Visitors to restored Odebolt bank

Scotland Meets Odebolt
Curt Wareham of Odebolt recently hosted visitors from Edinburgh, Scotland, who came to see his unique restoration of the former Farmers Savings Bank (1914-1926), and later the Odebolt State Bank (1934-1967) building on 2nd Street in Odebolt.

Laura Engstrom, Dermot Ferry & Curt Wareham 
(Click photo to enlarge it) 

The visitors were Laura Engstrom and Dermot Ferry. Laura is the granddaughter of Maxine Kessler, a long-time resident of Odebolt now residing in Council Bluffs where her daughters live. Laura earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design from Glasgow School of Art and is currently working on a Master’s in Interior Architecture in Edinburgh. She worked for two years for an interior design company in Edinburgh that specialized in restoring or redesigning historical and educational sites so she had a lot in common with Curt.

Laura was pleasantly surprised to find small town Iowa is now doing what is common in Europe, designing work to leave the exterior of a beautiful old building intact, while restoring the interior to meet modern needs.

Interior of the bank, now called the atrium. (Click photo to enlarge it.)

Curt provided an extensive tour of the work that has been done so far on the bank. Curt and Laura enjoyed discussing construction techniques and the conceptual ideas that are being implemented such as having skylights and shuttered balconies that make you believe you are sitting in an outdoor café in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Laura was impressed with the work and looks forward to the possibility of visiting again when all is completed.

Laura was accompanied by her friend Dermot, also of Edinburgh, her mother, Dorothy Engstrom and Aunt Sandy Host and husband Tony, all from Council Bluffs.
 - Article by Dee Engstrom

50th Anniversary at former bank
Jim and Karen Wareham, Curt's parents, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 26 in the atrium of the restored former bank. Family, close friends, and guests from Germany were present for the occasion.  Jim and Karen were married November 12, 1960 at the rural Bethel Lutheran Church once located south of Odebolt towards Kiron.  They were the last couple married in the church before it was struck by lightening and burned down.

The interior of the bank when it was in operation about 1962.

Tours to be offered
Curt plans to offer tours of the bank building during the weekend of Odebolt Creek Days and All-School Reunion  to be held this summer on June 17-18-19.  Rumor has it that there may be live music as well.


Click for a previous story about the bank restoration. 

Read about another Odebolt bank restoration