Center Grove, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Center Grove, Iowa was a community located just to the west of Dubuque, Iowa
. Located in section 27 of Dubuque Township in Dubuque County
, Iowa
, the town was named Center Grove because of the juniper
trees found in the area. Center Grove was located near what today is known as U.S. Highway 20 and Devon Drive.
, which they owned for a number of years. When a post office
was established in Center Grove in 1877, William's son Metcalf was appointed postmaster, this post office served the area until 1900, when rural free delivery was established.
At first the residents of Center Grove, many of whom were Methodists, traveled to Rockdale
to attend worship services there. In 1852 the residents built their own church, which they named Center Grove Methodist Church. The congregation eventually outgrew this building, so in 1886 the present church building was constructed.
During the first part of the 20th century, Edward G. Bartels established several business ventures in Center Grove. When the Hawkeye Highway - which would become U.S. Highway 20 - was built Bartels opened a ballroom next to the highway, which was called the Crystal Ballroom. The Crystal Ballroom was a popular gathering place which drew bands from Chicago and the eastern United States from the 1920s through the 1940s'. Bartels also built a number of cabins to provide travelers with a place to stay in the Center Grove area as well, the number of cabins eventually reached 31.
Center Grove as an independent community ceased to exist in 1973, when it was annexed by the city of Dubuque. The Crystal Ballroom and Bartels Cabin Camp are no longer present in what was Center Grove, however the Center Grove United Methodist Church is still active. Highway 20 was expanded to four lanes, and a number of new businesses have opened in the area.
, Los Angeles, California, City Council member
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
. Located in section 27 of Dubuque Township in Dubuque County
Dubuque County, Iowa
Dubuque County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,653 in the 2010 census, an increase from 89,143 in the 2000 census. The county seat is the city of Dubuque. Dubuque County is coterminous with the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the seventh...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, the town was named Center Grove because of the juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
trees found in the area. Center Grove was located near what today is known as U.S. Highway 20 and Devon Drive.
History
The community traced its history back to 1833, when the Jesse Yount family first arrived in the area. He and his family were later followed by William Dayking and his family. William and his brother John set up a small general storeGeneral store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
, which they owned for a number of years. When a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established in Center Grove in 1877, William's son Metcalf was appointed postmaster, this post office served the area until 1900, when rural free delivery was established.
At first the residents of Center Grove, many of whom were Methodists, traveled to Rockdale
Rockdale, Iowa
Rockdale, Iowa was a small unincorporated village formerly located just south of Dubuque, Iowa between Dubuque and Key West, Iowa. The village was situated on the Catfish Creek in Dubuque County, Iowa, and was the site of one of the first mills in the state of Iowa.-History:In 1834 or 1835 David...
to attend worship services there. In 1852 the residents built their own church, which they named Center Grove Methodist Church. The congregation eventually outgrew this building, so in 1886 the present church building was constructed.
During the first part of the 20th century, Edward G. Bartels established several business ventures in Center Grove. When the Hawkeye Highway - which would become U.S. Highway 20 - was built Bartels opened a ballroom next to the highway, which was called the Crystal Ballroom. The Crystal Ballroom was a popular gathering place which drew bands from Chicago and the eastern United States from the 1920s through the 1940s'. Bartels also built a number of cabins to provide travelers with a place to stay in the Center Grove area as well, the number of cabins eventually reached 31.
Center Grove as an independent community ceased to exist in 1973, when it was annexed by the city of Dubuque. The Crystal Ballroom and Bartels Cabin Camp are no longer present in what was Center Grove, however the Center Grove United Methodist Church is still active. Highway 20 was expanded to four lanes, and a number of new businesses have opened in the area.
Notable natives
Thomas F. CookeThomas F. Cooke
Thomas F. Cooke was an Iowa and California banker and a City Council member in Los Angeles, California, between 1929 and 1931.-Biography:...
, Los Angeles, California, City Council member