"Iowa Almanac" is a copyrighted production of Stein Enterprises, L.L.C.
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No use of the material is allowed without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
Copyright 2019 by Stein Enterprises, L.L.C.
All Rights Reserved.
No use of the material is allowed without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
Copyright 2019 by Stein Enterprises, L.L.C.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, June 28, 2019
"Iowa's First Club"
On June 28, 1865, the Dubuque Shooting Society was formally incorporated. The group was founded in 1856 and is Iowa's oldest existing club. Originally known as the Schuetzen Gesellschaft, the group's charter members were all of German descent, and none were native-born Dubuque residents.
In fact, until 1875, anyone who could not speak German was excluded from membership, and the German name was used until 1890.
The club's 160-yard range at 30th and Jackson Streets was the scene of frequent shooting competitions. A change in the course of the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad meant the club needed to find a new property. They settled on a 23-acre park fronting what is now Highway 52 North, which was once the county poorhouse farm. The natural amphitheater provided an ideal setting for shooting and privacy.
About 100 years after the railroad forced the Society to move, transportation routes almost did the same thing again. In 1978, there were plans to route a four-lane highway through a portion of the property. But the Dubuque City Council cancelled those plans, because of the negative impact on the Society.
Originally known as Schuetzen Gesellschaft, the Dubuque Shooting Society was formally incorporated as Iowa's oldest existing club, on this date in 1865.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 28th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Iowa's First Club"
On June 28, 1865, the Dubuque Shooting Society was formally incorporated. The group was founded in 1856 and is Iowa's oldest existing club. Originally known as the Schuetzen Gesellschaft, the group's charter members were all of German descent, and none were native-born Dubuque residents.
In fact, until 1875, anyone who could not speak German was excluded from membership, and the German name was used until 1890.
The club's 160-yard range at 30th and Jackson Streets was the scene of frequent shooting competitions. A change in the course of the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad meant the club needed to find a new property. They settled on a 23-acre park fronting what is now Highway 52 North, which was once the county poorhouse farm. The natural amphitheater provided an ideal setting for shooting and privacy.
About 100 years after the railroad forced the Society to move, transportation routes almost did the same thing again. In 1978, there were plans to route a four-lane highway through a portion of the property. But the Dubuque City Council cancelled those plans, because of the negative impact on the Society.
Originally known as Schuetzen Gesellschaft, the Dubuque Shooting Society was formally incorporated as Iowa's oldest existing club, on this date in 1865.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 28th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Thursday, June 27, 2019
"A Town on Fire"
Recent Independence Days have been different in our state...because for the first time in almost 80 years, fireworks were again legal in Iowa in 2017. Fireworks had been legal in many neighboring states, but were not here. And that's in large part because of something that happened on June 27th, 1931.
The weather was hot even for an Iowa summer. The temperature in Spencer in northwest Iowa topped off at 97 degrees. And lack of recent rain made things dry, as well.
There was a large fireworks display in the front window of Bjornstad's Drugstore at the corner of Fourth and Main, downtown. A little boy took an interest in the display, which was not uncommon. What happened next was quite uncommon.
No one to this day is sure what happened, but somehow a lit sparkler was dropped on the fireworks display. That led to an explosion that literally set downtown Spencer on fire. The heat, drought, and high winds that day fanned the flames that consumed two and a half blocks of the business district. More than 50 buildings were soon reduced to rubble, with damage estimated at $1.2 million. Amazingly, no lives were lost.
A few years later, in 1938, the Iowa legislature banned the sale and private use of fireworks, a ban that remained in place until 2017.
When Spencer's business owners decided to rebuild, they opted for a theme of art deco and mission revival styles for most of the new buildings. As a result, Miami, Florida is the only city in the country with a larger art deco presence in its commercial buildings.
But it was hard to consider that when Spencer's downtown business district went up in flames due to fireworks, on this date in 1931.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 27th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A Town on Fire"
Recent Independence Days have been different in our state...because for the first time in almost 80 years, fireworks were again legal in Iowa in 2017. Fireworks had been legal in many neighboring states, but were not here. And that's in large part because of something that happened on June 27th, 1931.
The weather was hot even for an Iowa summer. The temperature in Spencer in northwest Iowa topped off at 97 degrees. And lack of recent rain made things dry, as well.
There was a large fireworks display in the front window of Bjornstad's Drugstore at the corner of Fourth and Main, downtown. A little boy took an interest in the display, which was not uncommon. What happened next was quite uncommon.
No one to this day is sure what happened, but somehow a lit sparkler was dropped on the fireworks display. That led to an explosion that literally set downtown Spencer on fire. The heat, drought, and high winds that day fanned the flames that consumed two and a half blocks of the business district. More than 50 buildings were soon reduced to rubble, with damage estimated at $1.2 million. Amazingly, no lives were lost.
A few years later, in 1938, the Iowa legislature banned the sale and private use of fireworks, a ban that remained in place until 2017.
When Spencer's business owners decided to rebuild, they opted for a theme of art deco and mission revival styles for most of the new buildings. As a result, Miami, Florida is the only city in the country with a larger art deco presence in its commercial buildings.
But it was hard to consider that when Spencer's downtown business district went up in flames due to fireworks, on this date in 1931.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 27th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, June 26, 2019
"Trapped by Corn"
The odds were not in Arick Baker's favor. In the last half of the 20th century, 74 percent of those trapped in grain bins died.
On June 26th, 2013, the 23-year-old Baker went into an 80,000-bushel grain bin in rural Hardin County to remove some rotten corn, unplugging a hole so corn could pass through.
Suddenly, an air pocket sucked him down. Soon he was covered by 22,000 bushels of corn. He knew there was about two feet of corn above him, because he was able to move his left arm above his head, and he could feel the top of the corn only with his fingertips.
He was alone. His father and a truck driver had already left the area, and Baker had no idea when they would be back. After being trapped for an hour, the truck driver returned and called for help.
How did Arick Baker survive against such long odds? He was wearing a ventilation mask to filter air that can become dirty from dust and mold. His parents bought him the $350 mask because he had suffered from asthma as a child. While it did not provide oxygen, it provided enough of a buffer to allow him to breathe just enough to stay alive.
Firefighters from all around came to help, and four hours later, Arick Baker was free, thanks to responders who dug for hours to remove corn from the bin. He spent two days in a hospital for an injured foot, a few scratches, and rope burn.
You may have seen his story on national television; it was profiled on ABC's "In an Instant" program. And it truly was against all odds, when Arick Baker of New Providence survived five hours trapped in a grain bin in Hardin County, on this date in 2013.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 26th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Trapped by Corn"
The odds were not in Arick Baker's favor. In the last half of the 20th century, 74 percent of those trapped in grain bins died.
On June 26th, 2013, the 23-year-old Baker went into an 80,000-bushel grain bin in rural Hardin County to remove some rotten corn, unplugging a hole so corn could pass through.
Suddenly, an air pocket sucked him down. Soon he was covered by 22,000 bushels of corn. He knew there was about two feet of corn above him, because he was able to move his left arm above his head, and he could feel the top of the corn only with his fingertips.
