Named For The original name of the city was Puddleville. The city's first postmaster, Joel "Uncle Jack" Parish, wanted to change the name of the city. He saw the name "Philadelphia" on a crocus sack, crossed out the first and last four letters and created "Adel" County Seat of Cook County Most People Don't Know The U.S. Post Office on Parrish Street has a New Deal mural, "Plantation Scene," painted in 1941 by Alice Flint Notable Buildings The Jim Paulk-Sowega Building, built in the 1930's, now houses the Adel-Cook Chamber of Commerce. Popularly known as the Watermelon Building, it has an exterior décor of green watermelon motifs Don't Miss Reed Bingham State Park, eight miles west of Adel