Author Archives: Jeff

Apr 27

Gladbrook school, pool sunk

Posted on Friday, April 27, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Almost completely unrelated to yesterday’s blog post, but definitely tied to one from last week, is some sad news from Gladbrook. The entire school complex is likely to be torn down, says the Grundy Register. That includes the swimming pool, … Continue reading →

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Apr 26

New Traer pool to open when summer starts

Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 10:02 AM by Jeff

A completely new pool will open in Traer on Memorial Day weekend, the Star-Clipper reports. This replaces the pool that opened in the late 1970s. On an unrelated note, the Star-Clipper has a new editor, who is three years out … Continue reading →

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Apr 25

Lost (in) Younkers

Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

April 2, 2018: The Younkers at Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids remained after all the interior of the mall was demolished. That’s when the “Open During Construction” banner was put up. Off camera, across Williams Boulevard, is a Toys “R” … Continue reading →

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Apr 24

Highway 20. This year. Seriously. We mean it.

Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 25, 2006: For more than half a century, the 1½ mile fraction of a four-lane US 20, mostly with US 59, stood alone surrounded by two-lane roads. I put a photo of the other end of this segment with … Continue reading →

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Apr 23

Big 80/380 interchange meeting today

Posted on Monday, April 23, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 30, 1970: Initial construction stage of the I-80/I-380/US 218 interchange in Johnson County, via Iowa Geographic Map Server. It was built as a cloverleaf, but US 218 to the south would come after I-380 opened. You know it’s important … Continue reading →

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Apr 20

Kyle Munson’s last day at Register

Posted on Friday, April 20, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The number of my former co-workers who remain at The Des Moines Register has taken a hit this year. No fewer than four (that I know of) have checked out in six weeks. That includes columnist Kyle Munson, whose last … Continue reading →

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Apr 19

Little Lowden Lincoln Highway link lost

Posted on Thursday, April 19, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 6, 2013: This malfunctioned photo is of the 155th Street bridge over Yankee Run near Lowden. It was a 15-ton limit then, lowered to 10 tons in 2014. Both the National Bridge Inventory and Bridgehunter say it was built … Continue reading →

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Apr 18

Gladbrook school building: Now what?

Posted on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 7, 2015: Will all or part of the Gladbrook school complex come down? It seems inevitable. Of course, eventually, the question had to be asked. Now that the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school district will remain intact, what is going to be done … Continue reading →

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Apr 17

Traer shaker gallery featured on WHO

Posted on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Ruth Rasmussen’s massive salt-and-pepper-shaker collection was shown on WHO last week, along with some footage of the Winding Stairs.

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Apr 16

Prelude to a deluge

Posted on Monday, April 16, 2018, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Snows in very early April are routine enough. Anything on or after the first day of Iowa Spring (April 15), though, is something to record. Dad did that. Friday, April 16, 1993 … Last night we had an inch to … Continue reading →

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