Galva in Henry County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

George Helgesen Fitch

1877 — 1915

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2021

1. George Helgesen Fitch Marker

Inscription. In affectionate memory of
George Helgesen Fitch
Citizen — Humorist
this tablet is erected on the
site of his early literary labors
by the
Citizens of Galva
— 1921 —

Erected 1921 by The Citizens of Galva.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.

Location. 41° 9.964′ N, 90° 2.773′ W. Marker is in Galva, Illinois, in Henry County. It is at the intersection of Exchange Street and Front Street, on the right when traveling south on Exchange Street. The marker is on the facade of the former First National Bank building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 Exchange Street, Galva IL 61434, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker: To the Sons of this Community Who Gave Their Future to Preserve Our Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker); The Scrap Drive of 1942 (within shouting distance of this marker); Our Gävlebocken (within shouting distance of this marker); Galva Opera House/Temperance Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Olof Krans (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hayes Pump and Planter Company (about 300 feet away); Sgt. Schuyler Brent Patch (about 400 feet away); Wistrand Manufacturing Co. and the Blue Star line (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galva.

Also see . . . George Helgesen Fitch (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: American author, humorist, and journalist perhaps best known for his stories about fictional Siwash College. Fitch was born in Galva, Illinois. He was the eldest son of Elmer Eli Fitch, editor and publisher of the Galva News, and Rachel Helgesen, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Holverson) Helgesen. His grandfather, Thomas Helgesen, was a native of Norway who had immigrated to America in 1848.

Fitch graduated from Knox
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 24, 2021

2. George Helgesen Fitch Marker
The marker is mounted at eye level on the left edge of the former First National Bank building facade.
College in 1897. He worked as a reporter for a number of midwest newspapers including the Council Bluffs, Iowa Daily Nonpareil and the Peoria, Illinois Herald-Transcript. Eventually he became frequently published in national magazines, breaking in with his popular “Megaphone” series satirizing urban America. He also penned a syndicated column called “Vest Pocket Essays”. By 1910, Fitch not only was a respected writer and editor, he became a nationally syndicated columnist for George Matthew Adams' news service. He was elected as a Progressive Party candidate to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1912.

Knox, his alma mater, was the basis of a series of popular stories set at “Good Old Siwash College”. First appearing in the Saturday Evening Post in 1908, they focused on characters including football player Ole Skjarson and Petey Simmons, a coach who paid his “amateur” athletes as well as the fraternity Eta Bita Pie. The Siwash stories were the basis for the movie Those Were the Days! (1940) starring William Holden as Simmons, which was filmed on location at and around Knox College.

(Submitted on September 23, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 23, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.