Disasters & Scandals
Tyler Klostermann, 2013
 Vogt Murder (1862), former location of Cedar Falls House, 203 Main St. |  Wasendorf Fraud (2009), My Verona, 419 Main St. |  Former location of Monitor House, 534 Main St. |
|---|---|---|
 Storm (2009), 4-trunked tree, 1802 Tremont St. |  Four-legged tree damage as a result of 2009 storm |  Nielsen Field House, 19th St. |
 Dancer Hall, 2001 Campus St. |  The Hill, College St. |  The Hill, College St. |
 Tornado (1936), UNI Football Stadium, 23rd St. |  Old Gilchrist Hall |  Old Gilchrist Hall fire |
 Students watch Old Gilchrist Hall fire from Maucker Union roof |  Old Gilchrist Hall fire |  Old Gilchrist Hall fire |
 Central Hall |  Central Hall Fire (1965), Wisconsin St. |  Central Hall fire |
 Central Hall fire |  Central Hall fire |  Former location of Central Hall (2013) |
 Hailstorm (1953), University of Northern Iowa Greenhouse |  Homecoming Arsons (2005), Gilchrist Hall |  Cedar River Flood (2008), Ice House Museum |
 Hugh Smith family grave marker, Greenwood Cemetery |  Hugh Smith grave, Greenwood Cemetery |  Wasendorf Fraud (2009), Peregrine Financial Group, 1 Peregrine Way |
 Mark Family Murder House, N. Union Rd. |  The Graves of the Mark Family, Gerholdt Cemetery |  Leslie Mark grave, Gerholdt Cemetery |
 Jorjean Mark grave, Gerholdt Cemetery |
Disasters, scandals and crime can strike any community and Cedar Falls has experienced its share of tragedy. Though known as a safe and quiet city, Cedar Falls has been the scene of a number of scandals and disaster. All communities have measures to prevent crimes, however they always manage to arise. A multi-million dollar fraud found its home in Cedar Falls, as well as the shooting of a newly hired teacher, murders, robberies, arson and riots. Whether it were a random occurrence or the result of Homecoming festivities, each crime has left its mark on the community.
As inevitable as crimes and often equally or more devastating, disasters also contribute to a city's history. The citizens of Cedar Falls have suffered devastating floods as well as a number of destructive storms and fires on and off-campus. No matter how innocent a town may seem, there is more often than not some dirt to dig up, it is just a matter of where one is willing to look! Like it or not, these dark spots are a part of Cedar Falls’ history too.
1. Riley Murder (1873), Cedar Falls House, 203 Main St.
The Cedar Falls House hotel was built in 1853 by Cyrus F. Jaquith.[1] In 1873, a couple who had been staying here, then called the Wilson House, murdered their six-week old daughter on the way to the Illinois Central Railroad Depot. Ursula Spangler headed to the station, while William Riley killed their child and tossed her body into the Cedar River. A young boy discovered the body the same day. Riley and Spangler were arrested and put on trial. Spangler was not convicted, though she was held in jail until Riley’s trial in September 1873. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.[2]
2. Main St. Fire (2003), NE corner of 4th and Main Streets
The building on the corner of 4th and Main Street went up in flames one morning in January 2003 as a result of a water heater malfunction in an apartment. The fire destroyed two apartments and three businesses. The damage ranged was estimated up to $800,000.[3]
3. Wasendorf Fraud (2012), My Verona Restaurant, 419 Main St.
In 2009, after relocating his Peregrine Financial Group to Cedar Falls, Russell Wasendorf opened a gourmet Italian restaurant, My Verona, on Main St. The restaurant closed the day after investigations for fraud began against him.[4]
4. Monitor House Fire (1885), 534 Main St.
The Monitor House hotel opened in January 1873. In August 1885, fire caused nearly $4,000 of damage to the building and an unknown amount of damage to the furniture within. Luckily, the building and furniture were insured.[5]
5. Storm (2009), Four-legged Tree, 1802 Tremont St.
On July 10, 2009 storms produced hail and straight-line winds in Cedar Falls. Upwards of 350 trees were damaged in the storm as well as minor damage to Latham Hall and Price Laboratory School.[6] Damage to the UNI-Dome cost $4.3 million to repair. The stainless steel layer of the dome was considerably damaged as a result of the storm.[7] The storm also cause irreparable damage to the top of the four-legged tree on 18th St. The upper section of the landmark tree had to be removed following the storm to avoid toppling on to the nearby home.[8]
6. Nielsen Fieldhouse Fire (1993), 19th St. (Summit)
Price Laboratory School's Nielsen Fieldhouse went up in flames on the afternoon of June 8, 1993. Had it not been for the swimming pool and fire wall in the Fieldhouse, the entire school may have been destroyed. The entire fieldhouse was destroyed and the damages amounted to about $3 million.[9] Later that month, two nine-year-olds and a ten-year-old boy were charged as juveniles with first degree arson.[10] Today, little remains of the lab school other than the rebuilt field house.