He was alone. His father and a truck driver had already left the area, and Baker had no idea when they would be back. After being trapped for an hour, the truck driver returned and called for help.
How did Arick Baker survive against such long odds? He was wearing a ventilation mask to filter air that can become dirty from dust and mold. His parents bought him the $350 mask because he had suffered from asthma as a child. While it did not provide oxygen, it provided enough of a buffer to allow him to breathe just enough to stay alive.
Firefighters from all around came to help, and four hours later, Arick Baker was free, thanks to responders who dug for hours to remove corn from the bin. He spent two days in a hospital for an injured foot, a few scratches, and rope burn.
You may have seen his story on national television; it was profiled on ABC's "In an Instant" program. And it truly was against all odds, when Arick Baker of New Providence survived five hours trapped in a grain bin in Hardin County, on this date in 2013.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 26th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 25, 2019
"Denison's Favorite Daughter"
Donnabelle Mullenger was born in Denison, Iowa on January 27th, 1921. When she was 17, she took the train westward to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.
As Donna Reed, America came to appreciate her work in classic films such as “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “From Here to Eternity”, for which she won an Academy Award.
But she may best be known for her nine years as star of her own television show.
“The Donna Reed Show” aired from 1958 through 1966.
She never forgot her hometown, visiting often. And even now, more than 30 years after her death, her hometown has not forgotten her.
The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts was created by friends and family in her memory. In addition to scholarships and an annual festival, the foundation supports the Donna Reed Heritage Museum, which opened on June 25th, 2004.
The museum includes exhibits displaying her many awards and honors, as well as a series of personal letters exchanged with her pen pal of 48 years, Violet Lindsay.
Original scripts with Donna’s notations, vintage costumes, movie posters, personal scrapbooks and more are also intended to be on display at the corner of Broadway and Main in downtown Denison, where the Foundation headquarters is located.
Work continues to build upon the various projects, including frequent festivals and workshops. But one of them, the Donna Reed Heritage Museum, opened on this date in 2004.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 25th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Denison's Favorite Daughter"
Donnabelle Mullenger was born in Denison, Iowa on January 27th, 1921. When she was 17, she took the train westward to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.
As Donna Reed, America came to appreciate her work in classic films such as “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “From Here to Eternity”, for which she won an Academy Award.
But she may best be known for her nine years as star of her own television show.
“The Donna Reed Show” aired from 1958 through 1966.
She never forgot her hometown, visiting often. And even now, more than 30 years after her death, her hometown has not forgotten her.
The Donna Reed Foundation for the Performing Arts was created by friends and family in her memory. In addition to scholarships and an annual festival, the foundation supports the Donna Reed Heritage Museum, which opened on June 25th, 2004.
The museum includes exhibits displaying her many awards and honors, as well as a series of personal letters exchanged with her pen pal of 48 years, Violet Lindsay.
Original scripts with Donna’s notations, vintage costumes, movie posters, personal scrapbooks and more are also intended to be on display at the corner of Broadway and Main in downtown Denison, where the Foundation headquarters is located.
Work continues to build upon the various projects, including frequent festivals and workshops. But one of them, the Donna Reed Heritage Museum, opened on this date in 2004.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 25th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, June 24, 2019
"Indy Cars in Newton"
The first championship car race in Iowa took place on July 9th, 1915 in Burlington. It featured the cars we know today as Indy Cars. Today, when those Indy Cars come to Iowa, they visit the Iowa Speedway in Newton.
The inaugural Indy Car race at the Speedway was the Iowa Corn 250, held on June 24th, 2007. It was the eighth race in the series of 17 races that year.
Practice on Friday was cut short due to thunderstorms, but drivers were impressed with the speed at the new track. Pole sitter Scott Dixon clocked in at 182.360 miles per hour during Saturday’s qualifying. But drivers found during that first race that passing would be difficult, as seven cars crashed in the first 100 laps alone.
Temperatures were cool for this time of year, only 75 degrees at race time; that was 20 degrees cooler than during qualifying the day before, making the cars handle differently than expected.
When it was over, Dario Franchitti won the race. His win at Iowa was one of four during the 2007 season, including the Indianapolis 500. Franchitti won the series championship as well that year, thanks in part to his win in the first Iowa Corn 250 Indy Car race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, on this date in 2007.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 24th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Indy Cars in Newton"
The first championship car race in Iowa took place on July 9th, 1915 in Burlington. It featured the cars we know today as Indy Cars. Today, when those Indy Cars come to Iowa, they visit the Iowa Speedway in Newton.
The inaugural Indy Car race at the Speedway was the Iowa Corn 250, held on June 24th, 2007. It was the eighth race in the series of 17 races that year.
Practice on Friday was cut short due to thunderstorms, but drivers were impressed with the speed at the new track. Pole sitter Scott Dixon clocked in at 182.360 miles per hour during Saturday’s qualifying. But drivers found during that first race that passing would be difficult, as seven cars crashed in the first 100 laps alone.
Temperatures were cool for this time of year, only 75 degrees at race time; that was 20 degrees cooler than during qualifying the day before, making the cars handle differently than expected.
When it was over, Dario Franchitti won the race. His win at Iowa was one of four during the 2007 season, including the Indianapolis 500. Franchitti won the series championship as well that year, thanks in part to his win in the first Iowa Corn 250 Indy Car race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, on this date in 2007.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 24th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, June 21, 2019
"The Mother of 4-H"
Celestia Josephine Field was born on Sunnyside Farm near Shenandoah on June 21, 1881. Her mother was also Celestia Josephine, so the newborn was known throughout her life as Jessie.
At age 19, Jessie Field was hired to teach at Clarinda’s Goldenrod School. She felt that rural children needed more connections with each other than they were getting, so she began holding informal after-school lessons, in what became the Boys Corn Club and Girls Home Club.
She continued her own education and wound up as a school principal in Montana. Before long, her older brother Henry Field, who was himself getting quite a reputation for his seed company, wrote and asked her to move back home because the job of Page County country school superintendent was open. She got the job in 1906.
She continued working with students outside of school, and to reward those who excelled, in 1910 she designed a three-leaf clover pin with the letter H on the leaves, standing for head, hands, and heart. Later, a fourth leaf was added, originally standing for home, and later, health.
Soon these 4-H clubs spread to other areas, and by 1914, a national 4-H organization was born.
Jessie Field moved to New York City in 1913 to become national secretary of the YWCA. She returned to southwest Iowa in 1917, married, and devoted the rest of her working life to family and connecting with homemakers via programs on her brother’s radio station.
She died in 1971 at the age of 89, after breaking her hip in a fall, which then led to pneumonia.
More than 25 million young people have participated in 4-H in the century it has been in existence. The Mother of 4-H, Jessie Field Shambaugh, was born near Shenandoah on this date in 1881.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 21st...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The Mother of 4-H"
Celestia Josephine Field was born on Sunnyside Farm near Shenandoah on June 21, 1881. Her mother was also Celestia Josephine, so the newborn was known throughout her life as Jessie.
