...Imogene businesses included Imogene Grain, Town & Country Tavern, Friendly Tavern and Sam's Tractor Repair. ...1981 was the year Rural Water came to Imogene and grain bins were constructed on the south end of the Imogene business district. ...March 13 - The David Worl, Sr. home was totally gutted by a 10:50am fire. The apparent cause of the fire was a wood burning stove that caused paint thinner stored nearby to explode. Three fire trucks battled the blaze. ...June 23 - Over 40 dairy farmers gathered at the Jim Nebel farm for a Twilight Barn Meeting and to view Jim's new milking equipment. With the new modern $160,000 milking facility, 12 cows can be milked at the same time. The entire heard of 73 registered Holsteins could now be milked in 1 1/2 hours. Construction on the facility began last fall and was completed in January. ...November - John J. (Jay) Owens was elected Mayor. The Town Council consisted of Doug Maher, Dee Martin, Terrie Martin, Pat Williams and Sam McGargill. Wilma Maher was the City Treasurer.
1982 January ...3-A blizzard raged in Imogene. ...Tony Maher started his 35th year as the maintainer operator. February ...A new heading for the Imogene Hub newspaper was drawn by Jim "Steck" Skahill. ...It was estimated $10,000 would be needed for street repairs. ..."Flannigan's Banshee" was performed at the Shenandoah Legion. The 2nd Annual Imogene Community Playhouse presentation drew 400 viewers. March ...14-The annual St. Patrick Church St. Patrick's Day Dinner was held from 11am-2:30pm.Cost was $4 for adults and $2 for children under 12. ...The Town & Country Tavern was sponsoring a softball team. Kelly Hughes was the contact person. April ...The Town and Country Tavern held two fundraisers for the Street Repair Fund. Bingo Night brought in $563 and the Las Vegas Night brought in $1,600. May ...The Southwind Jaycees sponsored a Street Fund dance under a big tent. Hundreds attended. The band Festival provided the entertainment. June ...The Iowa Road Builders Company began work on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets and the street to Brooklyn. The final cost amounted to $20,200. The Town Council met with the representative several times before they were satisfied with the work. ...Three new Butler bins were installed south of the elevator by Bruce Supplies. Two 60'x48' bins were for corn-capacity 125,000 bushels. One 36'x30' bin for beans had a capacity of 35,000 bushels. July ...4th of July festivities at Will Rogers Field were under the direction of Sam & Marleen McGargill. The day began with softball games at 9am; there were also kids games, races sand a frog jumping contest. Marty Owens and Kenny McGargill earned the $10 on top of the greased pole. The Flashbacks played at an outdoor dance. There was a small fireworks display provided by Jim Campin, Brian Norton and Scott Laughlin. ...15-Mayor of Omaha Mike Boyle named Imogene as Omaha's Little Sister City. August ...The Community Club was revived. Doug Maher was President, Sam McGargill-VP, Wilma Maher-Secretary and Becky Hunt-Treasurer. September ...Bud & Margaret Laughlin hosted 400 people at their farm on the 11th. They supplied 450 pounds of BBQ pork, 5 kegs of beer and live music. ...25-The Country Boogie Blues Band donated their time to play for a benefit for the Emerson/Hastings Flood Relief Fundraiser. About $700 was raised. October ...2-Imogene Grain sponsored a BBQ for their customers. ...9-The Imogene Community Club held an O'Ctoberfest at the Community Building. ...Winner of the Town & Country Halloween Costume Contest was Helen Hughes who dressed as St. Patrick. Mr. and Mrs. Pete Conners took 2nd place as country hicks. Tying for third place was Tony & Terrie Martin as clowns and Angela Pelster & Becky Hunt as the Blues Brothers. December ...11 weekend-three fundraisers were held for the Johanna Swanson/Paul McGargill family and the Sharon Kalkas family who both had recent house fires. The Town & County hosted a dance on Saturday evening with music by Tom Sheibeler and Bob Regan. The Imogene Community Club and the KC's served a free-will donation breakfast at St. Patrick Church on Sunday morning. $500 was raised. The Friendly Tavern hosted a kitchen and linen shower on Sunday afternoon.
