Paving Gang

In “Naturally” Louisa County, Iowa

Built with Convict Labor

One of the nation’s earliest paved roads

Significant engineering principle

Route of four Registered Hwys

Highway Directional poles & signs

Historic Informational signs

The Convict Road is located immediately north of Iowa Highway 92, east of Columbus Junction.

“The Iowa farmer cannot haul to market
When the market is high,
He must haul to market
When the roads are dry.”

THE LOUISA COUNTY CONVICT ROAD

Organized efforts to improve Iowa roads had been going on since the 1860’s. The Advent of auto and bicycles added new and necessary interest. The Good Roads Association was formed and met starting in 1903 to deal with that need. At the same time, Louisa County was dealing with a local problem – a near-impassable sand bank through Fredonia east from the Iowa river. The decided the solution was the expensive use of concrete. Concrete had only been used nationally for 20 years at very limited locations. Louis’s solution was to do it with local funds using Convict labor from Anamosa Men’s Reformatory as approved and supervised by the newly formed Iowa Department of Transportation. The Convict-built road, was completed in the fall of 1914 at the astronomical price of $9983.12 per mile over it’s 1.32 mile length. Convict costs were $1,948 after they paid for their own camp cost; an historic Iowa accomplishment.

Technical Characteristics of the Convict Road:

          Length 1.32 miles; Width 16’; Thickness 6”at the edge, 8” center / curved X-section surface

          Dewey Portland Cement from Buffalo, IA

          River stone, Muscatine. Sand, Fredonia, IA.

          Baker Expansion joint / spacing mostly @ 30’

          Mix & pour on site / sand points for water

          No culverts or drainage systems

Sand bank mud

West terminus - Iowa River

Mixer-lift bucket. Note mixer sizes & water pump

Smoothing off a sction

Convict Camp by Iowa River

Curved Intersection - 214 St.

Expansion joint - Baker Type

SOME TALK ABOUT TOWN IN 1914

“Ain’t no bottom to this stuff (sand)”.

“Grandpa remembers campfires seen from Columbus Junction.”

“Convicts allowed to dress in respectable grey.”

“Records not found on how the Supervisors were able to have Convict Labor provided.”

“Clark, Hansen, Bierman & I (Editor) drove over to Fredonia. Work about done, convict camp moved to the river area, Muscatine Company furnishing supplies has failed to provide materials needed so men used weatherboard for expansion joints in the interim.” The Louisa safeguard – Sept. 24, 1914.

“The Supervisors voted 2-1 to allow additional appropriations ($1000) from local banks -- unless they reconsider – Jones favored additional expenditure, Nelson talked sane in looking the situation over but voted against it.”

November 5, 1914: “Road completed. A (Good Roads) moving picture made. Road permanent, or at least we hope it is, probably the last piece (concrete) in Louisa County because of cost.”

Resident Ralph Snyder Remembers: “Some of these men were nice fellows to talk to. Kids in town walked down near their camp and saw guards, tents and watchdogs. One convict came to cook meals for a regular worker who lived nearby. Prisoners brought in six at a time. Men were paid 40 cents/hr.”

“Completed project the talk of the town. Fredonia was incorporated in 1874, but re-formed in 1922 to control speeders on the cement highway!”

~ And There’s more ~

The Convict Road is part of the Iowa Historic Registered Highway system and is on the routes of the:

     ~ Blue Grass Road – 310 miles long Burlington to Council Bluffs

     ~ Great White Way – 340 miles long Davenport to Council Bluffs

     ~ I.O.A. Shortline – 330 miles long Davenport to Council Bluffs

     ~ Southwest Trail – 540 miles long Kansas City to Chicago

Re-created painted route post markers are now part of the historic site displays.

Of Special Note

The Convict Road fits the National Historic Roads “Omaha Declaration” of 2009 stating:

      “Historic Roads are vitally important cultural resources that embody significant developments in engineering, design and social history.”

References:

Convict Highway – Woodruff (Louisa’s History)	Iowa’s Historic Automobile Roads
Fredonia History – Bliven	Office of the State Archaeologist, Iowa DOT 2009
Historical Summary of Transportation in Iowa, Thompson	Olde Roads, Corners & Hills in Louisa – Woodruff
History of Anamosa Reformatory – Prison Ind. Museum	Sands of Time - HTPLC, Inc. Committee

For More Information contact:
lchs@louisacomm.net
www.Naturallylouisacountycom

For Other Places Historic Sites to Visit in Louisa County, CLICK HERE