At age 19, Jessie Field was hired to teach at Clarinda’s Goldenrod School. She felt that rural children needed more connections with each other than they were getting, so she began holding informal after-school lessons, in what became the Boys Corn Club and Girls Home Club.
She continued her own education and wound up as a school principal in Montana. Before long, her older brother Henry Field, who was himself getting quite a reputation for his seed company, wrote and asked her to move back home because the job of Page County country school superintendent was open. She got the job in 1906.
She continued working with students outside of school, and to reward those who excelled, in 1910 she designed a three-leaf clover pin with the letter H on the leaves, standing for head, hands, and heart. Later, a fourth leaf was added, originally standing for home, and later, health.
Soon these 4-H clubs spread to other areas, and by 1914, a national 4-H organization was born.
Jessie Field moved to New York City in 1913 to become national secretary of the YWCA. She returned to southwest Iowa in 1917, married, and devoted the rest of her working life to family and connecting with homemakers via programs on her brother’s radio station.
She died in 1971 at the age of 89, after breaking her hip in a fall, which then led to pneumonia.
More than 25 million young people have participated in 4-H in the century it has been in existence. The Mother of 4-H, Jessie Field Shambaugh, was born near Shenandoah on this date in 1881.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 21st...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
owa Almanac for Thursday, June 20, 2019
"Time for a Drink"
Ever since before it became a state, Iowa has had an uneasy relationship with alcohol. Production and sale were limited by state lawmakers, and the state actually imposed statewide prohibition in 1916, four years before it became national policy.
The national prohibition experiment led to bootlegging, including in Iowa. After all, we had easy access to a key ingredient for the manufacture of alcohol--corn. Many Iowa bootleggers set up their businesses in rural areas, further away from prying eyes of law enforcement.
Iowa bootleggers made moonshine whiskey, wine, gin, and home brew beer--all simply raw alcohol. More refined illegal liquor could be purchased in so-called speakeasies.
In northwest Iowa, near the small town of Templeton, illegal whiskey made there became popular in speakeasies from Chicago to Kansas City to New York. Now, the same Templeton Rye is produced legally.
The illegal production of alcohol led to 20,000 people going to jail nationally in the last half of 1931 alone.
On June 20th, 1933, Iowans voted to pass the 21st Amendment, which repealed prohibition. The experiment was officially over later that year, when enough states followed Iowa's lead.
But for more than 50 years after that, Iowa still strictly controlled the distribution of alcohol, selling it only through state-run liquor stores until 1987.
After banning alcohol statewide well before the national prohibition, Iowa became one of the first states to vote wet, on this date in 1933.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 20th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Time for a Drink"
Ever since before it became a state, Iowa has had an uneasy relationship with alcohol. Production and sale were limited by state lawmakers, and the state actually imposed statewide prohibition in 1916, four years before it became national policy.
The national prohibition experiment led to bootlegging, including in Iowa. After all, we had easy access to a key ingredient for the manufacture of alcohol--corn. Many Iowa bootleggers set up their businesses in rural areas, further away from prying eyes of law enforcement.
Iowa bootleggers made moonshine whiskey, wine, gin, and home brew beer--all simply raw alcohol. More refined illegal liquor could be purchased in so-called speakeasies.
In northwest Iowa, near the small town of Templeton, illegal whiskey made there became popular in speakeasies from Chicago to Kansas City to New York. Now, the same Templeton Rye is produced legally.
The illegal production of alcohol led to 20,000 people going to jail nationally in the last half of 1931 alone.
On June 20th, 1933, Iowans voted to pass the 21st Amendment, which repealed prohibition. The experiment was officially over later that year, when enough states followed Iowa's lead.
But for more than 50 years after that, Iowa still strictly controlled the distribution of alcohol, selling it only through state-run liquor stores until 1987.
After banning alcohol statewide well before the national prohibition, Iowa became one of the first states to vote wet, on this date in 1933.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 20th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, June 19, 2019
"Defeating A Legend"
The 1955 U.S. Open golf championship ended in a playoff. One of the competitors was the legendary Ben Hogan. The other was a virtual unknown from Iowa, Jack Fleck.
By 1955, Hogan had already won four U.S. Open titles and was the dominant player in the game. Jack Fleck was a journeyman, scratching out a living from a home base in Florida. With the encouragement of his wife Lynn, he committed himself to the pro tour for two years. One of Fleck’s idols was Ben Hogan; he wore a cap like the one Hogan wore, and was one of the first to use Hogan- brand golf clubs. In fact, Ben Hogan hand-delivered two clubs to Fleck just before the start of the U.S. Open, because they were not ready when Fleck got the rest of the set.
The Olympic Club course in San Francisco was suited to Fleck’s game, with long rough, tree-lined fairways, and small greens. Back then, the tournament included 18 holes on Thursday, 18 on Friday, and two full rounds—36 holes—on Saturday.
Ben Hogan was in the lead on that final Saturday when NBC was scheduled to sign off its telecast. The only person left on the course with a chance was Jack Fleck, and he needed two birdies in the last four holes just to tie the legend. So NBC told their audience Hogan would no doubt win and ended their coverage.
But then Fleck rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 15, and another on the final hole, to tie Hogan at the top of the leaderboard.
The two men squared off in an 18-hole playoff on Sunday. Fleck took a strong lead, with three straight birdies. But then the pressure started to get to him, and he bogeyed two late holes. It came down to the last hole, with Jack Fleck leading Ben Hogan by a single shot. Now it was the veteran’s turn to feel the pressure, and he hooked his drive into the rough, giving Jack Fleck the national title.
The people of his hometown of Davenport gave Jack Fleck a parade and a new car. Fleck would only win twice more on the pro tour, but the then-new Seniors Tour revitalized his career, including a win in the PGA Seniors Championship in 1979.
He had a secret that he said helped him all those years. To avoid running out of energy, he sucked on two or three sugar cubes on each hole. He said he never came close to getting tired. No doubt it helped when Jack Fleck won the U.S. Open in a playoff over Ben Hogan, on this date in 1955.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 19th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Defeating A Legend"
The 1955 U.S. Open golf championship ended in a playoff. One of the competitors was the legendary Ben Hogan. The other was a virtual unknown from Iowa, Jack Fleck.
By 1955, Hogan had already won four U.S. Open titles and was the dominant player in the game. Jack Fleck was a journeyman, scratching out a living from a home base in Florida. With the encouragement of his wife Lynn, he committed himself to the pro tour for two years. One of Fleck’s idols was Ben Hogan; he wore a cap like the one Hogan wore, and was one of the first to use Hogan- brand golf clubs. In fact, Ben Hogan hand-delivered two clubs to Fleck just before the start of the U.S. Open, because they were not ready when Fleck got the rest of the set.
The Olympic Club course in San Francisco was suited to Fleck’s game, with long rough, tree-lined fairways, and small greens. Back then, the tournament included 18 holes on Thursday, 18 on Friday, and two full rounds—36 holes—on Saturday.
