For those of you who like to plan ahead...here is an upcoming event in Manning.
All School Reunion 2026 - Father's Day weekend - This is also the United States Semiquincentennial year, which I hope the local planners will tie together.

Last year I had visited with a local person about forming a community choir to perform patriotic songs sometime during the US 250th celebration, and also have suggested to several other folks involved in the community about including some events for the nation's celebration - during the upcoming All-school reunion/Kinderfest.

Hopefully something extra is being planned in Manning for the 250th!

Did you watch the Bicentennial Freedom Train go through Manning in 1975?
My uncle Melvin and I were there and I took some pix with my Kodak 110 color camera.
Bill Ohde took the picture under the East Street Bridge and Ron Colling took the picture through the trestle bridge.

September 15, 1975
The Milwaukee still continued on past Coon Rapids.
Apparently, when it got to the hills of Western Iowa, it couldn't make the grade at one location, so some of the cars had to be uncoupled and half pulled over that grade, then the other half.


Melvin Kusel waving his cap


Heading east out of Manning


Before the train got into Manning, Melvin gave me a penny and said put it on the track.
That way I would have a keepsake from that time.


Photo by Ron Colling for the Monitor


Photo by William F. Ohde

The Milwaukee RR also had a special locomotive go through Manning during the US Bicentennial

photo by William F. Ohde

There were many impactful events that occurred in Manning on the 3 different RRs over the decades (Northwestern, Great Western, and Milwaukee).
But the June 8, 1969, dynamiting was one of the more spectacular events.

About 1/8 mile west of the trestle bridge.
The tracks were specifically damaged on the curve, with the intentions to have the oncoming passenger train from the west go down into the Nishnabotna Creek.
As far as I know, the crime was never solved.

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