"Iowa Almanac" is a copyrighted production of Stein Enterprises, L.L.C.
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Copyright 2021 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 2021 by Stein Enterprises, L.L.C.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, June 30, 2021
"The Father of the Grotto"
Father Paul Doberstein was born in Germany in 1872 and emigrated to the United States at age 20. He was ordained in Milwaukee on June 30th, 1897. After a year as chaplain for a Dubuque hospital, he was appointed as pastor of the West Bend Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He remained there for the rest of his life, and during that 57 years, he created something truly remarkable.
Shortly before he completed his seminary studies, Father Doberstein became critically ill with pneumonia. He prayed to the Virgin Mary, promising to build a shrine in her honor if he lived.
He made good on that promise, creating the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend. It started as a fishing pond and park outside the church, an effort to get parishioners to stay after services. In 1912, after years of collecting rocks and precious stones, he began to create the Grotto, which is designed to tell the story of man's fall and his redemption by Christ as savior of the world. And as Father Doberstein recalled in a 1946 radio interview, he did it without any training.
I never draw any plans on paper. I visualize these things that I do. I visualize the whole grotto as it will appear complete, in two minutes, as a mental picture.
Along with Matt Szerensce, who signed on to the project right out of high school and worked on it himself for 52 years, Father Doberstein envisioned a work of art that brings some 100,000 visitors each year to West Bend in northwest Iowa to see the largest grotto in the world.
The geological value of the stones that make up the Grotto is around $4 million. But to its creator, it was a priceless tribute and fulfillment of a promise Father Paul Doberstein made in a prayer shortly become he became ordained as a priest, on this date in 1897.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 30th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The Father of the Grotto"
Father Paul Doberstein was born in Germany in 1872 and emigrated to the United States at age 20. He was ordained in Milwaukee on June 30th, 1897. After a year as chaplain for a Dubuque hospital, he was appointed as pastor of the West Bend Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. He remained there for the rest of his life, and during that 57 years, he created something truly remarkable.
Shortly before he completed his seminary studies, Father Doberstein became critically ill with pneumonia. He prayed to the Virgin Mary, promising to build a shrine in her honor if he lived.
He made good on that promise, creating the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend. It started as a fishing pond and park outside the church, an effort to get parishioners to stay after services. In 1912, after years of collecting rocks and precious stones, he began to create the Grotto, which is designed to tell the story of man's fall and his redemption by Christ as savior of the world. And as Father Doberstein recalled in a 1946 radio interview, he did it without any training.
I never draw any plans on paper. I visualize these things that I do. I visualize the whole grotto as it will appear complete, in two minutes, as a mental picture.
Along with Matt Szerensce, who signed on to the project right out of high school and worked on it himself for 52 years, Father Doberstein envisioned a work of art that brings some 100,000 visitors each year to West Bend in northwest Iowa to see the largest grotto in the world.
The geological value of the stones that make up the Grotto is around $4 million. But to its creator, it was a priceless tribute and fulfillment of a promise Father Paul Doberstein made in a prayer shortly become he became ordained as a priest, on this date in 1897.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 30th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 29, 2021
"The Human Fly"
Henry Roland had an odd job. He climbed buildings in the 1920s and 1930s, travelling the country and entertaining audiences through his antics.
In August of 1924, Roland, his wife Anna, and their small daughter, Helen, were travelling across Iowa. Henry would perform and collect donations to cover their living expenses. They found themselves in Bloomfield, and Henry found the Davis County Courthouse there irresistible.
Back then, courthouse squares and main streets were hubs of small town activity, so it was no surprise that several hundred people gathered to watch Roland climb the outside of the building. All went well until he neared the cornice. He lost his footing and fell 35 feet to the sidewalk below, breaking his left hip, among other injuries. Doctors said he would never climb again, and in fact, he spent five weeks in a hospital in Ottumwa.
But the Human Fly would return to the entertainment circuit. And while he was gaining fame, there was still something missing.
In June 1932, Henry Roland was in northern Missouri and decided to cross the state line to tackle the courthouse in Bloomfield once again. The earlier fall left him with one leg shorter than the other, and a left arm that never fully recovered. But despite that, on June 29th, Roland flawlessly climbed the Davis County Courthouse in less than 12 minutes, placing his cap on the head of the Blind Justice statue that stands atop the clock tower.