1983 January ...Imogene was getting a facelift thanks to a Block Grant. Midland Engineering was surveying for new storm sewers and sidewalks. Mike Tripplet was administrator of the grant. Renovation or demolition of various houses was in the works as was a new or remodeled community center. September 16 - Various buildings housed the Imogene Public School. The last one served as a community center before it was set on fire and destroyed. It was replaced by a new steel building-Imogene Community Center in 1984. March ...11-The third annual Imogene Community Playhouse production was held at the Shenandoah Legion. Flannigan's Wager produced by Tony & Terrie martin, Bob Regan and Ver Keasling was attended by 450 people. It was followed by dancing to the music of Reflection. Dee martin (Flannigan) owned an Irish Pub and got himself into some deep double or nothing betting with Jim Skahill (salesman). ...13-The 25th annual St. Pat's Dinner at St. Patrick Church was enjoyed by 985 diners. April ...Jay Owens was elected Treasurer of the Southwind Jaycees. May ...The Town & Country team won the 1st place trophy in the Shenandoah Softball League. Members of the team were Mark Beason, Bill Ditmars, Doug Durfey, Rod Graham, Bernie Hughes, Kenny Hughes, Kim Hughes, Orin Irvin, Matt Maher, Sam McGargill, Joe Nebel, Kent Owens, and Terry Regan. August ...9-The Town Council opened bids for repairs around town and construction of a new community building. McNeilly Bruce Curb, gutters, repairing sidewalks $17, 427.25 $11,500.00 Construction of community building $75,511.25 $58,500.00 Total $94,938.50 $70,000.00 Winning Bid September ...16-The Imogene Public School built in 1926 was burned and buried to make way for a new community building. October ...Lewis Mather & Sons & Paul Guinn leveled the site for the new 80'x40' community building. ...Footings were poured for the new community building. November ...The floor was poured for the new community building. ...58 out of 63 eligible Imogene voters voted. December Kim Hughes (aka Santa) greeted 50 children at the town event. 1984 January 1 - 6" of snow covered the ground. January 13 - The Wabash Railroad decided to abandon the rail line between Kelly, Missouri and Council Bluffs. The Iowa Southern Railroad took over the 61.5 miles of rail line between Council Bluffs and Blanchard ...Letty Davis was the town correspondent for the Evening Sentinel. March-Gert McGargill returned from a two -week trip to Spain and France. ...Jay Owens, Don King, Charlie Drummond, Justy Owens and Al Fichter were pictured in the paper putting the finishing touches on the new Imogene Community Center. ...Johnny Conners bought new lights for the Will Rogers Field. April 1-John & Becky Stibbs and Edward & Jeanne McCoy purchased the Town & Country Tavern (North Bar) from Kelly Hughes, Doug Maher and Kim Hughes. 6-The first event in the Imogene Community Center was the wedding of Roger Dailey and Rosie Owens. May Newly elected officers of the Community Club were Joe Nebel-President, Ver Keasling (VP), Becky Stibbs (Treasurer) and Johanna Swanson (Secretary). ...25-The band Festival played for a third time for an Imogene dance. ...31-Dee Owens, manager of the Friendly Tavern (oldest bar in Imogene) for four years retired. ...New sidewalks 6" high from Railroad Street replaced the former ones 2' up from the street. June ...Pat Williams, Cline Adwell and Robert Addy planted trees on Railroad Street between the new sidewalks and the curb. 23-Al Maher fell and broke his hip. July ...175 people attended an appreciation supper on a Friday evening for people and their families who worked on the new community building. Harvey Vermillion and his band provided the entertainment. Helping with the cooking and other tasks were Roger Meyer, Jim Nebel, Jude Hughes and friend Dave, John Owens, Alan Fichter, Becky & John Stibbs, Ann Owens, Judy Williams, Pam Ditmars, Marleen McGargill and Joe Courtier. ...Al Broussard of Granada Hills, CA was a new pilot for Tri-State Helicopter Service of Imogene owned and operated by Jake McGargill. ...Kenny Hughes and Joe Nebel went to a school in Titonka, Iowa to pick up bleachers for the Imogene ballfield. They came in three sections 14' in length and eight rows high. ...The old postoffice that was located between the Friendly