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A New Era Begins at the Reed-Niland Corner: Community, Preservation, and a June 14 Celebration

by Jeanie Hau | Apr 7, 2026

Tuesday morning arrived with a message that many in Colo have been waiting for, especially the board members of the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc. “Well, we are officially owners of the Reed‑Niland Corner as of yesterday! (Do we break out the champagne yet?),” wrote President Brenda McGuire. [ I will bring the Lincoln Highway wine, Brenda!] After a year of planning, meetings, and community collaboration, the historic corner officially has a new future.

A Journey Rooted in Community History

My story of this preservation effort stretches back to 2023, when I wrote my first article for this newsletter, and it was on the 100^th Anniversary of the Reed-Niland Corner. In 2024, I was contacted by Brenda, a member of the Colo Historical Association, to film an oral history video with past Reed Station employees.

When I received a call from Brenda on Feb 4, 2025, it didn’t seem unusual. However, that was a phone call that I will always remember. It happened to be my birthday, and I had a full schedule, but Brenda caught me when I was on the road. She was in a bit of a panic and revealed that the Colo City Council had discussed the possibility of selling the Reed‑Niland Corner due to insurance costs. We were extremely concerned that someone who didn’t value the history could end up with the corner and tear it down.

Early days of Reed's Standard Service Station - Colo Historical Association Photo

Seeking guidance, I turned to Ann Opatz, of the Pleasant Grove Heritage Park, Inc, a non-profit formed due to a similar situation along the Lincoln Highway in Lisbon, IA. The Meyers Farm Historic District is a National Register listed property that suffered structural damage after the 2020 derecho.

The fence post, water trough, and 3 historic barns are significant to the historic property.

The City of Lisbon (the owner) was informed by their insurance company that they needed to demolish the buildings in order to be insured. Ann was a member of the Lisbon Historic Preservation Commission at the time and she worked to establish the non-profit who took over ownership of the property which proved to be a model for what could be possible in Colo.

Mobilizing a Community

A public meeting soon followed, filling the community room with city officials, former employees, longtime customers, and residents who shared heartfelt memories of the corner. Tears were shed from both sides of the discussion. Representatives from the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association and the Jefferson Highway Association also attended to explain the importance of the Corner to the story of automobile and roadway development in America.

Gravel_Road_Antique_Car_PhotobyMichaelKelly-22

With guidance from preservation specialist Shellie Orngard, the group aligned around a plan to pursue National Register of Historic Places status and establish a local preservation commission. The group also agreed to explore nonprofit ownership.

The Colo Historical Association (who had been running the Reed Station Museum) supported the effort but recognized that managing a café, motel, museum, and apartments was beyond its mission. They were currently outgrowing the station and looking for an alternative space. That clarity helped pave the way for a new organization dedicated solely to the Reed‑Niland Corner experience and for the Colo Historical Association to take the plunge to build an extension to the community room for their new larger Colo Museum.

Reed‑Niland Corner, Inc.

After several meetings, it was clear that establishing a separate nonprofit was going to be necessary. The first meeting was set for April 10^th. The founding members of the nonprofit were: Brenda McGuire, Kathy Mens, Sue McKinney, Paula Cady, Leeann Beavers, Michael Keul, Deborah McIntosh, Ryan McKinney, Danielle O’Rourke, Russ O’Rourke, Jan Gammon, Jeanie Hau, and Shellie Orngard.

The nonprofit took shape with a mission dedicated to preserve, maintain, and promote the visitor experience of the historic Reed-Niland Corner and the continued operation of the cafe, motel, museum, and apartment buildings. Nearly every month someone new would want to join the board. The board now includes experts in history, restoration, insurance, finance, grant writing, and maintenance, along with representatives from the Lincoln Highway Association, Jefferson Highway Association, and Colo Historical Association.

