Category Archives: Tama County

Aug 23

Tama bridge’s future remains unclear

Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at 1:00 PM by Jeff

For the second week in a row, I went to a Tama City Council meeting. Once again, the Lincoln Highway bridge was the subject. My Substack is ideally about Iowa history and highways, and right now, this is the story … Continue reading →

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Aug 16

Lincoln Highway bridge can’t be rehabilitated

Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

See my story about Monday’s Tama City Council meeting on Substack.

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Aug 11

Winding Stairs Festival marks Traer’s sesquicentennial

Posted on Friday, August 11, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 9, 2023: Happy birthday! We’re celebrating Traer’s 150th birthday this weekend, although many of the activities were back in June. The schedule is on the WSF committee’s Facebook page. My parents are grand marshals for tomorrow’s parade, which starts … Continue reading →

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Aug 09

At long last, a correction in Traer’s highway history

Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

For years I have tried to reconcile early 20th century maps of the area just east of Traer with the present alignment of IA 8. I knew that at least part of the diagonal heading east from Second Street did … Continue reading →

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Aug 07

‘Tidings from Traer’

Posted on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 3:00 PM by Jeff

August 9, 2008: The north side of Traer’s business block was constructed after a fire in 1894 burned the whole thing down. Toledo Chronicle, August 7, 1873: The town of Traer, the present terminus of the Pacific branch of the … Continue reading →

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Jul 25

Tama-Toledo RAGBRAI maps available

Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 23, 2008: Riders enter Tama on RAGBRAI XXXVI. Tama-Toledo is again a host community this year. RAGBRAI will be going from Des Moines to Tama-Toledo on Thursday, and highs are expected to be in the upper 90s. By the … Continue reading →

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Jul 24

Sandblasting, new paint for Winding Stairs

Posted on Monday, July 24, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

July 9, 2023: Crop of a picture of the Winding Stairs, before cleaning. On July 16, Traer’s iconic Winding Stairs had a refreshment. It wasn’t a drink, but a full-on sandblast followed by a new coat of paint. The North … Continue reading →

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Jul 05

Look back at Traer’s Big Birthday Bash

Posted on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Here’s coverage from the North Tama Telegraph, along with lots of photos, of Traer’s Big Birthday Bash on June 3. Naturally, with Tama County being in a moderate drought, the event was plagued by rain showers.

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Jun 30

Dysart sesquicentennial celebration next week

Posted on Friday, June 30, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The town of Dysart will celebrate its 150th birthday July 2-4. Events begin with a community church service Sunday morning at 10 and end with the Independence Day parade Tuesday morning at 11. Here’s a detailed rundown in the North … Continue reading →

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Jun 09

3 Tama County churches in United Methodist schism

Posted on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

More than 80 United Methodist churches in Iowa are ending their affiliation with the denomination. (Stories: Register, Gazette) The action is part of a slow-motion schism over gay rights that the COVID pandemic has made extra messy. The Garwin, Geneseo, … Continue reading →

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