Our Iowa Heritage: An Introduction. We might suggest you start here! Here’s how & why I got started collecting stamps, coins, and other Iowa memorabilia.
Entertainment Tonight – Iowa City – The Early 1900’s. At the turn-of-the-century, Iowa Citians were turning out for live entertainment options like never before. Downtown Iowa City was alive in the evenings with dance halls, concerts and lectures, live theater and more. The Coldren Opera House led the way with nearly 900 seats on three levels, but then, in the summer of 1906, Chautauqua – the people’s college – came to town drawing hundreds for townspeople for ten straight days and nights under the big top. Come find out more.
From University Square To The Pentacrest. The State University of Iowa started small with a central campus (1847-1874) made up of only four buildings. By the turn-of-the-century, the number was up to twelve, but here’s the story of how SUI went from a handful of eclectic buildings to the iconic Pentacrest we all know and love today.
1901 – Opening Johnson County’s New Court House. It’s Saturday – June 8th, 1901 in Iowa City, Iowa. The city is full of excitement – for today is the big dedication ceremony for the new Johnson County Court House. According to the local newspapers at the time – this is one of the largest celebrations in Iowa City in years. Come read all about it.
J.E.R. – Iowa City’s Cannon Ball Newsgatherer. In 1901, when Jacob E. Reizenstein took over as the city editor at The Daily Iowa State Press, he was well-known by most Iowa Citians since he had served as the editor of The Iowa City Republican for thirteen years. But now, with what would later become The Iowa City Press-Citizen, J.E.R. would publish – between 1924 and 1959 – hundreds of articles that recounted Iowa City’s rich heritage, while becoming a true mentor to our city’s best-known historian – Irving Weber.
1904 – Welcome To Prosperous, Enterprising Iowa City. On August 5, 1904, The Iowa Daily Press ran a special 12-page mid-summer edition celebrating the growth of business & commerce across our fair city. Here, we take you back to 1904 for a deeper historical look at Iowa City at the turn of the century.
RFRIC – The CRANDIC Interurban Railway. Over a 120-year period (1850-1970) there were five different railway systems that attempted to serve the good people of Iowa City with passenger rail service. Today – there is none. Come reminisce with us as we review the amazing story behind the fourth: Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Interurban Railway.
The CRANDIC Interurban Railway – Picture Page. From 1904 through 1953, the CRANDIC Interurban served Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, running up to 12 trains daily between the two cities. Over the nearly 50 years, there were two dozen + different trolleys that made the 27-mile trip. Come see rare photographs of them all!
Heads Up! Low Bridge! Est. 1904! In the summer of 1904, Iowa Citians were excited to see the new Interurban electrified train roll in from Cedar Rapids. Over the next fifty years, CRANDIC’s Interurban served as a key player in transportation, but one big headache was the low-overhead CRANDIC Bridge over Iowa Avenue. Today, all these years later, the danger still remains!
Making Music In Iowa City – 1906 To Today. In 1906, one very talented 26-year-old musician – Effie Mae Proffitt – came to Iowa City to lead a church choir and to start her own vocal music studio. The State University of Iowa took notice, supporting her valiant efforts by making space for her studio in Unity Hall. Over the next three years, the SUI School of Music was launched, and now, 120 years later, we can look back at the amazing history of making beautiful music in Iowa City.
40 Turn-of-the-Century Leaders Who Shaped Iowa City. In 1906, the Iowa City business community published a little booklet entitled Our Live Ones – Iowa City – hiring a cartoonist by the name Hruska to draw 40 sketches of our city’s most prominent leaders. From Frank R. Hatch and W. E. Shrader to Otto H. Fink and Thomas A. (Buster) Brown, the list offers an entertaining look at 39 men and 1 woman (remember – this is 1906) “who made and are making Iowa City.”
Hannah Elizabeth Irish – Iowa City’s Business Entrepreneur. At the turn-of-the-century, a visionary named Elizabeth Irish opened a business college, becoming Iowa City’s first business woman to be included in The Commercial Club – the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce. Over the next 45 years, Irish’s University Business College successfully prepared 12,000 students for productive jobs in the business community.
Iowa City’s ‘Look For The Label’ Department Store. Solon native – Frank R. Hatch opened his new department store in 1900 – choosing to sell quality products over quantity. His store’s tagline was “Look For The Label” and it paid off for Hatch – becoming one of Iowa City’s top retailers at the turn-of-the-century.
Meet The Finks – Our Business Is Smokin’. In 1865, German immigrant J.G. Fink partnered with fellow tobacconist H.J. Wieneke to start a successful tobacco & cigar store in Iowa City. By 1906, J.G.’s son – Otto – joined with Wieneke, picking up where his father left off, becoming known as Dad at Fink’s Cigar Store located in the ritzy St. James Hotel on Clinton Street.
Economy Advertising – Birthplace Of The Midland & More. So many of the earliest publications coming out of Iowa City were produced at Economy Advertising located on North Linn Street. Maybe the most recognized of all was Midland Magazine – a forerunner of the famed Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
Hey Iowa City – Let’s Go To The Movies! Part I. At the turn-of-the-century, Iowa Citians were anxious to see this new invention of Thomas Edison’s that allowed photographs to not only be projected onto a large screen, but they moved as well! By 1907, there were three “movie houses” in town, and only one decade later, Iowa Citians had experienced thirteen different theatres, in eleven different locations – all located within a few blocks of each other!
Hey Iowa City – Let’s Go To The Movies! Part II. Enjoyed the first act? Here’s the second reel – taking us from 1908 to 1917.
