May 23, 1941 – Bing Crosby – accompanied by the John Scott Trotter Orchestra – recorded Meredith Willson’s first pop-song hit: You And I.

Long before Meredith Willson became known for The Music Man, he was writing pop songs that were being recorded by all the big-name stars of Hollywood. Take a brief glimpse and an enjoyable listen to three of Meredith’s top radio hits from the early 1940’s – You And I, Two In Love, and his first salute to his home state – Iowa.

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May 22, 1933 – The Iowa Legislature votes to make the ‘Eastern Goldfinch’ Iowa’s state bird.

Also known during the time as the ‘wild canary’ and ‘American Goldfinch,’ the suggestion to make the goldfinch Iowa’s official bird came from the Iowa Ornithological Union. When the IOU started brainstorming potential state bird candidates in 1926, the Western Meadowlark seemed to stand as the favorite. The group hatched a plan to have all the school children of Iowa vote from a list of possible birds, however, the plan never got off the ground and for another five years Iowans suffered on without a state bird. However, during the IOU’s 1932 meeting in Des Moines, a new vote found in favor of the Goldfinch. Soon after, IOU member and state representative J. Wilbur Dole introduced a successful motion in the Iowa House.

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May 21, 2024 – The Slezak Is Saved! After a six-month battle to save this iconic property on Bloomington Street in Iowa City, the Iowa City City Council votes 7-0 to rezone the Pagliai’s Pizza building and surrounding buildings as City Landmarks.

In 1872, a recent immigrant to Iowa City from Bohemia – Johann Slezak – bought two lots on the corner of Bloomington & Linn Streets. By 1875, his son – Joseph Slezak had opened the first of four buildings that would end up being called The National Hall. A true commercial center, Slezak Hall included a hotel, a dance hall with a stage and balcony, a grocery store, a tavern & restaurant, and even a horse stable to park your wagon and/or buggy!

In October 2023, the future of this classic property was endangered by not being classified as a city landmark. Over a six month period, local citizens fought long and hard to Save the Slezak! Come read our success story!

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