Recent Accomplishments/Media Attention

WHO and Gabe On the Go on channel 13
A Jefferson Highway Association monthly podcast show: “Visit the Historic Reed-Niland Corner in Colo, IA” on Big Blend Radio.
A $5,000 grant was secured from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to pursue National Register status.
The Business Insider documentary on the Reed‑Niland Corner (and the world’s biggest truck stop) surpassed 3.8 million views.
Additional grants were submitted for neon sign restoration, door repairs, and other needs.
Donations covered the first year of insurance

On April 6, 2026, less than a year since the first meeting to form the nonprofit was held, the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc. became the owners of the Reed-Niland Corner.

Mayor Jeff Brinkman shared his appreciation in writing, “Thanks to the Reed-Niland group for taking over this historic corner. The group of volunteers will do a fabulous job maintaining such an important part of Colo’s history. Thanks for working with the City for the past year and I wish you the best of luck in your mission!” Sincerely, J. S. B. Mayor

The Colo City Clerk, Amy Kohlwes, unofficially did a little dance, and Reed-Niland Corner Inc President, Brenda McGuire, took in a deep breath.

Reed-Niland Corner Board Member, Janell Komodromou, says that she is “excited to make a difference in the area of maintenance needs!”

A Celebration of the Reed-Niland Corner, Sunday, June 14th

To celebrate this new era of the corner and several major anniversaries, the Reed-Niland Corner Inc. along with the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway and the Jefferson Highway Heritage Byway are throwing a full-day celebration!

The event marks:

Niland’s Café’s 100+ years
Colo’s 150th anniversary, settlement of New Albany 170^th anniversary
- The Colo Historical Association will have an event on Sunday, April 26^th at their new location!
America’s 250th anniversary
The meeting of the Lincoln and Jefferson Highways 100+ years anniversary
The beginning of Reed‑Niland Corner, Inc.’s stewardship

A jam-packed day is planned for all. A national event will be present. A kids’ show from Silly Sally will start the day, followed by a pie-eating contest for all ages, a 12-time Fiddle state champion, Bingo, games, and contests. The evening will begin at 4 pm with the Lincoln Highway Band, straight out of Iowa, who were inspired by the Reed-Niland Corner! Food specials will also be available and pies, pies, pies courtesy of Niland’s Café and the Pie Maker!

A National Event: Portraits of Hope: America 250

One of the most exciting parts of our day of celebration is Portraits of Hope: America 250, a national art project traveling to all 50 states. Colo is one of three Iowa locations participating and currently the first.

Participants will paint large 4′ x 10′ acrylic sheets that will later be assembled into illuminated lanterns displayed in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., this October. The project is designed for ages 14 and up, though younger children may participate with hand-held guidance to paint within the lines.

At least 71 painters are needed but the team is aiming for 150. Discover Ames awarded us a grant, Niland’s Cafe, and the Lincoln and Jefferson Highway Heritage Byways are our first Sponsors.

We are looking for more sponsors! If you would like your business or community group logo and name on our banner and posters, contact reednilandcorner@gmail.com or jhau@prrcd.org. We have several levels to choose from!

See you on the byway!

Carnegie Library byways Tour: DeWitt, IA

by Jeanie Hau | Feb 5, 2026

The Old Library DeWitt Iowa Carnegie Library

Heading west on the Lincoln Highway, we come to our next Carnegie Library in DeWitt, Iowa. DeWitt had a public library long before it had a Carnegie Library. In 1897, a large group of citizens created the DeWitt Library Association by selling stocks. Stockholders gave $1 every 6 months for 5 years to have access to the library. Non-stockholders could also obtain a library card by paying a fee of $1 every year. The library contained 800 volumes.

By 1901, the citizens, as well as electors, petitioned for the library to be a Free Public Library funded and maintained through taxes. On March 25th of that year, during a regular municipal election, a majority vote was reached in favor of the Free Library. In January of 1902, the stockholders voted to turn the library over, and on April 2nd, the deed was transferred to the city. On April 7th, the Free DeWitt Public Library was opened to the public in a rented building on Main Street.