7. Dancer Hall Fire (1980), 2001 Campus St.
A fire broke out in Room 609 of Dancer Hall on July 9, 1980. The fire was caused by a chair igniting from unexplained smoldering within it. Nearly 350 students had to be evacuated from the building in the early morning fire. Sadly, the student occupying the room with the chair fell to his death from his window, in an attempt to escape the smoke and flames. He was the fire’s only fatality.[11]
8. Homecoming Riot (1996), College Hill
During the UNI Homecoming celebrations on October 13, 1996, the police closed the bars early at 12:15 am, concerned with the crowd’s volatility. The decision resulted in the Hill being flooded with angry patrons. Around 12:45 am two cars were flipped. When police attempted to halt the rioting they were pelted with rocks and bottles. The windows of the nearby Kum & Go gas station were broken out. The commotion resulted in twenty-four arrests, considerable amounts of property damage, as well as a few hospitalizations. By 2:30 am the crowd had dispersed and the rioting had ceased.[12]
9. Tornado (1936), UNI Football Stadium, 23rd St.
On July 22, 1936, a tornado ripped through Cedar Falls leaving destruction in its path. It knocked down power lines and damaged houses in College Hill and nearby farmland.[13] The college’s buildings and trees had some damage, but the football stadium was the only structure that was completely demolished. The stadium, built in 1927, was ripped apart by the tornado's 70 mph winds.[14] The men watering the field at the time of the storm were lucky to have escaped with their lives![15]
10. Old Gilchrist Hall Fire (1972), Walnut St.
On Friday, May 12, 1972, a fire started in the attic of Old Gilchrist Hall due to faulty wiring.[16] The fire began just before 7:00 pm and was brought under control nearly an hour later, but the building had been destroyed. At the time of the fire, Gilchrist was ninety-years-old.[17]
11. Central Hall Fire (1965), Wisconsin St.
On July 22, 1965, Central Hall, the college's oldest building, burned to the ground. Constructed in 1868 as a Civil War orphan's home, Central Hall had housed the speech, language and literature departments when the fire occurred.[18] The fire resulted from faulty wiring and was first discovered by the College Eye editor, Kent Speirs.[19]
12. Hailstorm (1953), University of Northern Iowa Greenhouse
On March 21, 1953, a hailstorm caused great damage throughout Cedar Falls, especially on the college campus, which sustained about $10,000 in damage. Another $200,000 of damage was estimated for Cedar Falls as a whole.[20] The college’s greenhouse sustained the heaviest damage, having lost a number of tropical plants as a result of 1,300 broken panes of glass and their exposure to an unfamiliar climate.[21]
13. Homecoming Arsons (2005), Gilchrist Hall
On the night of October 16, 2005, during Homecoming celebrations, arsonists set fires in Lang, Baker and Gilchrist Halls. The worst damage was sustained by the newly renovated Gilchrist, where the fire was reported right before 1:00 am.[22] The fires had been set by Aaron Lessimeier and Tanner Wilkens who were visiting Tanner's brother and a UNI student. In 2007, the pair plead guilty to three counts of arson and were sentenced to serve three consecutive ten-year terms as well as pay $2 million in restitution. The repair costs were estimated around $10.2 million.[23] Gilchrist did not reopen until nearly three years had passed, on October 17, 2008.[24]
14. Byron Wright Shooting (1873), Cedar City
In 1873, Byron Wright, had recently been hired to teach in Cedar City. Seventeen year old Almira Stickley offered Wright boarding at her home for $2 a week. Wright accepted the offer, but quickly decided against it and decided to board with Mr. Kingsley. The Stickleys were so upset by Wright's decision that while Wright was eating at their home during a morning recess, Almira Stickley shot him in the back of the head. Wright attempted to escape only to be stopped by an admirer of Almira's, Richard George, who shot Wright in the head again. Almira Stickley, her mother Mary, and Richard George were taken into custody. Almira was allegedly so in love with Wright that she decided to kill him upon his refusal to return. Mary Stickley, who was under the impression that Wright was engaging in sexual activities with Almira, plotted to force him to marry her daughter. Amazingly, Wright lived but only received $1,033.75 from a lawsuit. Mary Stickley was sentenced to nine years in the penitentiary, only to be pardoned in 1877. Almira Stickley was sent to reform school for a year after an insanity plea failed.[25]
