News  

History Center Welcomes New Board Members and Says Good-bye to Long Time Member and Out-going President

On January 29, the Carl & Mary Koehler History Center welcomed new members to the History Center Board. The six new members will help shape the growth and direction of the History Center for years to come.  The new members are:
John Carney - Transportation Manager at Kirkwood CC
Chad Henry - Risk Manager at TrueNorth
Ron Maxa - Operations Supervisor at Cedar Rapids Band & Trust
Jennifer Schmidt - Associate Professor of Education at Mount Mercy Univ
Adam Vargason - Tax Associate with RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Lesley Vossenkemper - VP of Operations Enrollment Management at RuffaloCody

Scott Arensdorf was named the 2011 History Center Board President.

The History Center also said good-bye to Marvin Houg, member of the board since 2006 and its president from 2009-2011.  Marv's dedication and hard work have allowed the History Center to prosper and grow during hard financial times.  Thanks, Marv!

Author Dan Kellams Discusses the Legacy of Former Marion Indians Coach Les Hipple

Author Dan Kellams explored the life and career of controversial Marion High School coach Les Hipple in this presentation and book signing on Saturday, January 21.  Kellams, who graduated from Marion High School in 1954 and played four sports under Hipple, examines the coach’s strict style and the conflicts and political infighting that led to his dismissal.

 “A Coach’s Life” chronicles how Hipple, praised for his strict discipline and winning teams in the 1940s and 50s, failed to change his style as the times changed during the social upheaval of the late 1950s and 60s.  He was fired in 1965 for being too strict.  Hipple, who died in 1999, still looms large in the history of Iowa high school athletics.  He is one of the few men to be enshrined in the Iowa coaching halls of fame for both football and basketball.

 Dan Kellams is a graduate of Marion High School and Cornell College.  He is currently a New York-based freelance writer and editorial consultant.

We are pleased to announce expanded hours of operation. Now open Tuesdays thru Saturdays 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Previously open only three days a week, the History Center is now more accesssible to better serve the people of Cedar Rapids, Linn County and other visitors. We continue in our mission "to preserve, interpret, present and share the history of Linn County."

We encourage you to stop by and visit our exhibit gallery and Time Traveler exhibits. Our knowledgeable staff and volunteers welcome the opportunity to meet you and help find answers to your questions in the Linge Research Library as well.  Library hours are: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Wednesday and Friday by appointment.             

Bobby Driscoll Films Added to History Center Collection

Bobby Driscoll Films Added to History Center Collection A collection of over 30 Bobby Driscoll films in various formats was recently donated to the Carl & Mary Koehler History Center by an avid fan. Driscoll was born in Cedar Rapids March 3, 1937.

Although the films will not be loaned, the History Center will preserve them and archive them. On occasion a viewing of the films will be scheduled for the public. Some of the films are quite fragile and need to be protected and preserved for future generations.