Tavern and the Town and Country Tavern was torn down. This was formerly the Collins Drug store. ...Five other vacated houses in town were also demolished. Joe Courtier and Jim Wood tore down the former Fannie McGargill home. Among those being torn down were the Elmer Irvin place, formerly known as Bertha Regan's place, and the Price place which used to belong to Jerome and Wanda Regan. ...Seaman Julia Pelster U.S.N. and her daughter Alicia and friend Eric Todd visited her parents for two weeks. After her return to Norfolk, VA she will be transferred to San Diego, CA where she will be going to school for Radioman 3rd Class. A picnic at Waubonise Park was held in their honor on July 4th. ...The town bought the salvage yard on the east side of the road coming into town from Dave Garrean. The junked cars there are now a thing of the past. ...21-A busload of 35 people journeyed to Kansas City to watch the Royals play Baltimore. Imogene Grain sponsored the trip. ...29 - The Randolph Fire Department attended the controlled fire which brought down the house George Kammerer built 50 years ago two blocks west of St. Patrick Church for his family that included 10 children. He also built six other houses on the block.. Grandchildren included Mrs. L.G. Germar, Mrs. O.B. Hayes, and Bill Kammerer. Willard Wetherell was his great-grandson. Lawrence Hall of Shenandoah was the last owner. Mayor John Owens and the city council were at the fire.
August 3,4,5 - August Werner Days- Jerry Schmalenberger who researched and published the book August Werner of Imogene and His Iowa Flying Machine served as Grand Pilot for the celebration. August 3 - Irish music by the Turfmen from 9pm-1am at the Community Center-Admission $3.00 August 4 -Bud Light 6.2 mile road race - 7am-downtown Imogene Pepsi 16mile bike race -7:30am - downtown Imogene Bed races - 10am -downtown Imogene Flea market, bake sale 10am-St. Patrick Church basement and grounds Pet show - 11am - softball field Archery competition- 11am - softball field Horsedrawn hayrack rides - 1-5pm-community center grounds Drown the Clown -1-7pm-community center grounds Helicopter rides -1-5pm-community center grounds Face painting - 1-5pm -community center grounds Kids games & races - 2pm-community center grounds Money Hunt - 3pm-softball field Couples lawn dart tournament -3pm Bingo-3-6pm-community center Mini air show -6pm-softball field "Anything Goes"- 7-9pm -softball field Raffle drawing - win a trip for two to Las Vegas - 9pm -softball field Dance to Pinky Black & the Excessives (50's & 60's Rock 'n Roll) 9pm-1am-community center - $2 admission August 5 - Imogene Open Golf Tournament - 9am - Malvern Golf Course
August 5- DM Register article by the Iowa Boy - "Already there are plans for 1986, which will be the centennial observance of Werner's flight. Jake McGargill, 35, a gutsy Irishman with carpentry skills has announced he will build a replica of Werner's machine and will attempt to fly it that year." "I want to be able to get it to lift off,"McGargill said Saturday. "But who knows? I might get laughed out of Imogene just like August did." September ...The Imogene Grain hosted an appreciation supper for 300. 150 pounds of BBQ beef and 1 1/2 kegs of beer were consumed. October 20-A Halloween costume party was held at the Friendly Tavern. Participants were: Helen Hughes (Chinese woman), Pete & Norma Conners (clowns), Dave & Ronda Hughes (ZZTop), Ver Keasling & Maureen Campin (Potato Patch leprechauns), Johanna Swanson (bartender), Wilma Maher (witch) November The Community Club sponsored an "After Harvest Dance" with music by Sandy Creek Pickers. December ...31-A New Year's Eve party was held at the Imogene Community Building where a bar had been recently installed. 