It wasn’t until 1906 that the DeWitt Public Library Board of Trustees began discussing the possibility of a Carnegie Grant, but with the growth of the library, a new space was needed. By April 8th, 1907, a Carnegie Grant was offered with the usual requirements of the city, which many were already met; a location was all that was needed. The corner of what is now 6th Ave and 9th St. was chosen.

The original grant offer was for $5,600, and an additional grant of $1,516 to complete the build. The architect of the Neoclassical design is unknown, and the contractor was Large Brothers from DeWitt. The opening date was June 1, 1908, and by 1909, the collection had grown to 1,774 books serving not just DeWitt but also surrounding communities and even troops during WW1 and WW2.

A remodel was done in 1962 to lighten the dark interior and add shelving and desks, but by the 1980s, the Board began looking for a new location as they had outgrown the Carnegie Building. After raising the needed funds and receiving large donations, the Frances Banta Waggoner Library opened its doors across from Lincoln Park. With 7,500 square feet of space, the library could now offer meeting areas and computer stations. The staff and volunteers moved the 15,000 volumes of books to the new location.

For a time, the town’s City Hall was located in the Carnegie Building until it outgrew the space. Then, a couple converted the building into a family home. In March of 2016, Jon and Lindsay Thiel bought the building and converted it into an event space.

This time is significant as they restored the original hardwood floors and wood trim around the doorways, converted the old wooden doors into the bar, and added handicap accessibility.

They chose to name the business ‘The Old Library’ as the building was already affectionately referred to by the town. The lower level was then rented to Soul Sisters Boutique (still in business but at a different location).

The Old Library event center and bar was successful, still, the busy life of the Thiels led them to sell the business to Beth and Martin Lanhart in February 2018. The Lanharts remodeled the building once again to expand the business with a kitchen and restaurant, which still operates today!

The Old Library is a family-run restaurant that takes pride in crafting every dish with care. They are open Wed-Sat 5 pm-9 pm.

Meanwhile, the Frances Banta Waggoner Community Library was outgrowing its space once again. In 2019, the library received a Community Attraction and Tourism grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority and expanded the library to fill the entire block of 5th Ave between 9th and 10th Streets. They also moved the front door to 5th Ave and decided to rename the library, the DeWitt Community Library, with the after-hours entrance being the Frances Banta Waggoner Community Library Entrance on 10th St. The new library space provides space for several private study rooms, as well as separated age-appropriate reading and activity spaces, classrooms, and community art space.

The community of DeWitt and the surrounding areas has a deep history in the value of education available to all, and it shows through their story.

See you on the byway!

Sources: Information on the history of the DeWitt Public Library/ DeWitt Community Library was gathered from the Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project; articles written by Ann Soenksen, president of the Central Community Historical Society; “DeWitt library created with help of stockholders,” published in the DeWitt Observer Newspaper on June 1, 2018; “something new at the old library,” by Kate Howes published in the Observer on Nov 19, 2016; Carnegie Library on Wikipedia, The Old Library Facebook page; DeWitt Hometown Tour stories on News 8’s YouTube channel: WQAD 8 ABC Author: Shelby Kluver (WQAD); Published: 6:46 PM CDT June 14, 2023; and Google Maps

Byway Carnegie Libraries to receive $10,000 Gifts

by Jeanie Hau | Dec 5, 2025

In October of this year, Carnegie Libraries across the nation received an email alerting them to a gift no one was expecting. The Carnegie Corporation of New York (originally the Carnegie Foundation) stated on their website that Carnegie Libraries will each receive a $10,000 gift to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. To qualify, libraries must have been originally funded by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, remain operational, and acknowledge their Carnegie heritage. Cedar Rapids is an example. Cedar Rapids, for example, continues to honor its Carnegie connection, even though its Carnegie building is now a part of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Gift recipients may use the funds however they wish to celebrate the 250th anniversary, thereby advancing their mission and benefiting their communities (Carnegie C of NY press release).

