Iowa
Old Press
Iowa Recorder
Green, Butler co. Iowa
January 17, 1930
THE COLDEST SPOTS IN IOWA
Des Moines, December 22 -- Charles City has an unearned
reputation for being the coldest spot in Iowa, states the Weather
and Crop Bureau of the Iowa Department of Agriculture. But in the
last ten years, in the three months, December, January and
February, it has qualified but once in 30 months as the coldest
spot in Iowa. More often the banner for lowest temperature in any
winter month is carried by Decorah, Rock Rapids, Forest City,
Estherville, Britt, Sanborn, Postville, Inwood or Washta.
Probably the name Washta appears most frequently, and certainly
it leads the procession for the lowest temperature ever recorded
in Iowa, which is 47 degrees below zero, on January 12, 1912.
All memories of the oldest inhabitants to the contrary, this low
temperature at Washta is undoubtedly the record in Iowa for more
than a century, when records of reliable thermometers only are
considered. It is perhaps a surprise to the old timers to know
that there are almost continuous official thermometer readings in
Iowa dating from October 22, 1819 -- more than 111 years.
One of the surprises is, that in January, 1927, the coldest spot
in Iowa was at Stockport, in the extreme southeast portion of the
state, when 27 degrees below zero was recorded on the 15th, while
Charles City, in that same month, fell clear out of sight in the
race with only 14 below on the 22nd.
The explanation of the whole matter lies in the fact that the
temperatures telegraphed and published by the United States
Weather Bureau are those of the larger cities of the state which
are subject to the influence of much concentrated consumption of
fuel and protecting smoke blankets, and these are particularly
effective on calm, clear nights, when the lowest temperatures are
experienced in the open country.
When a stiff wind is blowing, or when the sky is uniformly and
densely clouded throughout the state, there is very little
difference in temperature between the cities and the open
country. It so happens that Charles City is the smallest of the
cities from which Iowa temperatures are telegraphed for
publication in the daily newspapers and its latitude is farthest
north. Though its temperatures are the lowest known to the press
and the public at the time of occurrence, they are often 10
degrees higher than at nearby areas in the surrounding country.
[submitted by S.F.; Feb. 2004]
-----
Iowa Recorder
Green, Butler co. Iowa
January 29, 1930
News & Comment About Iowa People & Events.
Monument Wanted to Mark Blackhawk's Grave in Davis County
What is supposed to be the last resting place of Chief Blackhawk,
on the banks of the Des Moines river in the northeastern part of
Davis county, is to have a permanent marking with the erection of
a suitable monument. Edgar Harlan, Curator of the State
Historical Department, told a group of Des Moines men the other
day that the site of Blackhawk's grave was selected by the chief
himself, but his remains fell into the custody of a dentist and
his skeleton afterwards adorned the office of that tooth artist.
But, Mr. Harlan pointed out, this does not detract from the
historical significance of the spot that Blackhawk had selected
as his final resting place.
College Students Carved Their Names
Before they had left college a number of students of Iowa State
College at Ames used their jack knives to carve their names in
the soft stone of a bridge of the chicago Northwestern railroad
between the college and the north woods. The bridge is now being
repaired and the lettering was discovered by workmen. On one wing
wall is the name of W.J. Eck, formerly of Pleasant Plain, class
of '95, now assistant to the vice president of the Southern
railroad and in charge of all signals and electrical equipment.
Among other names found are those of Glenn D. Herald, formerly of
Farley, class of '97, now with the American Telegraph and
Telephone Company, New York; Andrew Brown, formerly of LeClaire,
class of '97, now of Prosser, Wash.; and the late Guy S. Brewer,
Des Moines, also class of '97, who was a colonel in the Rainbow
division in the World War.
Another Ferry Boat at McGregor
The collapse of the bridge project across the Mississippi river,
connecting Prairie du Chien with Marquette, prompted a number of
business men in McGregor to form a syndicate and procure another
ferry boat. The boat was purchased in St. Louis and will be
brought to McGregor as soon as the ice goes out. It will
supplement the ferry service of Rob Roy and the Manamingo and
will take care of the increased traffic that is expected to
accrue from the newly paved highway No. 18.
Sky Brilliant as Mercury Dropped Below Zero
Walter S. Beall, of West Union, Fayette county, says that on one
of those below zero mornings about the middle of January the sky
presented a brilliant spectacle. Very large sun dogs banked the
sun on either side, while at three other points on the cloud rim
above the horizon were bright spots. At zenith was an arc,
rainbow hued to the southeast, against the sun. Observers say
they never beheld a similar sight.
Pheasant Breaks Windshield
State Senator Chas. T. Rogers and Edward Ruppelt, of Grundy
Center, were driving to Marshalltown when a pheasant flew into
the windshield as they were nearing Marshalltown. The glass was
shattered and both men were more or less cut. They drove into
Marshalltown and stopped near the hospital for treatment. When
they opened the door of the car, the pheasant, apparently stunned
and unknown to the motorists to be in the car, flew from the back
seat and made its get away down the street.
Chickasaw County School Girl Wins Honors
Miss Irma Merritt daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Merritt who
reside three and one half miles east of New Hampton has been
awarded a gold medal and fifteen dollars first prize for the
state for the safety essay contest conducted by the Highway
Education Board. The contest was open to only pupils of the
seventh and eighth grades. Miss Merritt won first place in the
grade contest for the public school last winter.
The East Comes to Iowa for Horses
E.H. Foote, of New York, shipped a car of horses, 28 head, by
express, from Postville, Allamakee county, recently. Mr. Foote
declared the animals the finest he had secured anywhere in the
country, and buying horses is his business. Farmers received
around $4,000 for the car load. In the old days Clarke county
furnished the market with more horses than any other in Iowa.
[submitted by S.F.; Feb. 2004]