Ben Hogan was in the lead on that final Saturday when NBC was scheduled to sign off its telecast. The only person left on the course with a chance was Jack Fleck, and he needed two birdies in the last four holes just to tie the legend. So NBC told their audience Hogan would no doubt win and ended their coverage.
But then Fleck rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 15, and another on the final hole, to tie Hogan at the top of the leaderboard.
The two men squared off in an 18-hole playoff on Sunday. Fleck took a strong lead, with three straight birdies. But then the pressure started to get to him, and he bogeyed two late holes. It came down to the last hole, with Jack Fleck leading Ben Hogan by a single shot. Now it was the veteran’s turn to feel the pressure, and he hooked his drive into the rough, giving Jack Fleck the national title.
The people of his hometown of Davenport gave Jack Fleck a parade and a new car. Fleck would only win twice more on the pro tour, but the then-new Seniors Tour revitalized his career, including a win in the PGA Seniors Championship in 1979.
He had a secret that he said helped him all those years. To avoid running out of energy, he sucked on two or three sugar cubes on each hole. He said he never came close to getting tired. No doubt it helped when Jack Fleck won the U.S. Open in a playoff over Ben Hogan, on this date in 1955.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 19th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 18, 2019
"Spying For Our Country"
On June 18th, 1917, a training camp was established north of Des Moines for our national army. It was called Camp Dodge in honor of Major General Grenville Dodge, who led Iowa volunteers during the Civil War.
The new camp itself was built in only 60 days at a cost of $3.5 million, and originally housed 45,000 soldiers.
Naming it for Grenville Dodge was appropriate. After all, he organized Iowa’s first National Guard unit in 1856, and commanded a number of units in the Civil War.
Dodge distinguished himself through intelligence gathering. The network he created proved vital to General U.S. Grant, and was a precursor to the modern U.S. Army’s intelligence corps. Dodge’s efforts were funded in part by the proceeds from captured Confederate cotton. He supervised more than 100 agents, and his men were so effective that even now, many of their identities remain a mystery. It was the most accurate and comprehensive intelligence gathering network in history to that time.
Dodge used human intelligence from female spies, runaway slaves, and unionists living in Confederate territory. He also used taps on telegraph wires.
In 1863, Grant wrote to Dodge, saying “you have a much more important command than that of a division in the field”.
After his Civil War service, he served as a Congressman from Iowa and was instrumental in determining the path of the Transcontinental Railroad.
He retired to Council Bluffs, where he died in 1916. The very next year, the new army training facility north of Des Moines was named Camp Dodge, in honor of Gen. Grenville Dodge, on this date in 1917.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 18th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Spying For Our Country"
On June 18th, 1917, a training camp was established north of Des Moines for our national army. It was called Camp Dodge in honor of Major General Grenville Dodge, who led Iowa volunteers during the Civil War.
The new camp itself was built in only 60 days at a cost of $3.5 million, and originally housed 45,000 soldiers.
Naming it for Grenville Dodge was appropriate. After all, he organized Iowa’s first National Guard unit in 1856, and commanded a number of units in the Civil War.
Dodge distinguished himself through intelligence gathering. The network he created proved vital to General U.S. Grant, and was a precursor to the modern U.S. Army’s intelligence corps. Dodge’s efforts were funded in part by the proceeds from captured Confederate cotton. He supervised more than 100 agents, and his men were so effective that even now, many of their identities remain a mystery. It was the most accurate and comprehensive intelligence gathering network in history to that time.
Dodge used human intelligence from female spies, runaway slaves, and unionists living in Confederate territory. He also used taps on telegraph wires.
In 1863, Grant wrote to Dodge, saying “you have a much more important command than that of a division in the field”.
After his Civil War service, he served as a Congressman from Iowa and was instrumental in determining the path of the Transcontinental Railroad.
He retired to Council Bluffs, where he died in 1916. The very next year, the new army training facility north of Des Moines was named Camp Dodge, in honor of Gen. Grenville Dodge, on this date in 1917.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 18th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, June 17, 2019
"Elkader's Athletic Star"
John Dittmer was born on January 10th, 1928 in Elkader, and from the start, people knew that the boy they called Jack was special. He earned 12 varsity letters in high school sports, was named to all-state teams in both football and basketball, and won honors as the best high school baseball player in Iowa.
He moved to the University of Iowa in the fall of 1946, and won nine letters…one of only six Hawkeyes to ever do that.
Jack Dittmer wanted to play in the NFL, but he figured that at 160 pounds, he was too small…so he signed a pro baseball contract with the Boston Braves of the National League.
He tore up the minor leagues and on June 17th, 1952, at the age of 24, Jack Dittmer was called up to the majors and was part of the final Braves team to play in Boston. The next year, the franchise moved to Milwaukee and Dittmer had his best season. He batted .265, hit 9 home runs, and drove in 63 runs. He shared time as the Braves’ second baseman, and was one of the young veterans to welcome a rookie to the team in 1954—Henry Aaron.
In 1957, Dittmer was traded from Milwaukee to Detroit. His final game in the majors came on June 23rd, 1957, almost five years to the day from his big league debut. He retired from baseball in 1959, after two seasons in the minor leagues.
After baseball, he operated the family auto dealership in Elkader and was one of the most popular citizens of the town. He died on May 31st, 2014 at the age of 86, after living with Alzheimer’s.
They held Jack Dittmer Day in Milwaukee in 1953 and a large number of hometown folks made the trek to County Stadium to salute the local star who became a big leaguer. Elkader’s Jack Dittmer made his major league baseball debut on this date in 1952.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 17th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Elkader's Athletic Star"
John Dittmer was born on January 10th, 1928 in Elkader, and from the start, people knew that the boy they called Jack was special. He earned 12 varsity letters in high school sports, was named to all-state teams in both football and basketball, and won honors as the best high school baseball player in Iowa.
He moved to the University of Iowa in the fall of 1946, and won nine letters…one of only six Hawkeyes to ever do that.
Jack Dittmer wanted to play in the NFL, but he figured that at 160 pounds, he was too small…so he signed a pro baseball contract with the Boston Braves of the National League.
He tore up the minor leagues and on June 17th, 1952, at the age of 24, Jack Dittmer was called up to the majors and was part of the final Braves team to play in Boston. The next year, the franchise moved to Milwaukee and Dittmer had his best season. He batted .265, hit 9 home runs, and drove in 63 runs. He shared time as the Braves’ second baseman, and was one of the young veterans to welcome a rookie to the team in 1954—Henry Aaron.
In 1957, Dittmer was traded from Milwaukee to Detroit. His final game in the majors came on June 23rd, 1957, almost five years to the day from his big league debut. He retired from baseball in 1959, after two seasons in the minor leagues.
After baseball, he operated the family auto dealership in Elkader and was one of the most popular citizens of the town. He died on May 31st, 2014 at the age of 86, after living with Alzheimer’s.
