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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 Libraries byways Tour: Cornell & Mt Vernon

by Jeanie Hau | Mar 6, 2026

Cornell College & Mount Vernon Public Library

In 1903, Cornell College and the City of Mount Vernon received a grant offer from Andrew Carnegie which allowed for the building of a library. This collaboration between a private college and a community to share a library is possibly the only one in the country. Although the library outgrew itself, the collaboration did not.

Securing the Grant

Recognizing the value of Carnegie’s library program, Senator William B. Allison and Governor Leslie M. Shaw used their influence to help Cornell College and Mount Vernon obtain a $40,000 grant offer in 1901 for a joint library. By 1903, the contract among the college, the city, and Carnegie was finalized, though it required several legal and administrative steps:

Ownership and control: Cornell College agreed to provide the land and required a two‑thirds majority on the library board.
Carnegie’s conditions: Carnegie insisted that annual maintenance—estimated at $4,000—be guaranteed. Mount Vernon would contribute $500 through taxation, and the college would supply the remainder.
State legislation: Iowa’s library law had to be amended to allow joint ownership and governance between a city and a private college. The Thirtieth General Assembly enacted the necessary changes.

A community fundraising effort in 1928 later created a maintenance endowment, with contributions from local donors, Carnegie himself, and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Designing and Constructing the Building

The architectural firm Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge of Boston and Chicago designed the new library, while Bartlett & Kling of Cedar Rapids served as contractors. The building featured a Neo‑Classical design with red brick, two main floors, and a basement. A north-side stack addition included iron-and-glass floors installed in 7’8” sections as funds allowed, and a spiral iron staircase connected all levels, including an exterior access point.

Because the library was built on a hillside, extensive foundation work was required, leading to cost reductions elsewhere in the design. At one point, the architects consulted the Olmsted Brothers regarding the placement of a memorial fountain—an intriguing connection to the firm’s broader landscape work on the Cornell campus. Whether the fountain was ever constructed remains unclear.

The building’s inscriptions were originally planned as:

Main cornice: “Library Building”
Entrance panel: “The Gift of Andrew Carnegie”

Cornerstone and Opening

Cornell College scheduled a cornerstone ceremony for June 14, 1904, even before the architectural drawings were complete. A special contract allowed construction of a foundation platform solely for the event. A 12-inch copper box containing documents was placed inside the cornerstone.

The library opened in September 1905 with 26,000 volumes under the supervision of librarian May L. Fairbanks. Mount Vernon, which had no public library of its own, gained full access to the college’s collection.

Although the 1903 contract established the building, no subsequent legal agreement defined the ongoing relationship between the Cornell College Library and the Mount Vernon Public Library. For decades, the arrangement functioned informally as a “gentleman’s agreement.”

When Cornell College opened a new library building in 2001, the Mount Vernon City Council passed an ordinance officially designating the Cole Library as the community’s public library. Today, the Russell D. Cole Library houses both the Cornell College Library and the Mount Vernon Public Library. Each maintains its own identity and website, but all materials are available to all users. To local knowledge, no other private college and municipality in the nation share a library in this way.

Later Use of the Carnegie Building

The original Carnegie Library was eventually repurposed as the Norton Geology Building, and its inscriptions were removed. The Cornell College Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, making Cornell one of only two colleges in the country with this distinction.

As you drive the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway through the National Historic District, slow down and take note of the buildings on both sides of the road and explore the College Campus, it is a beauty.

See you on the byway!

As always, thank you to the Carnegie Libraires in Iowa Project for the work they have provided and photographs. Thank you to the Cole Mount Vernon Public Library and the Lisbon Historic Preservation Commission and Visit Mount Vernon- Lisbon for information and photos.

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

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.

Reed-Niland Corner, Inc is Formed

by Jeanie Hau | Sep 2, 2025

A new non-profit group, the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc., has been formed in Colo, Iowa, with the intent to take over the ownership and management of the Reed-Niland Corner. One member of the organization must be a representative for the Jefferson Highway, one member must represent the Lincoln Highway, one member must represent the Colo Historical Association, and two members must be Colo residents. The organization currently has 12 members.

