There are several other private banking houses and brokers and real estate offices. S. W. Matteson's broker and loan office is in the Dickerman block on Winnebago Street. Mr. Dickerman has his office in the same building.

Henry Paine, whose beautiful home looks down upper Broadway from the west, has a broker and insurance office in his building on Washington Street, and is also a dealer in wagons, carriages, etc.

Geo. Phelps, a former resident of Decorah, has this season settled here permanently, having purchased the spacious G. F. Francis residence, and improved and fitted it up in an elegant manner; he has opened a handsome banking office on Winnebago street, next to the St. Cloud Hotel. F. R. Fulton, who has also important interests at Grand Forks and Grafton, Dakota, and who purchased the pleasant residence of H. B. Woodworth, has an office in the Phelps building. C. W. Burdick's real estate and abstract office is two doors north of the Phelps' office, being next door to the postoffice.

And speaking of postoffices, Decorah now boasts of one of the most handsome and convenient to be found in any town of its size, the building being erected especially for that purpose in the spring of 1881. It is of brick, two stories high, on the west side of Winnebago street, between Water and Main streets. Being on the south side of a broad alley, it gives opportunity for receiving and delivering mails at the rear door.

Going over the names of postmasters of Decorah, as they appear in county chronology, after C. Day, "who carried the postoffice in his pocket," we find the familiar ones of A. Kimball, E. E. Cooley, and Elisha Hurlburt, who died November 3, 1863, and was succeeded by John R. Slack, who was appointed February 4, 1864. During Mr. Slack's term of office the postoffice was moved into the then new brick building on the east side of Winnebago street, near Main, now occupied by the Journal office, and continued to occupy those quarters till moved across the street to its present location in August, 1881. On the 7th of June, 1869, Ansel K. Bailey, editor of the Decorah Republican, was appointed postmaster, and continues in that position. It was under his administration that the present neat and commodious quarters were secured. C. W. Burdick consenting to erect a building and lease the lower floor to the Government for a moderate rent.

The Western Union Telegraph Office is in the postoffice. A. S. Bailey, of the firm of Bailey & Bro., of the Republican being ia charge.

Decorah's telephone exchange, established in 1881 was originally in the postoffice, but was removed to the adjoining office of C. W. Burdick.

The water works system of Decorah is admirable; the high bluffs about the city being particularly favorable therefor.

The

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water works were erected in 1881 at a cost of about $25,000, cluding reservoir, pump house, and machinery, street pipes, etc. The large reservoir is situated on the summit of the high bluff in the southwestern part of the city, not far from the river, being reached by the road running southward from Upper or West Broadway. The reservoir is over 200 feet higher than the business streets, and over 100 feet higher than the most elevated residence portion of the city; it is covered with a cone shaped roof. The pumping works are in the valley in the southwestern part of the city, and the water is obtained from a large well, fed from abundant hidden springs. At the firemen's parade and celebration of the completion of the water works, on February 22, by the force of pressure of the water in the reservoir a stream was thrown over the top of the steeple of the Methodist Church on Upper Broadway, and also far above the Court House. A well drilled, efficient, and suitably equipped fire department as an auxiliary to the water works protects Decorah from fires. It consists of two hose companies and a hook and ladder company. The following are the officers of the department:

Chief Engineer, R. F. B. Portman; First Assistant, W. A. Bonstell; Second Assistant, Jas Alex. Leonard; Foreman of Hook and Ladder Company,E. D. Field; Foreman of Hose Company No. 1, Geo. Hislop; Foreman of Hose Company No. 2, Geo. Q. Gardner.

The military spirit is kept up and the city is honored by the Decorah Light Guards, under the efficient drill of their old commander, Capt. Geo. Q. Gardner, and the present one, W. E. Akers. They were winners of one of the prizes at the State military encampment, June, 22, 1882. The officers are: Captain, W. E. Akers; First Lieutenant, E. R. Baker; Second Lieutenant, R. Reed. of the former members of the company Angus Johnson is Quartermaster of the Second Brigade, I. N. G., with the rank of Captain, and W. R. Toye is Quartermaster of the Fourth Regiment, with the rank of First Lieutenant.

