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Typical Hardin County landscape Courtesy
of the Hardin County Community Development Council | The
peaceful and beautiful Iowa River Valley lies in the midst of modern America's
most productive farmland. Grant Wood (1892-1942), artist and Iowa native, depicted
the state's rural landscape in many of his paintings. Wood's paintings illustrate
farmland and rolling valleys that are typical of scenes still found in Hardin
County today. The Iowa River divides the county as it flows from northwest
to southeast. The encroachment of civilization has been restricted by bluffs and
the area still maintains a primitive sense of times long past. This impressive
landscape can be glimpsed by following a well-marked 30-mile scenic drive through
rural areas and along the river. The towns along it's route--Alden, Iowa Falls,
Steamboat Rock, Eldora, and Union--are working together to preserve the river
valley and it's natural beauty. In the late 1980s, growing environmental and economic
concerns for the Iowa River Valley in Hardin County, lead to a study of the area
now known as the Iowa River Greenbelt. A comprehensive Master Plan was developed
which could be used by county residents, community and county governments, civic
groups and educational institutions as an aid in making decisions regarding use,
conservation and development of Greenbelt lands and resources. These proposals
for conserving and enhancing the Iowa River Greenbelt were guided by concerns
for the future of the Greenbelt's resources, its scenic beauty and heritage, and
opportunites for both perservation and develoment.
Farmland that still defines the nature of Hardin
County Courtesy of the Hardin County Community Development Council |
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Within Hardin County's rich earth are precious 300 million-year-old coal,
shale and limestone deposits, which contain fossilized ferns, snails and shellfish
from a prehistoric era. Artifacts and bones, horns and tusks speak of a more recent
time when the state's earliest inhabitants during the precontact period followed
the retreating glacier and hunted the herds of wooly mammoths, shaggy buffalo
and stags. Modern Man has left his mark on the Iowa River Valley as well, mining
its coal and limestone, clearing its timber and raising families away from the
solitude of the prairie and the harsh conditions that existed there. Today, much
of the timber in Hardin County is second or third growth and is not publicly accessible.
However, the county has been very active in acquiring timbered areas of interest
to the public and now owns or manages 3,000 acres of land in 53 public recreation
areas. Most of them are primitive, low maintenance, picnic and hiking areas with
river access. Each of the county's communities also owns or maintains outdoor
recreation areas: Alden's Riverfront Park, Iowa Fall's Assembly Park, Steamboat
Rock's Tower Rock and riverfront campground, Eldora's Deer Park, Union's Daisy
Long Park, just to name a few.
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Recently restored Pine Lake State Park cabin
Courtesy of Pine Lake State Park | Pine
Lake State Park lies adjacent to the city of Eldora and the riverfront. In
1935 Pine Creek was dammed and several shelter houses and cabins were built, as
well as a stone lodge constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). This
group of Depression era civilian workers operated under the command of two army
lieutenants, one of whom was the camp surgeon. A total of 123 men were tasked
with creating the park and putting a stop to poor land use practices. The camp
joined the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) and became known as Camp SCS Ia-7,
in July of 1935. In addition to their work on the state park, limestone was quarried
and crushed to spread on fields, and terraces were built on 19 cooperating farms.
Today their fine work and craftsmanship is still evident. All of the park buildings
have recently been restored and a new bicycle trail is being completed that will
eventually stretch from Alden south to Union. Conservation efforts are one
of the focuses of Calkin's
Nature Center just south and west of old Highway 20 on the west end of Iowa
Falls. This nature center is also a federally licensed raptor rehabilitation center.
Raptors are birds of prey and include hawks, eagles, falcons, condors, owls, ospreys,
vultures and kites. With a little luck there will be raptors for you and your
family to view, as they are being nursed back to health for release.
Prairie
Bridges Park is located on the northern edge of Ackley, off of S-56, amidst the
agricultural lands that surround all Hardin County towns. The park, which was
created from reclaimed gravel pits, features a well established prairie section,
several bodies of water and multiple bridges that transport visitors to each area
of the park. Some of the bridges are original to the park area, while others have
been rebuilt, or moved to the park from other locations where they were threatened.
Camping, showers and picnic areas are available. When this park opened in 1994,
it won the "Pit to Park" award by Mid West Magazines.
Historic view of Washington Blvd. in downtown
Iowa Falls Courtesy of the Iowa Falls Historic Preservation Commission |
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One of the results of this travel itinerary project is a renewed commitment
within the communities of Hardin County to research, document, and nominate more
historic places to the National Register of Historic Places. Many towns in the
county collaborated on this project because they are keenly aware of the benefits
of historic preservation to their quality of life in the "Heart of the Heartland."
Residents of Iowa Falls have been particularly active in local preservation efforts
during the past few decades. The Iowa Falls Historic Preservation Commission was
established in 1986. A newcomer to Iowa Falls, Don Clark, organized the commission,
and later became Mayor. The Commission received a grant from the State of Iowa
in 1989 for an intensive survey of the town's commercial districts. The result
of this survey was a Multiple Property Submission
through which nine properties in Iowa Falls were listed in the National Register
of Historic Places. One hundred forty-four other properties, mostly residential,
were also identified in this survey as meriting further study, and possible National
Register nominations. Clark and the Commission successfully helped establish
the Iowa
Falls Main Street program in 1990 shortly before Clark's death. When the Main
Street program was started, the town had 12 vacant store fronts, some with water
flowing out of the front doors. During the first 10 years, the program attracted
over $8 million in private investment in the commercial district, and resulted
in the rehabilitation of 157 buildings.
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Current views of Alden Public Library and
the Slayton Farms--Round Barn Courtesy of the Hardin County Community
Development Council and Iowa Falls Historic Preservation Commission |
Numerous preservation projects are planned for Hardin County's future.
New National Register nominations for Iowa Falls are being prepared by local preservation
activist Molly-Meyers Nauman, who is also surveying the commercial district in
Hampton, Iowa. Iowa Falls and the organization working to save the Round
Barn will invest an estimated $2.5 million in three historic preservation
projects and one historic district. A $200,000 restoration of the Illinois
Central Combination Depot (Rock Island Depot) is underway in the town of Ackley
and in New Providence $100,000 has already been spent on the New
Providence School Gymnasium (Round School House) and Honey
Creek Friends' Meetinghouse. The slate roof of the Hardin
County Courthouse will be restored over the next two years, and a half-million
dollar restoration and addition project is underway at the Alden
Public Library. The Eldora Public Library has been adapted
to a new use as an antique store. All of these projects are being financed through
a variety of available sources including private donations, state and Federal
grant programs, Federal mitigation funds, and ISTEA21 funding. |