Historical Ordinances
Adel had some interesting ordinances in its books in the early days.
Curfew Ordinance
Ordinance #67 prohibited anyone under the age of 17 to be abroad upon the streets alleys or public grounds between the hours of nine and four, but there were a few exceptions.
“Be it ordained by the Town council of the Town of Adel. Dallas County, Iowa. That it shall be unlawful for any boy or girl under the age of seventeen years to be abroad upon the streets, alleys, or public grounds of the Town of Adel, or upon any premises in Said Town not his or her own residence, between the hours of Nine (9) O’clock P. M. and four (4) O’clock A. M. from April 1st to October 1st and from October 1st to April 1st 7:30 P. M. unless accompanied by some person of lawful age, having him or her in charge, or unless upon some errand by the written permission or direction of his or her parents, guardian or employee, that he or she shall not loiter on his or her way or make any undue noise by shouting, yelling, or otherwise to disturb the peace and quiet of the town.”
Street Ordinance
Ordinance #22 directed that all able-bodied male residents shall annually perform two days labor of eight hours each upon the streets, alleys, highways or public grounds. If you were too busy or felt that such labor was beneath your dignity, you could pay $1.50 per day for an exemption.
“Be it ordained by the Town council of the Town of Adel, that all able bodied male residents of the corporation, between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five years, between the first day of January and the first day of November of each year, either by themselves or satisfactory substitutes, shall perform two days labor of eight hours each, upon the street, alleys, highways or public grounds within the corporation of Adel, or such times and places as the Town Council, Street Commissioner or other proper officer may direct, upon three days’ notice in writing given or pay in lieu thereof in money, the sum of one dollar ($1.00) and fifty cents, for each of such day’s labor which money shall be paid to the Town Treasurer, a duplicate receipt being taken therefor and filed with the Town clerk.”
Seizure and Destruction of Gaming Instruments
According to Ordinance #17, gaming instruments were not in favor in early Adel. Any official of the town could seize any instrument, device or thing used for the purpose of gaming or by, on or with which money or other articles of value may be lost or won.
“Be it ordained by the Town council of the Town of Adel, that the Mayor or any Councilman or Marshal or Policeman of the Town may seize or direct to be seized any instrument, devise or thing used for the purpose of gaming or by, on or with which money or other articles of value may be lost or won, and all such instruments, devises, or things may be destroyed under the direction of the Mayor.”
Peace and Quiet
A peace and quiet ordinance prohibited disturbing the quiet of any neighborhood, private family or person within the town. Anyone who willfully and unlawfully disturbed the quiet in public or private areas would be subject to a fine and imprisonment.
“Be it ordained by the Town council of the Town of Adel, that everyone who shall willfully and unlawfully disturb the public quiet and of any street, alley, or public ground, or building, public or private, or shall disturb the quiet of any neighborhood, private family or person within the Town by giving false alarms of fire, by loud or unusual noise, by ringing bells, blowing horns, or other instruments, by indecent obscene or profane language, conversation or conduct, or by threatening, quarrelling, assaulting, fighting, or by any other devise or means whatever shall be subject to a fine and imprisonment.”
Bathing in the Mill Race
This ordinance from section 4 is a bit of a head-scratcher. One can only imagine what circumstances brought it about.
“Every person who shall bathe when naked or insufficiently clothed in the mill race or slough or Raccoon River in view of any house shop bridge or frequented street road or railroad between sunrise and one hour after sunset shall be subject to fine or imprisonment.”
Sunday Sales
Sunday sales were prohibited by Ordinance #19. However, Adel allowed druggists to sell medicines at all times and dealers in milk, ice and meat could sell these articles before ten o’clock in the morning and after three o’clock in the evening.
“Every person who shall on Sunday show forth or expose for sale any kinds of goods, wares, merchandise, wines, malt, or spirituous liquors, or chattels of any kind, or shall open any store, grocer, recess, room, apartment, saloon or shop for the sale of any cider, malt, or spirituous liquors, or any other commodity, or shall allow persons to congregate therein on any such day, for the purchase or use of any such wines, cider, malt or spirituous liquors, or any other beverage or commodity whatever, or for the purpose of playing at any game of cards or dice, or any games at which money may be lost or won, or for any purpose by which the Sabbath may be desecrated or the public peace disturbed, shall be subject to a fine or imprisonment, provided, it shall be lawful for druggist to sell medicines at all times and for dealers in bread, milk, ice and meat to sell these articles before ten o’clock in the morning and after three o’clock in the evening.”
Firecrackers
Another ordinance from section 13 prohibited kites, hoops, and firecrackers
“Any person who shall fly any kites, or roll any hoops on any street, alley or avenue devoted to business, or cause or aid in causing fire crackers, torpedoes or other explosive things, to be fired, exploded or thrown upon the public street, alley or grounds, or upon any private grounds without permission of the owner, agent or occupant, or shall participate in any sport or exercise likely to scare horses, injure passengers, or embarrass the passage of passengers, or vehicles on the streets shall be subject to a fine or imprisonment.
Speeding
Speeding was also prohibited in section 12. However, the ordinance defined speeding much differently than we do today.
“Any person who shall ride or drive any horse or animal immediately or shall drive any horse or other animal attached to any carriage or vehicle of any description in or upon any street, alley or public ground within the town in such a careless manner or at such a rate of speed as to endanger life limb or property shall be subject to a fine or imprisonment.
Houses of Ill Fame
According to section 10, the Mayor or Councilman, Marshal, Town Constable or Policeman could enter any gambling house or room or any disorderly house or any house of ill fame within Adel with or without a warrant and could arrest all suspicious persons found therein.
“If any owner or keeper or any other person within any gambling house or room or any disorderly house or any house of ill fame within this Town, shall refuse to permit the Mayor or Councilman, Marshal, Town Constable or Policeman, to enter the same, he shall be subject to a fine and it shall be lawful for the Mayor or any Councilman or the Marshal or Policeman to enter the same or cause the same to be entered by force, by breaking the doors or otherwise, and to arrest with or without warrant, all suspicious persons found therein, and any person obstructing or resisting the Mayor, Councilman, Marshal or any Police Officer in the performance of any act authorized by this section shall be subject to a fine or imprisonment.”