Five years later, at the age of 43, he died in a fall from a trapeze more than 60 feet above the ground in Tennessee.
The Davis County Courthouse beat him once, but Henry Roland got his revenge eight years later, climbing the building in Bloomfield on this date in 1932.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 29th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The Human Fly"
Henry Roland had an odd job. He climbed buildings in the 1920s and 1930s, travelling the country and entertaining audiences through his antics.
In August of 1924, Roland, his wife Anna, and their small daughter, Helen, were travelling across Iowa. Henry would perform and collect donations to cover their living expenses. They found themselves in Bloomfield, and Henry found the Davis County Courthouse there irresistible.
Back then, courthouse squares and main streets were hubs of small town activity, so it was no surprise that several hundred people gathered to watch Roland climb the outside of the building. All went well until he neared the cornice. He lost his footing and fell 35 feet to the sidewalk below, breaking his left hip, among other injuries. Doctors said he would never climb again, and in fact, he spent five weeks in a hospital in Ottumwa.
But the Human Fly would return to the entertainment circuit. And while he was gaining fame, there was still something missing.
In June 1932, Henry Roland was in northern Missouri and decided to cross the state line to tackle the courthouse in Bloomfield once again. The earlier fall left him with one leg shorter than the other, and a left arm that never fully recovered. But despite that, on June 29th, Roland flawlessly climbed the Davis County Courthouse in less than 12 minutes, placing his cap on the head of the Blind Justice statue that stands atop the clock tower.
Five years later, at the age of 43, he died in a fall from a trapeze more than 60 feet above the ground in Tennessee.
The Davis County Courthouse beat him once, but Henry Roland got his revenge eight years later, climbing the building in Bloomfield on this date in 1932.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 29th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, June 28, 2021
"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 Friday, June 25, 2021
"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 Thursday, June 24, 2021
"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 Wednesday, June 23, 2021
"Fighting the Fires"
The city of Cedar Rapids began organizing its first volunteer fire department on February 4th, 1869. Less than a month later, the city's first steamer engine and 500 feet of hose arrived; costing $6,000.00.
The city's volunteer effort continued for 24 years, before the first paid fire chief was hired. L. M. Ayers served in that position for four years. At the time, the city's loosely organized fire equipment consisted of nine two-wheeled carts, one four-wheeled cart, two large hook-and-ladder trucks, and one supply wagon.
On June 23rd, 1894, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department became a paid department, with professional firefighters. The city would now be covered by a unified fire department, rather than a collection of individual volunteer companies. Prior to the unification, individual volunteer companies would actually compete with one another to get to a fire first and put it out.
The first Central Fire Station in the city was on Second Street East near the Granby Building. A new station was built five years later, and the first motorized fire apparatus came in 1912. The department joined the International Association of Firefighters Union in early 1918.
Starting in 1975, new fire trucks were painted yellow instead of red; many departments tried this idea, as it was thought they would be more visible. Cedar Rapids ultimately switched back to red in the early 1990s. Today, the department prides itself on responding anywhere in our state's second largest city in less than four minutes.
A total of 248 men, 11 companies, and 14 pieces of apparatus was taken out of service, ending a quarter-century of volunteer firefighting, when the Cedar Rapids Fire Department became a unified, paid city department, on this date in 1894.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 23rd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Fighting the Fires"
The city of Cedar Rapids began organizing its first volunteer fire department on February 4th, 1869. Less than a month later, the city's first steamer engine and 500 feet of hose arrived; costing $6,000.00.
The city's volunteer effort continued for 24 years, before the first paid fire chief was hired. L. M. Ayers served in that position for four years. At the time, the city's loosely organized fire equipment consisted of nine two-wheeled carts, one four-wheeled cart, two large hook-and-ladder trucks, and one supply wagon.
On June 23rd, 1894, the Cedar Rapids Fire Department became a paid department, with professional firefighters. The city would now be covered by a unified fire department, rather than a collection of individual volunteer companies. Prior to the unification, individual volunteer companies would actually compete with one another to get to a fire first and put it out.
The first Central Fire Station in the city was on Second Street East near the Granby Building. A new station was built five years later, and the first motorized fire apparatus came in 1912. The department joined the International Association of Firefighters Union in early 1918.
