| 1800s |
| 1846 | Iowa became the 29th state of the union |
| 1853 | John Long, George Brentner, and Joseph Hewitt plat the town |
| 1854 | John McMillin opens the first store in the county
Dr. Silas Card became the first doctor in the community
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| 1855 | Stackhouse & Belt opened the first grocery store and Peabody opened the first blacksmith shop The first township election was held
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| 1856 | Lizzie Thompson taught students in the first schoolhouse established in a log cabin |
| 1857 | The post office was established |
| 1858 | Mason City was named as county seat The first newspaper was published, the Cerro Gordo Press
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| 1867 | The Mason City Cemetery Association (MCCA) organized the Mason City Cemetery in the northeast part of the City, near the present Mason City Waterworks |
| 1869 | The first train arrived in Mason City, the McGregor and Missouri River Railway Company |
| 1870 | Population was 1,183
Mason City was incorporated as a town
F. J. Turnure was named Mason City’s First Marshall
Mason City Fire Company #1 was authorized to act; the first volunteer hook & ladder established for fire protection
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| 1871 | The first library was established but was not a free service – it was a subscription library, meaning only paid subscribers were allowed to borrow books |
| 1874 | Central Park was established in the center of downtown |
| 1875 | St. Joseph Cemetery was organized at the present location |
| 1876 | The first ‘fire shed’ was built to house fire protection equipment |
| 1878 | The first telephone service was installed; long distance service was available to Algona |
| 1880 | Population was 2,510 |
| 1881 | Carrie Chapman Catt becomes a teacher in Mason City |
| 1884 | The Civil War statue was erected in Central Park |
| 1885 | Pumps and pipes were purchased for the City water system
The Denison Hose Company was founded. The first hose cart was purchased by O.T. Denison for use by the Company. The Water Commissioner authorized to employ personnel to care for the hose and cart.
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| 1886 | Mason City Electric Company installed street lights
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| 1888 | A second library in the community opened as a reading room
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| 1893 | Dr. Stella Mason became the first female doctor to practice in Mason City
The public library moved to East State Street
The building of the Iowa Central Railroad necessitated relocating the cemetery from the northeast part of the city to the present Elmwood Cemetery site (the bodies of the persons buried were moved to Elmwood Cemetery)
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| 1895 | The first horse-drawn fire engine was purchased and the first paid fire fighter (driver) occurred this year
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| 1896 | A chapel was built on the grounds of the cemetery with a receiving vault and sitting room |
| 1897 | The first run of the Mason City Clear Lake Railroad was made between the two communities |
1900-1929 |
1900-
1901
| A new court house was built in the community on the corner of 1st Street NW and N. Washington Avenue (on the site of the existing parking lot west of the current City Hall location) |
| 1901 | Sophia and Dolly Story opened the Story Hospital, the first hospital in Mason City at 107 N. Pennsylvania Avenue |
| 1902 | The horse-drawn ‘Hook and Ladder Truck’ was purchased |
| 1906 | The first movie theater, The Bijou, was opened by J. M. Heffner, located on the corner of South Federal and 2nd Street SE (the current main entrance of Southbridge Mall to the south on the east side) |
| 1907 | The post office was built at 19 South Delaware Avenue
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| 1909 | East Park was established and is considered Mason City's most popular park
The Mason City Police Department officially became an organized department
The Mason City Fire Department went from a volunteer department to a paid department
The Park Hospital was built on the northwest corner of 1st Street NW and North Washington Avenue
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| 1910 | The Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, opened in downtown Mason City across from Central Park |
1910-
1915
| Colby Car Company was in operation (buildings are still used by the Associated Milk Producers, Inc. AMPI) |
| 1911 | The first airplane flight was made in Mason City |
1911-
1912 | The former fire ‘shed’ was razed, the new fire headquarters was built on the same lot |
| 1912 | The American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York, built locomotive number 457 for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad (the locomotive is now historically retired in East Park) |
| 1913 | The City was governed under the Commission form of government |
| 1914 | The first patrol wagon was used by police
The first motorized fire engine was purchased, a 1913 Seagrave
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| 1915 | The first motorcycle was purchased for use by the police department Mercy Hospital opened |
| 1916 | Mason City was rated a city of the first class with a population of 17,172
The Chamber of Commerce opened
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| 1917 | The Mason City Fire Department became fully motorized |
| 1918 | The first hard-surfaced interurban highway in Iowa was constructed between Mason City and Clear Lake
Mason City Junior College (MCJC) opened as the first public two year college in Iowa
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| 1920 | The census reported Mason City’s population at 20,065 and was ranked as Iowa’s 11th largest city |
| 1922 | The Red Ball Bus Line was started in Mason City by Helen Schulz. This line was one of the first bus lines in the country and perhaps the only one owned and operated by a woman. |
| 1927 | The City re-evaluated its form of government and it was changed to the Manager form.
