 The history of this beautiful region dates back long before the area was settled by farmers and trappers. The early inhabitants of Cerro Gordo County were the Winnebago and Sioux tribes. Living off of the lush forests and bountiful lake, the tribes enjoyed the land for many years before Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson arrived in the area in 1851.
Hewitt and Dickirson's settlement soon became an oasis in the Midwest; Hewitt traded with the Indians and Dickirson farmed the rich soil. In 1853, the town of Shibboleth was settled by John Long, Hewitt and George Brentner where the waters of the Winnebago River and Willow Creek come together. The town changed names several times, from Shibboleth, to Masonic Grove, to Masonville and finally to Mason City, as it is know today.
The area is home to large deposits of limestone and clay, which opened the doors to a thriving mining and cement industry. By 1911, two large cement companies were operating in Mason City, and the cement industry continues to be an important part of the community today. Brick and tiles were also made in Mason City; the area was one of the largest producers of brick and tile in 1912. The brick and tile industry has since disappeared from the area, but Mason City has supplemented its early industries through its development as a service, retail and distribution center.
The Mason City Airport dedication was attended by Charles Lindbergh shortly after his historic transatlantic flight. Sadly, more than 30 years later, the airport became remembered for a much different tragic event.
On February 3, 1959, singer and musician Buddy Holly gave a performance at the Surf Ballroom's Winter Dance Party in Clear Lake. Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson boarded a private plane at the Mason City Airport to travel to their next engagement. The flight was barely off the ground when icy weather caused the plane to crash in a field near Clear Lake. A memorial to the three rock 'n' roll legends stands in the field today, commemorating "The Day theMusic Died."
On March 13, 1934, the notorious bank robber John Dillinger and his accomplices, Baby Face Nelson, John Hamilton and Tommy Carroll , attempted to rob the First National Bank owned by YMCA chair, Charles McNider, in Mason City. Dillinger and Hamilton both sustained gunshot wounds during the robbery attempt. Expecting to net some $240,000 from the robbery, they were disappointed to get only $52,000. Dillinger, who had become somewhat of a Robin Hood figured to the public, had planned to use his share of the $240,000 to flee the country. A local legend is that two of Dillinger's gang stayed at the Mason City YMCA two weeks earlier in order to "case the job". |
