Current Article
Iowa Transportation Museum moves ahead
-
Phase one of the $4.4 million Iowa Transportation Museum in Grinnell is expected to open in the new year
Reprinted courtesy of Poweshiek Country CR Chronicle Republican, September 14, 2011. By J.O. Parker joparker@dmreg.com
For years, the Spaulding Manufacturing Company buildings in Grinnell sat empty with boarded up windows and overgrown weeds.
But that’s not the case today for the former buggy, wagon and automobile manufacturing site on the southwest corner of Fourth Avenue and Spring Street.
Construction crews have been busier than an automobile assembly line bringing vitality back to a once flourishing industry in Poweshiek County.
“The enthusiasm for it continues to grow because people can see how beautiful the building looks,” said Chuck Brooke, executive director of the Iowa Transportation Museum (ITM).
The idea to urn the former automobile manufacturing company buildings into a transportation museum unfolded about 10 years ago.
A board was formed and fundraising and grant seeking efforts got underway. A groundbreaking for phase one was held on Sept. 1, 2010.
Phase one of the museum includes three floors.
The upper floor will be used for meetings and conferences and will be available for rental. The first floor (main level) will include transportation related exhibits. The basement includes a mechanical rooj and office space for Brooke and an assistant.
A glass atrium is being constructed between the phase on building and what will eventually be phase two of the project.
The basement of the glass atrium includes rest rooms, a custodian storage area and a glass elevator.
The glass atrium area will house transportation exhibits including an original Spaulding automobile, a Spaulding buggy given by donation and a 1922 Detroit Electric Car made by the Electric Car Company of Detroit, Mich.
Phase One is expected to open to the public in early 2012, at a cost of about $4.4 million.
“We are just saving an important part of history,” noted Brooke of the museum project.
Phase two o the project will be dedicated to Iowa’s Transportation Heroes and more exhibits. Fundraising efforts for phase two are currently underway.
Henry Spaulding
Brooke said Henry Spaulding came to Grinnell in 1876. He opened a blacksmith shop and built it into a flourishing industry.
“At one time Spaulding employed more than 300 people,” said Brooke. “People came here (Grinnell) because there were jobs.”
Brooke said the company produced more than 10,000 buggies and wagons over a 25- to 30-year period in the company’s heyday.
Around 1910, Spaulding started manufacturing automobiles, producing more than 1,200 before closing the business in the 1920’s. Spaulding eventually sold the business.
Spaulding later served in the Iowa Legislature and was mayor of Grinnell for a time.
RDG Planning and Design of Des Moines is the architect on the phase one project. Neumann Brothers of Des Moines is the general contractor.
Brooke said while construction crews are working to maintain the historical integrity of the building, the inside has been completely gutted and new concrete floors, steel stairways, walls and ceilings added.
“We are pretty excited about it,”’ said Brooke. “It’s going to be an asset to Grinnell.”
Donations are being accepted and may be sent to: Iowa Transportation Museum, 927 4th Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112.
