Mt. Vernon

MT. VERNON	Pop. 1,800 Alt. 843	Control, Post Office.
Clinton 64.7	Cedar Rapids 14.3	Two hotels, 2 garages. Local speed limit, 25 miles per hour. Two banks, C&NW Railroad, 50 general business places, express company, 1 telephone company, 2 newspapers, park, trolley, Commercial Club, Cornell College. Free camp grounds.
Concrete		L.H. Local Consul, Dr. T.L. Wolfe, First Street

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

Mt. Vernon.
On the short drive from Lisbon, the sun-dappled Lincoln Highway beckons.

Mt. Vernon.
The wooden bridge over the C&NW railroad tracks has been standing since 1910. The bridge was actually closed to pedestrian traffic in 1996, and underwent extensive renovation in 1997-98. The narrow street leading up to the bridge is original brick, with antique streetlights.

Mt. Vernon.
The low point in the life of the bridge, when no one could enjoy it. Fortunately it was not closed long before renovation started.

Mt. Vernon.
The 1910 Lincoln Highway bridge, freshly refurbished and open to pedestrian traffic. The saving of this bridge is a terrific success story for the Mt. Vernon community, although it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with the small college town.

Mt. Vernon.
The other side of the railroad bridge. The road surface on the right is the newer pavement of old U.S. Highway 30. The street on the left is the original Lincoln Highway, with no improvements save a thin coat of grainy asphalt. Now a residential street, it winds to the 1910 wooden bridge, out of sight behind the billboard. Both routes converge in the foreground of the second photo above.

West of Mt. Vernon.
The Seedling Mile section of the Lincoln Highway, from Mt. Vernon to Cedar Rapids/Marion, is one of the nicest examples of rural driving. The road is scenic, winding, and well-paved. The Lincoln Highway bridge at this site was removed in 1984. You have to leave the car and walk to the side of the new span, however, to spot the old bridge piers still squatting in the creek below.

West of Mt. Vernon.
The only Iowa Seedling Mile, so named because stretches of smooth, wide concrete were poured in rural areas to accentuate the poor condition of the dirt and gravel at both ends. By creating "showcase" road surfaces, promotors hoped the mile-long seedling would grow so citizens could eventually harvest better highways. The sign states that this is the "First paved section of the Lincoln Highway by Linn County, constructed 1918-1919, dedicated by Cedar Rapids Region, Antique Automobile Club of America" The Seedling Mile was in nearly original condition until 2000, when a new road surface leveled out the highway and the grade was widened. At left is the old Happy Valley station.

West of Mt. Vernon.
Willis and Catherine Bachman's Happy Valley gas station and "Recreation Parlor" is of 1938 vintage. Unfortunately it was demolished in 1998.

"The driver of a Ford roadster living in Marion, who on Monday smashed into the rear of a car parked in the street, in all probability now realizes that it is less expensive and safer to go slow in the business part of town. Not only did he injure the car he ran into and his own, but had a narrow escape from injury to himself, his wife and child. The incident happened at the corner of First Street and Second Avenue, where one automobile was being turned around at the time and the Marion car in dodging at high speed came to grief. Several on the street who witnessed the incident stated that the Marion driver was running his car at least twenty-five miles per hour in approaching the crossing."

LINN COUNTY

Mt. Vernon