This clever town welcome sign sits on the south side of Main Street in the Taylor County community of Gravity, Iowa. Founded in 1881, Gravity is the only town in the United States with its name, which stems from a nearby landmark at the time, the “Old Gravity Post Office.” Gravity’s population peaked in 1940 at 514; the town is currently home to 218 residents.
Read an early account of Gravity’s history from the Taylor County Genealogical Society.
Visitors entering Onawa on State Highway 175 are greeted with a large welcome sign noting the community’s claim to fame: having the widest main street in the United States. The street, actually named Iowa Avenue, is 150 feet wide, large enough to fit a 10-lane highway. It’s composed of two lanes of traffic in each connection, along with frontage lanes and angled parking on each side of the street.
This modest metal sign hangs outside the post office in the unincorporated community of Cedar along State Highway 23 in Mahaska County, Iowa. Though its entrance and lobby are separate, the Cedar Post Office is one of a handful of locations across the state to share space with a private residence. Postal service was first established in Cedar on June 17, 1874.
Located in downtown Fairfield in Jefferson County, Iowa, the history of the Co-Ed Twin Theatre dates back to July 28, 1910, when it originally opened the Orpheum Theater. In 1940, students at the now-defunct Parsons College won a contest to develop the best idea for the Orpheum’s planned remodeling. The name “Co-Ed” was adopted in honor of the winning students, reflecting the college’s status as a co-ed institution. A second screen was added to the theater in 1984, which is now owned and operated by the Big Time Cinema chain.
The Kirchner-French Memorial Library in Peterson in Clay County was established in 1925 when Lena Kirchner French willed a farm to the town to provide funds for a new library. Lena was a member of the first family to settle in Peterson; she began teaching in the community at the age of 16. Her goal for the library was to ensure residents of all ages could be exposed to the joy of reading and life-long learning.
The library was initially located on Main Street and was operated by members of the local Federated Women’s Club. A permanent library building wasn’t constructed until 1937, when the community received assistance from the federal Works Progress Administration. After 70 years, the building remains an integral part of the community, serving as both the library and the city hall. Since 1937, seven librarians have served at the Kirchner-French Memorial Library.