If you were to peruse a history of the small town of Long Grove, Iowa, you are very likely to find a very interesting black and white photograph. In it stands a huge man, looking at the camera with relative disinterest. The viewer can’t help but notice the man’s size. Yes, he’s very overweight, but […]
Little Stone For a Big Man: The Giant of Scott County, Iowa Read More »
Just south of the town of Atlantic, Iowa, is a roadside attraction called the Plow in the Tree, within sight of the Nishnabotna River. It delivers exactly what the name says – it’s a plow in a tree. The story is that in the 1860’s, a young man was plowing a field when he heard
And the Rain Fell, and the Waters Rose…. Read More »
Halloween is synonymous with ghosts. Every October, people from all over America break out their spooky holiday decorations to celebrate all things supernatural. Perhaps most iconic among them all are cemeteries. As a place were we bury out dead – both loved and no-so loved – the cemeteries conjure thoughts of the great beyond, serving
Unfinished Business: Walking the Rows of Iowa’s Haunted Cemeteries Read More »
Halloween is a time that so many people wear masks. People get to step out of their normal roles and act a little different for a day or two. They get to step outside the box and play pretend, turning from soccer moms and construction workers into vampires, sexy nurses, and kung-fu nuns. It’s good
A Night on the Town: The Jerry Corcoran Murder of 1902 Read More »
The mid 1800’s was a time of intense migration from Western Europe to the United States. Millions of immigrants made their way across the Atlantic to settle anywhere and everywhere. They came for many reasons, but ultimately, they all amounted to one thing – to make a better life for themselves and their
Midnight Tragedy: The Koenig Family Murder/Suicide of 1870 Read More »
I grew up watching movies from the 1930’s and 40’s with my mom. While I still enjoyed the newer films coming out, I loved to hear the banter between Nick and Nora Charles, or thrill to Errol Flynn’s daredevil heroics. As I grew older, I began to notice a common thread amongst them – the
Hazel and Helen: Two Cases of Strong-Arm Robbery in 1920’s Moline, Illinois Read More »
I loved movies when I was a kid, especially westerns. They were great fun, but like most movies from back then, nothing bad ever really happened. Well, nothing bad without some kind of sounding resolution. I mean, Devil Dandridge rustled up some cattle, but Daring Dardanelle was always there to stop him and return that
The Person in the Background: Going Unnoticed Through History Read More »
I doubt that Frederick Rothstein thought much about bridges when he was living at Allen’s Grove, Iowa. They were probably one of the furthest things from his mind. A miller by trade, Rothstein had a lucrative business. He had a combination saw and grist mill, powered by steam. Rothstein had an abundance of fuel and
Buena Vista: Bridge to the End Read More »
Flash floods are some of the most devastating natural disasters in the world. They can come without warning, destroying everything in their path. Iowa is no stranger to them. Although there have been many throughout the years, one still stands out in the minds of Southwest Iowa residents. Perpetual Rain It began
The Audubon-Exira-Hamlin Flood of 1958 Read More »
Every state has at least one ghost town. Just as towns emerge for a variety of reasons, they also die for just as many. But, like people, it’s often what happened in a town when it was still around that really matters. That’s especially true for the town of Buena Vista. To
Buena Vista: A Name Without a Town Read More »