Between 1892 and 1917, fifteen Public Carnegie Libraries and one Academic Carnegie Library were located and built along the Lincoln Highway in Iowa. Many of these libraries were built in towns along the Lincoln Highway because they linked communities and gave Carnegie’s libraries even greater visibility and accessibility. In western Iowa, a line can connect the dots where a Carnegie Library can be found in Denison, in Dunlap, in Logan, in Woodbine, and in Missouri Valley.

In exchange for the free grant to build a library, the communities receiving the grants needed to obtain property, city support, an architect, a builder, and the books to fill their library. It was often women’s groups or single librarians who applied for the grants and who were tasked with getting city support for the endeavor.

Of Iowa’s 108 Carnegie libraries, 52 are still in use as libraries today, 46 exist but are no longer libraries and 10 no longer exist. Of the Lincoln Highway’s 16 libraries built, 7 are still used as libraries: Clinton Public Library, Ames Public Library, Jefferson Iowa Public Library, Norelius Public Library (Denison), Logan Public Library, Woodbine Carnegie Library, and Missouri Valley Public Library.

All Lincoln Highway Carnegie buildings still exist although the remaining 9 outgrew their buildings and built new libraries as opposed to building additions. Carroll, Cedar Rapids, and Council Bluffs are museums, Marion and Dunlap are used by churches, DeWitt is a restaurant (The Old Library), Marshalltown is a government building, Tama is privately owned, and Cornell in Mount Vernon is the Norton Geology Center and Anderson Museum (academic and public shared). Iowa Valley Carnegie libraries include Marengo and Traer (audio tour); both remain operational as libraries.

Active and prospering libraries who have built new buildings (links): Carroll Public Library, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Council Bluffs Public Library, DeWitt Public Library, Marshalltown Public Library, Louise & Lucile Hink Tama Public Library, Cole Mount Vernon Public Library (joint academic library).

Byway Carnegie Libraries who have announced on Facebook that they are accepting the gift include Traer (Iowa Valley), Clinton, Carroll, Logan, and Woodbine. The libraries are asking their patrons to share stories about their library and submit photos for possible inclusion on carnegielibraries.org. The site is part of Carnegie Libraries Across America, a resource that enables visitors to learn about each building. Iowa has a similar program, Carnegie Libraries in Iowa Project. Reach out to your local library to find out how to submit your stories.

For more information on Andrew Carnegie’s library legacy, check out a timeline and a video posted by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Stay informed by signing up for the foundation’s Unstacked newsletter.

Wherever you are on the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, you are near an Andrew Carnegie historic library building. With Iowa’s library open access program, you can check out more than just the history. Follow me on the byway as we explore the 16 Carnegie Libraries of the Iowa Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway and the two along the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway.

Until next month…see you on the byway!

–Jeanie

Iowa Valley Scenic Byway Iowa Prairie Rivers of Iowa

Prairie Rivers receives $5,000 for Inventory of Lincoln Highway Museum

by Jeanie Hau | Sep 2, 2025

The State Historical Society, Inc. of Iowa has awarded Prairie Rivers of Iowa with a $5,000 grant to begin an estimated $10,000 project to inventory the Lincoln Highway Museum in Grand Junction, Iowa.

Created in 1983, as a separate entity from the State Historical Board, the State Historical Society, Inc. of Iowa is a non-profit dedicated to protecting the heritage of Iowa. The organization utilizes its funds to support the preservation of Iowa’s history with a grant cycle available twice a year. Grants are available for projects which:

Collect and preserve materials
Conduct historical studies and research projects
Spread knowledge of the history of Iowa

Bob and Joyce Ausberger own and manage the Lincoln Highway Museum in Grand Junction, Iowa. In the late 1980s, the Ausbergers set out to save the Eureka Bridge in Greene County from destruction. After winning the battle in court to save a version of the historic bridge, the Ausbergers were tied to the Lincoln Highway and the preservation of its history.

