Best of Curious Iowa

In May, The Gazette launched Curious Iowa, a section dedicated to answering your questions about the state, its people and our culture. Every Monday we publish a detailed article responding to questions like, “Why is Cedar Rapids known as ‘City of Five Seasons’?”, “Has the state spent all of its COVID-19 relief funding?”, and “How do you paint a water tower?”.

This year The Gazette responded to 30 questions. We received more than 150 questions from readers across the state and country. Most commonly, questions were submitted by residents of Cedar Rapids, although we received questions from other parts of Iowa. Questions also were submitted from Illinois, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Florida and Texas.

We catalog every question received for future reporting, whether that is within Curious Iowa or our daily news content. If we receive a question that’s already been answered, we share the story with the person who asked the question.

Below, find brief summaries of the most-read Curious Iowa stories in 2023. Find all of these stories at thegazette.com/curious.

Why is the Kirkwood Community College wind turbine locked in place?

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One curious Iowan noticed that when he drove by the Kirkwood Community College wind turbine in Cedar Rapids, it never seemed to be turning. So, he asked The Gazette to investigate. Curious Iowa learned that Kirkwood’s 11-year old Clipper wind turbine was “parked” in May while its future is discussed.

Kirkwood Utilities and Public Safety Vice President Troy McQuillen told Curious Iowa that the turbine is approaching the end of its life expectancy and requires maintenance, including a new gearbox, but the gearbox it needs is no longer manufactured. Other factors that contributed to the decision to park the turbine include a loss of internal expertise on the turbine and the availability of contracted services willing to assist in the maintenance of a single wind turbine.

Now, Kirkwood is weighing three options:

“We recognize that this is a statue that represents Kirkwood. Obviously, there’s a giant K on the side of the wind turbine as well.” McQuillen told The Gazette in July. “I think that we want to make the best decisions moving forward with our campus plan and what our initiatives are, but I hope to have a lot more to report on here in the next year.”

Curious Iowa: Why did Czechs, Norwegians, Irish and Germans end up in Iowa?

Curious Iowan Dale Kueter of Cedar Rapids wondered why immigrants from certain countries decided to call Iowa home. In the Oct. 9 edition of Curious Iowa, The Gazette looked back on the reasons people left their homeland to build a new life in America.

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The area we know today as Iowa was largely impacted by the second wave of European immigrants during the 1840s. To whittle down decades of European history to a brief synopsis, restrictive conservative policies and censorship, problems that sprouted from the Industrial Revolution, the great famine of 1845 and a desire for more freedoms led to revolutions that spread through Europe starting in 1848. This affected France, Germany, Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which Bohemia was a part of.

Additionally, thanks to the smallpox vaccine, more children were surviving into adulthood, contributing to a population boom and economic strain.

National Czech and Slovak Museum Library Director Dave Muhlena said the U.S. was attractive to immigrants because of farmland availability and the opportunity to thrive. Iowa farmland had already been acquired by the time some immigrants arrived so they found work in factories, mines, and meat packing plants

The full story looks at the immigrant groups that made up early settlements of Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Decorah.

How did a landfill become Mount Trashmore?

The highest point someone can stand on in Cedar Rapids is Mount Trashmore, an overlook and trail system built on top of the former Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency landfill. In July, Curious Iowa looked at why a landfill was built on the doorstep of Czech Village, how Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency developed a landfill into a hub of nature trails and what will happen when the county’s current landfill reaches capacity.

What happens in Cedar Rapids’ Scottish Rite Temple?

The Scottish Rite Temple’s six massive stone columns — a feature of the building’s classical revival architecture — stand tall along A Avenue in northeast Cedar Rapids. Three blocks away, the Iowa Masonic Library and Museum — constructed of marble — stretches half a block along First Avenue, guarded by a pair of stone lions.

The buildings, which are home to Freemasons and related groups, stand out from Cedar Rapids’ city landscape. On curious Iowan wondered what goes on in those buildings.

The fraternal organization promotes the pursuit of education, service and trust in a higher power. The Temple is like a social club; it’s a space to conduct Masonic business and rituals. There, Masons award degrees, complete leadership training, plan contributions to charitable causes and hold events.

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Ritualistic lodge meetings are held, and each lodge room has a G on the wall representing a higher power. In the center of the room sits a Bible. Other religious texts are available as well. Other symbols in the room include the Masonic square and compass and three light bulbs fastened onto a pedestal.

The Temple also has been used as gathering spaces for non-Masonic groups. For example, the New Horizons concert band uses the auditorium for rehearsal space.

Why is May’s Island home to government buildings?

May’s Island, located in the heart of Cedar Rapids, is home to the Linn County Courthouse and jail, and the Veterans Memorial Building, which used to house City Hall prior to the 2008 flood. One curious Iowan wondered why these government buildings were built on an island.

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With the help of Cedar Rapids History Center Curator Tara Templeman, we delved into Cedar Rapids history to understand why a courthouse was built on May’s Island. It starts with two pioneer settlements that defined Cedar Rapids as we know it today, includes a feud between Marion and Cedar Rapids, and even has a cameo by Iowa artist Grant Wood.

This story is especially timely considering Cedar Rapids’ Downtown Vision and Action plan details ways to activate May’s Island, which could help realize the dream of the island’s namesake, John M. May. May hoped for the island to be a bustling district in Cedar Rapids.

Have a question for Curious Iowa?

The Gazette will continue Curious Iowa in 2024, publishing stories every Monday. Tell us what you’d like us to investigate next.

Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com