New Book Displays Images from Ankeny’s Past

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Oct. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series is Ankenyfrom local author Terri A. Deems with the Ankeny Area Historical Society. The book boasts more than 200 vintage and modern images chronicling the growth and change in this Iowa town.

For John F. Ankeny and his wife, Sarah, the 80-acre tract they purchased in 1874 was perfect for the town they envisioned. It was surrounded by coal mines and farms and close to the state capital and plans for a railroad through their property assured success. By 1881, the town had several homes and businesses and a 33¢ train fare into Des Moines.

Through fires and war, Ankeny was nurtured by a strong sense of community and people whose names are still familiar today: superintendent Ed Neveln, the Kirkendall brothers, businessman “Uncle Henry” Wagner, and Charles Irvine and his world-champion Belgian horses. World War II brought further growth with the establishment of an ordnance plant on land now occupied by John Deere Des Moines Works.

Ankeny now has more than 45,000 residents and an enviable quality of life. It is listed among the top 10 towns in the United States for families and, in 2012, was voted a “Playful City USA” for the sixth consecutive year. Images of America: Ankenytraces the community’s growth from a sleepy small suburb of Des Moines to the fast growing and “playful” city it is today.

Highlights of Ankeny include:

•Rarely seen before images, some of which have been donated from local residents and organizations, as well as from private collections donated to the Ankeny Area Historical Society.
•Highlights Ankeny’s origin and role as a train stop for both freight and commuter service.
•Features many of the earliest Ankeny families including the Irvines, Hildreths, Kochheiser, Lamberti, Fontana, Doubleday and Kirkendalls.
•A portion of the author’s profits from the sale of the book will go to support the Ankeny Area Historical Society.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com/.