History

The Adair County Historical Museum was organized on November 14, 1966. The original officers consisted of Douglas DeVault, President; J. R. Hamilton, Vice President; K. J. Sidey, Secretary; and F. E. Rhodes, Treasurer. After many years of struggling to keep the Society alive, Nellie Moffitt Masten donated a large share of her estate to build a museum in Greenfield, Iowa, on five acres.

The Museum is run by a Board of 16 directors. The Board meets the first Monday of each month. Support of the museum is by donations, grants, and fundraising. Visit our museum of history and become a member!

General Information

A few things that can be found at the Heritage Center are farm machinery, an old railroad depot, the birthplace of George A. Wilson, a church, a one-room schoolhouse from Harrison township, and so many more things from our past. The organization doesn't collect a profit, but is supported by membership dues, donations, admissions from the tours, and other fund-raising projects. There are nearly 100 members in the area, and the center has an average of 400 visitors a year.

The museum is located on the west edge of Greenfield on Highway 92. Greenfield is approximately 60 miles west of Des Moines. Tours are available from May 1 to October 1 from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. seven days a week. Other times are available by appointment. For appointments, large tour groups, or for other information call 641-743-2232 from 1:00-4:00.

Historic Weddings

The church may be rented for weddings. To find out about our Historic Weddings, email heritagecntr@mddc.com. More information may be found at Historic Weddings at Penn Avenue Chapel.

Country School

The one-room country schoolhouse was originally named Harrison No. 8 and was built in 1889. There were 16 townships making up Adair County, and every township in the early 1900s had 6 to 8 of these one-room schoolhouses. In the 1930s, the Adair County farm community had 1,200 children attending these schools which educated students from first through eighth grades. Most of these schools were closed by 1952. The Museum provides a one-day session for fourth graders to comprehend what country school was like. The school includes books from several of the early county schoolhouses. Historical photos and writings about the early school days are located in the museum library.

Wilson House

George A. Wilson (1884-1952), born in Adair County, was Governor of Iowa from 1938-1942. The house that he was born in is now located at the Historical Museum Complex. The house still holds his desk, mementos from his travels, and other personal items. The home is furnished with contents of what the home was like when he lived there as a child. Governor Wilson was born near Menlo, Iowa. Wilson graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in 1907. He also served as a Republican in the U.S. Senate from 1943-1949.

Museum

The museum, dedicated on June 28, 1986, holds many artifacts from the past. It has a wide variety of displays including medical and military displays, a display honoring Henry A. Wallace, a Cold Turkey display, a music room, and a research library. Many items found in the museum were donated by Nellie Moffitt Masten. In fact, an entire room was dedicated to her in the museum.

Storage Building

Built in 2005, the 50 ft. x 100 ft. building is filled with old horse drawn farming machinery dating to the early days from 1875-1900. Some early-day Gross Manufacturing machines are also housed here.

Railroad Depot

A railroad was built entering central Adair County in 1869. This depot was built in 1910 in Fontanelle, Iowa, and was a branch of the C B & Q Railroad. This depot is in its original condition and was a center for all kinds of freight and goods arriving by rail including shipments of grain and livestock to markets in this growing community.

Early History Facts

• First white man known to settle in Adair County was Thomas Johnson in 1849 in Washington Township.
• John Cears, 1854, settled four miles northwest of Fontanelle, Section 3, Jackson Township. At this time, there were ten families homesteading in this Adair County District. Later children changed the family name to Sears. When his three children married, he gave them 80 acres of land. Several more families came into the County in 1855 and 1856.
• Adair County was created by Act of Legislature in 1851.
• All Townships were organized in Adair County by 1855 to 1868.
• Adair, Iowa 1855 was location of first post office and Seat of Justice of Adair County.
• 1855 - County Seat Court House was located in Fontanelle, Summerset Township, and was moved to Greenfield in 1875 after a heated fight between judges and by the residents of the two towns.
• 1856 - Greenfield was laid out, county population grows to 450 people.
• 1868 - Rock Island Railroad was built and towns of Casey and Adair were laid out.
• 1869 - Orient, Iowa, became a town, and the railroad was built there in 1869.
• 1934 - Highway 92 was re-routed through Adair County, was first known as Highway 2.
• 1880 - The county population exploded to 11,667 people in 30 years.
• 1885 - Bridgewater has its first railroad depot and tracks.