(July 1, 1920-July 1, 2003)
- In 1920, they knew it as: Russell's consolation prize for being removed from the Blue Grass Road mainline
- We know it as: County Road S56
- Let's get granular: A connection from Russell to a straighter "State Road" between Chariton and Ottumwa was added to the road system April 16, 1918. The selection of the State Road also would result in the creation of IA 68 to Melrose. It would seem logical, then, that these two spurs would be numbered together. For whatever reason, they were not.
NORTH End: Stop sign, US 34, originally IA 8, Lucas County
Facing north on 97 (6/15/03)
In 1920, the intersecting road was IA 8.
Facing north on 97 (8/24/19)
Facing east on 34 (6/15/03)
Facing east on 34 (11/22/06)
Photo by Jason Hancock
Facing east on 34 (11/22/06 and 8/24/19)
Left photo by Jason Hancock
Facing east on 34 (8/24/19)
For some reason, compared to other counties, Lucas County's blue pentagons are extra pointy.
Facing west on 34 (6/15/03)
Facing west on 34 (6/15/03 and 8/24/19)
Neil Bratney's picture of this signage in January 2002 did not include the rural signs, so that means that less than 18 months after Lucas County put them up some were changed.
*Original Number, Original End*
SOUTH End: West St., Russell, Lucas County
The residents of Russell are all of American nationality, are thrifty,
industrious and enterprising. The town has many pleasant homes, neat
lawns, an abundance of shade trees, and well kept streets and
sidewalks. There are four churches, the Methodist, Baptist, Christian
and Presbyterian, and an excellent school system. The Russell High
School carries a full four year course. ...
Plenty of accommodations are
afforded to automobile tourists passing through the town. An up-to-date
automobile garage is maintained in the city. The Hotel Brandon
furnishes good accommodations for autoists wishing to stop over. There
is also in the city a strong state bank having connections with the
leading banking institutions of the larger cities of the state.
— Huebinger's Map and Guide for Blue Grass Road (1912)
Facing west, but heading south, on 97 (6/15/03)
Extension of IA 97 into Russell (1920 pop. 663, 2010 pop. 554) added one last turn into the business district, to make its south end Shaw Street at West Street. (6/15/03)
Unlike 68, which comes into Melrose in a straightforward manner, 97 turns west, then south again, then west through two blocks of the business district to end at a gravel road. That last turn was completely unsigned.
Facing west, but heading south, on 97 (6/18/18)
The pole is the same (notice the flag mount) but I'm looking more southwest-ish here because of the sun angle at the time, and also to add a new angle.
Facing east, but heading north, on 97 (6/18/18)
This was the first block of 97 and a view of most of downtown Russell.
Facing east, but heading north, on 97 (6/15/03)
This is 97's last turn before heading north to US 34.
State of Iowa 1, Russell 0
The Russell school district bears the uncomfortable mark of being the second district in Iowa history to be forcibly dissolved by the state Board of Education. The school was closed and Chariton absorbed nearly all of the district. (6/18/18)
Disappointment in Russell after school closing
RUSSELL
— "We told them, 'You can’t
feel bad about this — you didn’t [cause]
this.'"
That was part of the message from Russell Elementary School Principal
Dan Dow to students Wednesday after the State Board of Education this
week voted unanimously to force the district to close. ...
The state says they discovered Russell, which has had a shrinking
enrollment over the past 20 years, was $300,000 in debt and not in
compliance with certain administrative regulations.
— Ottumwa
Courier, March 13, 2008
*Original Number, Original End*
Last seen: 2003
Page created 3/22/02; last updated 3/26/07 6/13/20