09/14/2021
So cool about the town of Iowa Hill and their store, post office, community center, and cafe!
In honor of the reopening of the New Iowa Hill Store:
𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔻𝕦𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕝𝕕 ℝ𝕦𝕤𝕙
This is one area where the early settlers of Iowa Hill had it easier than present-day residents. There were plenty of stores available, including “three large grocery stores, … five dry-goods and clothing stores, one fancy store, three variety stores, … two hardware and tinware stores, and two butcher shops” according to the Directory of the County of Placer for the Year 1861. Other communities on the Divide, such as Wisconsin Hill, Monona Flat, and Damascus, also had thriving business districts.
Over time, attrition from fires and a declining population reduced the business part of town to one grocery store (Macy’s) and one combination store/bar/Post Office/assaying office (the “old brick building”) by 1920. All of the other towns on the Divide had died out by then.
Macy’s Red & White Store was built next to the Macy home, and survived for 50 years before it was destroyed by fire on January 11, 1949 when an oil heating stove exploded. The store was rebuilt, only to succumb again to flames on June 24, 1956.
The old brick building store was originally built ~1854 by Joseph Colgan and operated for 115 years until it burned on July 19, 1968. A detailed history of the store is provided in the book 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘰𝘸𝘢 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘝𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘦 2: 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘰𝘸𝘢 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦.
Less than two years after the old store burned, Iowa Hill got its first new business in 80-some years when two couples—Grover and Mary Parker with Robert and Margie Brooks—opened the “new” Iowa Hill Store across the street. Initially operated by Herbert “Hub” and Bonnie Cantrell, its grand opening was on February 21, 1970. The establishment included a general store, restaurant, bar, Post Office, and gas station (the gas station has since been eliminated).
Once again in business Wednesday thru Sunday 7am-7pm, the store also functions as a community center and cafe. Stop by and say hello and enjoy a meal!
photo credit to Lynea Daniels