IOWA ABC BOOK

By: Julie Hedegaard

A IS FOR ALBERT THE

BULL

The story Albert dates back to the early 1950's when local cattle shippers were feeding great numbers of cattle to the prime grade and the best market was in Chicago. Cattle were shipped to market via railroad. Local shippers invited banker Albert (Al) Kruse of First State Bank (now Audubon State Bank) to ride with them but he declined after hearing others tell how drafty and uncomfortable the caboose ride could be on a cold late-fall, early-winter day. But he told them if and when they had a Pullman car available on the cattle train, he would be happy to accompany them to the Chicago market. Finally, arrangements were made for the Pullman car and soon a trainload of cattle and a Pullman car full of shippers and businessmen were signed up for the trip to Chicago. Thus, the first Operation T-Bone was celebrated in 1951.

B IS FOR BLACK HAWK

Black Hawk when chief Black Hawk was very young he became brave. Black Hawk was a war chief who led his Sauk to war. Black Hawk went to prison for fighting his land in Iowa. He refused to give without a fight.

Crystal Lake Iowa was established in1898. The worlds largest bull head statue was constructed in 1858 by Carl Frick.

C IS FOR CRYSTAL LAKE

D IS FOR DES

MOINES

Some people feel that 'Des Moines' is derived from the Indian word 'moingona' meaning river of the mounds which referred to the burial mounds that were located near the banks of the river. Others are of the opinion that name applies to the Trappiest Monks (Moines de la Trappe) who lived in huts at the mouth of the Des Moines river. French voyagers referred to the river as La Riviere des Moines. The consensus seems to be that Des Moines is a variation of Moingona, or Moningounas, as shown on early maps.

E IS FOR EASTERN

GOLD FINCH

Eastern Gold Finch

This species merely passes over the State of Louisiana in the beginning of January, and at that season is seen there for only a few days, alighting on the highest tops of trees near water-courses, in small groups of eight or ten, males and females together. They feed at that period on the opening buds of maples, and others that are equally tender and juicy. In the month of November they are again seen moving southwards, and for a few days only.

F IS FOR FORT

DODGE

The Fort Museum and Fort Trading Post is the first and finest attraction in highlighting the past and present history of Northwest Iowa. The Fort Museum is truly one of the finest locations to document the development of the Des Moines River basin, and the Fort Dodge, Iowa area. The Fort Museum is also the home of the Original "Cardiff Giant". The Gypsum material to carve the statue was quarried in the Fort Dodge area quarries.

G IS FOR GYPSUM

Gypsum is one of the more common minerals in sedimentary environments. It is a major rock forming mineral that produces massive beds, usually from precipitation out of highly saline waters. Since it forms easily from saline water, gypsum can have many inclusions of other minerals and even trapped bubbles of air and water.

H IS FOR HERBERT HOOVER

Hoover was born on August 10, 1874 in West Branch, Iowa. He grew up a Quaker. From age 10, he lived in Oregon. His father died when Hoover was 6. Three years later, his mother died and he and his two siblings were sent off to live with various relatives. He attended a local school as a youth. He never graduated from high school. He was then enrolled as part of the first class at Stanford University in California. He graduated with a degree in geology.

I IS FOR IMES BRIDGE

Imes bridge is from the city of St. Charles website: The 90-foot Imes bridge was built in 1870 and was originally located in Union Township. In 1887 it was moved by horses to a location southwest of St. Charles to span Clinton Creek where it sat until it was once again moved in October 1977 to a small park on the east side of St. Charles to be preserved for future generations.

J IS FOR THOMAS

JEFFERSON

Thomas Jefferson wished to be remembered for three achievements in his public life. He had served as governor of Virginia, as U.S. minister to France, as secretary of state under George Washington, as vice-president in the administration of John Adams, and as president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. On his tombstone, however, which he designed and for which he wrote the inscription, there is no mention of these offices. Rather, it reads that Thomas Jefferson was "author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia" and, as he requested, "not a word more." Historians might want to add other accomplishments--for example, his distinction as an architect, naturalist, and linguist--but in the main they would concur with his own assessment.

K IS FOR KU KLUX KLAN

The Ku Klux Klan, an organization that started as a men's social club more than 144 years ago in Pulaski, Tenn., has found footing in the Cedar Valley. In a November interview with KGAN TV's Chris Jose, Brother Douglas, Imperial Wizard of the Fraternal White Knights of the KKK, said the FWKs have almost 100 members in Iowa

L IS FOR LOESS HILLS

STATE FOREST

The Loess Hills State Forest is administered by the Bureau of Forestry. Area forester Brent Olson is responsible for the administration and management of the area. The forest headquarters is located two blocks west of Hwy. 183 in the town of Pisgah.

M IS FOR MISSOURI

RIVER

The historic structure most readily visible from the river is the Meridian Bridge, Yankton’s signature landmark

Missouri River when opened in 1924, the Meridian Bridge over the Missouri River at Yankton completed the final link in the first international highway between Winnipeg, Canada, Mexico City, and Mexico. The historic structure was mostly visible from the river it is the Meridan Bridge, Yankton’s signature land mark.

N IS FOR NATIVE

AMERICANS

The number of American Indian areas in Iowa, which include the Omaha, the Sac and Fox/Meskwaki, and the Winnebago. The Sac and Fox/Meskwaki Settlement is the only one in Iowa with residents, totaling 669 in 2000.

