PRESERVING THE CLINTON ENGINES CORPORATE HERITAGE

Some time after the business failed the City of Maquoketa, Iowa accepted a gift of the now dilapidated property and began to demolish the ghost of a once grand lady. Many people expressed regrets at losing this unique building, symbol of a beloved company. The Historical Society undertook talks with the City, An 11th hour reprieve was graciously granted, and on November 16, 2004, ownership of the building and grounds was formally transferred to the Historical Society.

Many thought the job impossible, but the Society began to resurrect the building hoping it would serve as an anchor pavilion for a new museum complex. It was a formidable task. We hoped to showcase Midwestern historical development as a reminder that the Midwest was not and is not that generally perceived quiet pastoral farmland. For there was and is real thunder from those prairies in the form of more than 18 million small gasoline engines for use in thousands of chain saws, go-carts, outboard motor boats. lawnmowers, etc. and a host of other manufactured industrial products. The new complex would not only honor the lives of our settlers and farmers but also the thousands of area people who worked at companies like Clinton Machine Company and the railroads and trucking and materiel companies that came together to build giants.  A quick developmental history follows. [Click on the thumbnails to enlarge]

Wouldn’t you love to be a part of this exciting project? Alan Buttars, a Boy Scout from DeWitt in Clinton County became excited about the challenge and made the resurrection of the flagpole and base his Eagle Scout project. How about THAT? We invite all who have any interest in Jackson County history, Clinton Engines, Corp, its products, midwest industry, or just interested generally in historic preservation and/or history to join with us in this great work. Visit with us here for a few minutes and get the feel of the “thunder from the prairie.” Check the “Wish list” on our museum site to see specific things that interest us - click HERE.