History
The beginning of Runnells can be traced to the demise of Lafayette, a town that was laid out by Dr. Andrew Y.
Hull in 1849 at the approximate location of Freel on the north bank of the river just south of what is now
Runnells. Lafayette was initiated by Dr. Hull because he thought that property in Des Moines, selling for $25 to
$30, was too expensive.
In 1850, the county's largest celebration ever, took place at Lafayette. There were toasts, speeches, and a hint
that 'The Fort' Des Moines (population 275), was about to be overtaken by Lafayette (population 175). All the
towns along the river were in competition with The Fort to become the trade center for Central Iowa and the
state capital.
Unfortunately, In May of 1851 heavy rains caused the river to raise 22 feet above the low water mark. (The
annals of Iowa vol. 5, page 410 state there were 74 1/2 inches of rain that summer, more than six feet in less
than five months.) This caused a heavy loss of houses, cattle, horses, hogs, and sheep. Houses were either
covered with water or completely swept away. The river, at flood stage, was three miles wide and steamboats
sailed over the town. When the water subsided, the promising town of Lafayette was gone. The only thing left
standing was the public well.
Many of the former residents of Lafayette moved uphill and located in the area that is now within Runnells city
limits. At about this same time, other people were also moving into the area from Vandalia in Jasper County and
Percy to the east, another river town.
- The town of Runnells was platted on November 17th, 1881 by the Union Land
Company, of which John Sumner Runnells, the city's namesake, was an officer.
It soon grew into a prosperous town with several businesses located on Main
Street (now called Brown). In 1884 the business directory included the Wabash
and St. Louis Pacific Railroad, a Constable, a general store, a livery, 2 saloons,
a flour mill, a restaurant, Justice of the Peace, a carpenter, a hotel, grain
elevator, coal company, meat market, saw mill, and a blacksmith.
Click on picture of John S. Runnells (to the left) for more information.
View of the business
district in 1884
Click on picture to left for
history of town buildings.
By 1892 it had added a hardware store, 2 grocers, a drugstore, another hotel, a stone quarry, a weekly
newspaper called the Runnells' Telegram, a post office, billiard hall, a physician, and real estate offices.
Unfortunately, in September, 1892 disaster struck. Runnells was swept by a devastating fire that destroyed the
entire business district, leaving only one building left standing.
- Runnells after the Fire of
1892. Eighteen buildings
burned after a fire started
about one o'clock in the
rear of McKinney & Sons'
store.
- The resilient local business leaders and merchants rebuilt the
business district and the town continued to flourish. This
would not be the only fire to ravage the city. However, the
business district continued to grow into the early 1900's and
by 1910 the town was also home to 2 churches, 2 banks,
masons, plasterers, livestock and cattle companies, a lumber
company, a barbershop, a shoemaker, a poultry company,
and even had its own Runnells Brass Band. The Des Moines
Valley Record also began publication during this time based
out of Runnells.
The railroad was a big motivating factor for people to populate the town of Runnells. It was an essential link to
the outside world. The St. Louis and Des Moines division of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific was the first
railroad through town, connecting St. Louis to Des Moines through Runnells. In the late 1800's coal mines were
booming and businessmen arrived daily to pursue their careers. This helped the growth of the town and also
created demand for additional homes and building materials. Saw mills were also doing big business in the area
during this time. In those days gone by, the Runnells Wabash Railroad Station was the best producer between
Albia and Des Moines. Runnells was shipping over a hundred cars of stock a year.
Telephone service was first connected to Runnells in 1905.
In 1929, the closing down and abandoning of the Diamond Joe Coal Mine on the T.A. Erskin farm by flooding
was a real calamity to Runnells. Many miners lost their jobs and were forced to move away. It also caused a
shortage of coal to supply the local demand.
The train depot, which also housed the local telegraph office was closed in 1964 when the Red Rock Dam
forced the railroad and part of the town to relocate. The new location of the railroad track and depot was moved
above the flood plain. A new structure was built to replace the old depot, but that small structure has never
been used. Freight trains still travel the rails daily.
All historical information posted on this site has been taken from the following two books, which are
available for purchase at the City Hall.
| History of Runnells |
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