The Taylor County seat of Bedford is one of the first communities in the state to feature a Hy-Vee store. The first store was opened under the Supply Store moniker downtown. By 1952, the store was relocated to a new downtown location before moving to the current spot in 1986. The 9,000-square-foot Hy-Vee Food Store is located at the intersection of State Highways 2 and 148 on the northwest corner of town.
At one time, Iowa was home to more than 50 drive-in movie theaters among over 4,000 operating nationwide. While most drive-in screens in the state have been shuttered and torn down in favor of farmland or retail development, there are a handful of survivors, including the 61-year-old 61 Drive-In Theatre, located just south of Maquoketa in northeast Iowa. Named after the adjacent U.S. Highway, movies are shown Friday and Saturday nights through Memorial Day weekend, then nightly through the warm summer months.
Each showing is a double feature, with two films from the same studio played back to back. Doors open in the early evening, with ticket costs running at $7.50 for adults and $3.50 for children ages 5-12, while children 4 years and younger are free. On the weekend, it’s especially important to arrive early to get your car a good spot; if the movie showing is expected to be extremely popular, it’s recommended to bring along a blanket and portable radio — so if the lot is full, you can leave your car outside and still enjoy the film.
While shows don’t begin until the sun goes down, there are plenty of opportunities for entertainment while at the theatre; a large children’s play area features a dozen swings, while a kiddie train parades around the concessions. Take a cooler and picnic goods to enjoy while waiting for the film, or purchase snacks from the reasonably-priced on-site concession stand. Drive-In 61 in Maquoketa is extremely well-run, making for a worthy road-trip for families and friends looking for a unique and fun evening of entertainment.
Named for the first Oto-area World War I veteran to pass away, the Henry V. McKenna Post No. 651 was organized in June 1934 and received its charter in August 1934. When a Legion Auxiliary unit was organized in 1935, they joined with the Legion to purchase a former barbershop for use as a shared Legion Hall. A kitchen was added to the building in the early 1950s; the facility continues to serves both organizations today.
On July 17, 1919, the discharged soldiers, sailors and marines of Lorimor were granted a charter from the American Legion headquarters in Washington D.C. The 57 founding members organized the Fred N. Davis Post, named after the first Lorimor resident to be killed in World War I. The current Legion Hall was purchased at a cost of $1,500 in 1957.
The American Legion Post No. 410 was organized in the Harrison County town of Little Sioux on December 26, 1922, with fifteen charter members. An American Legion Auxiliary group was chartered less than a month later; both organizations continue to serve the Little Sioux community today. The Legion Hall is located in the old Peyton Bank building across from the town park.