My Odebolt
What does Odebolt mean to you?
My Odebolt is a place for residents to share ideas about what they love about Odebolt and what could make it even better. We welcome your feedback! If you have photos to share, please make a note of that, too.
If you're a former resident, what are your favorite memories of living in Odebolt?
Just fill out the form to the right to leave a comment. Your comments could be featured on Odebolt.net.
Submitted Memories
Growing up in Odebolt during the mid 1930s the stores were all open in the downtown area on Wednesday and Saturday nights, making those particular nights most exciting to me. Lots of people, bright lights, cars driving up and down the main drag, people visiting one another and summer band concerts on Wednesday nights. Great memories!!
​
- John Ellis
I was born in Odebolt in a little trailer home behind my Grandparents house the McFarlands in 1952. My Aunts and Uncles lived there as well. My Dad worked in the furniture store for years until we moved to Mason City when I was going into third grade. Although I was young when we moved I've always been proud of where my roots were from. Odebolt always reminded me of Mayberry from my favorite TV show. I especially loved how everyone knew everybody and people were very kind. For the last 47 years I've been living in Chandler Arizona and am happily married for 53 years still working a career of 58 years for the Golden Arches of McDonald's. I will always think so fondly of Odebolt and proud to say this small little town with a big heart provided the foundation of who I am.
​
- Stephen Gray
My grandparents, Fred and Margaret Einspahr were long time residents of Odebolt. I would spend my summers in Odebolt with my mother, Margaret Ann Einspahr Gilbert and father. Early memories include 'getting' to detassle corn, walk the beans and fishing. It was a special treat to go to the drug store for a fountain soda, or to check out a book at the library. One other vivid memory was playing on the long log swing at the school.
​
- Barb Gilbert Smith
Riding the LOG on the school playground. Swimming Lessons at 9:00 am at the Odebolt Pool. Watching movies at the Princess Theater. Playing pool and snooker at Ralph's Pool Hall. Delivering morning Newspapers to all my great customers in Odebolt, and remembering reading about the airplane crash that happen on February 3rd 1959, north of Clear Lake. Eating Chocolate Malts at the Bakery, the Modern Inn, Watts Drug Store, and Albright's Cafe out on the highway. Riding my horses out to Adam's Ranch. Helping area farmers bale hay and walk bean fields. And Thursday church night, everyone was driving around town looking for trouble, and hitting a watermelon patch now and then, to give to our Football Coach. Go Trojans!!!​
- James Richard Meltesen
The memories of the 7 years we lived in Odebolt while serving the UMC church there are so abundant I wouldn't know where to start! We made lifelong friends; a daughter was born while we were there; three of our five children began school in Odebolt; the big, square old parsonage next to the church will always mean home to us...those seven years were very special and Odebolt holds a special place in our hearts!​
​
- Rev. Lyle
I lived near Odebolt about 1958-1960 with parents Ed and Ruth Russell with our address Rural Route Kiron, Iowa. I attended Odebolt-Arthur school during the last year that the very old school stood and was in the first bunch of second graders to attend the new building and went through third grade with Miss Peterson as my teacher great time there.
​
- Raymond Russell