Through the years, the Ausbergers have collected an estimated 1000 objects related to the Lincoln Highway and highway development in Iowa. In addition to objects and artifacts, the museum, housed in an old bank, features a well-established library of books, postcards, original blue-prints, and the archive of a precursor group to the Iowa Lincoln Highway Association.

The Lincoln Highway Museum Inventory Project began last spring with the assistance of the Historical Society of Iowa’s Field Services Program. Collections professional, Angela Stanford from Advanced Museum Services visited the museum and was able to define a scope and proper methods and procedures to use for completion of an inventory. To complete the inventory by a professional, an estimated $10,000 is needed. The $5,000 will allow us to begin the inventory and establish a system which can be completed in the future when additional funding is found.

Archives in the bank vault at the Lincoln Highway Museum

At the conclusion of the inventory, the Lincoln Highway Museum will have a comprehensive record of what is in the collection and where the pieces are located within the museum. The inventory document will also be a tool to identify gaps in the collection and to add stories to the artifact entries.

As museums and archives struggle with traditional funding practices to preserve history, we must continue to take the steps necessary to ensure that history is not lost. The Lincoln Highway Museum Inventory is that current step that we are taking to look to the future.

2025 LHA Middle Third Tour Goes Through Iowa

by Jeanie Hau | Jul 1, 2025

Lincoln Highway Association Conference 2025

Jeanie and Shellie joined Bob and Joyce Ausberger from Greene County, Jennifer Morrison from Linn County, John Fitzsimmons (Lincoln Highway Johnny) from Boone County, and Alan Campbell formerly from Clinton County, at the Lincoln Highway Association Conference in late June. Photo was taken in Julesburg, Colorado. High School students painted the roads prior to our visit! Before the conference, the Lincoln Highway Association Middle Third Tour came through Iowa.

June was a busy month for travel for the byway staff. Shellie and Jeanie presented the study on National Historic Register Properties along the Lincoln Highway Corridor to an audience of professionals at the Preserve Iowa Summit in historic Muscatine. Then, Jeanie met the Lincoln Highway Association Middle Third Tour in Clinton, Iowa at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre where the attendees from all over the United States watched the full four episodes of Road Trip Iowa across the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway. Thank you Iowa PBS!

The Historic Lincoln Hotel in Lowden, the city of Clarence, and Lisbon welcomed the tour the first day with an overnight in Cedar Rapids. Youngville Cafe, Preston’s Station National Historic District, Tama, Montour, and the Reed-Niland Corner hosted the second day with an Ice Cream Social at the Ames History Museum ending a rainy day. The last day in Iowa was the fullest with a train ride at the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, a visit to the Mamie Eisenhower Museum, lunch with Bob & Joyce at the Lincoln Highway Garden in Grand Junction, a trip up the Carillon Bell Tower in Jefferson, and a tour around the Harrison County Welcome Center. We could have filled up another week in Iowa, if they would have let us!

The Ames History Museum, along with Prairie Rivers of Iowa hosted the Middle Third Tour with an Ice Cream Social. Ames residents enjoyed asking about the Lincoln Highway tour.

Made it to Front Street in Ogallala!

Enjoyed a “Canteen” inspired meal at the Lincoln County Museum

Left: Lincoln Highway Johnny brought his artwork to display in the Book Room.

Right: Map of the Transcontinental Airway Route.

Just a handful of places visited during the Conference.

Those are the few pictures taken while at the Lincoln Highway Association Conference. There was networking, promoting, story-telling, and planning for the future of the Lincoln Highway. More people know about the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway after this tour and this Conference. Until next year in York, PA for a BIG 250th Celebration of America, see you on the byway Lincoln Highway Association Members!

It only takes a few moments to join the Lincoln Highway Association and your support helps us to preserve the history, the stories, the brick, the markers, and the livelihood of those living along the Lincoln Highway. Sign up at: Membership – Iowa Lincoln Highway Association

Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway A National Scenic Byway

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