Category Archives: Tama County

Jul 02

100th anniversary of Iowa ratifying 19th Amendment

Posted on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Today marks 100 years since Iowa ratified the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, extending the right to vote to women. The amendment would be approved in time for the 1920 presidential election. Here’s what Ella Taylor, wife and mother of … Continue reading →

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Jul 01

Partial archives of Traer, Toledo papers posted online

Posted on Monday, July 1, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The whereabouts of probably the only remaining existing copies of the Traer Star-Clipper dating back to its founding remain unknown since the newspaper office closed more than a year ago. But about four and a half years after I discovered … Continue reading →

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Jun 03

Thanks, Grandma

Posted on Monday, June 3, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Today is the 109th anniversary of Grandma Lyons’ birth. For a period of years, she gave her grandchildren savings bonds with their birthday gifts. Now, 30 years later, they’re starting to be cashed in. I was able to do it at … Continue reading →

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May 31

Traer gets DNR grant

Posted on Friday, May 31, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 1913: Excerpt from Sanborn Co. map showing Traer’s power plant. A May 23 press release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has three items worthy of blog posts. The first is the closest to home: “City of Traer— … Continue reading →

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May 27

Memorial Day 2019

Posted on Monday, May 27, 2019, at 10:20 AM by Jeff

May 26, 2019: Members of the Traer American Legion carry out a 21-gun salute at Buckingham Cemetery. This followed a ceremony at the Traer Memorial Building (and, earlier, visits to other cemeteries).

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Apr 24

3 1/2 counties, 2 newspaper offices

Posted on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’s been more than a year since the Traer Star-Clipper office closed. When the owner of the paper relocated everyone working on a Tama-Grundy Publishing weekly to Tama, seven publications total, everything was left behind. Look in the front window … Continue reading →

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Apr 23

A mea culpa on King Tower Cafe

Posted on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In 2011 I linked to a news story saying the King Tower Cafe in Tama had closed. It turns out I needed to follow up on that. It’s up and running, as this KCRG story from last year shows.

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Apr 10

Dr. Boerm, DVM, and Dr. Boerm, DDS

Posted on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The original Star-Clipper building in downtown Traer, where the Winding Stairs landmark is located, has housed the North Tama Veterinary Clinic for decades. Kurt Boerm (“Doc Boerm”) has been the area’s veterinarian for nearly 25 years. The practice now includes … Continue reading →

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Mar 05

Dateline Buckingham

Posted on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

!!! Politico: A native Californian learns that Iowa is as nice as it’s cracked up to be. BUCKINGHAM, Iowa — Janet and Mike Shock reclined in loungers while trying to write the first sentence of this story. Janet offered a … Continue reading →

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Feb 21

Breaking a streak I didn’t know I had

Posted on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

October 2, 2015: The Civil War sentry protects the Taylor County Courthouse from the Missourians lurking a mere seven miles away. Southwest Iowa’s Taylor County isn’t exactly on the beaten path. Bedford, the county seat, doesn’t have a stoplight and … Continue reading →

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