O IS FOR OKABOJI SUMMER THEATER

The Okoboji Summer Theatre is located on Highway 71 between the towns of Okoboji, Iowa and Spirit Lake, Iowa in the Iowa Great Lakes region. It is owned and operated by Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for the purpose of providing commercial summer stock experience for theatre students. Stephens College has one of the leading undergraduate theatre programs in the country, and 25-30 advance students are joined by professional staff to produce nine plays and musicals each summer. The plays run for seven performances in six days, Tuesday through Sunday, with Mondays as a changeover day for the next production. The season regularly averages a 98% attendance for the summer. The theatre is non-profit as part of Stephens College, with inco0mefrom tuition, box office and contributions from patrons. Tick prices in 1998, the 41st year of 1998 preration, are $10 for non-musicals, $12 for musicals, with senior and student 2-for-1 tickets at some performances

P IS FOR POTTAWATAMI COUNTY JAIL

In 1882 from architects Eckel and Mann provided Pottawattamie County officials with plans for a new county jail. They had also designed the Nodaway County Jail in 1882. In 1884 plans were approved and the county officials visited the St. Joseph and Mayville, Missouri, jails. Bids opened in April, 1885, and the building was completed in 5 months, opening on September 10, 1885. As construction of the jail was completed, a new court house was commenced, being finished in 1888

Q is for QUAIL

Quail are fond of early successional habitats(recently disturbed habitats) especially where severalof these habitats come together and create a diversityof edges. An ideal land-use pattern for bobwhite mightbe an area with 30 percent brushy/weedy habitat and10 percent woodland interspersed with odd shaped rowcrop fields. As the degree of interspersion (that is, themixing or breaking up of these habitats), of thesehabitat types is increased, a given area will becomemore attractive to quail. Edge effect can be increasedby planting or maintaining hedgerows of Osageorange, honeysuckle, autumn olive or other shrubs onthe borders of fields and woodlots. Brushy draws,shrubby and weedy fencerows, and windbreaks alsoprovide both travel lanes and vital escape cover forquail.

R IS FOR RAG BRAI

Each year the Dream Team has a slightly different personality. We have spent quite a bit of time recruiting through the schools in Des Moines and have signed up a great group of youth. We have finished out the indoor training phase and are now ready for Their first outdoor ride will be in a couple of days.

S IS FOR SQUIRREL CAGE JAILCAPT contacted Squirrel Cage Jail in Council Bluffs Iowa to inquire about conducting an investigation there. Permission was granted and CAPT was very excited about performing the investigation at this historic site. CAPT was also excited about the fact that James from Burlington Iowa and Niki from Unionville Missouri . James was un able to attend due to the distance and short notice but Niki was able to attend the investigation.

T IS FOR Thomas Edison

At age seven - after spending 12 weeks in a noisy one-room schoolhouse with 38 other students of ll ages - Tom's overworked and short tempered teacher finally lost his patience with the child's persistent questioning and seemingly self centered behavior. Noting that Tom's forehead was unusually broad and his head was considerably larger than average, he made no secret of his belief that the hyperactive youngster's brains were "addled" or scrambled

U IS FOR UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum houses one of the oldest corporate collections in the nation. It includes artifacts, photographs and documents that trace the development of the railroad and the American West. The Union Pacific Collection dates to the mid-1800s, featuring original editions of reports from survey teams that searched for the best land route to join the nation, east to west. Surveying equipment, early rail equipment, and artifacts from the construction of the nation's first transcontinental railroad tell the story of one of the world's construction marvels.

V IS FOR JAMES ALLEN

VANN

In April 1809 less than four years after Austria declared war on France and entered the field as the champion of a vanquished German Empire. In their analyses of the Hapsburg bid to restore the old order in the old Germanys , historians have stressed certain internal developments within the Austrian Empire that made war possible : a revitalized army , a strong feeling of German nationalism, an embittered emigrelobby , and a powerful war party.

W IS FOR WILD ROSE

The Iowa Legislature designated the Wild Rose as the official state flower in 1897. It was chosen for the honor because it was one of the decorations used on the silver service which the state presented to the battleship USS Iowa that same year. Although no particular species of the flower was designated by the Legislature, the Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa Pratincola) is most often cited as the official flower. Wild roses are found throughout the state and bloom from June through late summer. The flower, in varying shades of pink, is set off by many yellow stamens in the center.

X IS FOR XENIA WATER

The arsenic source is the two wells that supply raw water to Xenia’s Woodward water treatment plant. Working with its outside engineering firm, Xenia is performing tests for removal of arsenic from the water source using an oxidizing chemical agent called sodium permanganate. These tests are scheduled to be completed in the near future. Should they be successful, Xenia will install appropriate chemical feed equipment to treat the water via sodium permanganate injection. Presuming this treatment process routinely lowers the presence of arsenic in the treated water and has no unintended effects, this should enable removal of the arsenic water quality warning. You will be notified if and when this occurs.

Y IS FOR YELLOWSTONE

NATIONAL PARK

Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. It was established in 1872. Yellowstone extends through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The park's name is derived from the Yellowstone River, which runs through the park.

Z IS FOR ZEARING IOWA

Types of history that you may find on these pages include items such as the local weather history, Native American history, history of education, history timeline, American history, African American history, United States history, world history, Halloween history, Thanksgiving history, Civil War history and Civil War pictures, women in the Civil War, and Civil War battles.

THE END