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Fair Day at Elkader, Iowa
Hover photograph, 1915

~photo contributed by Helen Jennings

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Clayton County Courthouse ~photo contributed by Judy Moyna Keystone Bridge & Clayton County Courthouse ~photo contributed by S. Ferrall

Clayton co. courthouse and the Keystone arch bridge over the Turkey river, ca 1911 "The postmark on this postcard appears to be dated 1911 from Mederville, Iowa. It was sent to my Aunt Anna Amling. The sender was Ella M. Bente, a friend from Mederville." ~contributed by Michael F. O'Brien

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Bayless Hotel ~photo contributed by Judy Moyna	Lower Front Street, Elkader undated ~photo contributed by Judy Moyna
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Birdseye view of Elkader from Frank Hill April 26, 1906 ~photo contributed by Judy Moyna	Birdseye view of Elkader from Kramers Hill undated ~photo contributed by Judy Moyna

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Pedretti's Bakery - the Home of Quality Bread
Advertisement painted on the side of a downtown Elkader building

~photo contributed by Judy Moyna

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Stone Arch Highway Bridge Over the Turkey River, Elkader, Ia. The stone arch bridge here illustrated is said to be the longest and best constructed highway bridge west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains. ~Engineering News, April 11, 1891

The Elkader Keystone Arch Bridge spans the Turkey river as it flows through downtown Elkader. Completed in August 1889, the bridge is the longest keystone arch bridge west of the Mississippi. In 1851 an earlier bridge had been built across the Turkey at the same site. Due to poor construction, causing both inconvenience and loss of river trade, an 1888 civil engineer's report convinced the county board of supervisors to request bids for a "wood, iron, stone or combination bridge over the Turkey". The engineering firm of Byrnes & Black were authorized by board members John Luther and Frank Schoulte to construct the bridge for $13,000. By August 1888, men were busy cutting rock for the new bridge from Cole's Stone Quarry. Original plans included rolling the rock downhill, across a temporary bridge and dressing the rock on the west side of the bridge site. Problems occurred when the rocks rolled into the river! Civil engineer M. Tschirgi of Dubuque had the foundations of the east pier laid out by September 1888. The last keystone of the west arch was placed into position Thanksgiving Day, 1888 and the second arch was completed in August, 1889. There are 4,161 cubic yards of material in the bridge and its estimated weight is 18,618,255 pounds.

~excerpts from an article in the Oelwein Register, June 24, 1989

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