The baggage cart

Some of you may have wondered about the wheeled wagon that sits in front of the Ely Community Center. It is a baggage cart that was originally used at the Ely Train Depot back in the day. It once had a sign with a description, but that has disappeared.

Photo from City of Ely website, blown up to show the cart.

The baggage cart was donated to the Ely Community History Society by the late Jean and Don C. Brutsman. Below is a photo of what it looked like before it was restored by Orville Meskiman. A few years ago it was looking rather weather-beaten and it was painted and refurbished again, I think by Orville. If I am wrong, please let me know!
 - Barb Horak

It must have taken quite an effort to salvage this with all the trees growing up in it!

 

This baggage cart was refurbished once again and in 2025 sits at the Historic Krob Elevator.

 

History book index

Do you have a copy of the Ely Centennial history book from 1972? 
We have scanned an index for the book to print if you wish. 

Click this link which will bring up the index. You will see a print icon near the upper right of the page. Click and print for your use!

If you would like to own a copy of the book, full of history and photos of the town of Ely from 1872 to 1972, we do have a number of them for $20 each. Contact us via our email (on the right column).

1903 New Bank in Ely

The Ely Bank, about 1912, on the corner of Dows and Walker Street.  Click to enlarge it.

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, January 31, 1903
ELY BANK OPENS MONDAY
Ely, Iowa. Jan. 3 - The Ely bank, J.H. Smith & Sons of Cedar Rapids proprietors, and Wm. Benesh, cashier, will open on Monday next. With a volume of business largely exceeding many other towns of greater size in Iowa, Ely has never had a banking institution of any kind, the merchants and other business men being obliged to do all their banking in Cedar Rapids. The Messrs. Smith have erected a new building and furnished it in becoming style.

Pictured to the left of the bank in the bank photo is the above building.  Anna (Holets) Jonas, or Mrs. Joseph Jonas, and a school teacher that boarded in the home are pictured.  Joseph Jonas also had a shoe repair shop at this location.  A barber shop and a billiard table were added. Finally the shop was moved to another lot.

Later, the bank was bought out by First Trust and Savings Bank of Cedar Rapids. Joseph Holets and his daughter, Gladys Holets worked there for many years. The below photo was taken by Gladys.