Grinnell names historical museum’s Ann Igoe parade marshal

GRINNELL — The Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce announced last week that Ann Igoe, a key volunteer with the Grinnell Historical Museum, has been named the 2025 Fourth of July Grand Marshal.

Igoe will headline the parade that gets underway Friday, July 4 at 5 p.m. She will be accompanied by the many ‘worker bees,’ as she calls them, in the parade.

Joining Igoe in vehicle one will be museum board members Frank Shults, Bill Hammen and Jack Morrison. In a second vehicle will be historical museum board members Chris Smith. Debbie Pohlson and others.

Igoe has lived in Grinnell since 2010, moving here after retiring to be close to a friend she has known since age 11. “We have been friends for 70-years,” she said.

When asked how she got involved in the historical museum, Igoe said she loves history and wanted to learn more about Grinnell.

“I had time to volunteer, and I started enjoying Grinnell history and I wanted to learn more,” she said.

That was in the fall of 2011.

Igoe’s involvement led her to become a board member in 2012. The last two years, Igoe has helped lead the charge in the development of the new Grinnell Historical Museum at 703 First Ave.

The museum opened to the public Saturday, June 28 with a ribbon cutting and fundraiser that evening.

In the early days, Igoe spent from eight to 12 hours a week volunteering at the historical society’s McMurray House on Broad Street, she said. After the historical society board purchased the second location (Uhlmann Furniture building) in November 2022, volunteering quickly become a full-time job, Igoe said.

“I’m retired, but it hasn’t felt like that lately,” she said with a chuckle.

Igoe said the new museum gives the historical board an option to share much more of Grinnell’s rich history than they could have done in the old McMurray House.

When asked what it means to be named the grand marshal of the Grinnell Fourth of July celebration, Igoe said it was a really exciting phone call to get.

“I am not from Grinnell,” said Igoe. “I know how important it is to Grinnell to be among people who are well respected and highly thought of. It really means a lot to me.”

Igoe said she hopes everyone will come visit the new museum. It is open from 1 — 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

“I hope everyone has a really good time at the parade,” she said.