This Year – Our 90th Anniversary

Izaak Walton 90th Anniversary Information (Download)

Our History. . .Formation of the Des Moines Chapter

The Des Moines chapter of the Izaak Walton League evolved from a hunting and fishing club called the Iowa Fish and Game Association. The club held its first meetings in the Polk County Court House. In August of 1922, a group of men from Waterloo met with the Des Moines group and told them of a new conservation organization called the Izaak Walton League, which had organized in Chicago on January 14, 1922. The Waterloo men were planning to join the organization and hoped the Des Moines club would follow their lead. The Des Moines group was quickly sold on the idea, and in their enthusiasm to join, their letter of application reached Chicago before the Waterloo application arrived. Thus, the Des Moines Chapter became the first chapter in the State of Iowa to receive an Izaak Walton League Charter. The date of our charter is September 12, 1922.

The Original Chapter House

In 1927, a shelter house in Birdland Park was acquired and meetings were held there. In 1931, a parcel of ground about 1.75 acres, depending on the height of the Raccoon River, was acquired. The clubhouse at Birdland Park was sawed into sections and moved to the new location at 221 Fleur Drive. The sections were reassembled and a beautiful stone fireplace with a large walnut mantle was added and the exterior of the building was bricked. The records and Charter, which were being stored in a barn during the move, were lost due to a fire, so much of the history of those early years was lost forever. In the early 1940′s a long room was added to the east side of the building. This room referred to as the “Annex” was divided into a card room, bar, manager’s office, and kitchen.

The clubhouse weathered many high water marks due to flooding by the Raccoon River. On June 13, 1947, 39 inches was recorded on an inside wall as the all time high water mark. That year Fleur Drive was closed because of floodwaters and one lady drowned near the south edge of our property on Fleur Drive. We were also flooded in 1954, 1955, 1960, and 1967.

New Chapter House

In 1969, the membership had reached 959 members and crowds were overflowing the chapter house every Tuesday evening. A trade was made that year with the Water Works Department of our building and ground for 8.8 acres of ground at 4343 George Flagg Parkway. The cost of the new building would be $140,000. We had $80,000 in funds available but needed to raise an additional $60,000. A fund raising drive among the members was tried but it fell short by $35,000.

A contractor was hired to construct a “shell building” and our members were to do all the finish work. Ground breaking was March 6, 1970. Throughout the year, over 200 men working nights and weekends actually constructed our building. The first meeting was held December 1, 1970. The official dedication of the new building was made on May 23, 1971. Due to a membership of nearly 2000 members and many hours of donated labor, the $35,000 mortgage was burned in the new fireplace in 1973.

In 1996, the Ikes added another 3,500 square feet to the chapter house. This included the new Tom Crumb Memorial Library, a new entryway, new offices, new rest rooms and additional dining space. The dining area now seats 499 people. A patio with tables and benches has been added for those wishing to dine outside or just to enjoy the view. For availability, please call  General Manager, Carolyn Berndt at 515-244-3773.