The Weather Bureau building in Charles City, Iowa was an important fixture of our town for more than 60 years. It was built in 1907 at the corner of Kelly Street and North Jackson Street. Before the building was made, the weather station worked out of a house on Clark Street. Even though Charles City was a small town, it became the smallest town in Iowa to have an official Weather Bureau office, which made the town feel important.
The workers at the Weather Bureau collected weather information every day. They recorded things like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and cloud types. Every six hours, the information was sent by Western Union to Chicago. The reports helped meteorologists create weather forecasts for different parts of the country. The building was not just an office either. It also had living areas, including bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and work rooms for the employees.
The Weather Bureau office closed in 1953 because the Mason City Airport became more important for weather reporting. Even after the office closed, weather observations still continued in Charles City in less official ways. Later, the building was used by the local school district as a library and office space after a tornado damaged another school building.
In 1969, the school district sold the property for redevelopment. By 1971, the old Weather Bureau building was torn down. Today, the area is part of a parking lot near Central Park
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Weather Bureau building, Charles City, Iowa.
The Weather Bureau building in Charles City, Iowa was an important fixture of our town for more than 60 years. It was built in 1907 at the corner of Kelly Street and North Jackson Street. Before the building was made, the weather station worked out of a house on Clark Street. Even though Charles City was a small town, it became the smallest town in Iowa to have an official Weather Bureau office, which made the town feel important.
The workers at the Weather Bureau collected weather information every day. They recorded things like temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and cloud types. Every six hours, the information was sent by Western Union to Chicago. The reports helped meteorologists create weather forecasts for different parts of the country. The building was not just an office either. It also had living areas, including bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and work rooms for the employees.
The Weather Bureau office closed in 1953 because the Mason City Airport became more important for weather reporting. Even after the office closed, weather observations still continued in Charles City in less official ways. Later, the building was used by the local school district as a library and office space after a tornado damaged another school building.
In 1969, the school district sold the property for redevelopment. By 1971, the old Weather Bureau building was torn down. Today, the area is part of a parking lot near Central Park