Hundreds of thousands of words have been spoken of and written about Marshalltown’s iconic Iowa Veterans Home (IVH). It is fitting.

Not long after it opened in 1887, IVH quickly became an integral part of Marshalltown, a community known for its distinctive courthouse, the Evangelical Deaconess Hospital (EDH), Fisher Controls, Lennox Manufacturing, Marshalltown Trowel, and meatpacking businesses.

Karl Lettow, the public information officer with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs in Des Moines. said the facility – like other community icons – has had numerous name changes.

“The Old Soldiers Home” and “The Soldiers Home” were previous names he said. Now in its 139th year, IVH continues its legacy forged initially with its motto: “Iowa Forgets Not the Defenders of the Union.”

Accordingly, it opened to serve aging and disabled Iowa Civil War veterans. This was decades before federal and state veterans benefits, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other social “safety-net” programs became uniformly available.

The IVH legacy began in 1886 when a group of Marshalltonians convinced a citizens commission charged with selecting a site that Marshalltown was the best location. The Marshalltonians were A.C. Abbott, Sidney Foster, Dr. George Glick, S.C. McFarland, Col. J.M. Parker and S.E. Sears.

The state panel told communities that local financial donations – which would be applied to project costs – would be an important factor in the selection.

“They (Marshalltonians) raised $30,000 in donations to help make their case statement,” Lettow said.

Other communities vying were Algona, Boone, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Colfax, Decorah, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Hampton, Indianola, Jefferson, Mason City, McGregor, Sac City and Webster City according to HSMC and Times-Republican archives.

When announcement of the successful bid reached Marshalltown, an impromptu parade was organized with 11 female members of the Salvation Army, the municipal band, Company D of the Iowa National Guard and rejoicing citizens. Rockets and Roman candles were shot from the roof of the Johnson, Ketchum and Woodbury buildings.

The funds Marshalltown raised were applied to the purchase of 128 acres of land with $12,000 remaining. That amount was combined with $100,000 the state had appropriated to construct the first building – Old Main.

Amos Fox of Livermore – a Civil War veteran – was the first resident admitted, according to Lettow, who said two commandants — the late James Gilliam and the late Jack Dack — were instrumental in making IVH a modern health care facility.

Dack was a U.S. Navy veteran and a health care professional.

“He oversaw much development during his tenure – 1969-2002,” said Lettow.

During Dack’s tenure, Malloy Hall was built and later dedicated with much fanfare.

Lettow said former commandant Jodi Tymeson, the first female commandant and a Boone native, was instrumental in IVH passing rigorous annual local, state and Veterans Administration health and safety inspections.

She motivated staff with her credo: “Every day is inspection day.” Tymeson also had a distinguished career with the Iowa National Guard before being appointed Chief Operating Officer and later commandant.

Current Commandant Todd Jacobus said present day management of the mammoth facility and the future offers challenges and opportunities.

“We have approximately 400 residents now supported by nearly 900 staff and volunteers,” he said. “We are licensed for 447 residents but we do not have the required number of nurses,” he said. Finding nurses is a problem for health care facilities nationwide. Regardless, we continue to be the gold standard in health care for veterans.”

IVH is the fifth largest veterans home in America. It offers comprehensive long-term care to veterans, their eligible spouses and Gold Star mothers. It offers two levels of medical assistance. Residential care for those needing minimal daily help and nursing care for those requiring constant supervision. Also provided is memory care for those afflicted with dementia.

The EDH went through several name changes before it became UnityPoint Health — Marshalltown. Fisher Controls was sold to Monsanto and later to the Emerson Co. It is now known as Emerson Process Management. Marshalltown Trowel was renamed MARSHALLTOWN Co.

Numerous ownership groups transitioned in the volatile meatpacking industry. Locally, it has stabilized significantly beginning in 2007 when JBS Brazil – later JBS USA – purchased the former Swift & Co. facility in the town’s northeast quadrant.

The Lincoln Highway – later renamed U.S. Highway 30 – helped usher in the town’s famed confectionaries and restaurants; Lillie Mae Chocolates, Stone’s Restaurant, The Tremont Inn and Hotel, Taylor’s Maid-Rite, Zeno’s Pizza and more.

For more information about IVH, visit the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs website – www.dvaiowa.gov,, or 641-752-1501. For information about Marshalltown, visit www.marshalltown.org or contact 641-753-6645. For historical information about Marshalltown and Marshall County contact HSMC at info@hsmcia.org or 641-752-6664.