March 29, 2024

Historic Colfax memories: Part 2

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After the turn of the century, things went downhill pretty fast in Colfax. The magnificent Hotel Colfax sold at a sheriff’s sale in 1904, and Col. James P. Donohue took possession, determined to make it popular once again. He put more than $600,000 into it in a four-year period with concrete and steel additions. He had the inclined railway removed and new tracks installed from downtown clear out that way. The “new” hotel was given a Spanish motif with beautifully landscaped grounds, a six-hole golf course and its own electric generating and water system. The grounds covered 160 acres where they raised most of their own food, and there were beautiful wooded areas. This success didn’t last long, and the entire place was closed during World War I.

After the war, Col. Donohue leased everything to the government for a veteran’s hospital. Again, extensive remodeling took place, dividing large rooms into small ones with elaborate offices. Only once did the hospital have more than 100 patients, and the officer’s lavish parties caused a great deal of comment in Colfax. The facility closed again in 1923 and remained empty for 22 years with only a caretaker on hand.

Colorful Col. Donohue died in 1938, and in 1939 the oldest wing, which was declared a fire hazard, was removed. In 1946, the year we attended church in Colfax, the Fox Chemical Company purchased this whole complex and another era began. Hotel Colfax became known as the National Swine Palace. Foxbuilt Feeds was advertised heavily. Prize hogs were housed in the basement and transported to the grand ballroom upstairs for special auctions. My rather conservative dad, who was never one to mince words, stated that this was a bunch of darn foolishness.

Another complete change took place in 1948 when $200,000 in stock was issued for the purchase and administration of the hotel for rehabilitation of alcoholics. It was known as River Oaks Manor. I remember that event from my younger days. Records showed a good percentage of cures, but operating expenses caused them to forfeit the property back to Fox Chemical in 1951.

The year 1955 also remains vividly in my memory, when the Salvatorian Novitiate headed by Father Sean del Santos acquired the property for young men involved in religious life. It also served as a retreat house. I got to know Father Sean quite well during this time when our local Knights of Columbus men’s group held several weekend retreats there. This was when the huge mural was painted in the dining hall, which is a beautiful story in itself.

A young man, Michael Angelo Tortorete from Pittsburgh, Penn., was at the Novitiate preparing for his life as a religious brother. He had been an artistic sign painter and got the idea of covering the entire 52-foot-long, 10-foot-high wall in the dining room with his personal art depicting Christ with the Apostles following their famous night of fishing. This took him from January to September 1963 to paint, and it remains in place to this very day. My dear wife Mary and I used to enjoy taking visitors from various countries over for a tour of historic Colfax, and then wind up in the hotel basement dining room. No matter what direction a person stands in that large dining hall, Christ and the disciples are facing them. It creates an outstanding impression that can’t help but remain indelibly in a person’s mind.

In 1968, it was announced that the Salvatorian Novitiate was being closed and sold due primarily to a decline in young men entering religious life. Many interested persons raised $70,000 toward the purchase price of the facility. A board of directors from various religions was appointed and it became the Colfax Interfaith Spiritual Center. More remodeling took place and an outdoor chapel was built. The purpose of the center was to be a place of spiritual enrichment and refreshment for all people.

Now, turn the calendar ahead to 1986. Teen Challenge of the Midlands, founded in 1961, acquired the facility. It was headed by Dave Wilkerson, author of the bestseller, “The Cross and the Switchblade.” Since then, this organization — which currently has 120 centers in the United States — has been working with men of all ages troubled by substance abuse and related problems. Their ongoing success rate of 85 percent speaks for itself. I have great respect and admiration for the programs through the years.

A visit to this current day historic spot is certainly worthwhile. Barry and Larry Hurto and I continue to take foreign exchange students on a tour of the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City each fall and always wind up for lunch in Colfax. We make it a point to visit the historic hotel on the hill while Larry, who is steeped in great Colfax history, tells one olden days story after another. One of my favorite fables is of the Indian prince and princess who jumped to their death into a deep gully north of the hotel.

Folks at the Colfax Museum are always more than happy to open the pages of time during a visit. They have a tremendous amount of artifacts to back up their stories. You will find beverage bottles from the old Colfax Mineral Springs Bottling Company where my brother Bob was employed back in 1946, and even a marvelous patented electric hot dog cooker from days gone by.

The gazebo down by the railroad tracks on Main Street had a bubbling mineral fountain when I was young, and I thought it tasted terrible. The gazebo remains today, but no water.

Colfax, Iowa — one of the best kept secrets in the Midwest!

Olden Days appears on Wednesdays in the Daily News. Contact the writer at mcneer@pcpartner.net.