Cookbooks have arrived!!!

After about 3 months of work, and then waiting for delivery for another month, our Fairfax Historical Foundation Cookbooks are ready.  These are high quality, expandable cookbooks with historical images and recipes from Fairfax residents  past and present.  We have used advertisements and photos from old Fairfax cookbooks to allow a glimpse into things as they were.  There is advertising material from 1919, 1934, 1940’s, & 1951 and  photographs taken by Lloyd Buresh from 1947.   There’s even an ad originally published in 1919 for the Haynes Automobile that was manufactured in Cedar Rapids.  It has a full color cover showing St Patrick’s Church and the old Fairfax 3 legged watertower in a 3-ring binder with plenty of space for owners to add additional recipes they  would like to refer to.

We’ve embarked on this cookbook undertaking to begin our fundraising efforts directed at creating a permanent home for the Fairfax Historical Foundation.   Conservation and storage of Fairfax artifacts requires a physical space where they can be kept.  The cookbooks sell for $15.00.  They would make a nice keepsake for old time Fairfax residents as well as a source of good recipes for your kitchen.  Sample books are available for viewing at the Post Office and the Fairfax State Savings Bank.  To purchase a cookbook, contact Patty Soukup at 846 2951 or by email:  fairfaxhistory@southslope.net

I’d also like to that and recognize all the current advertisers for their support on this project.  Please consider using them when you require a service or product they can supply.  They are all part of Fairfax, patronizing their business keeps businesses in Fairfax where we need them to be.

We will have a booth at USA Days where the cookbooks will be available.  The initial response has been gratifying.  Stop by our booth and say hello, take a look at the book, I’m sure you’ll be intrigued.

The earliest Fairfax published history

On the download page is a PDF excerpt of a book published in 1878 on the History of Linn County Iowa.  The excerpt consists of a couple of pages written on the history of the town of Fairfax.  I’ve also added a PDF of a drawing on the first train station and the residence of  A.M. McKeel.  The house was apparently on land North of the railroad tracks and depot.  The drawing was originally published in 1878.

Nov 29, 1967

Do you remember the fire?  Do you have any memories or pictures of the Royale?  Let us know, we can share them here!

PS:  Highway 149 is now Highway 151

The Gutenberg Project and Fairfax History

While researching railroad links for Fairfax I noticed a link to an ebook originally published in 1911 about Linn County Iowa. It was published as an ebook by The Gutenberg Project in 2013.

The Gutenberg Project is an organization that converts books in the public domain to digital ebooks that can be read online as HTML or downloaded and read as text files, PDF, or Kindle versions.  For more information, google Gutenberg Project and follow the link to the Wikipedia article.

History of Linn County Iowa, printed in 1911 is a comprehensive history starting with the earliest settlers and continuing to 1910 or so.  The earliest accounts are quite fascinating with stories that rival  wild west accounts.  There are many accounts of the first families that settled in Linn County, the politics, and businesses that sprang up to support the local population.  It’s quite long and while it’s possible to download and print the entire book, it’s really easier to read it online.  The added benefit of reading it online is that the Table of Contents and Index have hotlinks that will take you directly to your particular interest.  While much of the book is in a narrative style, there are sections with listings of people and businesses that will only be of real interest to researchers.

Here is the link to the online version:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42220/42220-h/42220-h.htm

There really is no reason to download the entire book as The Gutenberg Project will not disappear.  It is a valued resource to the internet community, so the book will always be available online.

Here is the link to the different Gutenberg links and formats:

www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42220

The ebook has also been formatted for Kindle which you can download directly from the above link.

In addition I have created a small PDF that contains all of the Fairfax references in the book and placed it on the download page of this blog.  Hopefully this excerpt will motivate you to look at the full book.  You will get a feel for the difficulties of being an Iowa pioneer in the 1850’s.

 

Recipes for the Fairfax Cookbook are needed!!

We’re going ahead with our plans to publish a Fairfax Cookbook in time for USA Days in 2015.  We’ve received some historical cookbooks from residents. Some of those old recipes that sound good will be included in our new cookbook.    Now we need some of your favorite recipes to include.  A recipe form is posted on the ‘Files for Download’ page for your use.  You can print it out and submit it after you’s written your recipes.  You can leave the completed for at the Fairfax Public Library.   Or, to make this as simple as possible, you can simply email your recipes (as part of your email message along with any comments) to:  fairfaxhistory@southslope.net   Really, any way you’d like to get the information to us is acceptable.  Be sure to include contact information so that we can get in touch with you if necessary.

We’re doing this to keep alive some of the cooking traditions in our area and to help us raise funds to support our existence.  We are in the process of applying for non-profit status along with looking for a permanent physical location here in town.  The funds we generate will help us achieve those goal.

As I look at Fairfax history I find many areas of interest that are worth preserving.  We are trying to save all this information while we can still obtain it from people who have first-hand knowledge.  Recipes are an easy way to start, because almost everyone has something they can contribute.  The recipes do not have to be historical, they can be something you have invented, or adapted from some other source.  They should be something that you enjoy and would like to share with others.

