Sunday, August 9, 2009

Facts About Denmark

25 Facts about Denmark, Iowa

1) Early Denmark was known as the “New England” of the West.
2) The Denmark Church is the oldest Congregational Church west of the Mississippi River.
3) Denmark was home to an IOOF (Odd Fellows) Lodge.
4) At one time, Denmark’s business interest included two wagon factories, a harness shop, a shoe shop, a livery stable, and a wagon spring factory.
5) Denmark business interests also included three general stores, a hotel, and a tavern.
6) A Dairy Association, making cheese, was an important enterprise in early Denmark.
7) The Denmark Academy Corporation, chartered in 1843, exist today.
8) In the mid 1870’s Denmark cheese won First Prize of $100 at three St. Louis Fairs.
9) An Osage Orange Tree (Hedge) located in Denmark is recognized as the largest in Iowa.
10) The Denmark Fire Association was formed as a result of a local lady burning in her home.
11) The first Anti-Slavery Association in Iowa was organized here on January 1, 1840.
12) In 1843, an armed group from Denmark hurried to Salem help drive off Missouri Slave catchers.
13) Denmark resident Nathan Isbell brought run-away slaves out of Missouri in a false bottom wagon.
14) The home of Deacon Trowbridge contains a secret hiding place for run-away slaves.
15) Bracket’s Nursery, located in Denmark, was the largest in Iowa at that time.
16) Trees planted to form a star, give Denmark’s park its name.
17) There is a memorial stone for a Confederate Soldier in Denmark Cemetery.
18) During its prime years, the Denmark Academy attracted many students from the eastern United States.
19) Sam Rayburn of Texas, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, was the featured speaker at Denmark’s first God’s Portion Day in 1948.
20) Reverend Kilborn, Denmark’s hitchhiking preacher, started Denmark’s God’s Portion Day.
21) Robert Noyce, of Silicon Valley, California; started his early life in Denmark.
22) From 1848, until the 1920’s, there was a Bapist Church in Denmark.
23) Julia Bullard Nelson credited her own knowledge of the underground railroad as a child in Denmark, Iowa, for her desire to teach blacks to read in the Freedom Schools after the Civil War.