Larry Smith with his Hawkeye collection, 1990s
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Larry Smith, the co-owner and manager of the Blue Top Motel, was an avid Hawkeye fan. In this photograph, he stands with his personal collection of Hawkeye memorabilia, including buttons, a clock, a Herky, and a clown (Wiederrecht-Finke, p. 22).
Lois Wiederrecht-Finke
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1990s
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English
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Coralville, Iowa
The "Refrigerator Boys" of Blue Top Motel , 1991
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A group of seven University of Iowa students and football players pose for a photograph. The young men wear their football uniforms and grin at the different cameras taking their pictures. Two of the young men kneel while the other five stand behind; the student standing in the middle rests his arms on the shoulders of the kneeling players.
Front row, left to right: Matt Rogers & Jeff Skillet
Back row, left to right: Jon Filoon, Rob Baxley, Mike Saunders, Brian Wise, & John Derby (Wiederrecht-Finke, p. 56).
Larry and Judy (Howe) Smith, owners and managers of the Blue Top Motel, were part of the University of Iowa Town Hawk Program. In this program, they acted as a local family for college students who came from other parts of the country to play on the University football team. Larry and Judy met and befriended football players who would often come to visit the Blue Top Motel. One such cohort became known as the 'Refrigerator Boys.'
Larry and Judy described the following two reasons this particular group of football players were called 'The Refrigerator Boys' in the book "The Blue Top Motel": "We had large magnets made, one for each boy - black enamel, 12 inches square - with the player's name and jersey printed in gold. The magnets were placed on our refrigerator... The 'Refrigerator Boys' also had the habit of holding the refrigerator open while they looked for something to eat" (Wiederrecht-Finke, p. 56).
Marcia Wise
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Walch%2C+T.+%282015%29+Images+of+America%3A+Coralville.+Charleston%2C+SC%3A+Arcadia+Publishing.+%0D%0A">Walch, T. (2015) Images of America: Coralville. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing.
</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1991
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Larry+%26+Judy+Smith">Larry & Judy Smith</a>
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Johnson County, Iowa
Lois Wiederrecht-Finke studying at the Blue Top Motel, 1990s
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The back of Lois Wiederrecht-Finke as she studies at a desk in a Blue Top Motel cottage. A rotary phone sits on the desk to her left; a turned on lamp to the right.<br /><br />As a commuter student to the University of Iowa, she stayed at the Blue Top once a week. Upon learning the owners Larry and Judy (Howe) Smith planned to close down the business, she began a project of taking photographs to document and preserve the motel (Wiederrecht-Finke, p. xv-xvi). These photographs were later featured in a book titled <em>The Blue Top Motel</em>, published in 2003.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1990s
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Lois+Wiederrecht-Finke">Lois Wiederrecht-Finke</a>
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Coralville, Iowa
Judy (Howe) Smith takes a phone call at the Blue Top Motel, 1990s
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Judy (Howe) Smith, a co-owner of the Blue Top Motel, sits with a phone to her ear as she looks down at her desk. On the walls behind her is another phone, a file organizer, and two plaques.
Lois Wiederrecht-Finke
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1990s
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English
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Coralville, Iowa
Cabins at the Blue Top Motel, 1990s
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Four cottages from the Blue Top Motel sitting in a half circle, surrounded by fully grown trees. The Motel was run by the Smith family for 44 years from the time of purchase in 1952 until December 31, 1996. (Wiederrecht-Finke, p. 6, 13).
Lois Wiederrecht-Finke
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Walch%2C+T.+%282015%29+Images+of+America%3A+Coralville.+Charleston%2C+SC%3A+Arcadia+Publishing">Walch, T. (2015) Images of America: Coralville. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1990s
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Larry+%26+Judy+Smith">Larry & Judy Smith</a>
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Educational use only, no other permissions given.
jpeg
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Coralville, Iowa
The street sign for Blue Top Motel, 1990s
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<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Nineteen+nineties+%5B1990s%5D">Nineteen nineties [1990s]</a>
The street sign of the Blue Top Motel, alongside 5th Street. Made of wood with a small, shingled roof, the sign reads:
"Blue Top Motel
Cable - TV - HBO
AAA"
Next to the sign is a street lamp; a planter filled with flowers and hanging ivy sits in front.
Lois Wiederrecht-Finke
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Walch%2C+T.+%282015%29+Images+of+America%3A+Coralville.+Charleston%2C+SC%3A+Arcadia+Publishing.">Walch, T. (2015) Images of America: Coralville. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing.</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing.</a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1990s
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Lois+Wiederrecht-Finke">Lois Wiederrecht-Finke</a>
Educational use only, no other permissions given.
jpeg
English
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Coralville, Iowa
Blue Top Motel business card, 1960s-1980s
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A business card advertising for the Blue Top Motel, which was located in Coralville, Iowa. The text printed in the center of the card states:
"Blue Top Motel
- The Finest -
3 miles west of Iowa City, IA.
1 Block North off Hiway 6
Quiet - Clean - Restful
Kitchenettes - Automatic Heat."
In the top left corner is the word "Telephone" with the number "5197" below. The top right corner has the AAA logo with the word "Recommended."
