Come to Avoca in Pottawattamie County, Iowa and visit all the historical things that the Newtown-Avoca Historical Society has made it their goal to preserve for future generations. Perhaps your first stop would be at the Sweet Vale of Avoca Museum at the north end of Main Street. Heading a couple blocks south will bring you to the East Pottawattamie County Courthouse.
From Main Street, a drive out to Edgington Memorial Park east on old Highway 83 will find you at the location of the relocated Newtown Country School. If you take a drive up the hill near the Shell Mini Mart and Casey's Store, you will come across the Historical Society's Memory Garden. One last stop on your way north out of Avoca on Highway 59 will bring you to Graceland Cemetery where you will find the historic Octagon Prayer Chapel.
Newtown-Avoca Historical Society - 2020
OFFICERS:
Sandy Petersen, President
Mike Ohm, Vice President
Mary Pearson, Secretary
Myrna McGrath, Treasurer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Four Officers Plus the Following:
Renee Sowers, 2017-2020
Arla Pickham, 2018-2021
Julie Young, 2019-2022
Phil Simonson, 2020-2023
COMMITTEES:
Courthouse: Rhonda Hope, Chairperson; Myrna McGrath, Treasurer; Bill Dea, Sandy Petersen, Phil Simonson, Stephanie Simonson
Schoolhouse: Iva Marie Holtz, Chairperson; J Pearson, Julie Miller, Jaime Tuttle, Katie Clark
Octagon Building: Bill Dea, Chairperson; Jaime Tuttle, Debby King, J Pearson
Memorial Garden: Arla Pickham, Chairperson; Jaime Tuttle, Patti Cumper, Sandy Petersen
Fire Truck: John Butcher, Chairperson; Kurt Sulley, Debby King, Jaie P Radd
Museum Curators: Barbara Butcher, Chairperson; Mary Pearson, Julie Young, Renee Sowers, Angie Haig
Special Events Coordinator: Andrea Radd, Arla Pickham, Debby King, Sandy Petersen
Maintenance Coordinator: J Pearson, Jaie P Radd, Bill Dea
Property and Finance of Museum: Board of Directors
Finance: Mary Pearson, 2018-2020; Arla Pickham, 2019-2021; Bill Dea, 2020-2022; Mike Ohm, 2020-2022; Myrna McGrath, Society/Courthouse Treasurer
Endowment Trust: Jim Sulhoff, Bill Dea
NEWTOWN-AVOCA HISTORICAL SOCIETY meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Sweet Vale of Avoca Museum at 7:00 p.m. Visitors are always welcome at the monthly meetings. Volunteer lunch assignments for the 2020 meetings include:
January 7th - Julie Miller
February 4th - Andrea Radd
March 3rd - Phil & Stevie Simonson
April 7th - Debby King - Meeting CANCELED Due to Coronavirus Guidelines.
May 5th - Mike Ohm - Meeting CANCELED Due to Coronavirus Guidelines.
June 2nd - Jaime Tuttle - Meeting CANCELED Due to Coronavirus Guidelines.
July 7th - Arla Pickham - Meeting CANCELED Due to Coronavirus Guidelines.
August 4th - Rhonda Hope - Meeting CANCELED Due to Coronavirus Guidelines.
September 1st - Sandy Petersen - Meet outdoors at Firepit at Museum for Food & Socializing.
October 6th - Iva Marie Holtz
November 3rd - Bill Dea
December 1st - Pot Luck