15. Cedar River Flood (2008), Ice House Museum
The summer of 2008 brought about storms that produced seven to nine inches in one rainfall, leading to flooding from the Cedar River. Some of the major access points to Cedar Falls were submerged by flood waters. Franklin St., Main St., Highway 58 and Highway 218 as well as all of the Cedar Falls' river bridges were closed as a result. The Ice House Museum, located on the river side of the levee flooded with water nearly halfway up its doors.[26] On the morning of June 11 the river crested at 102.13 feet, nearly three feet higher than the levee was built to withstand. Nearly eighty-five percent of the North Cedar neighborhood was under water, driving around 1,000 people out of their homes.[27]
16. Hugh Smith Robbery (1944), Greenwood Cemetery
Hugh Smith built and owned the Ice House originally known as the Cedar Falls Ice and Fuel Company. Until the 1920s Smith owned the only ice business in town.[28] After the decline of the ice business, Smith worked at the Old Oaken Bucket Service Station on Highway 218 near Cedar Falls. Around 12:30 p.m. on September 13, 1944 a gunman entered to rob the station. When he could not get any money from the cash register the assailant hit Smith over the head and fled. Smith managed to copy down the robber’s license plate before calling for help.[29] Smith was taken to Sartori Hospital following the attack and then to his sister’s home in Des Moines to recover. Unfortunately, he died from complications on February 5, 1945, a few months later.[30]
17. Wasendorf Fraud (2012), Peregrine Financial Group,
1 Peregrine Way
In 2009, Russell Wasendorf, the chief executive of Peregrine Financial Group, built a $20 million headquarters for his company her near the Beaver Hills Country Club, off of North Union Rd. He resided in a nearby home featuring a 1,000-bottle wine cellar and an indoor swimming pool with a retractable glass roof. In 2012, he was charged with embezzlement after admitting to stealing more than $215 million from around 13,000 clients. In January 2013, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his fraud.[31]
18. Mark Family Murders (1975), Gerholdt Cemetery, Van Wert Rd.
The Mark Family murders occurred on November 1, 1975.[32] Early that morning Jerry Mark entered the home of his brother Les, and murdered him, his wife Jorjean, and his two young children while they slept.[33] Jerry Mark was convicted of these murders in 1976, but has tried to appeal his conviction ever since, insisting upon his innocence.[34] The victims are buried here, in Gerholdt Cemetery, near their former home on North Union Rd.
[1] Huffman-Sweet, Cynthia.19th Century Cedar Falls Hotels: Mischief, Murder, & Immorality. Des Moines, IA: Iowan Books, 2011. p. 33.
[2] Huffman-Sweet. 19th Century. pp. 42-43.
[3] Koppes, Kevin. "Main St. fire destroys businesses, apartments." Northern Iowan, 99 [31], 28 January 2003, pp. 1, 4. Print.
[4] Offner, Jim. "My Verona closed day after founder's company investigated for fraud." Waterloo Courier 10 July 2012. Web.
[5] Huffman-Sweet. 19th Century. pp. 91-94.
[6] Davidson, Nikki. "Storm ravages campus: More than 350 trees severely damaged." Northern Iowan, 105 [59], 17 July 2009: p. 1. Print.
[7] Anderson, John. "UNI-Dome roof in need of repair." Northern Iowan, 106 [27], 11 December 2009: p. 1. Print.
[8] “Four-legged Cedar Falls tree gets drastic trim.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, 20 July 2009: p. 7A. Print. (Historic photo courtesy of Dr. Thomas Connors)
[9] Williams, Michael. "Nielsen Fieldhouse destroyed by fire." Northern Iowan, 89 [59], 11 June 1993: p. 1. Print.
[10] Hahn, Jessica. "Youths charged in Price Lab fire." Northern Iowan, 89 [62], 2 July 1993: p. 1. Print.