Charles Lindbergh attended the dedication of the Mason City Airport
Members of the police department began working 8 hour days
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| 1928 | The Records and Identification Bureau of the police department was established |
1930-1940s |
| 1930 | The MacNider family offered seven acres of property on Second NE and Pennsylvania to the City for purposes of building a new library |
| 1932 | The Fire Prevention Bureau was established |
| 1933 | Scrip Road was built along the Winnebago River from Illinois Avenue to the highway; scrip money was printed and used for the building of Scrip Road |
| 1934 | John Dillinger and his gang robbed the First National Bank in Mason City |
| 1935 | The police moved into a new station located at 115 South Washington Avenue |
| 1936 | The North Iowa Band Festival became annual event
The last street car made its way through the city streets
Mason City Motorcoach Bus Service replaces the interurban railroad
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| 1937 | Mason City adopted the first fire code in the State of Iowa
The police uniforms were switched from khaki to the current style navy blue uniform
KGLO became the first radio station in Mason City
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| 1938 | Elmwood Cemetery purchased an additional 60 acres, expanding the grounds to the south and east with property adjoining South Federal Avenue |
| 1939 | A sub fire station is built on South Federal Avenue (the structure is still standing)
Parker’s Woods, located at 1st Street NW and North Jackson Avenue was established
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| 1940 | The new library at 2nd Street NE and Pennsylvania opened its doors to the public
Mid-Continent Airways made the first scheduled airline flight
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| 1941 | Two-way radios are installed in the police station and in squad cars |
| 1945 | The form of government changed to the Mayor-Council form
The first official landing at the new airport located eight miles west of Mason City
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| 1946 | A new Mason City Municipal Airport was dedicated
Mason City gets intercontinental air service by Mid-Continent Airlines
The police department adds 10 men, which brings the authorized strength of the department to 27 men
The first parking meters were installed in the community
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| 1948 | Mason City Police takes first place in the First Annual Chiefs’ of Police Pistol Shoot |
| 1949 | The St. Joseph Cemetery and Elmwood Cemetery were both deeded to the City of Mason City and began operations as the Elmwood-St. Joseph Municipal Cemetery
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1950s-1960s |
| 1951 | Chief Jim Kelley retired, the longest serving fire fighter, after 42 years, 7 months & 21 days
The Elmwood-St. Joseph Municipal Cemetery was expanded to the west with the purchase of 27 acres from the Brick and Tile Company; South Monroe Avenue was built through this land, dividing the cemetery into two separate parcels
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| 1954 | KGLO television went on the air
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| 1956 | Highland Park Golf Course was established in the northeast part of town
The first radar unit was installed in the police cars
Asbury Park, located on the east edge of town on Highway 122 was established
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| 1958 | This was a big year for City parks, with the addition of the Margaret MacNider Campground (near East Park), the Frederick Hanford Park (southwest side), and MacNider Woods (along Willow Creek, south of Hoover Elementary School)
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| 1959 | Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson take off from the Mason City Municipal Airport in a small airplane and crash just north of Clear Lake with no survivors
The Minneapolis & St. Louis steam locomotive 457 was donated to the City by the American Crystal Sugar Company and placed in East Park
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| 1960 | Industrial Park opens in Mason City
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| 1962 | The Palace Theater in Mason City featured the premiere of “The Music Man” written by Meredith Willson, born and raised in Mason City
The first meter maids were hired by the police department
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| 1963 | Georgia Hanford Park was established on the southeast side of the City
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| 1964 | The last railroad passenger train in Mason City
Willowbrook Mall opened
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Mid-
1960s | The back 9 holes of the Highland Park Golf Course were constructed
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| 1966 | The Charles H. MacNider Museum opened to the public as an arts center
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| 1967 | Jet service from the Mason City Airport was inaugurated by Ozark Airlines
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| 1968 | General Hanford MacNider died
Kinney Pioneer Museum opened
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1970s-1980s |
| 1970 | The municipal swimming pool opened
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| 1973 | The south fire station closed
