Iowa Trivia & Tidbits - Page 11

Looking for Iowa trivia? Try our list Iowa little know facts, tidbits and trivia.

Dentistry is less painful thanks to John Naughton, a native of Parnell (pop. 220), who invented the reclining dental chair in 1958.

first appeared: 4/13/2003

Reproduction vintage trolley cars built by Gomaco Trolley Co. in Ida Grove (pop. 2,350) have been brought back in several U.S. cities, including Portland, Ore., and Tampa, Fla.

first appeared: 4/6/2003

Floyd Angell created his Maid-Rite sandwich of loose ground beef in 1926 in Muscatine (pop. 22,697) and sold his first franchise the next year in Newton (pop. 15,579). Maid-Rite was one of America’s first fast-food franchises and still sells sandwiches.

first appeared: 3/30/2003

In 1938, Odebolt (pop. 1,153) boasted three national popcorn companies: American Popcorn Co., Albert Dickinson, and The Cracker Jack Co.

first appeared: 3/23/2003

The mercury dipped to minus 47 degrees in Elkader (pop. 1,465) on Feb. 3, 1996, tying a record low set Jan. 12, 1912, in Washta (pop. 282), according to the state climatologist.

first appeared: 3/16/2003

E.F. Lindquist, a native of Gowrie (pop. 1,038) and University of Iowa professor, created standardized tests, including the American College Testing Program (ACT) in 1959 for college-bound students and the optical scanner to score them.

first appeared: 3/9/2003

The Cherry Sisters—Addie, Effie, and Jessie—of Marion (pop. 26,294) earned fame as the country’s worst vaudeville performers, attracting sellout crowds that heckled and threw vegetables. Their popularity grew after losing a 1901 libel suit to the Des Moines Leader, which printed a review describing their “wailings of damned souls.”

first appeared: 3/2/2003

A shifting Missouri River left Carter Lake (pop. 3,248) bordered by the river and Omaha, Neb., but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1892 that the town still belonged to Iowa on the river’s opposite shore.

first appeared: 2/23/2003

Since May 2000, fans nationwide have logged onto www.iowafarmer.com/corncam/
corn.html to track the corn in Jim Greif’s field near Prairieburg (pop. 175).

first appeared: 2/16/2003

A chance seedling discovered by farmer Jesse Hiatt in his orchard near East Peru (pop. 153) in 1872 developed into the apple variety we know as Red Delicious.

first appeared: 2/9/2003

In the 1930s, George Nissen built a canvas bouncing apparatus with springs made from inner-tube scraps. He called it a trampoline and jumped into business in Cedar Rapids.

first appeared: 2/2/2003

Actor, comedian, and writer Tom Arnold was born June 3, 1959, in Ottumwa (pop. 24,998).

first appeared: 1/26/2003

In 2000, the state exported $3.4 million in farm commodities, primarily soybeans, feed grain, livestock, and meat products.

first appeared: 1/19/2003

Goldfield (pop. 680) is nicknamed “Fountain City” because of its large, flowing artesian wells.

first appeared: 1/12/2003

The state’s record low temperature of minus 47 degrees was recorded Feb. 3, 1996, in Elkader (pop. 1,465).

first appeared: 1/5/2003

With 26.3 million hogs, Iowa was the top pork producer in 2001, providing 26 percent of the nation’s supply, according to the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

first appeared: 12/29/2002

The Hawkeye State is home to three state universities, 62 public and private colleges, and 28 community colleges.

first appeared: 12/22/2002

The state motto, “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain,” was adopted in 1847. It appears on the state flag and seal.

first appeared: 12/15/2002

At 135 feet, the 1850s-style Dutch windmill in Pella (pop. 9,832) is the nation’s tallest working windmill, periodically grinding corn and wheat for visitors.

first appeared: 12/8/2002

The state’s first rural mail was delivered by horseback in 1896 to folks outside Morning Sun (pop. 872), who posted old cigar cans, boot legs, and shoe boxes for use as mailboxes. One hundred years later, community volunteers opened the RFD Postal Museum.

first appeared: 12/1/2002

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