Sponsored by the Des Moines Register, RAGBRAI is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state and holds the title of oldest, largest, and longest bicycle touring event in the world. The overnight stops for the 39th annual RAGBRAI were revealed this evening. Iowa Backroads has a photo from each town:
Glenwood (Mills County)
Glenwood Public Library (Featured August 12, 2010)
Atlantic (Cass County)
Atlantic 1 & 2 Theatres
The interior of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Duncombe is partially torn apart, with complete demolition scheduled for completion this spring. The decision to demolish the 101-year-old yellow brick church comes after two years on the market without a buyer. The church was one of three Webster County Catholic churches to close in November 2008 due to a lack of priests to serve the area; final mass was held November 16, 2008.
The Fort Dodge Messenger News reports the church congregation was made up of around 70 people at time of closure. The predicted shortage of priests has resulted in a long-term plan to close several additional Webster County churches by 2019, including those in Clare, Dayton, and Moorland.
Not much has changed over the last forty years in the Milwaukee Wiener House in downtown Sioux City. From the green formica booths to the old-fashioned cafeteria trays to the wood-paneled walls, you’ll step back in time when you step inside the front door and to the counter to order your food. A handful of menu items are displayed on the framed menu on the wall, split into three columns. Most diners will order a hot dog, taken from the large rectangular grill which sits along the front window.
The most common hot dog configuration is with mustard, home-made chili, and onions. Big eaters may need two or three hot dogs to satisfy their hunger, or choose from the handful of sides including soup, chili or chips. If you’re not a hot dog fan, try a hamburger patty topped with cheese and/or chili. After paying for your meal (with cash only), grab a seat in one of the booths along the wall. Several historic (and interesting) newspaper articles are framed throughout the clean dining area, or take a seat under the first mustard stick, which supposedly was used to top over 10 million hot dogs.
The Milwaukee Wiener House is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Continue reading Feature: Milwaukee Wiener House (Sioux City, Iowa)
In 1855, the Black Hawk County Board of Commissioners opted to move the county seat from Cedar Falls to Waterloo. The first county courthouse was constructed shortly after, and a second courthouse was constructed in 1902. As the second courthouse aged, according to a 1960 Waterloo Courier article, concerns grew over falling plaster and sagging floors, plus inefficient water and electrical systems.
That year, Black Hawk County voters approved a bond issue for construction of a third courthouse at a cost of $2 million. The vote was passed by a razor-thin margin, receiving 60.35% approval, just a fraction more than the 60% required to approve a bond issue under Iowa law. It was the second time residents voted on a courthouse proposal in less than two years; the first proposal failed due to a controversy over the planned location.
The modern red and black polished stone courthouse was completed in 1964. Offices were moved to the courthouse beginning in late July, and an open house was held October 11.
The city of Newton, Iowa, will always be linked to the Maytag brand. The famous appliance manufacturer was founded in Newton in the late 1800s and operated for well over a century before closing its doors in October 2007. Before being purchased by Whirlpool Corporation, Maytag’s Newton headquarters and factory had over 3,000 employees, or the equivalent of one-fifth of Newton’s population.
While the city is still working to create jobs to offset the losses created by the appliance manufacturer, another local Maytag brand is running strong. Located just outside the city limits, it’s the Maytag Dairy Farms, which is known across America for its famous blue cheese. Their blue cheese process dates to 1941 and still involves cave aging and formation of each cheese wheel by hand.
While the cheese itself can be found at many supermarkets around the nation, the company headquarters is well worth a visit, especially if you’re in the Newton area. The exterior of the headquarters building is modern and nondescript, but the cheese-filled coolers inside the lobby easily offset any lack of atmosphere.