Letter to the Editor: Thanks for the ‘Maytag Memories’ Tom

After years of intensive research, my friend Dr. Tom Hoover published a great biography of a great man, Frederick L. Maytag. It’s 292 pages of Maytag Memories, and I am fortunate to have one of his personally autographed copies dated July 2018. I also have an autographed copy of Tom’s biography of Maytag’s dearest friend, Howard Snyder, an inventive genius with Maytag for generations.

Most “Newtonites” in today’s world know very little about F.L.Maytag, other than the beautiful 40-acre Maytag Park, which was the previous Jasper County Fairgrounds. It was put up for sale in 1935, when the fair moved to Colfax, and property purchased by Maytag. Ten full pages in this book are devoted to the park, with a picture taken in September 1935 of Ronald “Dutch” Regan, sports caster on loan from Radio Station WHO in Des Moines as Master of Ceremonies. Over 100 men worked for over a year developing this into as great fenced park, complete with shelter houses, and the famous Maytag Bowl.

Yes, we all know about Maytag Park, and are aware of the current day $15 million reconditioned Maytag Hotel, which was built in 1926. F.L. Maytag took the entire fifth floor as his private apartment after he and his wife Conredena “Dena” split up after 43 years of marriage. They never divorced, but “Dena” lived in their spacious mansion in Elm Park the rest of her life. Very interesting history!

What about the great $250,000 YMCA building in downtown Newton, dedicated in 1927? Yes, this was the Maytag Family’s contribution, and so was the $180,000 Salvation Army Citadel in 1928. Thanks Maytag family. New headquarters for the “Y” and Salvation Army took place in recent years, but great history remains.

And employees during ensuing years were rewarded with above average wages, and some of the first insurance plans in the nation. One year in the 1920s every employee with three years of service or more was given a surprise gift of $500. My dear wife’s dad Harry Rosenberger remembered this vividly. He also helped lay bricks for the 1926 Maytag Hotel, and was there for the grand formal dedication on Dec. 26, 1926. Newton Daily News that day probably weighed 5 pounds!

Tom Hoover’s great book titled “Farm Fields to Beverly Hills” is just packed full of great Maytag History and dozens of Historic pictures. Check it out from our Newton Library for a great “Read.” You’ll be glad you did.

John D. McNeer

Newton