1985 February ...23-Sam's Tractor Repair Shop sold out. The McGargill's had moved to California. The trailer home of Sam and Marleen was purchased by Gary and Pam Nebel. The Shop did not bring enough money so was a "No Sale." The Imogene Volunteer Fire Department rented it beginning in May. March ...10-There was a good crowd at the Las Vegas Night in the Imogene Community Building. ...A bright yellow fire truck was purchased from the Randolph Fire Department. The Imogene Fire Department being organized also had a red pickup and a utility trailer. ...The house at 2nd & Market was purchased by Matt & Cheryl Maher. It had previously been owned by the Resh family, Joe & Betty McGargill and Newt Hilliary. ...Monty and Debbie Casteel were the new managers of the Friendly Tavern. April ...The Imogene Fire Department served over 600 pancakes to100 people at the Imogene Community Center. ...Orin Irvin was the new chief of the Fire Department; Harvey Pelster was the Assistant Chief. Volunteer firefighters were Bob Addy, Gary Nebel. John Nebel, Pat Williams. Rick Price, Linda Price, Tom Shane, Mark Stockstill, Tony Martin, Larry Fuller and Linda Sybert. May ...300 attended the Imogene Community Club Memorial Day dance. June ...John and Peggy Martin had an eight-room house moved from near Strahan to their land NE of Imogene. June ...17-A Cultivating Bee was held for Ed Lee Laughlin who was recovering from heart surgery. Ten 6-row and two-12 row cultivators worked about 500 acres. July ...31-August 1-The Iowa Touring Arts Team was in Imogene conducting workshops and performing. Seven entertainers were given a grand welcome. The inside and areas outside the Community Building were busy both days. About 250 people were present for the talent show the last evening. August ...2-3 August Werner Days were held in Imogene. John Conners was named the Grand Pilot. The agenda included Bingo, Co-ed Softball Game, Bud Light 16 mile bike race and the Pepsi "Imogene Mile" race. There were bed races, a pet show, electronic dart tournament and a Life Flight Your. There were carnival games, Jacob's Ladder, old-time bubbles, horse-drawn hayrack rides, drown the clown, kids games and races and an anything goes competition Because of persistent rain, the skydiving, model airplane contest, remote control airplane show and ultra light airplane shows were cancelled. 35 participated in the bike race. The Co-ed Softball Tournament had a little different twist. One male and one female were tied together at the waist and played one position together. ...27-A Donkey Ball Game fundraiser was held to benefit the Imogene fire Department. September ...Wilma Maher was manager of the Friendly Tavern. December ...The Pioneers of Imogene were honored with a holiday get-together at the Community Building. People 70 and over feasted on a turkey and ham dinner
1986 January
...Joe Hughes was the new substitute rural mailman for Imogene. The regular mailman was Jim Hanzlick. March ...14-The Imogene Community Playhouse presented Irish Hair Parlour-the happenings in a combo barber shop/beauty shop. 300 attended. The program was followed by a dance with music provided be DJ-Morre Brothers. May ...23-The Imogene Community Club presented the Rumbles playing music of the 60's-80's. Only 350 attended and the band was expensive. There was very little profit, if any. July ...5 - 184 graduates, spouses and guests from nine states attended the first St. Patrick Academy reunion. A 4pm Mass was concelebrated by Rev. William Leahy and pastor Fr. John Clarke at St. Patrick Church - Imogene. Marty Laughlin was the Lector, Ed L. Laughlin was Minister of the Eucharist, Joe & Betty McGargill were Giftbearers, Joe Ryan and Jim Nebel were Ushers. Donnie Doyle and Jeff Laughlin were the Altar Servers. Fannie Martin and Mary (Leahy) Zens provided music along with the church choir. The names of 38 deceased graduates were read at the Mass. A banquet followed at the Elks Lodge in Shenandoah. Entertainment was provided by Angie Larson, Esther Butler, Joe Ryan, Marty Laughlin, Jim Nebel, Joe Hughes, Joe McGargill and Dee Martin. Jim Skahill was the Master of Ceremonies. Skahill assisted by Betty McGargill and Mary K. Laughlin made presentations to the graduates. Donald Leahy of Los Angeles received a St. Patrick Centennial Book for traveling the farthest. Mrs. Ed (Alice) Leahy received a shamrock pillow made and donated by Mon O'Connor for being the oldest graduate present. Frank Jardon was given an Irish collector's mug for being the youngest graduate present. Mary Ditmars received a Potato Patch Kid made and donated by Maureen Campin and Veronica Keasling for having the most children (13) and Catherine Hughes received a collector's crock with Imogene, IA inscribed on it and the year '86 on the bottom for having the most grandchildren (40). The evening ended with music by the Earl Russel