Iowa's Newsworthy Past

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No bells or whistles, just a read through select columns in historical Iowa newspapers on this day in history. Some readings may be shaky due to the quality of the scan and verbiage of the time. Access to these newspapers has been acquired digitally through the University of Northern Iowa's Iowa Historical Newspapers index. Many thanks to the folks who put in the work and manage the collection. These readings create a window back in time and are perfect for listening intently or as background, and hopefully stir the imagination!

Cristin Noonan

Feb 5, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
every other week NEW EPISODES
15m AVG DURATION
349 EPISODES

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Latest episodes from Iowa's Newsworthy Past

February 5 | Ames, 1931 | Will Show Film of Largest Building

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 10:27

Ames Daily Tribune-Times, February 5, 1931, Ames, Iowa.

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January 8 | Cedar Rapids, 1915 | Wears Many Costumes And Plays Many Parts

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 17:13

Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, January 8, 1915, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

iowa plays costumes wears cedar rapids many parts

December 31 | Des Moines, 1924 | Coasters Warned

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 14:26

The Des Moines Daily News + The Evening Tribune, December 31, 1924, Des Moines, Iowa

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December 13 | Iowa City, 1919 | Miners Fear Friday and 13th

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 12:04

Iowa City Daily Citizen, December 13, 1919, Iowa City, Iowa.

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December 5 | Des Moines, 1874 | “Vengeance is Mine”

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 18:15

The Iowa Daily State Register, December 5, 1874, Des Moines, Iowa.

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December 3 | Davenport, 1855 | County Records

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 9:42

The Daily Davenport Gazette, December 3, 1855, Davenport, Iowa.

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November 19 | Council Bluffs, 1856 | Temperance Organization

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 10:07

The Council Bluffs Chronotype, November 19, 1856, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

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November 5 | Holstein, 1891 | On Top!

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 13:21

The Holstein Advance, November 5, 1891, Holstein, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music iowa holstein

October 30 | Waterloo, 1956 | Dreams Before Reality and Shots in Dark

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 9:42

“The World Beyond . . . .Dreams Before Reality and Shots in Dark Are Among Unexplained Mysteries of Spiritualism” by Ruth Montgomery. Part 8.Waterloo Daily Courier, October 30, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

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October 29 | Waterloo, 1956 | Surprise and Disillusion

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 7:54

“The World Beyond . . . .Surprise—and Disillusion” by Ruth Montgomery. Part 7.Waterloo Daily Courier, October 29, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

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October 28 | Waterloo, 1956 | In Ghostly Procession, Dead ‘Return' to Living

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 9:29

“The World Beyond . . . . In Ghostly Procession, Dead ‘Return' to Living” by Ruth Montgomery. Part 6.Waterloo Daily Courier, October 28, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music living iowa waterloo ghostly procession world beyond

October 26 | Waterloo, 1956 | The World Beyond….Ruth's Relatives Rise to Haunt Her

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 7:21

“The World Beyond . . . . Ruth's Relatives Rise to Haunt Her” by Ruth Montgomery. Part 5. Waterloo Daily Courier, October 26, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

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October 25 | Waterloo, 1956 | The World Beyond….Mystery Mingles with Mistakes

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 7:56

“The World Beyond . . . . Mystery Mingles with Mistakes in Ruth's Seance Experiences with Remarkable ‘Father Murphy'” by Ruth Montgomery. Part 4.Waterloo Daily Courier, October 25, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

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October 24 | Waterloo, 1956 | The World Beyond….Dead Relatives Bring Messages

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 8:22

“The World Beyond . . . . Dead Relatives Bring Messages” by Ruth Montgomery. Part 3.Waterloo Daily Courier, October 24, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

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October 23 | Waterloo, 1956 | The World Beyond….Indian at Seance

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 9:00

“The World Beyond . . . . Indian at Seance” by Ruth Montgomery. Part 2.Waterloo Daily Courier, October 23, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music indian iowa waterloo seance world beyond

October 22 | Waterloo, 1956 | The World Beyond….Do You Believe in Spiritualism?

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 7:49

“The World Beyond . . . . Do You ‘Believe' in Spiritualism?” by Ruth Montgomery. Part 1.Waterloo Daily Courier, October 22, 1956, Waterloo, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music iowa waterloo spiritualism do you believe world beyond

October 21 | Adel, 1908 | Chicago Champions Again

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 15:39

Dallas County News, October 21, 1908, Adel, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music chicago iowa champions

October 9 | Le Mars, 1879 | Six Persons in a Trance Three Days

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 9:01

Le Mars Sentinel, October 9, 1879, Le Mars, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music mars iowa trance persons three days

October 8 | Des Moines, 1887 | Coercion in Iowa

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 18:11

The Iowa State Register, October 8, 1887, Des Moines, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music iowa des moines coercion

October 5 | Muscatine, 1893 | Worse and Worse

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2024 16:11

The Evening Journal, October 5, 1893, Muscatine, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music iowa worse muscatine

September 26 | Decorah, 1906 | Fortune in Old Well

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 13:45

Decorah Public Opinion, September 26, 1906, Decorah, Iowa.

