North Lee County Historical Society

North Lee County Historical Society Our FM museums provide opportunities to expand your knowledge of Lee county history! The 1898 CB&Q depot is our Transportation Museum.

We are now located in the DFO ( 2 story brick building) and part of theSanta Fe depot complex. Our railroad displays are in that building while other local Lee County history will be on display in the DFO Main Museum building. We offer guided tours and rely on donations and volunteers to remain open 363 days a year.

It was yesterday when Clarissa Wilson, daughter of Betsy Ross, was remembered with a restored monument and plaque in the...
06/14/2026

It was yesterday when Clarissa Wilson, daughter of Betsy Ross, was remembered with a restored monument and plaque in the Fort Madison City Cemetery - 14th and Avenue H.
A lot of Fort Madison's early settlers in their own way famous to ou towns beginnings.
It was 51 years ago as members of the Fort Madison American Revolution Bicentennial Committee visited that gravesite with Masonic Lodge and North Lee County Historical Society members.
Remember a reproduction of Old Fort Madison was just a dream back then with historians Louis Koch and George Alton , but it happened and WILL happen again soon.
Sharing history at the North Lee County Historical Society for those unable to pay a visit to learn more history at the museums on 10th street in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex, main office open 10-4 pm daily and noon-4pm Sunday.

Stepping out to Van Buren County and Farmington today as the annual Strawberry Festival is going on this week-end and ho...
06/13/2026

Stepping out to Van Buren County and Farmington today as the annual Strawberry Festival is going on this week-end and hoping the weather is favorable.
Not sure of the date of the picture below - but we still honor those that care about out area cemeteries where countless relatives have passed away and honored.
Remembering our past at the North Lee County Historical Society museums on 10th street in Fort Madison in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex - main office open 10-4pm daily and noon-5 pm Sunday.

22 days before the 114th annual Charlie Korschgen 4th of July Kiddie parade kicks off at 15th and Avenue G in Fort Madis...
06/12/2026

22 days before the 114th annual Charlie Korschgen 4th of July Kiddie parade kicks off at 15th and Avenue G in Fort Madison.
This year more will be added with another category for entries saluting the 250th anniversary of the USA!
Please check the Charlie Korschgen 4th of July Kiddie Parade face book page for more current and historical information on this years and past years parade.
History is fun and strolling down Main Street (Avenue G) this 4th of July will be a highlight for the city.
Below a headline from the 1949 Kiddie Parade - enjoy!
Sharing history at the North Lee County Historical Society on 10th street in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex; main office open 10-4pm daily and noon-4pm Sunday.
e

Summer is a time for celebrations and entertainment but how many can remember the band pictured below that has a couple ...
06/12/2026

Summer is a time for celebrations and entertainment but how many can remember the band pictured below that has a couple of publicity photos on file at the North Lee County Historical Society Museum.
As we accession them into archives ask that band member Dennis Baxter or anther let this docent know about who the other members and instruments they played. Maybe years they entertained area residents.
They not as old as the farm machine they posed on.
Remembering history at the North Lee County Museum on 10th street in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex - main office open 10-4pm daily and noon-4pm Sunday.
Recording, saving and sharing area history is the NLCHS mission!

The third stage of a major project undertaken by the North Lee County Historical Society - the first stage to get the AT...
06/11/2026

The third stage of a major project undertaken by the North Lee County Historical Society - the first stage to get the ATSF to donate a caboose headed to the scrap yard and let us save it. The second stage to get a donation of ties rail and ballast to place it on and roadmasters Terry Smutzer and Jack Lawson came through and even constructed the track panel with, I believe track worker Angel Alvarez.
The third stage was to get the CB&Q to accept a condemned car on interchange and deliver it to siding track at CB&Q Depot. After that accomplished Donnie Hall of Hall Towing and a group of volunteer mechanical department employees spent a Saturday - off duty to move the caboose as pictured below.
Most are deceased today but want to recognize them again as their efforts have added a great display to the museum and thousands have enjoyed a walk through it.
The rest of 1985 and part of 1986 was spent preparing it for visitors and will cover that in a later post this month.
Saluting end of the train history at the North Lee County Historical Society on 10th street in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex - main office open 10-4pm daily and noon-4 pm Sunday.

