Volume Eight Number Three Summer 2015 (Continued on page 2) 1 The latest exhibit added to the offerings of the Iola Historical Society is a recreation of the R. I. Anderson Machine Shop, a business conducted out of a building situated on East State Street from around 1930 to 1970. Rhinard I. Anderson had started his business at that location as a garage on April 14, 1914, transitioning over time away from automotive garage and “battery service station” applications to a machining focus. Born Rugnar Isidor Andersson on December 14, 1882, in Stockholm, Sweden, he emigrated to the United States with his parents as an infant in 1883 and became a citizen on June 9, 1890. His family first settled Symco, relocating to Northland in 1900, where Anderson’s father built a dam on the Flume Creek to manufacture “Northland Wagons,” facilitate his blacksmithing trade and build other machinery. In the meantime “Rugnar” had gained the Rhinard sobriquet from a teacher who had difficulty pronouncing his given name. Having been schooled in the blacksmithing and machining at the elbow of his father, Rhinard ultimately gained a degree of local renown as a builder of fire trucks and firefighting equipment parts. He became engaged in this pursuit by chance in the early 1940s, when he offered to equip a new fire truck for the Iola Fire Department, for which he had been a volunteer for more than 20 years. At that time the department R. I. Anderson Machine Shop Exhibit Dedicated May 9, 2015 The R. I. Anderson Machine Shop display backdrops this gathering of the six grandchildren of Rhinard I. Anderson at the Iola Historical Society’s Machine Shed for the May 6, 2015, formal dedication of the exhibit. They are (left of right): John Anderson, Paul Anderson, David Anderson, Carol Hoff joined by husband Tom, great grandson Brian Erdmann, Barbara Erdmann joined by husband Jim, and Judy Schultz joined by husband Don. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Continued from page 2 R.I. ANDERSON Continued from page 3 2015 Events Schedule 4 Thank You The Iola Historical Society wishes to extend special recognition and thanks to the following individuals and organizations for the extra financial support their ongoing status as Supporting Members provides to the Society’s activities: Rod & Grace Bahr, Doris Beier, Mary Jane Bennett, Mark L. Beske, Scott & Karri Bestul, LeRoy & Carolyn Borth, Barbara Egner-Pelnar, Bob & Bev Ellingson, DeRonda & Patricia Engebretson, Helene M. Furst, John & Yvonne Gurholt, Leonard & Irene Haroldson, Iola & Rural Fire Department, Lee & Ruth Johnson, Lana & Don Langdok, Thomas & Linda Martin, Phyllis Morris, Joan & Richard Niemiec, Philip A. Strand, Ruth Strand, Forrest & Virginia Torgerson, Roger Voie, William H. & Jacqueline J. Wilker. Donors & Loaners April • May • June ARCHIVAL DONATIONS: Sam Bertsch (antique dining table), Lee & Suke Halverson (antique dining table), Roger & Betty Nassen (reel hand lawn mower), Dana Rima (post drill), Dan & Donna Roe (five vintage books). DONATIONS OF CASH AND IN-KIND: Mark Dall (conference room shelving installation), Ron Kranski (Anderson display labors and supplies), Jim Rasmussen (cash, undesignated), Charles Thompson (Anderson exhibit labors), Randall C. Thompson (loan of scissors lift), Randall E. Thompson (Anderson display conduit supplies). 2015 Supporting Members The first Saturday of May, in the meantime, found us showcasing the new R. I. Anderson Machine Shop display in the Machine Shed, with a special dedicatory program that was attended by his six grandchildren who had made the exhibit possible. The second annual Memorial Day Pig Roast closed out the month, an event coordinated with the Sheveland-Taylor American Legion Post 14, who two weeks later showcased their redeveloped Legion Park, refurbished and enhanced under IHS past-president Lyle Mork’s direction. The 31st annual Iola Strawberry Fest, held on the last Saturday of June, was our closing activity for the quarter, with a turnout that was in keeping with experience and expectations. This fundraising event has long been our most popular and beneficial community focused undertaking on an annual basis. This year’s results were very rewarding, with the addition of a craft show component offering the promise of bigger and better things to come. The docket ahead is not nearly as packed with community involvement events, but there is more to come. On the second Saturday in August we will be sponsoring a special program at the Iola Mills, with renowned impersonator Jessica Michna providing attendees a glimpse the life of Eleanor Roosevelt as first lady of the world. Following a quiet September, the first Saturday of October will find us hosting the 6th annual Taste of Norway & Lost Arts Fair, again jointly combined with the I-S Chamber’s annual Fall Craft & Gift Show. The challenge we are presently facing is to translate the resounding successes of our special events into more productive responses to the open visitor hours held every Saturday at the Iola Historic Village & Museum through the summer season. While we’re seriously addressing that consideration from the long-range perspective, it’s not going to happen overnight. In the meantime, remind your family, friends, neighbors and area visitors of the neat things featured, and that we are open and welcoming of visitors from noon to three o’clock in the afternoon every Saturday through the balance of July and the month of August. been purchased by Chet Krause for $1,650 at a public donation auction held during that year’s Iola Old Car Show. It was donated to the IHS in 2005. Also on display in the fire house are a grouping of 14 pattern molds created by Anderson for casting various parts created for equipping the fire trucks. That grouping is accompanied by a display featuring the mold he crafted for creating brass spanner wrenches four at a time, a finished casting created by the sand casting process, and a separated pair of the polished tools. This display was created and donated by George Kriewaldt and Robert Wilhite. The development and built-out of the R. I. Anderson Machine Shop display was made possible by financial and in-kind contributions provided by several individuals and organizations. They included members Donald E. Faldet, Donald and Carolyn Halverson, Lyle Mork, Susan Pilewski, Charles W. Thompson and Doug Watson. Others included Ron Kranski, Randall C. Thompson, Randall E. Thompson and the Fox Valley Two-Cylinder Club. Monday, July 27 5:30 pm IHS Board Meeting 6:30 pm IHS General Meeting Saturday, August 8 2:00 pm Program at Iola Mills Eleanor Roosevelt Impersonator Presented by Jessica Michna Saturday, August 29 Noon -- 3:00 pm Season Closing Iola Historic Village & Museum Monday, August 31 5:30 pm IHS Board Meeting 6:30 pm IHS General Meeting Monday, September 28 5:30 pm IHS Board Meeting 6:30 pm IHS General Meeting