Welcome
to Farmington, Iowa
Home of Indian Lake Park and the
Strawberry Festival
Download Farmington Brochure ~ Here
Download Welcome Information and City Map ~ Here
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Home of Indian Lake Park and the Strawberry Festival
Download Farmington Brochure ~ Here Download Welcome Information and City Map ~ Here |
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The Pioneer Historical Society In 1965, the decision by the majority of the church members of the First Congregational Church agreed to dissolve and disband due to the impossibility of supporting and maintaining their organization. The Farmington Commercial Club made arrangements to acquire the property for restoration as a historic building and museum. The Pioneer Historical Society was organized and later incorporated in February, 1966. Meetings of the Pioneer Historical Society, Inc. are held on the third Thursday of each month, at 7:00 pm. The public is invited and welcome to attend. For More Information Contact: Pioneer Historical Society Tim & Tina Hattan 605 Olive Street Farmington, IA 52626 Telephone: (319) 878-3578 Email: Information
The Museum The little church modeled after the rural New England churches, with its native walnut pews, originally cost $1,400 to build, and now houses the museum collection. The original pulpit and solid walnut pews are still used in the building during gospel and pre-Christmas candlelight services, for traveling pioneer ministers, monthly meetings, and educational seminars. The museum is a valid site where many artifacts, historic items, and photographs of a wide variety are on display. Old tax records and early 1900 period businesses have been helpful in genealogy searches, and are enlightening to read, as well. Visitors are impressed with other furnishings accumulated in the museum, to include a huge mahogany table with deeply carved legs, made from a baby grand piano, by a long-time Farmington resident, Charles Cleave, and an upright pump organ. First Congregational Church Eleven members of the 1843 graduating class of Andover Theological Seminary, in Andover, Massachussetts, heard the plea of pioneer and patriarch Asa Turner, for the need of young ministers to found and build churches and schools in the West. Motivated by the plea, Harvey Adams and Daniel Lane, who in spite of ill health, were determined to answer the call to go West. They arrived at the home of Asa Turner, in Denmark, Iowa, where they chose their field of labor. Daniel Lane chose Keosauqua, and Harvey Adams chose Farmington, This group of pioneers became knows as the "Iowa Band," and were credited with giving Iowa its high literate and cultural status. Their goal: Each to found a church; All to found a college. Their goals were accomplished, and the college is now Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. The First Congregational Church of Farmington was built by Harvey Adams and was completed in January of 1848. Harvey served as pastor for 22 years, and also served as a charter member on the Board of Directors of Grinnell College for 50 years. The church remains as it was long ago, with the exception of the changing of the double entrance doors. During the years of the church's history, 17 dedicated ministers served this church. |
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