Author Archives: Jeff

Sep 01

Him Jarbaugh

Posted on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In working on my map of visited counties, I ran into a color problem. With a new color selected every two years (more or less), the palette of strong contrasts is running out. I’ve been through the box of eight, … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps, Trip Reports | Comments Off on Him Jarbaugh
Aug 31

Ankeny diverging diamond delayed

Posted on Monday, August 31, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

A full opening of the rebuilt interchange of I-35 and 1st Street in Ankeny has been delayed, KCCI reports. It was supposed to be this week. The news story in the second link has a guide through the interchange, which … Continue reading →

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Aug 28

Football(?)(*)(?)

Posted on Friday, August 28, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

There is to be football in Traer tonight. After Iowa became the first state to complete high school seasons in any sport (despite both the North Tama softball and baseball teams unable to say the same), Iowa will be one … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports, Tama County | Comments Off on Football(?)(*)(?)
Aug 27

Big T Maid-Rite has closed

Posted on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Another item lost in the shuffle: The Big T Maid-Rite in Toledo, at the corner of (Business) US 30 and US 63 since that intersection opened in the mid-1950s, is gone for good. The restaurant went from being forced closed … Continue reading →

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on Big T Maid-Rite has closed
Aug 26

Southwest Arterial open; US 52 beside itself

Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Southwest Arterial in Dubuque opened August 17. Stories: KCRG, KWWL, KDTH. (Sorry for the delay, but I’d been commuting an hour each way for more than a week and, well, *gestures omnidirectionally*.) As of Sunday, all US 52 signage … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Southwest Arterial open; US 52 beside itself
Aug 24

Iowa’s 1920 highway system: Small connectors

Posted on Monday, August 24, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Some of this batch of routes seem superfluous, but there was usually some sort of rationale for their existence. IA 53: Nora Springs to Charles City via Rockford instead of Rudd, out of a request from the Floyd County supervisors. … Continue reading →

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Aug 21

‘Votes count now’

Posted on Friday, August 21, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

From the September 23, 1920, Tama Herald, unsigned but presumably from editor/publisher Charles J. Wonser: Votes count now. For many years we men have been told what would happen if women were given equal suffrage with men. Now they have … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Tama County | Comments Off on ‘Votes count now’
Aug 19

A Grundy County suffrage pioneer

Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Women in Iowa had been given partial suffrage in 1894, allowed to vote “on school issues, local officers, or bond-related matters.” The suffrage movement had been active in Iowa for half a century before ratification of the 19th Amendment to … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on A Grundy County suffrage pioneer
Aug 18

The edge of suffrage

Posted on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, August 14, 1920: Women go after House votes in Tennessee for a final show down Nashville, Tenn, Aug. 14 — “I do not believe that men of Tennessee will surrender honest convictions for political expediency or … Continue reading →

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Aug 17

Some derecho pictures

Posted on Monday, August 17, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The worst part of the derecho that wreaked havoc on so much of Iowa its effects can be seen from space lasted about an hour and a half. Its effects will be felt for years. August 12, 2020: MANY places … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Some derecho pictures