Let's go back 100 plus years when 2nd street (Avenue G) was bustling with local residents - that if they did have an aut...
06/10/2026

Let's go back 100 plus years when 2nd street (Avenue G) was bustling with local residents - that if they did have an automobile - still shopped in town,
Looking down the street the "street railway" still running, brick street and stone curbs and estimate taken 1915-1919.
Looking on right the popcorn wagon still operating by probably Joseph Claypoole and the new J. C. Penney not erected yet as built 1919 at 802 Ave G - and Valkenberg residence still standing.
Across the street at 740 Avenue G The Rexall Store operated by Julius Axt till 1920 when sold to William H. Bergman, then C, J, WIlliams Department store and Tower store in the James Block building erected in 1889.
On the left see Louis L. Miller clothing at 803 Avenue G and Sam Atlee's, Lee County Savings Bank and across the street William Timpe & Henry L. Schroeder store at 735 Avenue G.
Back when the Fort Madison Commercial Club operating before the Chamber of Commerce.
Sharing history at the North Lee County Historical Society Museums on 10th street in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex - main office open 10-4pm daily and noon-4 pm Sunday.
Come share history with us!

The Fort Madison Police Department is celebrating their 162nd birthday this fall as on Oct. 23, 1864 the city council pa...
06/09/2026

The Fort Madison Police Department is celebrating their 162nd birthday this fall as on Oct. 23, 1864 the city council passed a resolution to create the force and on Oct. 25 appointed two policemen from each of the 4 wards to be on duty from 6 pm to 6 am with a salary of $2.00 per night and the Town Marshal shall act as Chief of Police.
Basically motion written below indicates anyone on streets after 10pm must have a good excuse.
But for some unknown reason a force of 9 was appointed by Mayor John Nunn - Dean Rogers, Thomas Wright, John Wright, William Stillwell, D. W. Henry, D. G. Scroggs, Henry Gerling, R. L. Barnum and William Heidbreder.
Maybe that list included the Chief of Police.
Before that time only a town marshal was elected every two years.
Sharing history at the North Lee County Historical Society on 10th street in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex - main office open 10-4pm daily and noon-4pm Sunday.

Question! As this historian remembers this house at 2902 Avenue L believe it had a tile roof and a stately mansion.Is th...
06/09/2026

Question! As this historian remembers this house at 2902 Avenue L believe it had a tile roof and a stately mansion.
Is this the same property as my readers remember it?
Records show it built in 1922 by Jacob & Sadie Rashid and raised a large family there.
The residence has changed many times and maybe some of past residents can add when changes made to the NLCHS history files.
Investigating, researching and sharing history at the North Lee County Historical Society Museum on 10th street in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex - main office open 10-4pm daily and noon-4 pm Sunday.

Let us go back to 60 years ago when Camp Fire Girls and Blue Birds were a young girls past time and many adults voluntee...
06/08/2026

Let us go back to 60 years ago when Camp Fire Girls and Blue Birds were a young girls past time and many adults volunteered to be leaders not only of those organization but boy scouts and cub scouts.
They had many groups and a central office downtown for many years.
Also a great campground called Camp Wa Ma Ka north of Fort Madison that offered horse rides and other activities.
Remembering back when things were simpler and volunteerism was popular to help our youth at the North Lee County Historical Society on 10th street in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex. Main office open 10-4pm daily and noon-4pm Sunday.

Work your way up the steps to the third floor of the IOOF Building at 602 Avenue G and dance the night away like these m...
06/07/2026

Work your way up the steps to the third floor of the IOOF Building at 602 Avenue G and dance the night away like these married couples did for a Valentines Day dance on Feb. 14, 1898.
Today all dancing done on 1st floor.
In 1875 the Odd Fellow Lodge erected this new building for a new Hall on third floor and Nelson C. Roberts installed a new steam powered printing press on 1st floor for the Democrat newspaper.
With a lot of uses during its 150 plus years this editor's great grandmother Josephine Rothe Andrews brother Fred Rothe opened up a 2 lane bowling alley in basement in 1880 that operated a few years.
After that Valentine Dance they left off a news release on 1st floor and the attendees names were published in the Daily Democrat.
Back 128 years ago history preserved, recorded and shared at the North Lee County Historical Society Museums in the ATSF/CBQ Depot Complex - main office open 10-4pm daily ans noon-4pm Sunday.

Address

Old Santa Fe Depot Complex, PO Box 285
Fort Madison, IA
52627

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+13193727661

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when North Lee County Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category