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Buena Vista County

City of Newell

Welcome to Newell, a nice place to live. Located in the heart of northwest Iowa near the Raccoon River, Newell was founded over 135 years ago, in 1869. Presently, the town of Newell itself is comprised of 887 citizens and an additional 900-1,000 rural residents. Newell also is the home of the four-time Newell-Fonda boys basketball team State champion. The school, and its children is part of the pride and joy of the community. Newell is a place where quality is not just a word, but a way of life.

Newell is beautiful place with many beautiful places to visit and activities to do. Within the city limits are two gorgeous parks, a nine-hole golf course with driving range, and a heated pool with kiddy pool and dive area. Also with in the city is Keith's Arabian House serving lunches and giving tours. And the Allee Mansion, a beautiful Victorian house, is located just out side the town.

The Allee Mansion is an old Victorian mansion located about one mile out of town on a farm. It was built in 1891 by some of the first settlers to the Newell area and it serves as a historical site for the town. Tours are given only by appointment. Please call Judy Bodholdt at (712) 272-4277 or Paul and Marilyn Monson at (712) 272-4566. Keith's Arab Heritage House is a unique private museum featuring artifacts that interpret life in the middle east. Tours and luncheons are also by appointment only and can be made by calling (712) 272-3527.

Additional information concerning the Allee Mansion: The Allee Mansion is a Queen Ann style 1891 Victorian mansion built be Jesse and Mary Kingman Allee. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mansion and the farm it is on was given to Iowa State University in 1958 when Geroge, Jesse and Mary's son, died. The Iowa State Reseaerch Farm is an active part of the agricultural College of ISU. Geroge Allee was instrumental in the development of hybred corn for NW Iowa and spear-headed the Newell Corn Shows in the 30's and 40's. Area farmers brought their very best ears of corn to be judge for top honors and a trip to the Iowa State Corn Shows of which Geroge chaired for many years. He left his childhood home and farm to ISU for a continuation of education for area farmers. He is noted for deveolping, during his life time, a standardized method of comparing corn production from one farm to another, the "yield test", which is now used throughout the world.

Submitted by: Marilyn Monson on 10/2/2005 2:12:36 PM