Visitors Guide to Donnellson
Lee County, Iowa
The town of Donnellson was named for the Donnell families, W. A. and Eston. W. A. Donnell came to Lee County in 1839. W. R. Donnell, a son of Eston, helped with construction of the first building in Donnellson. The building was a small warehouse used for a depot and storage purposes. W. R. Donnell was the first railroad agent, first express agent, the first merchant, and the first postmaster, holding these positions all at once. In 1871, Donnellson started to grow when Burlington and Southwestern Railroad built a line that ran from Fort Madison through Donnellson and on to Farmington. The railroad, which became part of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad was in operation until 1969. The railroad depot has been renovated into a historical museum and the area surrounding it is Depot Park. A bandstand was constructed in the park in 1936 to hold concerts and free movie nights.
Donnellson is the site of the Lee County Fair, “Iowa’s Oldest Fair.” The fair was started in 1841 in nearby West Point and at times has been held in Keokuk and Fort Madison. Donnellson was chosen as the permanent site in 1878 because it was nearer the geographical center of the county than its rivals. By 1881, Donnellson had three hotels, a hardware store, boot shop, post office, flooring mill, drug store, grain elevator, shoemakers, blacksmiths, harness maker, stockyards and an ice skating rink. The first Fourth of July celebration was held also in 1881. This tradition is still observed with a July 4th Parade down Main Street and an ice cream social following the parade.
Donnellson was growing faster than any other town in the county in the early 1900’s. The town had the first telephone switchboard in 1900, a medical doctor and a cheese factory. There was an electric light plant by 1910, a water system & new dentist by 1912 and a veterinarian by 1913. There were four churches early in Donnellson’s history including the Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ. Besides the railroads coming through Donnellson, two highways also provided service. The Waubonsie Highway 2 trail and the Red Ball Highway 218 trail, which are now called Highway 2 and 218. Donnellson is the head-end for the Iowa Woodlands Scenic Byway, the head-end for the Historic Hills Corridor, the first exit ramp coming north out of Missouri along the Avenue of the Saints and is on the Mormon Trail.
www.donnellsoniowa.org - The official website of the town of Donnellson. This web site has detailed information about the town, its history, the things to do, and local events.
