Center Grove, Iowa facts for kids
Center Grove, Iowa was once a small town in the United States. It was located right next to the city of Dubuque, Iowa. People thought it was the "center" of the mining area back then. Today, you can find the former Center Grove near a big road called U.S. Highway 20.
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What Was Center Grove Like?
How Did Center Grove Start?
The story of Center Grove began a long time ago, in 1833. That's when the Jesse Yount family moved to the area. Soon after, William Daykin and his family also arrived. William and his brother John opened a small general store. They ran this store for many years.
In 1877, Center Grove got its own post office. A post office is where you send and receive mail. William's son, Metcalf, became the first postmaster. He was in charge of the mail. This post office served the community until 1900. After that, mail was delivered directly to homes through something called rural free delivery.
The Center Grove Church
Many people living in Center Grove were Methodists. At first, they traveled to a nearby town called Rockdale for church services. But in 1852, the residents built their own church. They named it Center Grove Methodist Church.
The church grew bigger over time. So, in 1886, they built a new, larger church building. This building is still used today as the Center Grove United Methodist Church.
Fun Times and Travelers
In the early 1900s, a man named Edward G. Bartels started several businesses in Center Grove. When a major road, the Hawkeye Highway (which later became U.S. Highway 20), was built, Bartels opened a special place. It was a dance hall called the Crystal Ballroom.
The Crystal Ballroom was a very popular spot. Famous bands from big cities like Chicago came to play there. People enjoyed dancing and listening to music from the 1920s to the 1940s. Bartels also built many small cabins. These cabins gave travelers a place to stay. Eventually, there were 31 cabins for visitors.
Center Grove Today
In 1940, about 80 people lived in Center Grove. However, Center Grove stopped being its own independent community in 1973. That's when the city of Dubuque officially took it over, a process called annexation.
The Crystal Ballroom and Bartels Cabin Camp are no longer there. But the Center Grove United Methodist Church is still active. Highway 20 has been made wider, and many new businesses have opened in the area where Center Grove used to be.
Famous People From Center Grove
- Thomas F. Cooke: He grew up in Center Grove. Later, he became a member of the City Council in Los Angeles, California. A City Council helps make decisions for a city.
