Macedonia Historical Preservation Society

09/06/2026

As Donia Days celebrates its 75th anniversary, we’re looking back at some of the wonderfully creative floats that have traveled down Macedonia’s Main Street.

This entry appeared in the 1952 Donia Days parade, when the theme was “Historical Eras.” With its huge handmade American flag and the words “Admitted to the Union,” the float appears to represent Oklahoma becoming the 46th state in 1907, although we haven’t been able to confirm exactly what the creators intended.

But look beyond the float and there’s another piece of history hiding in plain sight! The building directly behind it was Macedonia’s movie theater which had closed just the year before, in 1951. Over the years it was known as both the Gayety Theater and the Cozy Theater. Today, that part of Main Street looks very different, the building is now an empty lot.

Sometimes the background of an old parade photo tells almost as much of a story as the float itself.

09/05/2026

If you missed the August 27 Throwback Thursday program, Chicken Wire, Crepe Paper and Memories of Donia Days, you can watch it here:

09/05/2026

From the City Dump to the Museum!

Sometimes preserving history means recognizing a treasure before it disappears. This decorative iron grate once covered the customer service window inside the Macedonia Post Office. After the old post office fixtures were removed, the grate eventually ended up at the city dump. Fortunately, local resident, Loren Cole, recognized that this little piece of Macedonia history was worth saving and rescued it many years ago.

Today, it has a much more fitting home at the Pioneer Trail Museum, where it is displayed alongside an impressive old post office wall complete with dozens of brass postal boxes and service windows. That larger fixture came from the post office in our neighboring town of Treynor.

Do you remember turning the combination on your own little brass box or stepping up to a window just like this one to buy a stamp?

Come check it out... the museum is open today 11 AM - 2 PM.

09/05/2026

Support the Macedonia Pioneer Trail Museum by donating items for the Silent Auction at Donia Days – September 12th!

All proceeds benefit the Macedonia Historical Society, helping us preserve and share our community’s rich history.

Drop your auction items off at the museum today 11:00 - 2:00, message us, or call Ruby at 712-486-2568. We’d love your support!

09/03/2026

Hint... if you have been following the Macedonia Historical Preservation Society's page, you will likely ace the Donia Day Scavenger Hunt! First prize is TWO $50 gift certificates to the The Back Forty Just saying...

Donia Day Scavenger Hunt - Can You Find Them All?

Grab your family or friends and put your knowledge of Macedonia to the test in the Donia Day Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, September 12! Teams of 2 are recommended, but children are welcome to join their families. Teams can start anytime after the 11 AM parade. This FREE activity is great for families, teens and adults.

Follow the clues around town, find the correct landmarks and take team selfies to prove your discoveries! Allow about one hour total, but there's no need to do it all at once. Take a break, enjoy other Donia Day activities, and pick up where you left off. All entries must be completed and turned in by 3:00 PM.

PRIZES!
The winning team will be determined by the number of landmarks accurately found in sequence, with selfies as proof. In case of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random.
1st Place: Two $50 gift certificates to The Back Forty
Most Creative/Crazy Selfies: Each member of the team with the most creative selfies wins a Macedonia T-shirt!

How well do you really know Macedonia? You may be surprised by some of the things you've walked past without ever noticing!

Sign up at the Macedonia Hamilton Development tent in the park at the corner of Potter/Main Streets.

09/03/2026

Silent Auction at Donia Days – September 12th!

Don’t miss the Silent Auction on Saturday, September 12 at the Pioneer Trail Museum during Donia Days!

- Bidding starts at 10:00 AM
- Closes at 4:00 PM

All proceeds benefit the Macedonia Historical Society, helping us preserve and share our community’s rich history.

Got something to donate? Drop a comment below or message us - we’d love your support!

08/30/2026

Red, White & Donia! September 11 - 13!

Are you planning your parade entry for the 75th Anniversary of Donia Days and America's 250th Birthday?

This year's parade theme is Red, White & Donia - a celebration of our nation's history and 75 years of Donia Days. How about recreating this float from 1957? Ralph McCready and Harry Summit won 1st place in their parade entry.

We invite families, alumni groups, businesses, organizations, churches, clubs, schools, and individuals to join the fun by entering the Donia Days Parade on Saturday, September 12!

Cash prizes will be awarded!
1st Place: $300
2nd Place: $200

Judges will be looking for the parade entries that best capture the Red, White & Donia theme through:
Originality
Creativity
Overall Presentation

We encourage participants to showcase patriotic colors, historical elements, and hometown pride as we honor 250 years of America and 75 wonderful years of Donia Days!

Whether you build a float, decorate a vehicle, march as a group, or create something completely unique, this is your chance to help make this year's parade one of the most memorable yet!

Let's fill Main Street with red, white, blue...and plenty of Donia spirit!

Stay tuned for more Donia Days information and start gathering your ideas today!

08/30/2026

All Aboard for Donia Days, 1951!

The very first Donia Days began in September 1951, when the Sigma Gamma Club organized a community celebration simply called Macedonia Day. And they certainly didn't start small!

Instead of choosing one parade theme, organizers created a 25-entry timeline telling the history of Macedonia, with each entry portraying a different chapter of the town's past.

One of the biggest turning points came in 1880 with the arrival of the CB&Q Railroad. The railroad bypassed Old Macedonia along the Nishnabotna River, prompting the town to relocate east to the site of present-day Macedonia.

The Macedonia 8th grade class brought that story to life with this wonderful entry, appropriately named “The Railroad Came.” They created their own miniature steam locomotive, complete with smokestack, cab, and wheels.

Quite an accomplishment for a group of 8th graders, and a great example of the creativity that has been part of Donia Days from the very beginning! As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Donia Days and America's 250th Birthday September 11 - 13, what will this year's parade entries look like? Anyone... individuals, families, organizations can join the fun, and perhaps build your own version of a steam locomotive.

08/29/2026

These Little Wedges Held Up a Macedonia Landmark!

These heavy iron wedges once helped hold together the massive timbers of Macedonia’s wooden railroad bridge on Main Street. The pencil gives you an idea of their size and weight!

The bridge was built over the CB&Q tracks in 1880 and stood between Woodmancy and Potter Streets for nearly a century. The iron hardware was used to secure and tighten the large wooden timbers. Driven firmly into place, they became small but important parts of a structure strong enough to carry generations of wagons, automobiles, school buses and even those unforgettable quarry trucks.

When the bridge was removed in 1977, most of that familiar landmark disappeared. Fortunately, some of its ironwork survived.

Today these wedges are on display at the Pioneer Trail Museum, a tangible piece of the bridge many Donia residents still remember bouncing across! The museum is open today (Saturday) 11 AM - 2 PM.

Take a close look at the second photo and imagine where these pieces once fit into that maze of heavy timbers.

08/27/2026

Tonight! It's Throwback Thursday and we're going back to 75 years ago as we revisit the colorful Donia Day parades through lots of historic photographs dating back to 1951. You'll see beautifully decorated floats and adorable kiddie parade entries like this one. Can you guess who this is? You'll see lots of familiar faces (maybe yours!) Don't miss it.