 

 

 

 

Pre 1900 Fairfax History

Took a cemetery walk & tour this afternoon at the Oak Hill Cemetary in Cedar Rapids today.  It’s quite a beautiful place with the hills and old oak trees. We heard a lot of Cedar Rapids history today, I think it’s amazing on how many details are known about early residents.  I’m sure our guide has spent many hours reading old newspaper accounts of life in area ‘back in the day’.

The headstone in the accompanying photo was the only mention I could find on Fairfax. I’m sure there are others, but Oak Hill is a large place.

I’d be interested to hear any information about the people named on the stone.  I’ll publish any information I receive.  I’ll give full credit or you can remain anonymous if you like.

Any other knowledge about Fairfax related individuals buried in Oak Hill is also welcome.

Future History

You are living thru history right now.  History is taking place every day.   Now it may not be the kind of history that is on the nightly news, but it’s history nonetheless.  Fairfax history is made up of little daily occurrences that can add up to big changes over time.

Right now the most apparent change to Fairfax is the bicycle/walkers bridge going over the creek on the north side of town.  Years from now some people will wonder what was it like?, what did it look like before the bridge was put in?.

What did the fields south of town look like before the sports complex was built?

What did the fields north of town look like before all the new homes were built?

What did Vanderbilt Street look like before all the old commercial buildings were torn down?

Now these are not earth-shaking questions with answers that are front page news.  But they are the events that make up changes to Fairfax.  If you live in the old part of Fairfax you really should think about this when you make changes to your property.  Take some photographs before you start work just to record how everything was  before you begin your project.  It’s very interesting to some people how things looked and worked in the past.

And if you happen to have  family photos that include some scenes of Fairfax, consider telling us about them and allow us to scan them so that the information concerning Fairfax can be archived.  We can scan the photos in your location so that you are always in possession of them – we only want the information on the photo, not the photo itself.

 

 

 

Calling All Cooks!

The Fairfax Historical Foundation is putting together a “Fairfax Historical Cookbook” based on recipes from residents.  While it’s not absolutely necessary to have a historical connection to Fairfax, some kind of connection to Fairfax will give the cookbook a common theme.  A short description of the Fairfax connection should be included with your recipe.

We will also be accepting “In memoriam”  recipes which can include a photo of your loved one(s) along with their most delicious recipes for a small donation of $5 (without a memorial it’s free).

If you’d like to contribute recipes, or if you can share a local cookbook from the past (which would be returned within 7 days) please contact us. (fairfaxhistory@southslope.net, or 319-846-2951)

Website is Live!

After a few false starts, the FHF website is live.  We are a startup organization, and will expand this website as time and news permits.  We’ll add features, links and as much historical data as we can organize. There is a lot of information about Fairfax which we’ll try to present in an orderly and academic manner.

The historical information is especially interesting to us because we live here and can relate personally to many of the people and the physical pieces of the town.  I hope you will check back from time to time to see what we’ve added.  In time we’ll add an RSS feed so you can be notified of website updates and new posts (such as this one).  The overall format of the site is that of a blog, so that new information is displayed at the top of the page, with older posts listed serially by date below the most recent.

One item I’d like to mention now is that we are always looking for historical information, whether it be news  or history via printed pages, or photographs showing anything pertaining to Fairfax.  Street scenes are fun because they give everyone a chance to see sections of town that are familiar today as they appeared in the past. The FHF logo was made from a photo made by a resident, the only one we could find that had the old 3-legged watertower in back of St. Patrick’s.  It’s appropriate that two iconic structures from the past make up that image.  I’d like to give credit for the photograph, but we don’t know who the photographer was.  Which brings up an important point when storing and submitting photographs.  Write important information in pencil on the back of photographs (if possible in the border areas) such as location, date, names of individuals in the photo and the name of the photographer.  Knowing that information gives much more credence to the image, as well as preserves the knowledge contained in it.  You can submit photos by email, or we can scan the photos ourselves so you can retain your original.  The photograph becomes visual data which we can store and retrieve easily.  Old prints require specific storage conditions, space, and are difficult to retrieve.  While the old photograph itself has nostalgic appeal, the information contained in it is more easily distributed and viewed digitally.

Maybe you have specific questions about the history of Fairfax.  Send us a question and we’ll try to find a local expert with the knowledge.

Check the page with the contact information.  We’ll respond as soon as possible.

Interested in finding out what happens in person at the FHF?  We have monthly meetings at the library usually on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6:30.

Hope to hear from some of you on anything regarding our favorite topic – Fairfax.

June 21, 2014 Fairfax USA Days

The Fairfax Historical Foundation had it’s first public outing on Saturday June 21, 2014.  We introduced ourselves to the public as part of the morning market held along Vanderbilt Street.  To increase awareness, we distributed refrigerator magnets in exchange for freewill donations.  It was exciting to meet all the families participating in USA Days.