Society records, collects local history
The Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society is housed in the former Carnegie Library building at 200 South Third Street in Montezuma.
The Society has antiques and artifacts and many resources:
- Films, census records, newspapers and school records.
- Two microfilm readers.
- Histories of towns, counties and states.
- Records of births, marriages, deaths, probates, divorces, naturalizations and cemetery records.
- Family and church histories.
- Civil and criminal files.
- School yearbooks and records.
- Ship passengers and other references.
- Bulletin exchanges.
The Society’s hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Hours may vary during the winter.
Meetings are held at 2 p.m. the first Thursday of each month.
For appointments and more information, call 623-3322.
The Society was organized in 1978 by Velma James and previously was located in a house at 206 North Mill Street that at one time was known as the Thomas-Harris house.
The Society purchased the old (built in 1919) Carnegie Library from the City of Montezuma for $40,000, and sold the house on Mill Street for $66,000. The move was made in December of 2006.
Interior walls were painted, old carpet was removed and wall shelves were widened prior to the move.
The Society plans to restore the building’s lower level to display antiques and artifacts that used to be housed on the top level of the Mill Street house.
A lift chair for the physically challenged has been installed.
The Society wants to keep the building as close to its original condition as possible.