They held Jack Dittmer Day in Milwaukee in 1953 and a large number of hometown folks made the trek to County Stadium to salute the local star who became a big leaguer. Elkader’s Jack Dittmer made his major league baseball debut on this date in 1952.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 17th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, June 14, 2019
"A Game With No Fans"
Yesterday, we remembered the impact of the devastating floods of 2008 on Cedar Rapids. River flooding affected central Iowa too, including Iowa's capital city of Des Moines. And it led to a unique sporting event being held.
On June 14, 2008, flood waters were rising in the Des Moines metro area, and an evacuation order was in place for downtown.
The Iowa Cubs minor league baseball team was being forced to cancel scheduled games against the Nashville Sounds, who were already in town. Weather issues earlier in the season had already led to a number of future doubleheaders, and as team officials looked at the schedule, there were few available dates left for rescheduling the Friday and Saturday games that were going to be postponed.
So team officials made a deal with the city. They would have the game on that Saturday afternoon...but no fans were allowed to attend. That's right...the official attendance for the game was zero.
To cut down on the temptation of fans violating the evacuation order and coming anywhere near the ballpark, the team did not use the scoreboard or the public address system. There was no music playing as batters came to the plate.
The only sounds were cracks of the bat, balls hitting gloves, and whatever chatter came from players themselves. One player said it was like a sandlot game, only with uniforms.
Iowa won that game 5 to 4, and went on to win 83 games that year on their way to a division title. But no game was more memorable than the one played with no fans due to concerns about flooding in Des Moines, on this date in 2008.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 14th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A Game With No Fans"
Yesterday, we remembered the impact of the devastating floods of 2008 on Cedar Rapids. River flooding affected central Iowa too, including Iowa's capital city of Des Moines. And it led to a unique sporting event being held.
On June 14, 2008, flood waters were rising in the Des Moines metro area, and an evacuation order was in place for downtown.
The Iowa Cubs minor league baseball team was being forced to cancel scheduled games against the Nashville Sounds, who were already in town. Weather issues earlier in the season had already led to a number of future doubleheaders, and as team officials looked at the schedule, there were few available dates left for rescheduling the Friday and Saturday games that were going to be postponed.
So team officials made a deal with the city. They would have the game on that Saturday afternoon...but no fans were allowed to attend. That's right...the official attendance for the game was zero.
To cut down on the temptation of fans violating the evacuation order and coming anywhere near the ballpark, the team did not use the scoreboard or the public address system. There was no music playing as batters came to the plate.
The only sounds were cracks of the bat, balls hitting gloves, and whatever chatter came from players themselves. One player said it was like a sandlot game, only with uniforms.
Iowa won that game 5 to 4, and went on to win 83 games that year on their way to a division title. But no game was more memorable than the one played with no fans due to concerns about flooding in Des Moines, on this date in 2008.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 14th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Thursday, June 13, 2019
"The River Crested"
Iowa's rivers started spilling out of their banks about a week before Friday morning, June 13th, 2008. The historic suspension bridge in Charles City was swept away, then a day later, a crest of 8 feet above flood stage reached Waverly.
But the full force of the bloated Cedar River hit Iowa's second-largest city, Cedar Rapids, mid-morning on that Friday. The crest was 31.3 feet, more than 19 feet above flood stage...and more than 11 feet above the previous record level.
Most of downtown Cedar Rapids, a 10 square mile area, was inundated with water...that's an area of 1,300 blocks. More than 5,000 homes were affected, as were all the downtown businesses...more than 900 in all. Mays Island, which included city hall, the county courthouse, county jail, and federal courthouse, was flooded up to the second floor level.
All but one of the city's wells was flooded; that was saved thanks to hundreds of volunteers and a massive sandbagging effort.
The roster of buildings that sustained heavy damage included some of Cedar Rapids' most historic and well known sites--the Paramount Theatre that had recently been restored, the African American Cultural Center and Museum, the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, the main branch of the public library, the Mother Mosque of America, the Czech Village, Time Check neighborhood, and so much more.
Not much of Iowa was left unaffected by the massive floods that summer. But for sheer scope of devastation and river level, nothing matched the crest in Cedar Rapids at more than 19 feet above flood stage, on this date in 2008.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 13th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The River Crested"
Iowa's rivers started spilling out of their banks about a week before Friday morning, June 13th, 2008. The historic suspension bridge in Charles City was swept away, then a day later, a crest of 8 feet above flood stage reached Waverly.
But the full force of the bloated Cedar River hit Iowa's second-largest city, Cedar Rapids, mid-morning on that Friday. The crest was 31.3 feet, more than 19 feet above flood stage...and more than 11 feet above the previous record level.
Most of downtown Cedar Rapids, a 10 square mile area, was inundated with water...that's an area of 1,300 blocks. More than 5,000 homes were affected, as were all the downtown businesses...more than 900 in all. Mays Island, which included city hall, the county courthouse, county jail, and federal courthouse, was flooded up to the second floor level.
All but one of the city's wells was flooded; that was saved thanks to hundreds of volunteers and a massive sandbagging effort.
The roster of buildings that sustained heavy damage included some of Cedar Rapids' most historic and well known sites--the Paramount Theatre that had recently been restored, the African American Cultural Center and Museum, the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, the main branch of the public library, the Mother Mosque of America, the Czech Village, Time Check neighborhood, and so much more.
Not much of Iowa was left unaffected by the massive floods that summer. But for sheer scope of devastation and river level, nothing matched the crest in Cedar Rapids at more than 19 feet above flood stage, on this date in 2008.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 13th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, June 12, 2019
"Mary Ingalls Comes to Iowa"
Thanks to the stories told by Laura Ingalls Wilder in her books and the "Little House on the Prairie" TV series, we know the story of the Ingalls family, who actually lived in Burr Oak, Iowa, for one year when Charles Ingalls--Pa--helped to run the Masters Hotel there in 1876. While some of the stories in the books and on television were fictionalized, many were based on actual experiences, including how Mary Ingalls coped with losing her sight.
At age 14, Mary became totally blind from what doctors called "brain fever". Two years later, at age 16, Ma and Pa Ingalls accompanied Mary to Vinton, Iowa, home to what was then called the Iowa College for the Blind. The family was living in South Dakota at the time, but there was no school for the blind there; the Iowa facility was recommended to them by a travelling missionary.
During Mary's first year in school, there were 94 students--42 males and 52 females. Courses ranged from academic--spelling, arithmetic, and grammar--to industrial--making brooms, knitting, and carpet weaving.
Mary Ingalls' academic achievements were exceptionally high, and her performance in music was considered above average. Students were graded in part on conduct, and Mary received 100 percent, the highest of anyone in her class.
On June 12, 1889, 24-year-old Mary Ingalls graduated from the Iowa College for the Blind, one of eight in her graduating class. She recited an essay at the commencement exercises.
