The Miracle Timeline

2000 -In January the City of Maquoketa accepted a Martin Hoffinger gift of the 12.5 acre parcel of grounds and factory buildings that the Clinton Engines had once called its home. Market and environmental issues arose, so the City opted to demolish all buildings and contracted with Lohmann Excavating & Demolition Company of Hillsdale, Illinois to clear the land.

2001 - By Spring, the wrecking ball was well into the leveling of the factory buildings on the West half of the Clinton property. People around Maquoketa began to lament the loss of the once proud Clinton buildings even though they realized that the City had to recoup some of the money it had sunk into the property by that time. Those regrets reached the ears of Historical Society President, Asher Schroeder and board member, Bob Sears.

     In June, an exploratory meeting was held with a few board members and some interested parties regarding the preservation of the Clinton headquarters building, the proud lady of the company. At the meeting the enormity of the effort and potential cost of just sealing the building against the weather was set before them. They nonetheless decided to go to the City open negotiations for the property to be a Society permanent home and land for museum expansion.

2002 to 2004 -Through 2001 and 2002 and on in to 2003 there were many meetings with a responsible city council trying to assure success of the project for BOTH parties. Issues from the grant-inducing historical character of the building (timely selection as one of Iowa’s ten most endangered historic buildings by the Iowa State Historic Preservation Society resolved that issue), to financing and development plans, to environmental issues, to creating a property subdivision, to the timeliness of improvement in the exterior appearance of the eyesore. The deal was closed and on November 16, 2004 when the City formally transferred the property to the Historical Society.