Happy Valentine’s Day!

Did you know that one of the most famous candy-making companies in America had its beginnings right here in Johnson County? Yup – Russell Stover Candies is the brainchild of a fourth-generation Iowa Citian – Russell Stover (1888-1954), and his talented wife – Clara Mae Lewis Stover (1882-1975), from near-by Oxford.

After their great success with the Eskimo Pie (1920-1923), Russell & Clara Stover start Mrs. Stover’s Bungalow Candies. By the 1950’s, the company that bore Stover’s name was producing 11 million pounds of candy annually and selling its products through 40 Russell Stover shops, and in about 2,000 department stores nationwide.

Come read the amazing story of how this persistent Iowa City couple achieved success despite a number of financial setbacks that would deter many others.

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February 13, 1926 – A devastating fire destroys the original interior of the Englert Theatre and threatens many businesses on East Washington Street in Iowa City. Yet, despite the danger being only two storefronts away, thirty-one brave Northwestern Bell Telephone operators stay at their switchboards.

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This Day In History is an Our Iowa Heritage blog series that offers you a little bit of Iowa trivia from a large selection of stories on our website. Subscribe to this FREE blog and you’ll get a new email from us daily. Click to learn more.

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February 12, 1951 – Meredith Willson’s Iowa Fight Song is introduced on the University of Iowa campus – played at half-time of the Iowa vs. Indiana basketball game.

Hawkeye fan, Bob Tjarks, has shared pics of his very rare program from the February 12, 1951 Iowa vs. Indiana basketball game. As you can see from the pic (above left), Meredith Willson’s Iowa Fight Song is being introduced – AT HALFTIME: PREMIER PERFORMANCE ON SUI CAMPUS OF THE “IOWA FIGHT SONG” COMPOSED BY NATIVE IOWAN MEREDITH WILLSON AND DEDICATED TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.”

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Did you know? is an Our Iowa Heritage blog series that offers you a little bit of Iowa trivia from a large selection of stories on our website. Subscribe to this FREE blog and you’ll get a new email from us daily. Click to learn more.

Click here to go on to the next date…