[11] Goodman, Ruth. "Fire claims student's life." Northern Iowan, 76 [60], 11 July 1960: p. 1. Print.
[12] Hengstenber, Jennifer and Janell Edwards. "Hell on the Hill." Northern Iowan, 93 [13], 15 October 1996: pp. 1, 3, 6. Print.
[13] “Teacher’s College Stadium at Cedar Falls is wrecked.” Ames Daily Tribune and Times, 70 [19], 23 July 1936: p 1. Print
[14] "Tornado Demolishes Football Stadium: Wednesday Night Twister Causes Much Damage To Buildings And Trees On Hill." The College Eye, 27 [9], 24 July 1936: p. 1-2. Print.
[15] “Teacher’s College Stadium at Cedar Falls is wrecked.” Ames Daily Tribune and Times, 70 [19], 23 July 1936: p 1. Print. (Historic photo courtesy of UNI Special Collections Website <http://www.library.uni.edu/collections/special-collections/building-histories/o-r-latham-stadium-stadium-hall>)
[16] Peterson, Gerald, ed. "Old Gilchrist Hall." Rod Library Special Collection and University Archives July 1996; last updated 5 April 2012. Web. 6 October 2013.
[17] Bishop, Doug and Corrine Coquillette. "Gilchrist - A Loss for Everyone." Northern Iowan, 68 [55], 16 May 1972: p. 1. Print. (Historic photo courtesy of UNI Special Collections Website <http://m.library.uni.edu/collections/special-collections/building-histories/old-gilchrist-hall>)
[18] Speirs, Kent. "Central Gutted in Thursday Blaze: Managing Editor Finds Blaze, Estimate $527,000 Damage." The College Eye, 59 [50], 23 July 1965: pp.1-2. Print.
[19] Peterson, Gerald, ed. "Central Hall." Rod Library Special Collection and University Archives July 1996; last updated 4 April 2012. Web. 6 October 2013. (Historic photo courtesy of UNI Special Collections Website <http://m.library.uni.edu/collections/special-collections/building-histories/central-hall>)
[20] "Hail Causes $10,000 Loss." The College Eye, 44 [25], 27 March 1953: p. 3. Print.
[21] "Hailstorm Causes Loss of Seventeen Years' Labor at College Greenhouse." The College Eye, 44 [25], 27 March 1953: p. 3. Print.
[22] Steffen, Amie. "Arsonists set fire to three campus buildings." Northern Iowan, 102 [15], 18 October 2005: p. 5. Print.
[23] Calcara, Sally. "Sentence handed down for arsonists." Northern Iowan, 104 [16], 19 October 2007: pp. 4-5. Print.
[24] Cook, Lindsey. "FINALLY!: Gilchrist reopens after fire damage repaired." Northern Iowan, 105 [1], 29 August 2008: p 1. Print.
[25] Huffman-Sweet, Cynthia. Raising the Bar: A Survey of Cedar Falls Attorneys, 1850-1950. Cedar Falls, IA: Sweet Press, 2011. pp. 42-44.
[26] Finnegan, Patrick M. and Jennie M. Morton. "Mother Nature Breaks All Records." Northern Iowan, 104 [55], 20 June 2008: p. 1-2. Print.
[27] Love, Orlan. “Sandbaggers save Cedar Falls’ downtown district.” Cedar Rapids Gazette, 12 June 2008: p. 3B. Print. (Historic photo courtesy of CF Historic Society Website <http://www.cfhistory.org/page.aspx?n=39&p=Ice%20House-2>)
[28] Hake, Herb. 101 Stories of Cedar Falls. Cedar Falls: The Record 1977. 101.
[29] “Cook Jailed in C. Falls Holdup Case.” Waterloo Daily Courier, 14 September 1944: p 16. Print.
[30] "Hugh Smith, 73, Attack Victim, Dies at Des Moines." Waterloo Courier 6 February 1945: p 6. Print.
[31] "Ex-Peregrine Chief Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison." New York Times 1 February 2013: B1. Print.
[32] Cawelti, Scott. Brother's Blood: A Heartland Cain and Abel. North Liberty, IA: Ice Cube Press, 2011. p. 5
[33] Cawelti, Scott. Brother's Blood. pp. 46-47
[34] Kelzer, Sarah. "Scott Cawelti presents 'Brother's Blood: The True Story of the Mark Family Murders'" Northern Iowan 4 April 2011. Web.