Finally, the names of the owners are in the bottom two corners: "Laurence Smith" on the left side and "Helen Smith" on the right.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
Late 1960s-early 1980s
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Larry+%26+Judy+Smith">Larry & Judy Smith</a>
Educational use only, no other permissions given.
jpeg
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Document">Document</a>
Coralville, Iowa
A list indicating mileage from the Blue Top Motel to surrounding cities, undated
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This mileage sheet was likely given as a resource to guests and potential guests of the Blue Top Motel to show the driving distances between the motel in Coralville and several cities in Iowa, as well as larger cities in Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Missouri. The sheet states the following:
"Mileage from Blue Top to
Iowa City.......3
Univ. Hospital......2
Vet's Hospital......2
Oakdale San.......3
Cedar Rapids......22
Newton........69
Grinnell........42
Des Moines......115
Ames........128
Omaha........255
Minneapolis......288
Waterloo.......89
Burlington.......81
Mason City......170
Kansas City......300
Davenport.......60
Clinton.......100
Chicago.......223
St. Louis .......264"
The distance from the Blue Top Motel to the local hospitals was of particular importance to the out-of-town guests who were staying while a loved one received prolonged treatments or recovered from a surgery.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
Unknown
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Larry+%26+Judy+Smith">Larry & Judy Smith</a>
Educational use only, no other permissions given.
jpeg
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Document">Document</a>
Coralville, Iowa
Guests sit outside the Blue Top Motor Court, 1950s-1960s
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A photograph of the Blue Top Motel. A row of small cottages sit in a line, surrounded by small trees. Some guests sit outside in the sun. A row of flowering bushes stand next to a gravel road.
The Blue Top Motel was originally built and owned by Gustave R. (Rudy) and Iva B. Falk in the 1940s. The family listed the property in 1952. A gentleman named Russell Miller noticed the advertisement in the Des Moines Register and encouraged his nephew, Laurence Smith, to purchase the motor court. He and his wife Helen ran the motel together until his death in 1984. Helen Smith continued to manage the motel with her son, Larry, and his wife, Judy (Howe) until her death in 1994 (Wiederrecht-Finke, p. 5-6, 12-13).
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1950s-1960s
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Larry+%26+Judy+Smith">Larry & Judy Smith</a>
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Educational use only, no other permissions given.
jpeg
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Coralville, Iowa
The Blue Top Motel's announcement of closure, 1996
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A printed document announcing the closure of the local Coralville motel, The Blue Top Motel, by the owners. The document has a border around the edge with embellished corners. A photograph of Larry and Judy Smith is in the center of the page; in the image, Larry has his arm around his wife as they both smile at the camera.
The text above and below the image states the following in bold:
"After 44 Years
The Blue Top Motel
operated by
The Smith Family
(L.E. & Helen & Larry & Judy Smith)
will be closing it's doors
Tuesday, December 31, 1996
To our patrons -
local to worldwide -
We have fond memories
of all of you.
Larry, Judy, Linda, & Lynn"
Larry & Judy Smith
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wiederrecht-Finke%2C+L.+%282003%29+The+Blue+Top+Motel.+New+London%2C+IA%3A+Lane%27s+End+Publishing.+">Wiederrecht-Finke, L. (2003) The Blue Top Motel. New London, IA: Lane's End Publishing. </a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1996
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Larry+%26+Judy+Smith">Larry & Judy Smith</a>
Educational use only, no other permissions given.
jpeg
English
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Coralville, Iowa
Carousel Inn sign (2), 1970s
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The Carousel Inn sign on a grassy corner next to Highway 6, taken from the intersection of 1st Ave. The large white sign reads: "Coming Oct 15 the weekly news all about Coralville and the world."
The Carousel Inn started construction in 1969, which continued into 1971. When completed, the hotel offered 84 rooms. According to Frank Deleon, one of the managers, the Carousel Inn was the biggest building around when it was first built (Horwitz, p. 60). The Inn also had several amenities, including an indoor pool, whirlpool tubs, and a conference center used by community groups.
The photograph was taken by Karin Becker for the book The Strip: An American Place, by Richard Horwitz.
Karin Becker
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Horwirtz%2C+R.+%281985%29+The+Strip%3A+An+American+Place.+Lincoln%2C+NE%3A+University+of+Nebraska+Press.">Horwirtz, R. (1985) The Strip: An American Place. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.</a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1970s
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Karin+Becker%2C+courtesy+of+Johnson+County+Historical+Society">Karin Becker, courtesy of Johnson County Historical Society</a>
Educational use only, no other permissions given.
jpeg
English
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Coralville, Iowa
Carousel Inn sign (1), 1970s
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<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Nineteen+seventies+%5B1970s%5D">Nineteen seventies [1970s]</a>
The street sign for the Carousel Inn and Restaurant, made up of four signs stacked upon single pole. The bottom sign states, "Breakfast 7 to 11", and directly above this, a large white sign shares menu items in black lettering: "Caesar Salad, Steak Diane, Crepes Suzette, Dining with Flair". A Best Western logo is added to the left side. A spinning piece that advertises "Cocktails" in lights sits at the top of the pole.
The Carousel Inn stood on the corner of 1st Ave and Highway 6. Along with Loghry's restaurant, it was considered to be the "flagship of the Strip" (Horwitz, p. 46).
The photograph was taken by Karin Becker for the book The Strip: An American Place, by Richard Horwitz.
Karin Becker
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Horwirtz%2C+R.+%281985%29+The+Strip%3A+An+American+Place.+Lincoln%2C+NE%3A+University+of+Nebraska+Press.">Horwirtz, R. (1985) The Strip: An American Place. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Walch%2C+T.+%282015%29+Images+of+America%3A+Coralville.+Charleston%2C+SC%3A+Arcadia+Publishing.">Walch, T. (2015) Images of America: Coralville. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing.</a>
Coralville Public Library. Coralville Digital History Library.
1970s
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=37&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Karin+Becker%2C+courtesy+of+Johnson+County+Historical+Society">Karin Becker, courtesy of Johnson County Historical Society</a>
Educational use only, no other permissions given.
jpeg
English
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Still+image">Still image</a>
Coralville, Iowa