A Piece of History: Thousands flocked to Cedar Rapids produce market in 1927

The Cedar Rapids City Produce Market broke its attendance record on July 23, 1927, when 2,000 people showed up to shop.

A concrete promenade had been added to the market, at B Avenue and First Street NW, allowing 63 vendors to set up around the perimeter.

The new promenade gave shoppers easy access to the stalls and also shortened the distance they had to walk to their cars.

Potatoes, beets, carrots, cabbage, berries — and live hens — were reported to be of good quality and in great supply, as well as a wide variety of flowers.

Phillip Pray, the supervisor of the market, suggested the market would grow to as many as 80 stalls by the end of the season. Covered stalls were discussed but weren’t added that year.

Tara Templeman is curator at The History Center. Comments: curator@historycenter.org