Festina, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Festina, Iowa
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St. Anthony of Padua Chapel is located southwest of Festina
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 Festina, Iowa
Location in Iowa
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| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Winneshiek |
| Elevation | 1,096 ft (334 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 456582 |
Festina is a small place in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Festina is also sometimes called Twin Springs.
You can find Festina about 5 miles (8 km) south of a town called Calmar. It's located right on Iowa Highway 150.
Contents
History of Festina
Festina has a long history, going back to the mid-1800s.
Early Days
Around 1850 or 1851, there was just one building in Festina. It was a place where people could stop for entertainment, like a small saloon.
In 1854, a church called St. Mary's Catholic Church was started. A school was later added to the church in the 1880s. This helped the community grow.
The area was officially mapped out and planned in 1856.
Life in the Late 1800s
By 1880, Festina had a population of 127 people. It was a busy little place! There was a brewery, a public school, and a post office. People could buy what they needed at two general stores. Festina was described as being in a "beautiful valley" south of Calmar.
Later, in 1894, a creamery was built in Festina. A creamery is a place where milk is processed to make butter, cheese, and other dairy products.
The Turkey River Bridge
A very special bridge, the Turkey River Bridge, used to be near Festina. It was built in 1873. This bridge was a type called a bowstring truss bridge. It was the third largest of its kind in the whole United States!
Because it was so important, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. This list helps protect important historical sites. However, the bridge was taken off the list in 2010 because it was taken down and a new bridge was built in its place.
Population Changes
The population of Festina grew over time. By 1940, there were 160 people living there.
Education for Students
Students who live in Festina attend schools that are part of the South Winneshiek School District.
There are also Catholic schools in the area. CFS Catholic School was formed when Catholic schools from Festina, Calmar, and Spillville joined together.
In 2019, CFS and another school, St. Theresa of Calcutta in Ossian, decided to combine. Starting in the fall of 2020, the school in Ossian teaches grades K-2 and middle school. The school in Spillville teaches grades 3 and 4.
World's Smallest Church
One of the most famous things near Festina is the St. Anthony of Padua Chapel. Many people call it the "world's smallest church"!
About the Chapel
This tiny church is located southwest of Festina. It's only 12 feet (3.7 meters) long and 16 feet (4.9 meters) wide. It's so small that only eight people can sit inside at one time!
Next to the chapel, there's a public park. This park is a great place for families to have a picnic. You can also go canoeing or fishing in the Turkey River from here.
How the Chapel Was Built
The story of the church is very interesting. It was built because of a promise made by a mother named Johann Gaertner's mother. Her son was a soldier fighting in Napoleon's Russian campaign. She promised God that if her son came home safely, she would build a chapel.
Her son did return home unharmed! So, in 1885, the chapel was built using stones found nearby. It stands as a reminder of her promise.
