Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Apr 22

Luther taking steps toward disincorporation

Posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Months after the old school in Luther was lost to history, the same may be about to happen to the town itself. The state City Development Board held a hearing regarding Luther’s status earlier this month (PDF). Luther was in … Continue reading →

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Apr 20

On legacies, and not being the only one out to visit every Iowa town

Posted on Monday, April 20, 2015, at 10:16 AM by Jeff

Or: Can someone’s thunder be stolen if it isn’t raining yet? June 5, 2014: Not the only buildings in Struble, but close. Struble, pop. 78, is near the Plymouth/Sioux county line in northwestern Iowa. I’ve been chugging along in my … Continue reading →

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Apr 18

Nothing happening in Ames today

Posted on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

Nothing at all.

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Mar 31

Two additions to the “unvisited” list

Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at 10:35 AM by Jeff

Hey, that’s not how this is supposed to work! Since my New Year’s resolution to visit all of Iowa’s incorporated places (eventually), I have had to refine my list slightly. First, Klemme is obviously not on US 69, and I … Continue reading →

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Mar 30

Waukee rest areas close Wednesday

Posted on Monday, March 30, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

September 28, 2012: The eastbound I-80 rest area near mile marker 119, as seen from the Alice’s Road bridge. The nearly unused six-lane bridge has loomed beside them for years now, and the end is finally here: The rest areas … Continue reading →

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Mar 26

Reuters photo essay showcases rural Iowa, undersells Preston station

Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Reuters photographer Jim Young has compiled a photo essay of the Iowa countryside in conjunction with the beginning of caucus season. A slideshow with large pictures has a home on Reuters’ site, but the photo collection on Yahoo (also, sadly, a … Continue reading →

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Mar 24

State newspaper archives still piling up

Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, at 10:06 AM by Jeff

This long story from IowaWatch and shorter one from the Gazette are disheartening for me as a researcher. Newspapers from across the state have not been microfilmed since 2009 and continued to be stored. The Legislature was going to devote … Continue reading →

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Mar 11

Lime Springs loses school, newspaper at same time

Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at 10:06 AM by Jeff

May 19, 2004: The naked pole for the west end of former IA 157 west of Lime Springs. I shouldn’t need to use a metaphorical clue-bat here. The last posts at the Lime Springs Herald‘s online news site, dated Jan. … Continue reading →

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Mar 10

Historical analysis of 2015 RAGBRAI route

Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at 10:01 AM by Jeff

July 28, 2004: RAGBRAI converges on Steamboat Rock. The route for RAGBRAI XLIII was released late Saturday, and a video touts visits to eight towns the ride has never been through. Comparing the 2015 route map — available day-by-day in … Continue reading →

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Mar 03

‘House of Cards’ goes to Iowa

Posted on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In the way that TV shows about politics go to Iowa, it’s caucusin’ time for Netflix’s “House of Cards”. Check the flags at the 16-18 second mark of the trailer embedded in this story. The show got Oelwein High School’s … Continue reading →

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