Talk:Waterloo, Iowa

Library
The section on the library seems a bit out of place; it's pretty long compared to the other sections on this page. Also, it seems to be directly copied from the library's annual report (although it's not cited, so who knows?) and reads like a publicity piece. How does everyone feel about editing this section down some? Ekaune (talk) 04:39, 20 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Yes, I think you're right -- it's more detail than is needed and doesn't sound very objective. Omnedon (talk) 04:47, 20 November 2009 (UTC)

Ghetto

 * Waterloo was once a thriving industrial town until the Great Depression and the 1980s Recession turned it into a ghetto <---(This is not true!).

I'll take the word of this anonymous reader over Lir any day. Deleted. -- Tim Starling 04:44 Jan 30, 2003 (UTC)

While Waterloo might not ever have thrived, it sure is currently a ghetto. 129.15.127.253 17:03, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

To be fair, it is not ALL ghetto... there are a few gated communites on the cedar falls side.- — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.149.23.119 (talk) 02:55, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

How can this load of whitewash be considered a wikipedia-worthy article about Waterloo when it makes absolutely no mention of the riots, strife, and National Guard occupation of the city during the civil rights era? Demonstrations and riots occurred with regularity from the 1950s through the 1970s in Waterloo, and race relations were precarious throughout that time period. One year the other high schools in the Big 8 athletic conference refused to play games in Waterloo--whether against East High or West High--after violent altercations with a racial undertone became a regular occurrence after high school football games. This article reads as though it was edited by either the Waterloo Courier staff of the '60s or Michele Bachmann's image scrubbers. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.129.127.228 (talk) 01:49, 23 February 2015 (UTC)

Sundown Town
The following appeared in the African American Community section on Waterloon in 2019: In 1903, African Americans were told to leave Waterloo immediately as it became a sundown town.[10]

The reference cited a South Carolina paper which had one note about it. After investigation, an article in the Waterloo Courier, a more local source, speaks directly to what probably happened. From a Sept 02, 1903 article: Sensational Newsmonger - Anxious Correspondent Libels Waterloo in Recent Fake Story. - Claims Colored Population Have been Ordered from City - Says Waterloo Newspaper Started Crusade Against Them. "Some enterprising correspondent, certainly not a resident of Waterloo, has of late been sending out a number of fake specials under a Waterloo dateline, and his "tommyrot" has been used by a number of representative papers in the state and elsewhere.  His latest sensational story from this city is one regarding the exodus of the negro population from Waterloo, the correpsondent stating that the citizens of Waterloo had issued an official [illegible] to the colored fraternity to leave the city.  Here is a sample of the correpondent's careful research for facts and his adherence to truth and veracity:  He says "today one can search the city over and in all its borders he will not be able to find a man, woman  or child with a black skin."  The above is a lie, pure and simple, concocted and perpetrated upon the papers for the purpose of insuring the use and payment for his prevarications. There are dozens of colored people in Waterloo at this time, the majority of them good, hard working people who make an honest living and have made this city their home for years. "

Thus, I am removing the statement about Waterloo being a sundown town. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.70.55.125 (talk) 16:07, 5 July 2020 (UTC)

School merging
I merged in the info on one of the high schools. Please do not separate it back out unless there is enough verifiable information about it for a full article. Much better than to complain about only having one of the schools mentioned, would be to mention and expand the rest. Thanks - Taxman Talk July 7, 2005 23:53 (UTC)

The town is currently named after Waterloo, Belgium. <-- Are there plans to pick a different Waterloo that it is named after, or to change the name? Is the "currently" qualifier necessary? Bjsiders 18:58, 24 August 2005 (UTC)

Bitterness
The bulk of this page is obviously written by someone who grew up in Waterloo in the 60s and 70s. I recognize the undercurrent of bitterness because I grew up in Waterloo in the 60s and 70s. I can't fix it because I'm still bitter. It's too bad someone can't land here that has a more positive outlook. There are some things taking place in downtown to revive the place - although it's a corpse that will take a lot of new flesh.

Regarding Central's location - it would have been on either the East or West side of town no matter what. Where should it have been placed? In the middle of the Cedar River? 74.136.9.70 16:04, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

Central High is no longer a high school. It was the newest high school and very well equipped. There was a fully equipped wood shop, automotive shop, metal and welding shop, electronics and drafting labs, home economics kitchens, a drivers ed course with retired city vehicles, and an olympic sized swimmimg pool. It was also equipped with central air so there were very few windows. But its location on the western edge of town made it the logical choice to close when the school system suffered declining enrollment and budget issues.- — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.179.140.86 (talk) 20:39, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

This article makes no mention of Waterloo's violent history during the Civil Rights movement. As it currently stands it is a whitewash. Might as well put chamber of commerce ads in it.- — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.129.127.234 (talk) 22:15, 19 December 2014 (UTC)

waterloo -
I also was raised in W'loo during the 60's and 70's......I especially remember the East/West football games. I moved South 18 years ago but we miss Iowa and are relocating back. As far as ghetto, it was "ghetto" 20 years ago......there's ghetto in every city....we're living in a small town in Florida, 35,000 in off season and 50+ in the winter......we have a ghetto here. You either love or hate Iowa.- — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kath2210 (talk • contribs) 20:25, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2006/10/01/features/lifestyles/cbeacdb60b16f1ce862571f800431c66.txt

http://www.paco-rosic.com/

Surely, worth a mention? Perhaps a new section? 206.156.242.36 15:10, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

John Wayne Gacy
In this edit, a brand new editor (welcome!) removes John Wayne Gacy from the list of notable people, as he wasn't born in Waterloo. However, he lived in Waterloo and was, shall we say, active there. See this section of the article on Gacy, and chase up the references therefrom if you wish. Gacy was imprisoned, then released, and then moved to Norwood Park, where (or from which) he went on his major killing spree and where many bodies were found. I sleepily wrote in my edit summary that this was Waterloo; it wasn't, but he was also a notable resident of Waterloo. -- Hoary (talk) 13:48, 28 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Probably a Bachmann supporter trying to rewrite history to change reality to her version of it. Again.71.192.27.5 (talk) 00:30, 29 June 2011 (UTC)
 * Now now. Reality has a well-known liberal bias. -- Hoary (talk) 00:42, 29 June 2011 (UTC)

"Original research as reported by staff"
I'm not sure what is meant by "according to the original researcher as reported by staff of the Grout Museum" in the first paragraph of the History section, but it needs to be cited properly and reworded. Dlthewave (talk) 22:06, 4 March 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
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External links modified
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1619 Freedom School
The article has nothing about Nikole Hannah-Jones's 1619 Freedom School, which NPR's 'Latino USA' presented in a program on 23 April as part of an interval with NH-J. 136.36.180.215 (talk) 03:32, 14 April 2024 (UTC)