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 …
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 …
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 …
William Stewart’s beloved wife, Mary, was dead. He was only in his early 40’s, still a relatively young man. He had planned on spending the rest of his life with her. But it was not to be. Grieving, William sent his two children, Pearl and William, to live with his brother near Charlotte, Iowa. He …
Suicidal: William Stewart Walks the Long, Dark Path in 1920 Read More »
Historians can be an odd breed. Most of us are inclined to spend a good deal of time reading about people long gone from this world. We learn about their lives, their wants, their passions. We are, in many ways, caretakers of the dead. It should come as no surprise then that we have a …
In 1853, Edward Graham was made the County Judge of Clinton County, Iowa, when his predecessor unexpectedly vacated the position. While the new promotion may have come as a surprise, he was more than up to the task. Born in Pennsylvania, he decided to become a lawyer. Seven years later, he and his …
Edward Graham’s Legacy: The Forgotten DeWitt Courthouse of 1854 Read More »
If you ever happen to be driving along Highway 34 through Adams County, Iowa, you’ll eventually pass a cemetery along the right-hand side of the road. While mostly unobtrusive, there is one stone that definitely stands out. Standing nearly ten feet tall, it’s an elaborate monument, topped by a beautiful woman carved from marble. She’s …
The Marble Woman: Thoughts of Henry Reese in Adams County Read More »
Paul Schroeder was running through the repair shop, trying his best to avoid the hail of bullets flying his direction. He fired back blindly, trying to make the cops stop shooting long enough so he could get to his car. To be fair, it wasn’t his car. He and his brother, Everett, had stolen it. …
Bandits in the Blizzard: The Schroeder Brother’s Crime Spree of 1937 Read More »
