Did You Know?

Did you know…

•New London was briefly named Dover.

•New London had a movie theater from 1915 until it burned down in 1968.

•The movie playing that terrible night was “The Family Way” starring Hayley Mills.

•The H. J. Nugen Library was built where the Alamo Theater approximately stood.

•When finished, the school district will have its 2023 gym, its 1968 gym, and two visible walls of the 1920 gym. That structure became the wrestling room and locker rooms.

• There was an indoor community pool connected to the high school and for several years swimming became part of the PE curriculum. Built in 1969, it was later torn down due to deterioration.

•The pool was made possible from gifts of $50,000 from Don and Dolores Harper Bell (Class of 1930 and 1947) and Jack Woodside (Class of 1935). The community also raised $50,000.

•Henry County was formed on December 7, 1836, under the jurisdiction of Wisconsin Territory, and became a part of Iowa Territory when it was formed on July 4, 1838. It was named for General Henry Dodge, Governor of the Wisconsin Territory.

•The current Henry County Courthouse was put into service in 1914.

•Burge Cemetery is the second largest cemetery in Henry County.

•As of July 2022, the population of New London was 1,934.

•Iowa means “beautiful.”

•Arabella Mansfield of Burlington and Mt. Pleasant became the first female lawyer in the United States in 1869.

•There used to be a sign on the west side of town that stated “New London - The Biggest Little Town in Iowa.”

Hope you enjoyed these random facts!