Jewell

Jewell Junction, Iowa - founded in 1880

Jewell Junction Depot. Picture taken in 1912

In 1880 the Toledo & Northwestern Railroad came west and formed a junction with the north-south line that was rebuilt from the narrow gauge Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad that formerly terminated at Callanan. The portion of the line to Callanan was abandoned and rerouted to Jewell Junction. The Toledo & Northwestern soon became the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

The town of Jewell Junction was laid out at the junction of the two railroad lines, and was named for David T. Jewell. It was created in Sec. 28-87-24 by the real estate division of the railroad, the Western Town Lot Company. This same company platted Ellsworth, Randall, Stanhope, Stratford and Kamrar.

The east-west streets in the orginal plat were First (a curved street), Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Streets. The north-south streets were Lyon, Main, Rienhart, and Idaho Streets. Main Street was later changed to Jewell Street. The name of the town was eventually changed to Jewell because the residents grew to dislike the "Junction" reference as the town prospered.

The post office was established on December 27, 1880. The post office was located about 40 rods south of the depot. Mrs. Laura E. Cooper served as the first postmaster. John Foster served as the first rural mail carrier starting in 1903. The five digit zip code for Jewell was introduced on July 1, 1963.

The Jewell Telephone Company was started in 1902 by about 30 businessmen. Frank Snyder served as president. Within three years the number of subscribers had grown to 125. In 1905 the Jewell and Ellsworth Telephone Company was created.

One of the store buildings was moved from Callanan during the winter of 1881-1882. The reason buildings were moved in the winter was because they could be more easily put on skids and pulled by teams on the frozen ground. This was true of so many buildings that were moved from Lakin's Grove, Callanan, Hook's Point, and other towns that failed to attract a railroad. This building was placed along Main Steet. The first school was held in the rented back room with William Anderson serving as teacher. The next year a school district was organized and the school was moved to a different building south of the railroad tracks. Anderson was the only teacher for one year. In 1883 Howard Smith was added to the school staff. By 1890 a whole block was purchased and a two-story brick structure was built. Two years later a four-year high school program was added. In 1905 an addition was constructed on both ends of the school. This building took care of the school needs for another 20 years.