Band. Members of the reunion committee were Geraldine Laughlin (CH), Mary Lightfoot, Mary K. Laughlin, Monica Regan, Betty McGargill, Helen Lewis, Emmett & Ann McDonald, Jim Nebel and Joe Ryan. ...5-The Everly Brothers came to Shenandoah the same night as the reunion. Hopes of hearing them after the reunion never materialized...a monsoon did instead and much of their show was rained out. September ...21-TryArts (Imogene area arts group) held a multi-star concert at the Community Building. Jim Skahill was the emcee for the 20 act program. Therese Sunderman and Debbie Biggers sang a duet and George McGargill showed his harmonica playing skills to the 200 who packed in to see the show. December ...14-84 Imogene Pioneers enjoyed a dinner hosted by the Imogene Community Club. Tryarts was in charge of the decorations. 1987 ...Cheryl Maher was the new manager of the Friendly Tavern. March ...21-About 350 people enjoyed the Imogene Community Playhouse production of KHUB-about a new radio station in Imogene. Stars included Jim Skahill, Dave Hughes, Kim Hughes and Joe Nebel. May ...22-Imogene held their annual street dance with music provided by the Fabulous Wally's. ...Over 5" of rain fell in less than 24 hours-lots of flooding by the town creek July ...12 & 13-7 artists from the Iowa Touring Arts Council conducted workshops and held performances in and around the Community Center ,,,The Post Office Department was surveying a site for a 640 square foot building; the new postoffice was to be finished by March of 1988 September ...Imogene Grain was putting up its 11th grain bin. ...6-A Black & White "Going Away Party" was held at the Jim Nebel dairy farm just south of town in honor of the end of their dairy operation. December ...13-85 Imogene pioneers enjoyed their annual dinner at the Community Building. Madge Maher won the door prize-an autographed copy of Chuck Offenburger's book-Iowa Boy. 1988 January ...11- A crew of four led by Mike Leonard from the Today Show spent two days in Imogene due to the all woman Town Council. ...Pat Williams began his two-year term as Fire Chief. ...There were 44 homes in Imogene. February ...8-The story of women taking over the town council aired for 4 minutes on the Today Show. March ...The first train came through the area in October 1879. The last train came through in March 1988. It caught a wooden trestle by Don Doyle's on fire on its last run. Later sparks caught a nearby field on fire. The Iowa Southern Railroad cut down to service only the Council Bluffs area. The 66-mile abandoned track became the Wabash Trace. May ...21-Postmaster Johanna Swanson and her assistant Wilma Maher opened the new Imogene postoffice. ...After over 60 years of ownership by the Skahill family, the new owners of the Friendly Tavern were Kent & Rene Lyden of Red Oak. ...Six new American flags flew on Railroad Street for Memorial Day. July ...11-Paul McGargill was the new fire chief; Dan Nebel was assistant fire chief. September ...18-250 people attended the 2 hour 12 act Tryarts Variety Show. December ...Another December dinner was held for the Imogene pioneers. The highlight of the get-together was the sharing of memories of Imogene in the 1920's and 1930's by Don Slater. Starting at the south edge of Railroad Street "Downtown Imogene" he remembered: POSTOFFICE-Charlie Abbott sorted mail and visited with people who came to pick it up. There was a spittoon on either side of the caged window for those who stayed to visit too long. NEWT HILLIARY'S-This was a combined hardware, furniture and funeral business. Newt displayed his coffins in the back room. Behind the store was a garage for the big, black hearse. CLYDE ADDY'S-He had gas pumps and a tire repair shop. He stored his pinball machines, punch boards and boxes of chocolate cherry candy in the shop. WILLIE KAMMERER operated the gas station with the two big bowls on top of the stand that held ten gallons of gas in each one and were pumped back up to full after each sale. OLD PICTURE SHOW HOUSE- "Cal" Home Guise could not read a note of music. He would put whatever roll was handy into the player piano and pump the piano as hard as he could to excite the v=crowd as the train on the silent screen raced to the pretty girl tied to the tracks. Her hero on a black horse would ride in just in time to save her.