She returned to South Dakota, where she lived the rest of her life, first with her mother, then with sister Grace and sister Carrie. She died at the age of 63 in 1928. She never married, and never had children. She also did not live long enough to know that her sister Laura would immortalize the family through the Little House books. But we know about them, and know that Mary Ingalls graduated from the school for the blind in Vinton, on this date in 1889…130 years ago today.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 12th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Mary Ingalls Comes to Iowa"
Thanks to the stories told by Laura Ingalls Wilder in her books and the "Little House on the Prairie" TV series, we know the story of the Ingalls family, who actually lived in Burr Oak, Iowa, for one year when Charles Ingalls--Pa--helped to run the Masters Hotel there in 1876. While some of the stories in the books and on television were fictionalized, many were based on actual experiences, including how Mary Ingalls coped with losing her sight.
At age 14, Mary became totally blind from what doctors called "brain fever". Two years later, at age 16, Ma and Pa Ingalls accompanied Mary to Vinton, Iowa, home to what was then called the Iowa College for the Blind. The family was living in South Dakota at the time, but there was no school for the blind there; the Iowa facility was recommended to them by a travelling missionary.
During Mary's first year in school, there were 94 students--42 males and 52 females. Courses ranged from academic--spelling, arithmetic, and grammar--to industrial--making brooms, knitting, and carpet weaving.
Mary Ingalls' academic achievements were exceptionally high, and her performance in music was considered above average. Students were graded in part on conduct, and Mary received 100 percent, the highest of anyone in her class.
On June 12, 1889, 24-year-old Mary Ingalls graduated from the Iowa College for the Blind, one of eight in her graduating class. She recited an essay at the commencement exercises.
She returned to South Dakota, where she lived the rest of her life, first with her mother, then with sister Grace and sister Carrie. She died at the age of 63 in 1928. She never married, and never had children. She also did not live long enough to know that her sister Laura would immortalize the family through the Little House books. But we know about them, and know that Mary Ingalls graduated from the school for the blind in Vinton, on this date in 1889…130 years ago today.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 12th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 11, 2019
"Leading the Miners"
It was no surprise that John L. Lewis would be associated with coal mining. Born near the company town of Cleveland in Lucas County on February 12, 1880, Lewis started working in the mines at age 17. Before he was 30, he was elected as a delegate to the United Mine Workers convention, in 1906. His knowledge of mining and his devotion to the workers led American Federation of Labor head Samuel Gompers to hire Lewis as a full-time union organizer in 1911. John L. Lewis toured the Midwest as an organizer and trouble-shooter, especially in coal and steel districts.
He became acting president of the United Mine Workers of America in 1919, and on November 1st of that year, he called the first major coal union strike. 400,000 miners walked off their jobs. That spirit led the membership to elect him to a term as president of the union in 1920; it was a job he would hold for 40 years.
During that time, Iowa-born John L. Lewis lobbied for legislation to help organized labor, and when the Congress of Industrial Organizations separated from the AFL in 1938, Lewis became the CIO's first president.
Even during World War II, Lewis would call for work stoppages if he thought his workers were not being treated fairly. His efforts led to the first Federal Mine Safety Act, in 1952.
In 1964, four years after his retirement, Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon Johnson, our country's highest civilian honor.
It was a long journey from a teenager working in the Iowa coal mines, to leading hundreds of thousands of workers. But it was the path taken by John L. Lewis, who died on this date in 1969.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 11th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Leading the Miners"
It was no surprise that John L. Lewis would be associated with coal mining. Born near the company town of Cleveland in Lucas County on February 12, 1880, Lewis started working in the mines at age 17. Before he was 30, he was elected as a delegate to the United Mine Workers convention, in 1906. His knowledge of mining and his devotion to the workers led American Federation of Labor head Samuel Gompers to hire Lewis as a full-time union organizer in 1911. John L. Lewis toured the Midwest as an organizer and trouble-shooter, especially in coal and steel districts.
He became acting president of the United Mine Workers of America in 1919, and on November 1st of that year, he called the first major coal union strike. 400,000 miners walked off their jobs. That spirit led the membership to elect him to a term as president of the union in 1920; it was a job he would hold for 40 years.
During that time, Iowa-born John L. Lewis lobbied for legislation to help organized labor, and when the Congress of Industrial Organizations separated from the AFL in 1938, Lewis became the CIO's first president.
Even during World War II, Lewis would call for work stoppages if he thought his workers were not being treated fairly. His efforts led to the first Federal Mine Safety Act, in 1952.
In 1964, four years after his retirement, Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon Johnson, our country's highest civilian honor.
It was a long journey from a teenager working in the Iowa coal mines, to leading hundreds of thousands of workers. But it was the path taken by John L. Lewis, who died on this date in 1969.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 11th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, June 10, 2019
"Slay, Slay Utterly"
The Villisca Presbyterian Church held its Children’s Day Program on the evening of June 9th, 1912. Local businessman Josiah Moore was there with his wife Sara and their four children. After the event, the family returned to their home, and two of the Moore children’s friends stayed overnight.
It was the last time anyone saw any of the eight alive.
When Joe Moore was not there to open his implement business on Monday morning, his brother Ross, the town druggist, went to investigate. He found all eight had been killed with an axe.
The town was in a panic. Who was involved, and why? But there were no answers.
Four years later, a Kansas City private detective accused a local man, Senator Frank Jones, of hiring someone to commit the crime. A grand jury refused to indict Jones due to lack of evidence, but his political career was over.
A year later, a Nebraska minister named George Kelly was indicted for the crimes. He had preached at that Children’s Day Program. He talked about the crimes to others, and his checkered past included several Peeping Tom arrests. At first he confessed, saying he received a command from God to go and “slay, slay utterly”. But then he recanted. His trial ended in a hung jury more than five years after the murders.
Now more than a century later, the Villisca murders remain unsolved. We may never know who killed eight people in Josiah Moore’s home, with his own axe, on this date in 1912.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 10th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Slay, Slay Utterly"
The Villisca Presbyterian Church held its Children’s Day Program on the evening of June 9th, 1912. Local businessman Josiah Moore was there with his wife Sara and their four children. After the event, the family returned to their home, and two of the Moore children’s friends stayed overnight.
It was the last time anyone saw any of the eight alive.
When Joe Moore was not there to open his implement business on Monday morning, his brother Ross, the town druggist, went to investigate. He found all eight had been killed with an axe.
The town was in a panic. Who was involved, and why? But there were no answers.
Four years later, a Kansas City private detective accused a local man, Senator Frank Jones, of hiring someone to commit the crime. A grand jury refused to indict Jones due to lack of evidence, but his political career was over.
A year later, a Nebraska minister named George Kelly was indicted for the crimes. He had preached at that Children’s Day Program. He talked about the crimes to others, and his checkered past included several Peeping Tom arrests. At first he confessed, saying he received a command from God to go and “slay, slay utterly”. But then he recanted. His trial ended in a hung jury more than five years after the murders.
Now more than a century later, the Villisca murders remain unsolved. We may never know who killed eight people in Josiah Moore’s home, with his own axe, on this date in 1912.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 10th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, June 7, 2019
"A Primary Fight"
America's longest serving governor, Terry Branstad, left office in May 2017 to become U.S. Ambassador to China. Branstad served as governor in two different, multi-term periods. But that does not mean there wasn't opposition when election years rolled around...including a fight within his own party in 1994.