Starting in 1975, new fire trucks were painted yellow instead of red; many departments tried this idea, as it was thought they would be more visible. Cedar Rapids ultimately switched back to red in the early 1990s. Today, the department prides itself on responding anywhere in our state's second largest city in less than four minutes.
A total of 248 men, 11 companies, and 14 pieces of apparatus was taken out of service, ending a quarter-century of volunteer firefighting, when the Cedar Rapids Fire Department became a unified, paid city department, on this date in 1894.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 23rd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 22, 2021
"Mrs. Olson's Hometown"
Virginia Christine Ricketts was born in the southwest Iowa town of Stanton on March 5th, 1920. Using the name Virginia Christine, she had a long career as an actress, including playing a nosy bigot in the movie "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". But most likely, you'll remember her from this role.
I use Folgers…it’s the richest kind!
For 21 years in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, Virginia Christine played the character Mrs. Olson in the long-running Folgers coffee commercials.
Her hometown wanted to honor her, so in 1971, Stanton repainted its water tower to resemble a coffee pot, complete with handle and spout. It became known as the World's Largest Coffee Pot, and would hold three quarters of a million cups of coffee.
But even the world's largest coffee pot was not large enough to handle the water needs of Stanton, so on June 22nd, 2001, five years after Virginia Christine's death, the city added a second water tower...this one in the shape of a coffee cup. The coffee cup water tower would hold 2.4 million cups of coffee. Both were decorated with a Swedish-style tollware design, with decorative hearts and flowers.
The coffee pot water tower became too expensive to maintain, and in 2015, it was taken down, with the giant coffee pot itself mounted at street level on the local historical society's grounds as a tribute to Stanton native Virginia Christine, Mrs. Olson. But the coffee cup water tower still stands, as it has ever since this date in 2001…20 years ago today.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 22nd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Mrs. Olson's Hometown"
Virginia Christine Ricketts was born in the southwest Iowa town of Stanton on March 5th, 1920. Using the name Virginia Christine, she had a long career as an actress, including playing a nosy bigot in the movie "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". But most likely, you'll remember her from this role.
I use Folgers…it’s the richest kind!
For 21 years in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, Virginia Christine played the character Mrs. Olson in the long-running Folgers coffee commercials.
Her hometown wanted to honor her, so in 1971, Stanton repainted its water tower to resemble a coffee pot, complete with handle and spout. It became known as the World's Largest Coffee Pot, and would hold three quarters of a million cups of coffee.
But even the world's largest coffee pot was not large enough to handle the water needs of Stanton, so on June 22nd, 2001, five years after Virginia Christine's death, the city added a second water tower...this one in the shape of a coffee cup. The coffee cup water tower would hold 2.4 million cups of coffee. Both were decorated with a Swedish-style tollware design, with decorative hearts and flowers.
The coffee pot water tower became too expensive to maintain, and in 2015, it was taken down, with the giant coffee pot itself mounted at street level on the local historical society's grounds as a tribute to Stanton native Virginia Christine, Mrs. Olson. But the coffee cup water tower still stands, as it has ever since this date in 2001…20 years ago today.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 22nd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, June 21, 2021
"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…140 years ago today.
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…140 years ago today.
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.
Iowa Almanac for Friday, June 18, 2021
"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 Thursday, June 17, 2021
"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 Wednesday, June 16, 2021
"A Unique Hailstorm"
One thing we all have as a common experience is the weather. Many of us consult radio, television, and phone apps to check the forecast for the coming day.
But we’ve never seen a forecast like what happened in Dubuque on June 16, 1882.
A heavy storm passed through the area that day, including rather large hail. In some areas of Iowa that day, hail lasted for nearly a quarter of an hour, with hail stones ranging in size from one to seventeen inches…one weighed nearly two pounds. Washington Park in Dubuque was said to be literally covered with hail stones the size of lemons. Damage was at least $5,000…no small amount at the time.
The foreman of the Novelty Iron Works plant in that city collected some of the larger hail stones…and noticed that these seemed denser and less clear than others he had seen.
So he melted a few of them and discovered that various items were embedded in them…gravel, blades of grass and dirt…and in two of the large hail stones were frogs.
Literally…frogs falling from the sky in Dubuque. And it was not the first time such a thing had happened…less than a decade before, the same thing happened in Kansas City.
Meteorologists speculate that a tornado or powerful updraft lifted the frogs high into the atmosphere, where they were flash frozen before returning to Earth miles later during another phase of the storm.
