Our Yesterdays

The following is from the March 21, 1963 issue of The Richland Clarion:

This is another article of a series of articles on Keokuk County People and Places, prepared by a committee representing the Sigourney Chamber of Commerce. This article on the Harper community is one in which attempts to give recognition to the many fine communities in Keokuk County. This article was written by G. Lyle Kramer, Sigourney, who was assisted by others. The Sigourney Chamber of Commerce committee is in charge of its chairman, Mrs. John S. Hooley.

The Harper community of friendly prosperous people might almost be divided into three segments: Those who live and work at the pipeline compressor station and help supply the life line on natural gas to the great industrial complexes, and communities between here and Lake Michigan; those who serve the commercial and service needs of the surrounding farm area; and those who serve the predominantly Catholic religion of the community at the St. Elizabeth parish church and school.

Harper’s history goes back to 1847, when immigrants from Baden, Germany settled in the area now known as Baden Corner on Highway 92 just a mile west of the Harper junction. In 1871 and 1872 the Rock Island Railroad was built between Washington and Oskaloosa. Baden was bypassed, although its people had levied a tax and paid it to the railway company on the promise that the road would go through their town.

Upon completion of the railroad, the present town of Harper was laid out, and many of the people of Baden moved to the new location.

St. Elizabeth’s church and later the parish schools have been an integral part of Baden and Harper. The first church was built in Baden in about 1857. First money for the church was raised by a collection of $404.50 on Nov. 20, 1856. The original church was a frame structure of only 20 x 30 feet.

By 1872 the church building was becoming too small to house its growing congregation, and since Harper was becoming the dominant community center, a new church was started there in 1883, and finished early enough to use during the Christmas season 1884. This new edifice, still in use, is an outstanding feature of Harper. The cross topped steeple, 162 feet high, serves as a beacon and can be seen for many miles from the neighboring level countryside. The original structure has been modernized, redecorated, and kept in excellent condition. A Wicks pipe organ with 4,875 pipes was installed in 1915.

The parish built a grade school in 1900 and opened its high school on Sept. 4, 1917. The school was accredited in 1923. Marquette Hall was built in 1927 as a social recreational center, as well as a gymnasium. Another building, housing additional classrooms and a library was built in 1957 at a cost of $45,000. The school has graduated some 350 boys and girls and is open to all students on request. Last year’s enrollment in the elementary school was 109 and in the high school it was 73.

The Rev. M.J. Diamond is pastor of St. Elizabeth’s parish, now consisting of some 125 families. He is also the superintendent of the schools. Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, whose Mother House is in La Crosse, Wisconsin, have always taught in the parish school.

The community also has a public school of the Keokuk County school system, which has an enrollment of 22 at present. It accommodates pupils from first through eighth grade. St. Elizabeth’s school are sent by bus to the Sigourney High School.

(This article will be continued next week)