The Decorah Drum Corps has won national as well as State reputation. On the 22d of June, 1882, at the State military encampment of the Iowa National Guards, at Waterloo, it was awarded the first prize as being the best drum corps, Dubuque being its chief competitor. At the inter-state military encampment at Du buque, it was, on the 29th of August, awarded the first prize of $500, beating the Chicago Drum Corps. It is the Drum Corps of the Fourth Regiment Iowa National Guards, of which its leader, Frank Cutler, is Drum Major.

Of the secret societies, three are Masonic, viz: Great Lights Lodge, No. 181; A. F. & A. M.; King Soloman's Chapter, No. 35; Royal Arch Masons; and Beausant Commandery, No. 12, Knights Templar. They have for several years occupied a fine hall on the upper floor of the First National Bank building, but are just now

completing an elegant new assembly hall on the third floor of the next building east, specially fitted up for them, and have rooms for other business on the floor below.

The Odd Fellows have Winneshiek Lodge, No. 58, I. O. O. F., and Decorah Encampment, No. 39, which occupies the third floor over the Dickerman block.

Nora Lodge, R. H. K. (Norwegian), has a hall on the third floor, over the Winneshiek County Bank.

There are also branch lodges of the A. O. U. W., Legion of Honor, and the V. A. S. fraternities, all mutual life insurance organizations.

The fact that Decorah has a large and well arranged Opera House, with well equipped stage, and fine scenery, has caused the city to be favored with numerous first-class entertainments. Among the noted musicial and dramatic stars who have visited Decorah, have been Ole Bull, Remenyi, and Camilla. the great violinists; Janauschek, the great tragedienne, and other famous actors, Litta, the celebrated vocalist, and other famous singers and companies; and in the lecture field, the most prominent. Steyer's Opera House, a monument to the enterprise of Joseph Steyer, who is still its active manager, was erected in 1870, and was 44 feet front by 85 feet deep. It was enlarged in 1875 by a frontage of 22 feet, the new part running back 114 feet. On its enlargement it was entirely re-fitted, a circular gallery put in, and a snccession of raised seats beneath the gallery. New stage furniture and scenery by the best artists were provided, and chairs put in for seats throughout the whole lower floor of the hall. Opera House block is an imposing three story brick building, situated on Water Street, next to the Winneshiek House, and looking down Washington, Street.

There are other public halls. Rudolph's Hall is neatly fitted up and furnished with fine and artistically painted stage scenery.

Decorah has several important manufactories, and ample water power for more. Among the oldest of these is what has been recently known as the mill, foundry, and agricultural manufactory of Ammon, Scott & Co. The agricultural works were founded by John Ammon in 1853. John Greer afterwards joined the firm which became Ammon, Greer & Co., and the company, purchased in 1870 the mill of Henry Heivly, formerly known as the Painter Mill. Mr. Greer retired, and in 1870 Geo. W. Scott became a member of the firm, which became a joint stock company until it went out of business some two years ago. The flouring mill is now owned and run by Henry Heivly. The wagon making and agricultural department was wound up for the company, for the benefit of stockholders, by Leonard Standring, who in years past has been prominent in banking and manufacturing enterprises in Decorah, and who now has a pleasant home and extensive farm near the railroad in its southwestern suburbs. These extensive agri

cultural buildings on Upper Water street, are not now running, but will not, probably, long remain idle. Mr. Ammon is now in the milling business in the western part of the state, and Mr. Scott engaged in business in Minneapolis.

John Greer, formerly of the above firm, in company with Jas. Hunter, erected, in 1874, the Ice Cave Flouring Mill in the lower part of the city, it having three run of stones and costing $40,000. This mill has recenty been purchased by John Lawler and Peter Doyle, who are interested in the C., M. & St. P. Ry., and the track of that road is now being extended down to their mill to accommodate their extensive shipments, as well as to the extensive stone quarries on the river bank beyond. Mr. Greer remains in charge of the mill, and Mr. Hunter is still a resident of Decorah.