Branstad was first elected as Iowa's governor in 1982 and was on the verge of being Iowa's longest-serving governor when he announced plans to run for another term in 1994. It's not often a sitting governor is challenged by a member of his own party, and given the lack of previous challenges, there was no reason to believe 1994 would be any different.
But a congressman from western Iowa had other ideas. Fred Grandy was born in Sioux City, and after a career as an actor, including time on TV's "Love Boat" program, Grandy moved back to his hometown and became the congressman for Iowa's fifth congressional district. After four terms in Congress, Grandy set his sights on becoming Iowa's chief executive.
It was a close battle, and while polls showed Branstad with a comfortable lead heading into Election Day, the race tightened as voters went to the polls. Branstad ultimately won, 51.8 percent to 48.1 percent, winning most counties in Iowa, except in the western part of the state that Grandy represented in Washington, and more liberal areas, such as Johnson County.
In the November general election, Branstad's margin of victory over Democrat Bonnie Campbell was broader, 56.8 percent to 41.6 percent. He retired from office after that term, only to be re-elected a dozen years later.
But the long-time governor had a scare when he won his party's primary by less than four points, on this date in 1994.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 7th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A Primary Fight"
America's longest serving governor, Terry Branstad, left office in May 2017 to become U.S. Ambassador to China. Branstad served as governor in two different, multi-term periods. But that does not mean there wasn't opposition when election years rolled around...including a fight within his own party in 1994.
Branstad was first elected as Iowa's governor in 1982 and was on the verge of being Iowa's longest-serving governor when he announced plans to run for another term in 1994. It's not often a sitting governor is challenged by a member of his own party, and given the lack of previous challenges, there was no reason to believe 1994 would be any different.
But a congressman from western Iowa had other ideas. Fred Grandy was born in Sioux City, and after a career as an actor, including time on TV's "Love Boat" program, Grandy moved back to his hometown and became the congressman for Iowa's fifth congressional district. After four terms in Congress, Grandy set his sights on becoming Iowa's chief executive.
It was a close battle, and while polls showed Branstad with a comfortable lead heading into Election Day, the race tightened as voters went to the polls. Branstad ultimately won, 51.8 percent to 48.1 percent, winning most counties in Iowa, except in the western part of the state that Grandy represented in Washington, and more liberal areas, such as Johnson County.
In the November general election, Branstad's margin of victory over Democrat Bonnie Campbell was broader, 56.8 percent to 41.6 percent. He retired from office after that term, only to be re-elected a dozen years later.
But the long-time governor had a scare when he won his party's primary by less than four points, on this date in 1994.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 7th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Thursday, June 6, 2019
"A New Name"
In May 1855, less than a decade after Iowa became a state, a town was platted in what is now Hardin County in central Iowa. The county's first surveyor, John Shepherd, handled the task for the town, located on the bank of the Iowa River.
Soon after, a post office was established there, as a station on a weekly mail route from Waterloo to Eldora. The town was named Lithopolis, although that's not its name today, and we're really not sure how it got that original name to begin with. We do know that on June 6, 1870, the name of the town was officially changed to Steamboat Rock. It was named because a large rock on the river bluff, from a distance, was said to resemble a number of steamboats. On one of these was something that resembled a wheel house, and from that grew a large pine tree. But in 1858, the tree was struck by lightning and the shock caused the part of the rock resembling a wheel house to break off. That's why if you try to see a steamboat in the rock formation today, it takes a bit more imagination. But the rock was still a memorable marker, and ultimately became the name of the town.
The population of Steamboat Rock has not changed much over time. In 1880, the town boasted 523 people, which seems to be the highest point in its history. The last census showed 310 people living there, the lowest official total since records were kept.
Today, Steamboat Rock is a major producer of corn and ethanol, which led to the reactivation of a railroad line through town in 2007, the Iowa River Railroad.
The town slogan is The Valley of Friendliness, and while you know it today as Steamboat Rock, it has only been called that since the name was changed from Lithopolis, on this date in 1870.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 6th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A New Name"
In May 1855, less than a decade after Iowa became a state, a town was platted in what is now Hardin County in central Iowa. The county's first surveyor, John Shepherd, handled the task for the town, located on the bank of the Iowa River.
Soon after, a post office was established there, as a station on a weekly mail route from Waterloo to Eldora. The town was named Lithopolis, although that's not its name today, and we're really not sure how it got that original name to begin with. We do know that on June 6, 1870, the name of the town was officially changed to Steamboat Rock. It was named because a large rock on the river bluff, from a distance, was said to resemble a number of steamboats. On one of these was something that resembled a wheel house, and from that grew a large pine tree. But in 1858, the tree was struck by lightning and the shock caused the part of the rock resembling a wheel house to break off. That's why if you try to see a steamboat in the rock formation today, it takes a bit more imagination. But the rock was still a memorable marker, and ultimately became the name of the town.
The population of Steamboat Rock has not changed much over time. In 1880, the town boasted 523 people, which seems to be the highest point in its history. The last census showed 310 people living there, the lowest official total since records were kept.
Today, Steamboat Rock is a major producer of corn and ethanol, which led to the reactivation of a railroad line through town in 2007, the Iowa River Railroad.
The town slogan is The Valley of Friendliness, and while you know it today as Steamboat Rock, it has only been called that since the name was changed from Lithopolis, on this date in 1870.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 6th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, June 5, 2019
"Shutting Down A Station"
Norman Baker of Muscatine was always a performer. He made a name early on as a vaudeville performer, then by marketing a portable calliope for use at carnivals and outdoor events. He soon expanded that into a mail order business selling everything from overalls to coffee. And when he saw that people like Earl May in Shenandoah were having success selling their items via radio, Norman Baker built his own station in 1925, and KTNT radio was born.
He said it stood for Know The Naked Truth, and he loved welcoming visitors to Muscatine to see the studios and patronize the café, service station, and store he built to go with KTNT. Typically clad in a white suit with lavender tie, Baker soon moved into a different realm…health care.
He promoted an unconventional cancer treatment and opened his own cancer hospital in Muscatine. It turned out his treatment was nothing more than a shot with a mixture of clover, corn silk, watermelon seed, and water. But thanks to aggressive advertising and the power of his radio station, by 1931 Baker’s hospital had monthly revenue of $75,000.
But that on air medical demagoguery inspired his critics, and on June 5ht, 1931, the Federal Radio Commission shut down KTNT for irresponsible actions. Undaunted, Baker moved to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where he built a 100,000-watt radio station blasting northward throughout the U.S. He then moved his hospital from Muscatine to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. But the truth about his cancer treatments caught up with him, and he wound up serving four years in Leavenworth Penitentiary for federal mail fraud. But he kept all the money he had gotten from people hoping for a cure, and wound up living the last 15 years of his life on a three-story yacht in Florida. He died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1958 and is buried in his hometown of Muscatine.
