeast corner of Ash & 4th.  This church building was formerly the Center Chapel located on the southeast corner of what is now Eagle Avenue and 420th Streets north of Ireton.  This building was used as the Christian Reformed Church only a short time (about 1908-1911) and then was moved across the street to serve as the Christian School.

Visitors after 1911 would have found this Christian Reformed Church building in the same location.  It was used until it burned in 1923.

Heading south on Ash Street, visitors after 1912 would pass the First Reformed Church as they head for the ballpark.

Ireton has always loved its ball games -- including this one on the 4th of July, 1906 between the Struble Canaries and the boys from Alton.

And our visitors might even have been lucky enough to encounter the Ireton band!  (July 4, 1906 photo)

At the end of their tour, visitors may have made their way back toward the railroad depot on 1st Street.  They would have seen the lumberyards ahead on their left and the Slagle Elevator on their right.

The Slagle Elevator on 1st Street with its unique curving approach.

But first, if they are lucky, the visitors might be fortunate enough to see a Balloon Ascension over First Street like this one at the Old Settler's Picnic in 1908.