You’ve heard the saying, “raining cats and dogs”…there’s no meteorological evidence of that ever occurring, but there is evidence of when it hailed frogs in Dubuque, on this date in 1882.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 16th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"A Unique Hailstorm"
One thing we all have as a common experience is the weather. Many of us consult radio, television, and phone apps to check the forecast for the coming day.
But we’ve never seen a forecast like what happened in Dubuque on June 16, 1882.
A heavy storm passed through the area that day, including rather large hail. In some areas of Iowa that day, hail lasted for nearly a quarter of an hour, with hail stones ranging in size from one to seventeen inches…one weighed nearly two pounds. Washington Park in Dubuque was said to be literally covered with hail stones the size of lemons. Damage was at least $5,000…no small amount at the time.
The foreman of the Novelty Iron Works plant in that city collected some of the larger hail stones…and noticed that these seemed denser and less clear than others he had seen.
So he melted a few of them and discovered that various items were embedded in them…gravel, blades of grass and dirt…and in two of the large hail stones were frogs.
Literally…frogs falling from the sky in Dubuque. And it was not the first time such a thing had happened…less than a decade before, the same thing happened in Kansas City.
Meteorologists speculate that a tornado or powerful updraft lifted the frogs high into the atmosphere, where they were flash frozen before returning to Earth miles later during another phase of the storm.
You’ve heard the saying, “raining cats and dogs”…there’s no meteorological evidence of that ever occurring, but there is evidence of when it hailed frogs in Dubuque, on this date in 1882.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 16th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 15, 2021
"The First Woman Speaker"
College commencement ceremonies often have featured speakers, whose remarks are often forgotten. For that matter, many of the graduates can't remember who spoke at their graduation after a few years time.
Chances are, however, that the graduates of Iowa State University remembered the commencement exercises on June 15th, 1921, because one of the school's most famous graduates delivered remarks.
Carrie Lane Chapman Catt was born in 1859 in Wisconsin, but grew up on a farm near Charles City from the time she was 7. She graduated from what was then Iowa Agricultural College in 1880 with a degree in general science. She was the only woman in her graduating class. She became a teacher and principal in Mason City, and at the age of 24, became school superintendent, one of the first women to hold such a position.
After her first husband died of typhoid fever, Carrie devoted herself to the women's suffrage cause. In 1890, she married engineer George Catt, whom she had first met while in college. He supported his wife's suffrage work, saying his role in the marriage was to earn their living, and hers was to reform society.
She came up with the idea for what became the national League of Women Voters and was honorary president for more than a quarter century, until her death in 1947.
She was the first woman to deliver a commencement address at Iowa State, and in fact, did so not only in 1921, but in 1930 as well. In that first graduation speech, she closed by saying, "To the wrongs that need resistance...to the right that needs assistance...to the future in the distance...give yourselves."
The words of suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, when she delivered the commencement address at her alma mater, Iowa State University, on this date in 1921…100 years ago today.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 15th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The First Woman Speaker"
College commencement ceremonies often have featured speakers, whose remarks are often forgotten. For that matter, many of the graduates can't remember who spoke at their graduation after a few years time.
Chances are, however, that the graduates of Iowa State University remembered the commencement exercises on June 15th, 1921, because one of the school's most famous graduates delivered remarks.
Carrie Lane Chapman Catt was born in 1859 in Wisconsin, but grew up on a farm near Charles City from the time she was 7. She graduated from what was then Iowa Agricultural College in 1880 with a degree in general science. She was the only woman in her graduating class. She became a teacher and principal in Mason City, and at the age of 24, became school superintendent, one of the first women to hold such a position.
After her first husband died of typhoid fever, Carrie devoted herself to the women's suffrage cause. In 1890, she married engineer George Catt, whom she had first met while in college. He supported his wife's suffrage work, saying his role in the marriage was to earn their living, and hers was to reform society.
She came up with the idea for what became the national League of Women Voters and was honorary president for more than a quarter century, until her death in 1947.
She was the first woman to deliver a commencement address at Iowa State, and in fact, did so not only in 1921, but in 1930 as well. In that first graduation speech, she closed by saying, "To the wrongs that need resistance...to the right that needs assistance...to the future in the distance...give yourselves."