Initial paperwork has been completed, and the group is forming committees to fulfill the dedicated purpose to preserve, maintain, and promote the visitor experience of the historic Reed-Niland Corner. And to the continued operation of the café, motel, museum, and apartment buildings through activities which shall include educational programs, advocacy, fundraising, maintenance, and oversight of this historic site. The group hopes to be in a position to take over the ownership of the Corner near the first of the year, 2026.

Background: It has been over 100 years since Charlie sold his first customer gas at the SE corner of his family farm. What began as a supplemental income to farming became a way of life for Charlie Reed, his nephews (the Niland families), and much of the community of Colo. Being located at the crossing of two transcontinental roadways, the Lincoln Highway and the Jefferson Highway, the businesses needed to employ many residents of Colo and the surrounding communities. The Corner became a part of the community.

When Highway 30 was moved to the south and Interstate 35 was built to the west, business declined, and operations ceased by 1995. When the city was gifted the site (minus the apartment building) in 1999 by John Niland, the Lincoln Highway Association and the community of Colo worked together to obtain a succession of grants and donations to restore the buildings and site. By 2003, the station had been restored to an early 1930s design, the café was restored to an appearance it had in 1955, and the motel was restored to a 1946 appearance. The café was leased to operate as a 1950s diner and interpretive center, and the motel rooms were available for rent once again. The Reed-Niland Corner became a popular “one-stop” site to visit on a national level for both the Lincoln Highway Association travelers and the Jefferson Highway Association travelers.

Flash-forward almost 25 years, and the Corner is now in a new Era. The community of Colo has invested in a new fire station, a rehabbed fire truck, and a new housing development. Resources are scarce, and insurance premiums are up. At a City Council meeting in February 2025, the council suggested that the city should sell the Corner. Rural Colo resident and Colo Historical Association member, Brenda McGuire, happened to be at the meeting and began asking questions. Brenda contacted Prairie Rivers of Iowa who had recently recorded a video of past Reed Station employees.

Together, Prairie Rivers of Iowa staff, Iowa Lincoln Highway Association members, Jefferson Highway representatives, Kelsey Reed (the current lease holder of Niland’s Café and the Colo Motel), and numerous community members started meeting to discuss options for the Corner.

It was agreed upon that National Register status and Local Preservation guidelines should be created to protect the property.
A non-profit should be formed to take over the ownership of the property in order to preserve it and to continue operations

Prairie Rivers of Iowa Special Projects Coordinator, Shellie Orngaard, is working towards a National Register of Historic Places Nomination for the Reed-Niland Corner District. She is also assisting the City in developing local preservation guidelines.

The Colo Historical Association has been working on grants for awnings for the Reed Station, for which they have recently received awards. The Association has recently posted that they will no longer be located at the station and will not have the station open on the last weekend of the month. Since this is a new development, the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc. has not had a meeting to discuss and cannot comment at this time.

Maintenance issues at the Corner continue to be addressed by the city and the Colo Development Group. A grant committee on the new non-profit is working to find grants to help fund these needs. As with any property management, new maintenance needs arise frequently and communication between groups is key at this time.

Finally, in uplifting news, WHO and “Gabe on the Go” recently filmed a segment at the Corner interviewing former city clerk, Scott Berka and Reed-Niland Corner, Inc President, Brenda McGuire. As Brenda said in the interview, “We hope that the Corner can be a gathering place for years to come.”

This update is provided by the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway Coordinator, Jeanie Hau, and is not an official statement of the Reed-Niland Corner, Inc.

If you would like to help, please email:

Attn: Reed-Niland Corner, Inc.

bmcguire25@hotmail.com

Mailing Address:

Reed-Niland Corner, Inc.

PO Box 244

Colo, Iowa 50056

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