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May 29, 1965 – The Iowa City Press-Citizen announces that the long-time restaurant, event center, and supper club located in the Terrell/Sanders Mansion on North Dubuque Street – The Mayflower Inn – will close it doors permanently.
Melissa Dunham bought the Terrell/Sanders Mansion on North Dubuque Street in 1923, remodeling it and naming it after the new highway that ran directly in front of her business – The Red Ball Inn. When the Great Depression hit in the 1930’s, Dunham closed the Inn, and records show that George & Stella Coan – who also owned a tavern near the Iowa City Airport – purchased the business and were attempting to make a go of it once more. In 1937, the Coans were arrested for bootlegging after a raid of The Red Ball found a huge stash of non-licensed alcohol. In 1939, in an attempt to re-open the successful restaurant, the Jake & Fannie Kobes renamed the restaurant – The Mayflower Inn – and over the next 25 years, it would become one of Iowa City’s best-known gathering places for all occasions.
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