Glidden

GLIDDEN	Pop. 850 Alt. 1,221	Control, 1¹/₂ Miles North of Center of Town
Marshalltown 99.5	Carroll 6.9	One hotel, garages. Local speed limit, 15 miles per hour, enforced. One railroad, express company, telephone.
Gravel

- A Complete Official Road Guide of The LINCOLN HIGHWAY Fifth Edition (1924)

Glidden.
Idaho Street. The exact route of the Lincoln through Glidden is in doubt, but it probably went through the main business district here. This photo was taken on a Sunday morning in April, possibly explaining the lack of commercial activity.

Glidden.
The residents of Glidden obviously take a lot of pride in their community. There are many well-kept, architecturally interesting homes, freshly painted with beautiful lawns and nice streets. This house isn't on the Lincoln, but is typical of what you will find in Glidden.

Glidden.
Merle Hay was a 20-year-old from Glidden, sent to Europe at the start of America's participation in World War I. In November of 1917, he became one of the first three Americans killed in the war. In 1929 the Iowa Legislature passed a law funding the construction of the memorial here. The Merle Hay Memorial Cemetery is about a half-mile west of Glidden on the Lincoln Highway, now U.S. Highway 30. The memorial is right up front and visible from the road.

"We Lose the Highway. The Powers that Be have decided that the Lincoln Highway shall run a half mile north of Glidden instead of running through town as we had hoped. This news brought from the state meting at Ames last Saturday night was not entirely unexpected. Those Gliddenites closest to the confidence of the aforesaid powers that be practically admitted several weeks ago that the chances were very slim for the road to pass through Glidden. This, however, did not dampen their ardor in the least, and though the local boosters have lost they can truly say 'We have fought a good fight.'"

- The Glidden Graphic, 12 February, 1914, contributing to the ongoing debate of the Highway route through - or around - Glidden

"The principal attraction in Glidden for the men of the [U.S. Army truck convoy] train was the home of Merle Hay on North Main street. Here a large banner had been placed announcing the fact that this was the home of the first American soldier killed in the war. Most of the passenger cars and many of the trucks stopped at the Hay home, and several dozen officers went in and had the pleasure of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Hay. They all seemed delighted over the opportunity, and it will leave a lasting impression upon their minds."