Norman Baker’s venomous obscene broadcasts against the public interest came to an end when the government shut down KTNT radio, on this date in 1931.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 5th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Shutting Down A Station"
Norman Baker of Muscatine was always a performer. He made a name early on as a vaudeville performer, then by marketing a portable calliope for use at carnivals and outdoor events. He soon expanded that into a mail order business selling everything from overalls to coffee. And when he saw that people like Earl May in Shenandoah were having success selling their items via radio, Norman Baker built his own station in 1925, and KTNT radio was born.
He said it stood for Know The Naked Truth, and he loved welcoming visitors to Muscatine to see the studios and patronize the café, service station, and store he built to go with KTNT. Typically clad in a white suit with lavender tie, Baker soon moved into a different realm…health care.
He promoted an unconventional cancer treatment and opened his own cancer hospital in Muscatine. It turned out his treatment was nothing more than a shot with a mixture of clover, corn silk, watermelon seed, and water. But thanks to aggressive advertising and the power of his radio station, by 1931 Baker’s hospital had monthly revenue of $75,000.
But that on air medical demagoguery inspired his critics, and on June 5ht, 1931, the Federal Radio Commission shut down KTNT for irresponsible actions. Undaunted, Baker moved to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, where he built a 100,000-watt radio station blasting northward throughout the U.S. He then moved his hospital from Muscatine to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. But the truth about his cancer treatments caught up with him, and he wound up serving four years in Leavenworth Penitentiary for federal mail fraud. But he kept all the money he had gotten from people hoping for a cure, and wound up living the last 15 years of his life on a three-story yacht in Florida. He died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1958 and is buried in his hometown of Muscatine.
Norman Baker’s venomous obscene broadcasts against the public interest came to an end when the government shut down KTNT radio, on this date in 1931.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 5th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 4, 2019
"Building A Prison"
The Iowa Territory was opened in June of 1838, and early the next year, the new Territorial Legislature approved a penitentiary to be built in the town of Fort Madison, near the original state capitol of Burlington.
For more than 30 years, that facility took care of the problem of what to do with criminals in the region. But by the spring of 1872, the legislature needed to take action, so lawmakers appointed William Ure, Foster Downing, and Martin Heisey as a Board of Commissioners to find a site for a new, second prison.
On June 4th, 1872, the board met in Anamosa in Jones County and selected a site within the corporate limits of the city. The citizens of Anamosa donated 15 acres to the state for the new prison, and another 61 acres “of good pastureland” close to the area was also donated. Also working in Anamosa’s favor was the fact that there were three nearby quarries, sufficient to provide enough high quality limestone for the project.
Work started that September, and on May 13th, 1873, 20 convicts were transferred to the new Anamosa Branch of the Fort Madison Penitentiary. At the time, about 12 acres had been enclosed with a 16-foot-high board fence. The facility could hold 60 prisoners.
Not long after, convict labor was let out to contractors, but that led to complaints about work being taken from “honest citizens”. That ultimately led to the creation of Iowa State Industries, which provided jobs for inmates but with limited markets, such as tax-supported institutions and agencies.
But it took the vision of a three-member committee seeing a 15 acre parcel of land and envisioning the Anamosa State Penitentiary, on this date in 1872.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 4th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Building A Prison"
The Iowa Territory was opened in June of 1838, and early the next year, the new Territorial Legislature approved a penitentiary to be built in the town of Fort Madison, near the original state capitol of Burlington.
For more than 30 years, that facility took care of the problem of what to do with criminals in the region. But by the spring of 1872, the legislature needed to take action, so lawmakers appointed William Ure, Foster Downing, and Martin Heisey as a Board of Commissioners to find a site for a new, second prison.
On June 4th, 1872, the board met in Anamosa in Jones County and selected a site within the corporate limits of the city. The citizens of Anamosa donated 15 acres to the state for the new prison, and another 61 acres “of good pastureland” close to the area was also donated. Also working in Anamosa’s favor was the fact that there were three nearby quarries, sufficient to provide enough high quality limestone for the project.
Work started that September, and on May 13th, 1873, 20 convicts were transferred to the new Anamosa Branch of the Fort Madison Penitentiary. At the time, about 12 acres had been enclosed with a 16-foot-high board fence. The facility could hold 60 prisoners.
Not long after, convict labor was let out to contractors, but that led to complaints about work being taken from “honest citizens”. That ultimately led to the creation of Iowa State Industries, which provided jobs for inmates but with limited markets, such as tax-supported institutions and agencies.
But it took the vision of a three-member committee seeing a 15 acre parcel of land and envisioning the Anamosa State Penitentiary, on this date in 1872.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 4th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, June 3, 2019
"The Greenfield Hotel Company"
It was a sign of the times in the early 1900s…every town of any size wanted a grand hotel along its downtown main street. And the county seat of Adair County, Greenfield, was no different.
Despite the shadow cast over the country by World War I, local boosters were able to come up with the $65,000 needed to build Greenfield’s fourth hotel, a 32-room state-of-the-art lodge located at 110 East Iowa Street. The Hotel Greenfield had been preceded in that location by the Wilson Hotel and then the Commercial Hotel.
Local business owners and town boosters founded the Greenfield Hotel Company on April 8, 1919. The idea was to create a community improvement project, rather than running a hotel as a profit-making venture.
It was the largest commercial building in the central business district, and as the roaring twenties began, work on the new hotel began. Regional architect William Gordon designed the classical revival style building.
On June 3rd, 1920, a gala grand opening was held with local attorneys William Don Carlos and George Musmaker serving as toastmasters for the evening.
The Greenfield Hotel Company owned the hotel until 1951, after which various individuals and families operated the business. Then, coming full circle, in 2010 a group of area investors with the support of the Community Development Corporation of Greenfield bought the facility and have restored it to the past glory it had on that grand opening night, on this date in 1920.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 3rd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The Greenfield Hotel Company"
It was a sign of the times in the early 1900s…every town of any size wanted a grand hotel along its downtown main street. And the county seat of Adair County, Greenfield, was no different.
Despite the shadow cast over the country by World War I, local boosters were able to come up with the $65,000 needed to build Greenfield’s fourth hotel, a 32-room state-of-the-art lodge located at 110 East Iowa Street. The Hotel Greenfield had been preceded in that location by the Wilson Hotel and then the Commercial Hotel.
Local business owners and town boosters founded the Greenfield Hotel Company on April 8, 1919. The idea was to create a community improvement project, rather than running a hotel as a profit-making venture.
It was the largest commercial building in the central business district, and as the roaring twenties began, work on the new hotel began. Regional architect William Gordon designed the classical revival style building.
On June 3rd, 1920, a gala grand opening was held with local attorneys William Don Carlos and George Musmaker serving as toastmasters for the evening.
The Greenfield Hotel Company owned the hotel until 1951, after which various individuals and families operated the business. Then, coming full circle, in 2010 a group of area investors with the support of the Community Development Corporation of Greenfield bought the facility and have restored it to the past glory it had on that grand opening night, on this date in 1920.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 3rd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.