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| 1975 | The new fire headquarters opened at 350 5th Street SW
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| 1978 | Marlys A. Shima became the first known female to serve as a City Council member for Mason City
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| 1979 | The police department moved to its new and current home on South Georgia Avenue
The Park Hospital was torn down
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| 1982 | Fire Department personnel receive EMT-B level training
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| 1983 | Officer Kevin Pals and Rommel, a German Shepherd, became Mason City’s first K-9 unit The police department swore in the first police reserve officer |
| 1984 | Meredith Willson, Mason City’s Music Man, was laid to rest on the family lot in the Greenwood Section of the Elmwood-St. Joseph Municipal Cemetery; also buried there are five other family members
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| 1985 | Southbridge Mall held its grand opening
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| 1988 | The first female police officer is hired, Susan Linkenmeyer
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| 1989 | The Eadmar Hotel collapsed |
1990s |
| 1992 | The Norris Youth Softball Complex was established on the east side of the City
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| 1993 | The North Iowa Hazardous Materials team is formed and housed at Mason City’s Fire Department headquarters
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| 1994 | The Mason City Youth Task Force was formed as a community coalition with the appointment of youth and adults representing a diverse cross section of the community
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| 1996 | The drive-in theatre held its last show (located on the southeast corner of Eisenhower Avenue and 4th Street SW)
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| 1998 | Construction of the Mason City Room in the west wing of the public library was completed
Defibrillators were placed in police squad cars for emergencies
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| 1999 | The Civil War Statue was renovated and replaced on its pedestal in Central Park |
2000s |
2000
| The population of Mason City is 29,172
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2002
| The City Volunteer Program was established to provide a unique opportunity for volunteers to share their time and talents as they partner with City staff on municipal projects
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2003
| Mason City celebrated its Sesquicentennial (150th birthday)
Mason City’s new Aquatic Center opened
The new Operation & Maintenance facility located on North Massachusetts Avenue was completed and included new offices, breakroom, shop, central store and salt and sand storage facility
Jean Marinos became the first female to serve as the Mayor of Mason City
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| 2004 | A monument consisting of 12 black granite stones was erected and dedicated in Central Park to honor the community’s veterans
The Mason City Fire Department begins providing ALS ambulance service to the City of Mason City, most of Cerro Gordo County and the east half of Worth County
Friends of the 457 was formed to preserve and maintain the steam locomotive and fundraising efforts of the Minneapolis & St. Louis steam locomotive in East Park
The new Water Treatment Plant was constructed on 12th Street NE
The State of Iowa Community Betterment Program recognized the State Street Railroad Trestle Painting Project completed by local volunteers
Eagle Scout Matt Meyer was honored by the United States Freedom Corps for planning and constructing a Fire Fighter Memorial and was presented the award by President George W. Bush while the President was in Mason City
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| 2005 | The railroad overpass on 12th Street NW was completed and opened to the public Mason City created a Sister City Relationship with Montegrotto Terme, Italy
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| 2006 | Renovation of Central Park in downtown completed
The Park Watch Program was established, which consists of volunteers touring the parks to help decrease crime and vandalism
Friends of the 457 receive the State of Iowa Governor’s Award for the preservation work on the 1912 Minneapolis and St. Louis Steam Locomotive #457
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| 2007 | The Mason City Fire Department was voted the 2007 Career Service of the Year by the Iowa Emergency Services Association
The Winnebago River Trail Bridge was constructed connecting East Park and the Aquatic Center
The Youth Task Force is nationally recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Communities for Youth
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| 2008 | The Winnebago River in Mason City reached the highest crest ever recorded in history at 18.72 feet which exceeded the levee in one of the worst flooding events the city and state have experienced
Mason City was ranked as the #10 least expensive urban area to live, according to the ACCRA Cost of Living Index
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| 2009 | Margaret MacNider Campground renovation completed
The MCPD celebrated its 100th anniversary as a police department with an authorized strength of 49 officers
East Park celebrated its 100 year birthday
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