The Jackson County Historical Society is an IRS-approved non-proft corporation organized under the laws of the State of Iowa. Our museum is not permitted to purchase artifacts and must rely on citizen donations of money and property for support and growth. We can always use money and appreciate everyone’s generosity. But as to property we have some specific things for which we are actively searching. Anyone who possesses an item or items on our wish list and wish to donate the item(s) to our museum should contact the Curator - click HERE.

TRACTOR - Clinton Engines Project: The 5+ acres of land requires extensive reconstitution and ongoing maintenance. A compact tractor and the following items are needed -ACQUIRED
Still Needed -
    1. A loader bucket
    2. A roto-tiller

STEAM TRACTOR - Late 1800s or early 1900s in good to excellent condition. Needed for agricultural exhibit. ACQUIRED

LARGE PICTURES - Clinton Engines Project: Exhibit or gallery-sized pictures/paintings of
    1. Founder, Don Thomas and Manager, Vern Socks, and any other Clinton Engines executive from the Thomas era.
    2. Don Suhr and any other executive from the Charnay era.
    3. Martin Hofinger and any other executive from the Hofinger era.

ENGINE PRODUCTS - Clinton Engines Project: Any Clinton Engines small gasoline-powered engine product in good to excellent condition. Because there were so many products and variations, we must screen each offer with our screening committee headed by Bill Mayberry, President, Clinton Engines Products Co. and ex-Clinton Vice-President of Sales. Clinton manufactured engines for the brand names of Clinton, Mongomery Ward’s, Newton, and GKE. Chainsaws using Clinton motors were marketed by Clinton, Chief, Bolens, Luther, Farmcrest, NV-AX, Choremaster, Blue Grass, Sun Flower, Casey, Peerless, Bobcat, Montgomery Ward, Wasp, Teco, Apache, Northern King, Lam Bretta (England), Keen, Gotbrod, Super Cut, Handy, Handy Cut, and Pro. Outboard motors for brand names of Clinton, Chief, Peerless, Apache, Sears, Spiegel, Firestone, Gulf, Featherweight Gulf Queen, Blue Jet, Ward Sea King, Sport Fisher, and Beaver. We believe that in the 1950s and early 1960s Clinton either made or provided motors or low-powered “Go-carts” of unknown manufacture. The small motor-on-rail toy was popular in Iowa during the time. Clinton also made kick-start washing machine motors and a few may have been sold under the Maytag brand. All Engines, regardless of brand carry a Clinton trademark on the engine housing. If you have any of these products and wish to make a tax deductible donation, please contact the museum Curator for specific instructions for this process - click HERE.

CLINTON MOPED - Built in Asia to Clinton Engines, Inc. specifications, it was powered by a Clinton engine and marketed and sold under the name ‘Clinton’ by Clinton Engines, Inc.

CLINTON ENGINES GO-CART - A clinton lawn mower engine rear-mounted on a rail with 4 wheels, a steering wheel, and a brake. Popular in the 1950s.

CLINTON ENGINES MEMORABILIA - Clinton Engines Project: All forms.

THE 5 MILLIONTH COMMEMORATIVE ENGINE - Clinton Engines Project: This engine was presented to the company at a ceremony involving Don Thomas and Iowa Governor, Leo Hoegh.

THE 11 MILLIONTH COMMEMORATIVE ENGINE - Clinton Engines Project: This engine was presented by CEO Don Suhr to Iowa Governor, Harold Hughes about 1963. ACQUIRED

TRANSITIONAL LIGHTING DEVICES - Museum Collection: devices used to provide light and power in the transition between the era of fires and candles to modern rural electrification, e.g. carbide lamps, coal oil lights, liquid and glass jar batteries, etc.

BELLEVUE CASCADE RAILROAD - AKA MILWAUKEE RAILROAD ARTIFACTS AND MEMORABILIA - Museum Collection: Related to the narrow gauge railroad connecting Bellevue in Jackson County, Iowa and Cascade in Dubuque County.

MIDLAND RAILROAD ARTIFACTS - Museum Collection: Artifacts and memorabilia related to the Midland Railroad that traversed Southern Jackson County.

JACKSON COUNTY INDIAN ARTIFACTS & MEMORABILIA - Museum collection: All sorts of Indian artifacts needed to fill out our collection.

BELLEVUE BOAT COMPANY ARTIFACTS - Museum collection: Artifacts and memorabilia pertaining to Joe Brandt’s boat manufacturing business in Bellevue, Iowa.

WILLIAM SWIGERT - MAQUOKETA SENTINEL NEWSPAPER - Museum collection: Artifacts and memorabilia related to William Swigert, the Swigert family, and the Maquoketa Sentinel.