Motor, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Motor Townsite
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | East of Elkader |
|---|---|
| Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000502 |
| Added to NRHP | August 2, 1977 |
Motor is a small, quiet place in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. It's not a big city or even a regular town anymore. Instead, it's known as an "unincorporated community." This means it doesn't have its own local government.
Motor is also a special place because it's a nationally recognized historic district. This means it's protected for its history and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Contents
The Story of Motor Townsite
Motor was once planned to be a busy town. In October 1867, three men named John Thompson, J.P. Dickinson, and James O. Crosby started a company. They wanted to build a gristmill (a mill for grinding grain), a sawmill (for cutting wood), a farm, and a new town. They decided to call this new place Motor.
Building the Town
The spot they picked for Motor was already known for an old sawmill. The partners began building the mill's cooperage (where barrels are made) in August 1867. The main mill was finished by December 1869. By 1870, the mill was working, and the town's layout was officially recorded in August 1875.
John Thompson had already built successful mills in nearby Elkader and Clermont. Because of this, he was very sure that Motor would also become a successful town.
What Was in Motor?
The original townsite of Motor included several important buildings:
- The gristmill
- A bridge crossing the Turkey River
- The cooperage (for making barrels)
- A smokehouse
- An old inn
- A livery barn (where horses were kept and rented)
There were also a few houses, a school, a general store, and the sawmill.
Why Motor Didn't Grow
Motor faced some big challenges that stopped it from becoming a large town.
- Railroad Trouble: In 1874, a narrow-gauge railway was built close to Motor. A station was even built, and tracks were planned for 1875. However, a flood washed away the ties (the wooden supports for the tracks). The railroad never made it to Motor. This was a huge setback, as railroads were vital for towns to grow.
- Crop Problems: Farmers in the area grew a lot of wheat. But tiny insects called chinch bugs destroyed the wheat crops. This made local farmers switch to other crops, which changed the economy of the area.
- The Big Flood: In July 1883, a major flood hit Motor. This flood was so bad that the mill had to stop working forever. The original owners were no longer interested in fixing or updating the mill. Stone grinding, which the mill did, was also becoming old-fashioned.
After the flood, the partnership that built Motor broke up. From 1883 to 1903, the properties were rented out to local farmers.
Motor Today
In 1903, Louis Klink bought the property. He sold the mill machinery and used the buildings for his farm. His family owned the property for 80 years.
In 1983, the Clayton County Conservation Board bought the land. Today, Motor is a large park covering about 155 acres. It has hiking trails, a simple campground, and a place to launch canoes. It is also part of the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area, which celebrates the history of agriculture and industry in the Midwest.
Motor's population was very small, with only 22 people in 1902 and 26 in 1915.
