The Albert City Historical Museum
The town of Albert City is famous for many things. It is famous for its beautiful Freedom Rock. For antique tractor collectors it is home of the Thieman tractor. For me though, besides the Albert City Thresherman show, it will always be famous for its amazing Albert City Historical Museum!
Albert City, Iowa has Swedish roots. The town was named for Albertina Anderson, the founder’s wife. During my tour of the six building Albert City Heritage Museum, Sandy Aronson showed me Albertini Anderson’s loom. Sandy said that Albertini would take her loom from home to home making rugs. The town was incorporated in 1900.
The beginning
The museum began with buying a local woman’s home and taking it back to circa 1899 or so. After the volunteers took it back in time, they began collecting artifacts. “Once we had the house ready, things came pouring in,” Sandy said.
To gather funds, they let families put pictures in different rooms for a fee. The Thieman family has a place of honor on the 2nd floor, along with many others. The Thieman family tree offers great research for those of us trying to find tractor history.
The tour of the buildings was given by various volunteers, all members of the Aronson family! The house tour was provided by Sharlotte Aronson. The house is decorated for the period. There are wonderful vintage clothing items and more. The dining room light and the vintage dresses are my favorite items. The kitchen cabinets were open. This offers clear views inside.
In the Heritage building Sandy, who is a former history teacher, said the Thieman family made more than just tractors.
The Heritage Building has a nice selection of farm items with a Deere Mansur wooden planter, and tools. Antique car buffs will love the beautiful old cars, many owned by the Ed Sundholm’s family. He started the Superior Grease Gun factory. They were successful for many years. During WWII, they made munitions for the war effort.
Metal Master Products made slow moving vehicle signs and other items as well.
Many Buildings to tour
There is also a garage filled with farm items!
“With six buildings we have over 7,000 artifacts,” Sandy said. This former history teacher added, “I always say, big things come from little ideas.”
The Depot was a rare two-story building. The station man would live upstairs and the depot was downstairs.
My favorite story of the day came from Dick Aronson. He told me about the gun battle that went down in the historic depot. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The event took place Friday, November 15, 1901. The Greenville Bank in Greenville, Iowa was robbed. The Spencer, Iowa police notified local communities “to be on the lookout for suspicious looking characters.”
Dick said that the three outlaws went to the Depot to warm up. Marshall Chas. J. Lodine formed a posse and confronted the outlaws. “Soon a gun battle took place. Sixty-four shots were fired” Dick added, “The Marshall was wounded and died later. Two outlaws escaped, and one outlaw was shot and died.”
They got hold of a woman in a buggy with children and borrowed the horse and buggy. Later, they escaped into a cornfield, but soon the outlaws were caught. They were tried and sentenced to life in prison. At the Depot though, Dick said they have the gun they outlaw used. They also have, a horse skin from the horse that drove the buggy. Most amazing of all though, is a note from the outlaw. Written to the woman he left eleven one-dollar bills and an apology note. She kept one of the dollar bills, it and the note are on display, and you can still see bullet holes in the walls.
More to see!
The depot had many items collected from Ed and Agnes Sundholm. Another amazing part of the collection on display are their music boxes that still play.
Also, Ed’s cars! There is a 1903 Cadillac, a 1919 electric Car, a Sears Car, and a propane powered 1909 Locomobile! There is even a Stanely steamer car.
Lori Aronson took me on a tour of the one room schoolhouse. It is very cool and has a neat globe that you can pull up and down. Lori pointed out the fun 1872 rules for teachers. Thankfully they don’t have to follow these rules today!
The last building of the tour was offered by Dave Aronson. It was housed women’s items mostly with hats, kitchen items and more!
There is a lot to see at this museum. Open during the Albert City Threshing Show, it is now open by appointment. Call 712-291-1434 to set one up an appointment at the Albert City Historical Museum. Make sure to allot plenty of time because the museum is extensive and has a lot to see! This was a gem and is full of wonderful history and a walk into our past!
