CONRIBUTED PHOTO Matins Program Host Andy Schwandt welcomes Michelle Roseburrough, administrator of the Historical Society of Marshall County as the program for the weekly Matins Kiwanis meeting.

Matins Kiwanis met at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday in the Mowry Irvine Mansion on Main Street. No Token Fines or Happy Dollars were raised, but a thank you was awarded to Martha Schwandt for setting up the special meeting arrangements. Alan Hilleman introduced his guest, the Director of Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Brandon Euler.

A funnel cake proposition was shared by Andy Schwandt and approved by the Matins to sell funnel cakes in Atlantic the weekend of July 21 for RAGBRAI and share the profits with the Atlantic Kiwanis club. They also agreed to store the trailer for the week leading up to the event at Hope United Church in West Des Moines. A reminder for the board meeting on Tuesday was given with the president and president-elect to be decided.

Program host Andy Schwandt introduced Michelle Roseburrough as the guest speaker. Roseburrough is the administrator of the Historical Society of Marshall County and came to Marshalltown 20 years ago from Mesa, Ariz. and has been with the Historical Society for the last six years. The Historical Society has been preserving the past of Marshall County for future generations since 1908 and manages five historical properties. These include the Historical Museum (still under repair from the tornado), the Country School House, Glick-Sower Homestead, the Mathew Edel Blacksmith Shop and the Mowry Irvine Mansion.

Construction of the mansion started in the 1870’s with the front porch added on around 1900 and was home to the prominent Lounsberry and Mowry families. The interior currently has the original furniture and woodwork with historical photos and artwork downstairs and examples of local artists upstairs. The mansion can be rented out for prom events, weddings or set up for meetings and is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. Roseburrough can be reached at 641-752-6664.

After the Kiwanis meeting was adjourned the Matins were set free to explore the mansion.