Iowa City’s Movie Moguls – Buster Brown & Willie-Billie Englert. Most people recognize the names of the great movie moguls of Hollywood – men like Samuel Goldwyn & Louis B. Mayer (MGM), Jack, Sam and Harry Warner (Warner Brothers), and Darryl F. Zanuck (20th Century Fox). But, it’s important to remember that in nearly every city across America – at the turn-of-the-century, there were local entrepreneurs who were responsible for bringing all those big Hollywood films to their town. Come meet two of Iowa City’s biggest movie house moguls!
As The Dunkel World Turns. In 1840, Kasper & Mary Dunkel rolled into Iowa City and had the honor of birthing Iowa City’s first white male child – William J. Dunkel. Over the next 80 years, three generations of Dunkels lived their lives in such a way that their stories would often end up on the front pages of local newspapers. An influential family when it came to travel and entertainment, the citizens of Iowa City were often entertained by their up-and-down lives. Now, you can be entertained by some of their exploits as well!
1908 – Oakdale Hall – Iowa’s Answer To The White Plague. Tuberculosis (TB) – also known during the 18th and 19th century as the White Plague or Consumption – was the #1 killer in the world during the early-to-mid 1900’s. The only known remedy was to move those with this deadly lung disease into sanatoriums. In 1908, the State of Iowa opened Oakdale Hall on 280 acres of farmland north of Coralville. Working alongside dedicated doctors and nurses from SUI, the Oakdale campus faithfully served those with TB over the next 50+ years.
Let’s Go To City Park! Iowa Citians have always enjoyed their parks, and from the very beginning (1839), there’s almost always been a City Park where folks can get away from the busyness of life. Part I covers the history of City Park #1 (1839-1890), Iowa River Recreation & The Island (1880’s through 1906), and City Park #2 (1906-1930).
Let’s Go To City Park! (Part II) City Park became a popular attraction for countless Iowa Citians soon after it opened in 1906. With the advent of the automobile, access to City Park was available to most residents, yet one reoccurring problem still needed to be addressed: Flooding. In 1939, two federally-funded projects drastically changed the Iowa River while reshaping City Park, and two major attractions were added in the 50’s, making City Park what it is today.
RFRIC – The Iowa City Electric Railway. Over a 120-year period (1850-1970) there were five different railway systems that attempted to serve the good people of Iowa City with passenger rail service. Today – there is none. Come reminisce with us as we review the amazing story behind the fifth: Iowa City Electric Railway.
Captain Tom, Iowa City & The Red Devil Airship. In October 1910, a former circus showman, Thomas S. Baldwin, came to town. The Johnson County Fall Farm Festival was in full swing and the highlight this year was Captain Tom and his Red Devil aeroplane. On October 13, aviation history was made with both the first successful flight and the first plane crash in Iowa history.
Klondike Bill & Friends Visit Iowa City. In late November 1911, a 16-year veteran mail carrier from Alaska came riding into town on a seven-team dog sled – on wheels! Klondike Bill was in the midst of a four-year, 62,000 mile journey – determined to win a $100,000 wager if he completed his challenge in Washington D.C. by June 1912. But wait – was Bill’s story all true? Inquiring minds want to know!
Iowa City’s Infamous Black Angel. Iowa City historian, Irving Weber, states that Teresa Dolezal Feldevert’s “Black Angel” – located in Oakland Cemetery since 1912 – has given rise to more legends and myths than any other person, place, or thing in Iowa City’s long history. Come find out the intriguing truth behind the eerie tales of our city’s Black Angel.
November 12, 1913 – Welcoming The Jefferson Hotel. In celebration of the grand opening of the Jefferson Hotel, the Iowa City Daily Press printed a special edition. In it, editor J.E. Reizenstein wrote up a fascinating look at some of the most memorable hotels in Iowa City history. Join us as we revisit his article – covering 21 different hotels over a sixty-year span (1840-1900).
SUI & ICWRS – Helping Children Grow. When child advocate Cora B. Hillis campaigned for $25,000 for state-sponsored research on child development, the Iowa State Legislature said no – spending the money instead on a new sheep barn at the State Fairgrounds! But a diligent Hillis kept the faith, and in 1917, with the help of SUI Professor Carl Seashore, the state finally set up the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station in Iowa City. Over the next fifty-seven years, ICWRS became known as the nation’s finest research center on childhood development.
1919 – Bremer’s Golden Eagle Aeroplane Promotion. On July 11, 1919, thousands gather at the Peter Lenz farm southwest of Iowa City to see U.S. Army Lieutenant David L. Behncke land his Curtiss bi-plane – The Society No. 2 – loaded with several hundred pounds of Society Brand clothes – fresh from Chicago. Dubbed “one of the most gigantic publicity stunts” in our city’s history, the Bremer’s “Golden Eagle Aeroplane Express” brought the “latest styles in coming season apparel for men” for the downtown store’s display windows.
The Iowa City Airport – A Rich Aviation History. Did you know that Iowa City hosted one of the earliest commercial airports in the country – serving as one of the strategic stops in America’s first cross-country air mail route? As a matter of fact, today, Iowa City’s airport is the oldest airstrip west of the Mississippi River that’s still in its original location – with many of the early pioneers of flight landing here – including Wiley Post, Jack Knight, Charles Lindbergh, and Will Rogers.
Iowa City Airport – Flights Through Time. In 2018, the Iowa City Airport celebrated its centennial birthday. Five years later (2023), a U of I graduate from the School of Art – Jenna Brownlee – completed a massive mural that commemorates and celebrates the rich 100-year history of aviation in Iowa City. Come take a deeper look at this colorful masterpiece.