Council Bluffs Changing Scene--Back in 1914, a person looking north across Bayliss Park had this view. The Elks Club is at left and the Grand Hotel is on the corner of Pearl St. and First Ave. This scene is from an old post card belonging to Arthur J. Rogers, 130 Park Ave.
The Council Bluffs Public Library is unaware of any claim of copyright in the images in the collection. We encourage use of these materials under the fair use clause of the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq). The Council Bluffs Public Library has provided in the catalog records for these materials all known information regarding the photographer or other persons associated with the materials. This information is provided as a service to aid users in determining the appropriate use of an item, but that determination ultimately rests with the user.
Today...the Elks Club is still at its original site. The Hotel Chieftain, which is observing its thirtieth anniversary this year, has replaced the Grand Hotel. The Grand Hotel and building across Pearl Street burned in 1925. Within the last 43 years, there has been little visible change in the park, itself.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--This is how Broadway, looking west from Glen Avenue, appears on a postcard dated 1907. Traffic was no problem, and hitching posts stood in front of each store building. This card came from Harry Neill, 721 S. 6th St.
Today...motor vehicles replace the horse-drawn rigs. And instead of hitching posts, Broadway is well lined with parking meters. Most of the buildings in the old photo have been remodeled or replaced within the last 50 years.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--Back in February of 1907, the nurses line up for a picture outside of the Council Bluffs General Hospital at Ninth Street and Sixth Ave. The old photo came from E.W. Cox of Van Nuys, Calif, via his brother, Lloyd Cox of 1701 Second Ave. It was presented to the Free Public Library for its files. E.W. Cox was a patient at the General Hospital following a railroad accident.,
Today...the old hospital is gone. And the northwest corner of Ninth St. and Sixth Ave. is solid with houses. Patients were transferred from the old General Hospital in June of 1907 to the the then new Jennie Edmundson Hospital at Oak and Pierce Sts. The old hospital was then torn down.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--This is the first bridge across the Missouri River at Council Bluffs. It was built in 1888. This photo, taken from the Iowa side, belongs to Mrs. Grace Kinney of 911 First Ave. It came from the possessions of her father, the late Marcellus Hough of Crescent.
Today...the span, now called Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge, has been doubled in width to keep up with increased traffic. The 5,700-foot long bridge was sold to the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben by the Omaha and Council Bluffs Street Railway Co. in 1938 for $2,350,000. Paid for by tolls, the bridge was made free in September of 1947. It is now maintained by the Iowa Highway Commission.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--This is how Indian Creek looked in 1914, when it ran through Council Bluffs as an open ditch. The creek was high and full of trash when this photograph was taken at the bridge on Ninth Street, between Broadway and Avenue A. The photo belongs to Mrs. Glenn Reed of 817 Avenue B.
Today...you would never know the creek still existed from this view at Ninth Street. The creek channel is encased in concrete through the main part of the city., And its top is used as street. [sic] The creek project was complete as a WPA project in 1938.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--Back in 1879, when this picture was taken, the Council Bluffs Iron Works stood on the north-west corner of Main and Pine Streets. This old print came from Dr. Frederick F. Teal of Lincoln, Neb. Pine Street is now known as Tenth Avenue.
Patrol Chief Says There's No Excuse - It's Problem Spot, But
Intersection . . . of relocated Highway 34 (center) and Highway 71 to right and left has been the scene of several accidents.
The proposed U.S. 34 Expressway in Mills County, Iowa
The new Highway 34 Expressway from Glenwood to Interstate Highway 29 was busy with traffic Saturday following its official dedication Friday. The highway's dedication was also part of "Pioneer Days" in Glenwood.
Future Usage Justifies Improving Highway 64 - Engineers Explain $2 Million Plan
Pondering Plans . . . for a modernized Highway 64 are Clarence Russell of Weston, Raymond Kassell of Ames, Ralph Beck of Underwood and R.M. Terry of Weston.
Highway 64 Project To Erase 'Cowpath' - Construction Work Begins
'Cowpath' Shoulders . . . are being widened west of Neola as preparation for the new surfacing of "the roughest road between here and Florida."
Part of the improvement program underway on Highway 64 between Council Bluffs and Neola is the relocation of a short section of the highway at the top of Canning Hill. The curve in the present paving will be eliminated and a new, straight section of paving installed across the graded section at the left.
Today...the site is occupied by the Roy A. Scofield Co. Before Scofield took over the corner, the Council Bluffs and Omaha transfer warehouse occupied the site. In excavating the elevator pit at Scofield's, workmen ran into much slag and foundry waste from the original iron works business.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--This old brick structure on Thomas Street, between Broadway and Pierce Street, was built by Mr. and Mrs. Herman Grote Sr., who came here in 1856. It originally was a barn and stable; then was converted into a house. This photo belongs to W.C. Grote of 519 Harrison St., a son of the builder. It was taken about 35 years ago.
Today...the site of the old Grote building is used as a drive and parking lot for the Safeway Store. No sign of the ancient structure remains. A service station occupied the lot at Thomas St. and Broadway, to the left of the drive. The change in scene is another brought about by the switch from horses to automobiles.