The extensive building of the Decorah Woolen Mill, on the bank of the river or Upper Water street, was built in 1867 by the Decorah Woolen Mill Company, and cost with machinery $35,200. Its stock was owned largely by Englishmen, of whom there are many residing in the county, and are enterprising and public-spirited, generally bringing with them a good deal of capital. The Woolen Mill was managed for a considerable number of years by Capt. W. T. Baker, still a resident of this city, and was sold recently by Capt. Lloyd, a son-in-law of Capt. Baker, who had recently acquired the chief ownership, to Lawler & Doyle, owners of the Greer & Hunter Mill. The Woolen Mill has recently been leased for five years by John E. Duncan, who has repaired and improved the machinery, and will run it to its full capacity.

The Trout Run Woolen Mill, erected in 1866-7, at the head of Trout Run, where that large stream issues from a cave at the foot of the bluff, was the first woolen mill in the county, and did an extensive business. It was burned in November, 1874.

A prominent pioneer in early business enterprises was Diedrich Addicken. He was born in Oldenberg, Germany, Nov. 5, 1824; came to America in 1855, settling in Clayton County, and in 1857 came to Decorah where he built what has been known as the old brewery near the old stone mill, April, 1865, he commenced to build what is now the Addicken mill, brewery, and residence property on the Iowa River just above the city, about a mile from the prominent business center. He was an energetic, popular, and generous man, and his death, July 17, 1875, caused by being thrown from a wagon, the fall breaking his leg, was a shock to the people generally. The business was continued by Mrs. Addicken until her recent death, assisted by her daughter, who with competent assistants has had charge since that time, and has been successfully and prosperously conducted. The machinery of these establishments is run by water power from Union Springs, nearly a mile above.

Other prominent flouring mills in Decorah are the Tavener Mills, on the Iowa River, half a mile above the Addicken settlement. And in addition to the Heivly and Greer & Hunter Mills recently mentioned, the Trout Run Mill, at the mouth of Trout Run, and propelled by the water-power of that stream, where it flows into the river about a mile below the city. Benedict & Mott are proprieters of the West Run Mill.

Among other manufacturing enterprises are the wagon and carriage works of Jennisch & Wendling, who do a large business; the wagon shop of McKay & Bergeson; the extensive steam bakery of Joseph Hutchinson, which has custom through a large territory; the planing mill of L. R. Fish, and a considerable number of smaller establishments.

Among other recently established manufacturing enterprises, is. the Scale Factory, at what is known as Union Springs, a little more than a mile west of the city. In the spring of 1880, T. E. Gaston, in company with H. Heivly, began the erection of a large and commodious building for the purpose of manufacturing scales. It was completed the following September, and the first set of scales was turned out October 15, 1880. The machinery used in this factory is of the latest style, has all the modern improvements, and is run by a water-power 22-horse strong, the water being furnished by a spring near the factory, and gives them 173 feet head. They employ from 15 to 20 men, and turn out from 3,000 to 4,000 scales a year. The quality of the scales is second to none manufactured in the United States, being built after the pattern of the Fairbank's scales. Mr. T. E. Gaston is the efficient manager, and thoroughly understands the business, he personally superintends both the manufacture and sale, the latter extending through Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota.

The business of egg packing was commenced in Decorah by A. W. Grow, a number of years ago, and within the past two years has grown into such proportions as to necessitate the erection of a large building especially for the business, and its enlargement last year. Mr. Grow's egg packing house is situated on Washington Street, south of the railroad. He packs yearly about 250,000 dozens of eggs, making about 3,500 barrels and twenty-four car loads. When it is considered that each egg has to be handled, and the bad ones picked out, it will be seen that there is considerable work in the business, especially in the busy season. But Mr. Grow has found money in it. He has now purchased the H. H. Hoen paper warehouse property adjoining him on Washington Street, with a frontage of 100 feet on the railroad track, to use as a storage room, and as a cooper shop to manufacture barrels for his egg packing house, and for a coal yard, etc.

The past two or three years has seen the development of a new industry in the county. Grain growing has partially given place