Author Archives: Jeff

Dec 25

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1922-1991

Posted on Sunday, December 25, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Soviet Union officially came to an end a quarter-century ago today.

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Dec 23

License Plate Letters — EZE

Posted on Friday, December 23, 2016, at 12:00 PM by Jeff

As 2016 comes to a close, the E series of Iowa license plates is too. I have yet to “stand on the corner in Winslow, Arizona.” Some day.

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Dec 22

KOKZ begins closing the circle

Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

^ So mid-’90s it hurts. KOKZ-FM 105.7 in Waterloo switched to oldies in late 1996 or early 1997*. That was the station the school bus radio was turned to, and for quite a while there was a one-hit wonder practically … Continue reading →

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Dec 21

The Final Countdown: 4. Archer

Posted on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at 10:01 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2016: Archer, like MANY other hamlets in Iowa, owes its existence to the railroad, but the rails were pulled up when a Cherokee-Sioux Falls line was abandoned in the mid-1980s. Archer, pop. 131, is five miles from US 18 … Continue reading →

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Dec 20

The Final Countdown: 4 1/2. Meriden

Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The trio of Meriden, Cleghorn, and Marcus were once served by individual spur routes from IA 5 (now IA 3) until the highway was moved closer to the railroad. Today, IA 143 is the only number that remains, because downtown … Continue reading →

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Dec 19

Bernard school in trouble

Posted on Monday, December 19, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 18, 2015: The Bernard school was built in 1960. The lettering outside, presumably original, says “West Dubuque” instead of “Western Dubuque” — a name that would have brought it in line with all the other “West”s in Iowa. The … Continue reading →

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Dec 16

Iowa Highway Ends’ 15th anniversary

Posted on Friday, December 16, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 2, 2008: South end of IA 15 July 23, 2009: North end of IA 140 June 14, 2011: South end of IA 62 Fifteen years ago today, after a couple weeks of “beta launch,” I let other roadgeeks know … Continue reading →

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Dec 15

IA 100 extension opens today

Posted on Thursday, December 15, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

December 3, 2016: Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett (second from left) and other dignitaries have a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the first phase of the IA 100 extension. The extension of IA 100 from Edgewood Road to Covington Road opens to … Continue reading →

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Dec 14

The Final Countdown: 5. Varina

Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 3, 2016: No big stone lions guarding this library. As I crossed IA 4 on US 20, I saw long green tubes on freshly churned dirt in the middle of a cornfield, and I realized I was entering Bakken … Continue reading →

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Dec 13

The Final Countdown: 6. Duncombe

Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 11, 2002: Mile marker 11 on IA 928 near the Highview elevator in Hamilton County shows a countdown to Fort Dodge, even though the Webster County segment was turned over almost right away. On old 20, you can be … Continue reading →

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