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September 20 | Burlington, 1845 | Mormon Disturbances in Illinois

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 13:38

Iowa Territorial Gazette and Advertiser, September 20, 1845, Burlington, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music illinois iowa mormon burlington advertisers disturbances

Friday September 13 | Marshalltown, 1907 | Didn't Want Divorce

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 18:35

Evening Times-Republican, September 13, 1907, Marshalltown, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music divorce iowa marshalltown

September 12 | Iowa City, 1910 | Free Private Carriage to East Iowa City

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 13:55

Iowa City Press-Citizen, September 12, 1910, Iowa City, Iowa. Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music east iowa private iowa city carriage

September 11 | Oskaloosa, 1890 | The Martin Autopsy

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 11:54

The Oskaloosa Herald, September 11, 1890, Oskaloosa, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music iowa september 11 autopsy oskaloosa

September 10 | Davenport, 1929 | Marriage to Bar Women as Teachers in Schools Here

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 21:48

The Daily Times, September 10, 1929, Davenport, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music women marriage iowa schools teachers davenport daily times

September 7 | Dubuque, 1836 | To the People of Du Buque County

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 14:23

Du Buque Visitor, September 7, 1836, Du Buque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music dubuque

September 4 | Sioux City, 1899 | No Right to Ugliness

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 19:13

The Sioux City Journal, September 4, 1899, Sioux City, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music iowa no right ugliness sioux city sioux city journal

August 31 | Des Moines, 1873 | Morning Troubles of a Lover

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 13:50

The Des Moines Register, August 31, 1873, Des Moines, IowaMusic by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

lover troubles des moines des moines register

August 24 | Keokuk, 1909 | Government Owns Flying Machine

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2024 13:29

The Daily Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, August 24, 1909. Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music government iowa owns flying machines keokuk

August 21 | Iowa City, 1891 | Frightful Falls

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 16:25

Iowa City Press-Citizen, August 21, 1891, Iowa City, Iowa.Music by Brendan Lee Spengler: https://brendanleespengler.bandcamp.com/

music iowa falls iowa city frightful

July 12 | Dubuque, 1904 | Horse Leaps Over Fourth Street Bluffs

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 14:17

Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, July 12, 1904, Dubuque, Iowa

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July 10 | Burlington, 1845 | Fiendish Outrage

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 14:05

Burlington Hawk-Eye, July 10, 1845, Burlington, Iowa

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June 26 | Sioux City, 1870 | Return of C. Collins

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 19:35

The Sioux City Journal, June 26, 1870, Sioux City, Iowa

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June 25 | Burlington, 1855 | Struck by Lightning

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 10:32

Burlington Tri-Weekly Hawk-Eye, June 25, 1855, Burlington, Iowa

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June 23 | Des Moines, 1871 | Exit Carrie Burr

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024 10:20

The Des Moines Register, June 23, 1871, Des Moines, Iowa

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June 22 | Des Moines, 1899 | Interest in Football

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2024 20:23

The Daily Iowa Capitol, June 22, 1899, Des Moines, Iowa

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June 14 | North English, 1906 | Message on Meats

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 11:03

North English Record, June 14, 1906, North English, Iowa

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June 13 | Algona, 1912 | Pioneer of 1857 Called by Death Tuesday Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 13:53

Kossuth County Advance, June 13, 1857, Algona, Iowa

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June 12 | Knoxville, 1873 | Anti Monopoly

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 16:12

Iowa Voter, June 12, 1873, Knoxville, Iowa

iowa monopoly knoxville

June 7 | Cedar Falls, 1867 | Shooting Match

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 11:06

The Cedar Falls Gazette, June 7, 1867, Cedar Falls, Iowa

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June 6 | Audubon, 1889 | The Flood of Death: Fifteen Hundred Lives Lost at Johnstown, Pa.

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 15:46

Audubon County Republican, June 6, 1889, Audubon, Iowa

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June 2 | Webster City, 1914 | The White Sox Are Victorious

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2024 11:47

Webster City Freeman, June 2, 1914, Webster City, Iowa

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May 31 | Denison, 1901 | The Penelope Club Surprised

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 10:54

The Denison Review, May 31, 1901, Denison, Iowa

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May 30 | McGregor, 1860 | The Ring

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 15:57

Weekly North Iowa Times, May 30, 1860, McGregor, Iowa

ring iowa mcgregor

May 21 | Chariton, 1879 | How People Lived Fifty Years Ago and How They Live Now

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 10:56

The Chariton Patriot, May 21, 1879, Chariton, Iowa

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May 19 | Decorah, 1871 | The Day They Celebrate

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2024 10:45

Decorah Republican, May 19, 1871, Decorah, Iowa

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May 13 | Fort Dodge, 1920 | Short Messages

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 15:36

Fort Dodge Messenger And Chronicle, May 13, 1920, Fort Dodge, Iowa

iowa messages fort dodge

April 24 | McGregor, 1867 | Weather Predictions For May

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 10:18

North Iowa Times, April 24, 1867, McGregor, Iowa

predictions iowa weather mcgregor

April 21 | Garner, 1887 | The Woman's Column

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2024 14:49

Hancock County Democrat, April 21, 1887, Garner, Iowa

woman iowa garner column

April 20 | Davenport, 1848 | Abolitionism

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2024 8:22

The Davenport Gazette, April 20, 1848, Davenport, Iowa

iowa davenport abolitionism

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