Page 16 - QuakerMillDam

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Fun in the Sun—The dance hall to be constructed later. Meggenburg named the
beach and picnic area Sunset Beach, a name that continued
Development of a Pleasure to be used for several decades, well after Meggenburg sold
his interest in the area. A combination dance hall and roller
42
Resort skating rink was built along the highway just east of the cab-
ins in 1940. Meggenburg operated this skating rink, which
he named “Beachland,” until he sold it in 1951. The build-
Newspaper reports from the early twentieth century often ing later housed Virgil’s Motel and subsequently an apart-
mentioned fishing and picnicking in the Quaker Mill area. ment building until it was demolished in the 1980s or early
During the hot weather in July 1921, a local newspaper re- 1990s.
43
ported that:
George Robert purchased an additional five acres in a popu-
hundreds of Manchester folks have availed lar picnicking and camping area south of Meggenburg’s tract
themselves of the cool waters of the Maquo- in 1938. Manchester theater proprietor Wayne Dutton built
keta above the dam at the Quaker Mill. The the first cabin on the Robert property in 1939, and Robert
youngsters, and some of the older ones for built the second shortly afterwards. In 1941 Meggenburg
44
that matter, seem to have the time of their platted another development between the pond and the
lives diving off the spring boards and the highway, which he named the Sunset Beach subdivision. This
bridge… subdivision was intended for permanent homes rather than
summer cabins. 45
The Quaker Mill site is the best along the
Maquoketa river for a real bathing beach, Development of the north shore of the pond began in the
and steps should be taken to improve it. 40 1950s. In 1953, the Delaware County Fish and Game Pro-
tective Association purchased a 17-acre tract south of what
The same newspaper article also faulted some of the visitors is now Firefly Road. A clubhouse and playground were built,
to the Quaker Mill area for their behavior. One complaint was and the area was used for boating, fishing, and swimming by
that “a number of boys chased some hogs belonging to Mr. association members. The clubhouse was also rented to the
Goodrich into the river and held the animals under the water. public for parties and other events. The fish and game club
46
Boys who are up to such tricks should not be allowed to visit disbanded in 2004 and sold their clubhouse. 47
the mill site.” Blocking the highway with cars, “some with
glaring headlights turned on full power,” was also identified On the west side of the pond, the Delaware County Boat
as a problem. Club had a brief but successful presence in the mid-1950s.
Formed in 1955 by Manchester residents, the private boat
In 1934, D. J. Meggenburg, a Manchester merchant, es- club rapidly expanded from a handful of people “with one
tablished a pleasure resort along the east shore of the mill speed boat” to a membership of more than 50 people “and
pond. Meggenburg purchased a 46-acre tract which he sub- some $10,000 invested in various water crafts.” The boat
48
divided into lots for summer cabins. A beach and picnic area club was apparently short-lived; only one newspaper refer-
were planned as part of the original proposal, with a large ence to it was found after 1956. 49

Sunset beach at the Quaker Mill pond, 1958
(used with permission from the Telegraph-Herald)

14 University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist