The Dubuque County town of Dyersville’s founder, James “Judge” Dyer, Jr., constructed this victorian-style home in 1850, just three years after the town was planted. It’s now a museum, owned and operated by the Dyersville Area Historical Society and has been restored and furnished with antiques from the late nineteenth century. In addition to the historic furnishings, over 1,000 dolls are on display. The museum is open daily May 1 through November 1.
Today marks a milestone for the Iowa Backroads project: the final two stops in a 2+ year project to visit and photograph every community in Iowa. Residents of the Jones County town of Onslow, and friends of Iowa Backroads, are invited to join publisher Brian McMillin for a free lunch at the pictured Onslow Community Room today between 11 am and 1 pm. (Map)
By 1933, one prominent storefront on Onslow’s Main Street was showing considerable wear and facing possible condemnation. Mayor Sam Hutton shared the concerns about the building with his wife; the Onslow Centennial Book tells the story:
Mrs. Hutton, being much concerned about this situation, spent a very wakeful night, and the idea came to her mind to purchase it to be used for Community purposes. At the next meeting of the council it was agreed to accept Mrs. Hutton’s idea, so the town bought this run-down building from Mrs. Mary Noonan Jan. 5, 1934, for $75. They took $500 from the Onslow Charity Fund to start repairs.
Through the years, the council and community organizations have contributed toward upkeep and improvements, which included updated wiring, installation of a furnace, and construction of modern rest rooms. The Onslow Community Room has hosted numerous events and at times housed a town library, youth center, and local church services. The community room continues to be a gathering spot and is home to today’s Iowa Backroads celebration.
In June 1960, Postmaster General Arther E. Summerfield announced a contract had been signed for the construction of a new post office building in the Hancock County community of Crystal Lake. Still in use today, the 520-square-feet post office was built to meet the latest standards including modern fluorescent lighting and equipment and a low, open service counter. The Crystal Lake Post Office, was one of 1,400 new post offices constructed across the nation in 1960.
In June 2004, Buena Vista County became the first county in the nation to honor veterans by placing a Blue Star Memorial Marker in every town in the county. Each sits within a community garden, including the above marker photographed in downtown Linn Grove. The Blue Star Memorial program is administered by the National Garden Clubs organization to honor all men and women who serve or have served in the armed services of the United States.
Several days after the local Ladies Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle opened a reading room in 1894 above a local hardware store, the building and collection burned to the ground. Following the accident, the community came together, donating books and funds and forming the Public Library Association by the end of the year.By 1906, the Sheldon Public Library was looking for a larger space and received a $10,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie’s foundation. The new facility opened in 1908.
When the Public Library in the O’Brien County town of Sheldon moved to a new location in 1969, the grandiose Carnegie building sat empty for 7 years before it was taken over and repurposed by the county geological society. Now in its 35th year of existence, the Sheldon Prairie Museum includes displays of early local industry, Indian and animal artifacts, military and school exhibits, and the Sheldon Hall of Fame. The museum is open Monday evenings plus Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoons.