Historical Documents

Title: Early Walthill

"Early Walthill"

Walthill was developed by the Sioux City-Ashland Development Company, (associated with the Sioux City and Western Railway Company) and the Reservation Townsite Company, headed by prominent Sioux City businessman F.B. Hutchens.

Harry L. Keefe, and attorney, and Walter Diddock, a real estate agent, played prominent roles in acquiring the land for the new community form Omaha allottees.

The first business was a shack built in January 1906 by A.L. Maryott and Sons of Pender from which to buy and ship corn to Sioux City on the new railroad line. In March, William Bailey opened a boarding house and Charles Taylor moved his post office and store from the settlement of Quinton. The firs edition of the Walthill Times was published November 16, 1906.

After the town site was platted on May 15, 1906 55 lots were sold at auction the following week. A second auction of lots was held on November 17, 1906. By then, the population had grown to 230, over 50 buildings had been erected, and there were two passenger and two freight trains daily coming to and from the town. Among the first business buildings were Hudec’s Hardware (now the west half of the Horseshoe Lounge), the First National Bank (recently the Village Café), and Harry Keefe’s office (now Samson’s Insurance). Farmland in the area was selling for $40-60 per acre.