Fort Dodge Community Foundation

Character Counts
Pillar II
RESPECT
Follow the Golden Rule.
Be accepting of differences.
Be courteous to others.
Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.
Be considerate of others’ feelings.

Fort Dodge History
Harlan and Hazel Rogers Park
1967

Harlan and Hazel Rogers Ball Park is one of the best athletic and recreational facilities in the state. The family that gave the land for the park is Harlan and Hazel Rogers. In 1967, Harlan and Hazel Rogers donated the land for the baseball and softball diamonds at Rogers Sports Complex which now host the Iowa High School Girls Softball Tournament.

In 1967, Harlan and his wife Hazel donated 13 acres of their land for the purpose of building an outdoor recreation complex. Construction began on Rogers Park in the fall of 1967. The initial layout included a pair of softball fields and a baseball diamond. The first official game was played on July 11, 1968 between Sandy’s Distributing (a men’s softball team in Fort Dodge) and Webster City John Deere. The park was used throughout that summer and had its official ribbon cutting in 1969.
Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/iconic-places

Today IT'S Lady Dodgers Day🥎!

Western Dubuque vs Fort Dodge
Click to Watch 📍🔗 Paramount-network.legit4k.xyz/hs-softball.php?live=Fort%20Dodge%20vs%20Western%20Dubuque
🗓️ : Tuesday, July 23, 2024
⏰ : 12:45 PM
🥎 : Bracket: IHSAA Class 4A State Championship
📍 : Rogers Park - Dodger Field

It's GAMEDAY Dodgers!

Fort Dodge vs ADM
📍🔗 athletics-booster.legit4k.xyz/ihsaa.php?live=Fort%20Dodge%20vs%20ADM
🗓️ : Monday, July 22, 2024
⏰ : 5:15 PM
🥎 : Bracket: Class 4A State
📍 : Rogers Park - Channel Seeds Field

Fort Dodge History:
Fort Dodge Junior College
and
Iowa Central Community College

In 1921, the Fort Dodge School system added advanced courses beyond the regular four year high school program as the first step toward the establishment of a junior college, a new educational concept of the times. The college classes occupied the third floor of the new high school on Fifth Avenue North.

The junior college was an extension of the Fort Dodge School System. The first teachers were high school teachers given additional assignments, a practice necessary because state funding did not extend beyond high school. The practice continued until the 1950s. Fort Dodge was the third school in the state to establish such a program.

For four years only the freshman year was offered and it wasn’t until 1925 that the sophomore year was added. The first class, consisting of thirty-one students, graduated from the junior college in 1926. The curriculum was limited to the traditional liberal arts until the 1950s when vocational courses and adult education were added and the school was renamed the Fort Dodge Community College which recognized the change.

In 1953, Fort Dodge Community College introduced a two year elementary teaching program and in 1960 the college became one of the first colleges in the country to offer a two year program for registered nurses which replaced the three year hospital associated program. Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/education

Character Counts
Pillar I
TRUSTWORTHINESS
Be honest. Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal.
Have integrity. Do what you say you’ll do.
Keep your promises.
Be loyal. Stand by your values.

Fort Dodge History: Fort Dodge High School

By 1868 the ever increasing school population of Fort Dodge had outgrown three upgraded buildings. So in that year bonds were issued, and a new twelve-room school house was started. It was ready for the school year in September, 1869.

The building was built at the corner of 2nd Avenue North and 10th Street. However, five months later on January 20, 1870, the school building burned to the ground. The school board used the insurance they collected and began a new building on the same location. This new building was ready for use in the fall of 1872. Until it was completed, classes were held in various places: churches, empty store rooms, etc.

The new building was named for D. K. Lincoln, president of the school board and an outstanding citizen. The building was then on the edge of town, and people complained of having to send their children “way out on the prairie” to school. It was often referred to as the “School on the Prairie.” The Lincoln School housed all grades, with the high school located on the third floor. Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/education

Character Counts
Pillar VI
CITIZENSHIP
Do your share to make your home, school, and community better.
Cooperate.
Stay informed. Vote.
Be a good neighbor.
Make choices that protect the safety and rights of others.
Protect the environment.

Fort Dodge History: Duncombe School
1912

When the land for Duncombe School was purchased, it was a truck garden planted with corn. There were only two or three houses to the north of the school and none to the east. So the school was practically out in the country.

Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/education

Character Counts
Pillar V
CARING
Be kind.
Be compassionate.
Express gratitude.
Forgive others.

We are looking forward to partnering with Badger Lutheran Church to bring Gridshock: A Documentary About Human Trafficking to Badger. We hope to see you on Tuesday, July 9th at 6:00 PM

This documentary is rated 17+ because of the sensitive content. Because it is so tastefully done, I do encourage parents to bring their high school children. As a parent who is very consciencious of what my children watch, I have encouraged my own children to see this. If you are considering bringing your teenagers but would like more information, please feel free to message us.