The words of suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, when she delivered the commencement address at her alma mater, Iowa State University, on this date in 1921…100 years ago today.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 15th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, June 14, 2021
"A Game With No Fans"
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"
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 Friday, June 11, 2021
"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 Thursday, June 10, 2021
"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 Wednesday, June 9, 2021
"An Iowan's Decency"
Joseph Welch was born in Primghar, in O’Brien County in northwest Iowa, on October 22nd of 1890…he was the youngest of seven children. His father was a seaman from England who came to the U.S. to work on his brother’s farm.
The family was poor, but Joe Welch saved money from a job in high school and earned scholarships that allowed him to attend Grinnell College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa…then he finished second in his class at the Harvard University Law School.
He begin his legal career at one of Boston’s prestigious firms, Hall and Dorr, in 1919, and by the mid-1950s, he was a senior partner with 35 years of experience.
Joseph Welch wound up becoming well known for his actions at the Army-McCarthy Hearings in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed U.S. Army officers were really Communists; the Army hired Welch, who had served briefly in the Army during World War I, as its legal counsel.
On June 9, 1954, the 30th day of the nationally-televised hearings, Welch challenged McCarthy’s side to produce the names of the 130 Communists McCarthy claimed were working in U.S. defense plants. McCarthy turned the tables and claimed Welch’s law firm was home to a Communist. That’s when the polite Iowan had had enough…and uttered words which changed the entire direction of the hearings.
“Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You’ve done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”
Even those in attendance broke into applause at one of the first public challenges to McCarthy, an event which many term the beginning of the end for the Wisconsin senator, who was formally censured by the Senate before the end of the year.
Welch soon found himself on the cover of Life magazine; later, director Otto Preminger cast him as a judge in a movie, earning a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor.
The Iowa farm boy turned Boston lawyer whose challenge led to the end of McCarthyism, Joseph Welch, called for decency at a congressional hearing, on this date in 1954.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 9th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"An Iowan's Decency"
Joseph Welch was born in Primghar, in O’Brien County in northwest Iowa, on October 22nd of 1890…he was the youngest of seven children. His father was a seaman from England who came to the U.S. to work on his brother’s farm.
The family was poor, but Joe Welch saved money from a job in high school and earned scholarships that allowed him to attend Grinnell College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa…then he finished second in his class at the Harvard University Law School.
He begin his legal career at one of Boston’s prestigious firms, Hall and Dorr, in 1919, and by the mid-1950s, he was a senior partner with 35 years of experience.
Joseph Welch wound up becoming well known for his actions at the Army-McCarthy Hearings in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed U.S. Army officers were really Communists; the Army hired Welch, who had served briefly in the Army during World War I, as its legal counsel.
On June 9, 1954, the 30th day of the nationally-televised hearings, Welch challenged McCarthy’s side to produce the names of the 130 Communists McCarthy claimed were working in U.S. defense plants. McCarthy turned the tables and claimed Welch’s law firm was home to a Communist. That’s when the polite Iowan had had enough…and uttered words which changed the entire direction of the hearings.
“Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You’ve done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”
Even those in attendance broke into applause at one of the first public challenges to McCarthy, an event which many term the beginning of the end for the Wisconsin senator, who was formally censured by the Senate before the end of the year.
Welch soon found himself on the cover of Life magazine; later, director Otto Preminger cast him as a judge in a movie, earning a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor.
The Iowa farm boy turned Boston lawyer whose challenge led to the end of McCarthyism, Joseph Welch, called for decency at a congressional hearing, on this date in 1954.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 9th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 8, 2021
"The Murderous Barber Brothers"
Isaac Barber may only have been 25, and his younger brother William 23, but they had committed a long list of crimes at those young ages. The Barber Brothers were known to have committed six murders, wounded several others, and pulled off many robberies and horse thefts in the early 1880s in Iowa and Illinois. There was even a reward of $6,000 offered for their capture.
The Barber Brothers had kept a low profile in the winter of 1883, following the murder of Fayette County deputy sheriff Marion Sheppard the previous September. But the brothers’ desire to return to their home area wound up being their undoing in June of 1883.
