The Conestoga Chapter is named for the
heavy, broad-wheeled covered freight
carrier used extensively during the
United States westward expansion in the
1700s and 1800s.
In 1983, a project of the Conestoga
Chapter was to place a marker at the
site of each abandoned town in Tama
County. The following lists the
markers that were placed.
Site of Former
Columbia Village
On August 25, 1983, the Conestoga
Chapter marked the former location of
Columbia Village. The village was
abandoned in the coming of the railroad
to Tama County. The marker is located
about a mile southwest of Tama.
Columbia Village was in Columbia
Township, Section 5, and by now may be a
part of the town of Tama.
Site of Former
Haven
The Tama County town of Haven was laid
out in 1854 in what was thought of as
beautiful surrounding country, thickly
populated and predicted to afford
sufficient trade to support quite a
village. Unfortunately, the town did not
survive and the only building left is
the Haven Community Church, which is
still an active part of the community.
The town site was marked by the
Conestoga Chapter in 1983 with a white
wooden sign with black letters. The
former town and the marker are located
southeast of the town of Tama in
Richland Township, Section 21. Take U.S.
Highway 63 south from Tama and turn east
on E 64.
Site of Former
Helena
The town of Helena was surveyed and
established around 1854 and was active
until 1896. The first store was a
general merchandise store, and later, a
shoe shop. Now it is no longer on the
map. It was marked as an abandoned
town by the Conestoga Chapter with a
white wooden marker printed in
black. You can view the marker by
going southeast of Tama near the town of
Chelsea in Richland Township, Section
10.
Site of Former
Union Grove
In 1879, Union Grove was the name of a
post office in the southern part of
Spring Creek Township. There was one dry
goods store and one blacksmith shop. The
owner of the dry goods store was also
the postmaster, the justice of the
peace, and half-owner of the blacksmith
shop. You could almost say this was a
one-man town. The Conestoga Chapter
marked the site with a white wooden
plaque lettered in black. To view
the plaque, go about 4 miles northwest
of Garwin, Iowa, in western Tama County.
It is near a small lake on the west side
of Spring Creek Township, Section 32.
Site of Former
Mooreville
In 1869, the first store was built in
Mooreville and the town survived until
1900. Two blacksmith shops were added, a
flour mill, one physician, a post
office, and a few other dwellings. The
buildings no longer exist. The
Conestoga Chapter marked the site in
1983 with a white wooden plaque lettered
in black as the "Former Site of
Mooreville." The former site and
marker are located on the northeast Tama
County line about 5 miles north of
Dysart. From Tama take U.S. Highway 30
east 13 miles. Turn north on State
Highway 21 and drive 14 miles to
Dysart. Take County Road V37 5
miles north. Mooreville was located in
Geneseo Township, Section 24.
Site of Former
Irving
Before the site was surveyed and the
town established in 1856, one
enterprising man had already built a
store and was doing business. Others
joined him and the town did well until
1862. That was the year the railroad
reached Belle Plaine, just a few miles
from Irving. Business started moving to
Belle Plaine and Irving limped along
until 1935.
The Conestoga Chapter marked the site of
the town in 1983 with a white sign that
states "Former Site of Irving." It was
also referred to as "Town Park" and
"Plaza" during its day.
To view the marker and the former town
site, from Tama take U.S. Highway 30
east 13 miles to State Highway 21. Turn
south and drive about 1 1/2 miles.
Irving was located in Salt Creek
Township, Section 1.
Site of Former
Waltham
Waltham was surveyed and became a busy
town site in 1868. It had a post office,
two grocery stores, two dry good stores,
two blacksmith shops, a harness shop, a
shoe shop, and a physician. The post
office lasted until 1894. The Conestoga
Chapter marked the site in 1983 with a
white 16 x 16 inch marker with black
lettering stating: "Former Site of
Waltham." To view the former town site
and the marker, from Tama drive east on
U.S. Highway 30 to State Highway 21.
Turn north and drive 3 miles to Elberon.
Waltham was a short distance northwest
of Elberon in York Township, Section 3.
Site of Former
Monticello
Monticello was named by one of the
town's residents in honor of President
Thomas Jefferson as that was the name
Jefferson chose for his home in
Virginia. For several years after
Monticello was established, the town
flourished. After Toledo became the
county seat, most residents had moved
out of Monticello and into Toledo. In
1983, the Conestoga Chapter marked the
site with a white wooden sign lettered
in black that says "Former Site of
Monticello." To see the marker, from
Toledo take U.S. Highway 63 north about
3 miles then turn west and drive 1/2
mile. Monticello was located in Howard
Township, Section 33.
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Sharon A. Braden
Iowa State
Regent
National Motto
"God,
Home, and Country"
National
Theme
“Preserve
the Past, Enhance
the Present, Invest
in the
Future.”
2014
- 2016 State Theme
Promoting Education
to Encourage
Lifelong Learning
2014 - 2016
Scripture
"An intelligent
heart acquires
knowledge, and the
ear of the wise
seeks knowledge."
Proverbs:
18:15
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