Fort Dodge History:
Community Christian School

1978

Giving the Fort Dodge area an option for Christian-based, protestant education, Community Christian School has a history of providing high quality educational services in the Fort Dodge area since 1978. Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/education

Character Counts
Pillar IV
FAIRNESS
Play by the rules.
Take turns and share.
Be open-minded. Listen to others.
Don’t take advantage of others.

Fort Dodge History:
Carpenter Elementary School
1917

Carpenter School has the honor of being named for ex-governor Cyrus Clay Carpenter, the teacher of the first public school in Fort Dodge. Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/education

Character Counts
Pillar III
RESPONSIBILITY
Do what you are supposed to do. Try your best.
Persevere. Keep on trying.
Be self-disciplined.
Think before you act. Consider the consequences.
Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes.

Join us for an excellent documentary and conversation about keeping your family and friends safe!

If you have teenagers you can't miss this. While parental discretion is advised because of subject matter, we encourage high schoolers to come with their parents. Arming your teen with this knowledge on human trafficking and opening the door to communication could keep them from unimaginable circumstances.

There are two opportunities for you to see Gridshock: A Documentary about Human Trafficking in Iowa. Join us in Gowrie at the Heartland Community Room on June 25 at 6:00 PM OR in Badger on July 9th at Badger Lutheran Church at 6:00 PM. We hope to see you at one of those events!

Fort Dodge History: Butler School

Butler School began in a rented house on south Twenty-second street in 1906. The district was then known as the Oleson Park district. The school board rented a one-room house, and three grades were taught in it. The next year the board rented another one-room house on Twentieth street and three grades were also taught there. Both of these early schools were under the supervision of Arey School.

In 1910 a new building was built in the Oleson Park district. It was named Butler School for Mr. J. B. Butler who was an active, helpful member of the school board at the time. Mr. and Mrs. Butler were always interested in the school and presented it with a picture that was hung in the hall.

At the time the school opened in 1910 only four rooms were needed. The board had built the building larger because they expected the southeastern part of the city would grow. That is exactly what happened, and soon all the rooms were needed. Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/education

Fort Dodge History: Arey School

The streets of Fort Dodge were not always named as they now are. In the earlier days of Fort Dodge Arey School would have been located between Walnut and Locust, Morrison and Main streets. Today these streets have become First and Second avenues, Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets. The school was located at intersection of 1st Avenue South and South 17th Street.

The first Arey School was built between 1889 and 1890. It was named for Melvin F. Arey who was superintendent of schools at the time. This first building had only four rooms. These four rooms were torn down in 1900 so that a larger building (shown here) could be built that was finished in 1901. Please click here to read more:

Education | FD Historical Site Fort Dodge, Iowa Education History

Fort Dodge History:
Schools and Education in Fort Dodge

Fort Dodge has a long history of education. The first school in Fort Dodge was taught by C. C. Carpenter, (a young surveyor who later became the Governor of Iowa) in the winter of 1854-55. The first school in Fort Dodge was housed in the bake house of garrison soldiers, prior to 1956.

There were twenty students. With the need for more space, the second school was located further west of the original school in the only church and temperance hall in Fort Dodge. Dexter Weller was the teacher and there were forty students. Legend has it that the school was so cold during the winter that the ink froze while the students were using it and the drinking water froze in the pails before the students could drink it.

Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/education

💜🤗💜

We wish you a good Memorial Day as we honor those who have served and those who have gone before us.

Remembering and honoring those who serve.
Thank you from the Fort Dodge Community Foundation

We wish you a good Memorial Day. We honor those who serve and those who have gone before us.

Fort Dodge History:
The Fort Dodge Messenger and History of Newspapers in Fort Dodge

Communication is tantamount to a civilization’s growth and survival. The Fort Dodge Messenger has served a crucial role throughout many decades in the Fort Dodge region. At least ten different newspapers served Fort Dodge and Webster County during the last part of the 19th century.

These newspapers were very important to the residents, settlers and prospective residents who were moving from the east coast to the nation’s prairieland. Editors and publishers of these newspapers played vital roles in the development of Fort Dodge. They were leaders in politics and social reform and greatly influenced the social, spiritual, and economic growth of the region. Their readers were hungry for news, local, national, and international, but most importantly, the readers wanted news of their own communities.

The first newspaper published in Webster County was the Fort Dodge Sentinel, established July 31, 1856. It was “A Paper for the Family Fireside; Devoted to Moral, Intellectual and Social Improvement, and the dissemination of correct Political Purposes”, according to the newspaper’s mission. It was published every Thursday morning; subscriptions were $2.00 a year (hopefully, always paid in advance). The paper was Democratic in its political philosophies. Its publisher was Azariah S. White. White was born in Syracuse, New York. As a young adult, he worked in San Francisco in the newspaper industry for five years. He moved to Fort Dodge in 1856.

Please click here to read more: https://www.fortdodgehistory.com/industry