They showed up at their old family home in West Union, unaware that their mother had recently sold the homestead, and after the new owners recognized them, they fled into nearby timber. At one point, during this final period on the run, the boys were washing up in the Wapsipinicon River when a law posse spotted them. They left their hats, coats and boots behind in their haste to get away. Then they were spotted in a school house near Sumner, but fled following a shoot out with authorities. They made their way to Tripoli and hid in a barn on the Tegtmeir farm. When son Henry Tegtmeir was milking, they showed themselves and asked for a meal. Henry obliged them, but slipped out to tell his father and brothers the notorious Barber Brothers were on their property. The others went to get help, while Henry kept the outlaws company. Five neighbors then stormed the house, and in the shootout, one of them died. But the Barber Brothers were captured.
There was so much interest in hanging the boys then and there that a crowd gathered near a jail in Waverly. The sheriff snuck the prisoners to Waterloo, where they were escorted by train to Independence, to stay a step ahead of the mobs that were intent on dispensing justice. Soon the Barber Brothers were returned to Waverly, and indeed, a mob overcame the resistance of authorities. On June 8th, they took Issac and William Barber to the nearby Murphy's Grove, where they were hanged shortly before midnight.
The leaders of the mob were put on trial, and found guilty. But somehow, the court failed to order any punishment; the public consensus was that the brothers deserved a hanging.
The murderous crime spree of the Barber Brothers came to an end, through a mob dispensing their own kind of justice by hanging, on this date in 1883.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 8th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The Murderous Barber Brothers"
Isaac Barber may only have been 25, and his younger brother William 23, but they had committed a long list of crimes at those young ages. The Barber Brothers were known to have committed six murders, wounded several others, and pulled off many robberies and horse thefts in the early 1880s in Iowa and Illinois. There was even a reward of $6,000 offered for their capture.
The Barber Brothers had kept a low profile in the winter of 1883, following the murder of Fayette County deputy sheriff Marion Sheppard the previous September. But the brothers’ desire to return to their home area wound up being their undoing in June of 1883.
They showed up at their old family home in West Union, unaware that their mother had recently sold the homestead, and after the new owners recognized them, they fled into nearby timber. At one point, during this final period on the run, the boys were washing up in the Wapsipinicon River when a law posse spotted them. They left their hats, coats and boots behind in their haste to get away. Then they were spotted in a school house near Sumner, but fled following a shoot out with authorities. They made their way to Tripoli and hid in a barn on the Tegtmeir farm. When son Henry Tegtmeir was milking, they showed themselves and asked for a meal. Henry obliged them, but slipped out to tell his father and brothers the notorious Barber Brothers were on their property. The others went to get help, while Henry kept the outlaws company. Five neighbors then stormed the house, and in the shootout, one of them died. But the Barber Brothers were captured.
There was so much interest in hanging the boys then and there that a crowd gathered near a jail in Waverly. The sheriff snuck the prisoners to Waterloo, where they were escorted by train to Independence, to stay a step ahead of the mobs that were intent on dispensing justice. Soon the Barber Brothers were returned to Waverly, and indeed, a mob overcame the resistance of authorities. On June 8th, they took Issac and William Barber to the nearby Murphy's Grove, where they were hanged shortly before midnight.
The leaders of the mob were put on trial, and found guilty. But somehow, the court failed to order any punishment; the public consensus was that the brothers deserved a hanging.
The murderous crime spree of the Barber Brothers came to an end, through a mob dispensing their own kind of justice by hanging, on this date in 1883.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 8th...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Monday, June 7, 2021
"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 Friday, June 4, 2021
"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 Thursday, June 3, 2021
"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.
Iowa Almanac for Wednesday, June 2, 2021
"Bridges On The Big Screen"
In 1992, Robert James Waller was a University of Northern Iowa business professor. His novel “The Bridges of Madison County” changed all that, becoming one of the bestselling books of the century with some 50 million copies sold, thanks in great part to an endorsement by Oprah Winfrey, who did an episode of her show from the site of the bridges. The book was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than three years.
The book tells the story of a married but lonely Italian woman, Francesca Johnson, living in Madison County, Iowa, in the 1960s. She engages in an affair with a National Geographic photographer named Robert Kincaid, who is doing a photo essay on the area’s covered bridges.
On June 2nd, 1995, a movie based on the book premiered. It starred Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, who also directed the film.
You know, I get the distinct feeling that I’m lost.
Are you supposed to be in Iowa?
Yeah.
Well then, you’re not that lost.
I’m looking for a bridge, one of those covered bridges out here in this neighborhood.
Roseman Bridge?
That’s it.
The film was shot on location in Iowa during the summer of 1994 over a period of 42 days, ten days ahead of schedule. Shooting took place in Winterset and Adel.
The film “The Bridges of Madison County” grossed more than $70 million in the U.S. after its release on this date in 1995.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 2nd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"Bridges On The Big Screen"
In 1992, Robert James Waller was a University of Northern Iowa business professor. His novel “The Bridges of Madison County” changed all that, becoming one of the bestselling books of the century with some 50 million copies sold, thanks in great part to an endorsement by Oprah Winfrey, who did an episode of her show from the site of the bridges. The book was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than three years.
The book tells the story of a married but lonely Italian woman, Francesca Johnson, living in Madison County, Iowa, in the 1960s. She engages in an affair with a National Geographic photographer named Robert Kincaid, who is doing a photo essay on the area’s covered bridges.
On June 2nd, 1995, a movie based on the book premiered. It starred Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, who also directed the film.
You know, I get the distinct feeling that I’m lost.
Are you supposed to be in Iowa?
Yeah.
Well then, you’re not that lost.
I’m looking for a bridge, one of those covered bridges out here in this neighborhood.
Roseman Bridge?
That’s it.
The film was shot on location in Iowa during the summer of 1994 over a period of 42 days, ten days ahead of schedule. Shooting took place in Winterset and Adel.
The film “The Bridges of Madison County” grossed more than $70 million in the U.S. after its release on this date in 1995.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 2nd...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
Iowa Almanac for Tuesday, June 1, 2021
"The First Woman of Flight"
When she was 9 years old, Amelia Earhart's family moved to Des Moines. Her father was a claims officer for the Rock Island Railroad, and was transferred from Kansas to Iowa. The next year, she saw her first aircraft at the Iowa State Fair. But it was hardly love at first sight. Her father tried to get her and her sister to take a flight, but one look at the rickety flivver was enough for Amelia, who asked if they could instead go back to the merry-go-round. She later described the biplane as "a thing of rusty wire and wood and not at all interesting."
The Earhart family moved from Iowa in 1914, and it was still a few years before an adult Amelia took flying lessons in California from Ames native Neta Snook Southern.
And of all the marvels of modern invention, that with which I am most concerned is, of course, air transportation. Flying is perhaps the most dramatic of recent scientific attainment. In the brief span of 30-odd years, the world has seen an inventor's dream, first materialized by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, become an everyday actuality.
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic in June of 1928, and made the first solo flight from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast of America three months later.
On June 1st, 1937, Amelia Earhart began her attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world. The next day, her last radio transmission was heard, where she indicated that the level of gas in the plane was running low. She and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were never heard from again.
The teenager who saw her first airplane at the Iowa State Fair and wasn't impressed, Amelia Earhart, left on her last flight, designed to go around the world, on this date in 1937.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 1st...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.
"The First Woman of Flight"
When she was 9 years old, Amelia Earhart's family moved to Des Moines. Her father was a claims officer for the Rock Island Railroad, and was transferred from Kansas to Iowa. The next year, she saw her first aircraft at the Iowa State Fair. But it was hardly love at first sight. Her father tried to get her and her sister to take a flight, but one look at the rickety flivver was enough for Amelia, who asked if they could instead go back to the merry-go-round. She later described the biplane as "a thing of rusty wire and wood and not at all interesting."
The Earhart family moved from Iowa in 1914, and it was still a few years before an adult Amelia took flying lessons in California from Ames native Neta Snook Southern.
And of all the marvels of modern invention, that with which I am most concerned is, of course, air transportation. Flying is perhaps the most dramatic of recent scientific attainment. In the brief span of 30-odd years, the world has seen an inventor's dream, first materialized by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, become an everyday actuality.
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic in June of 1928, and made the first solo flight from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast of America three months later.
On June 1st, 1937, Amelia Earhart began her attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world. The next day, her last radio transmission was heard, where she indicated that the level of gas in the plane was running low. She and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were never heard from again.
The teenager who saw her first airplane at the Iowa State Fair and wasn't impressed, Amelia Earhart, left on her last flight, designed to go around the world, on this date in 1937.
And that's Iowa Almanac for June 1st...Listen to the extended audio version of today's story by clicking on the audio player above.