Linda Betsinger McCann will be speaking at the Blairstown Library on Tuesday, May 14, at 6 pm about her newest book, Prisoners of War in Iowa. She will also be at the Garwin Library on Wednesday, May 15, at 1:30, speaking on the same topic. Everyone is invited and there is no admission charge.

There were about 25,000 German, Italian, and Japanese prisoners of war in Iowa from 1943 to 1946. Algona and Clarinda were the main camps, and there were about 17 branch camps in Iowa. Toledo was a branch camp, and the POWs worked detasseling corn and harvesting crops. The POWs also worked in the canning and hemp factories. Linda has spoken with people who got to know prisoners or worked with them and shares their memories.

Linda is the author of 12 books of Iowa history. She has written seven books dealing with forgotten locations in counties. She has also written about Prohibition in Eastern Iowa, four books on the Civilian Conservation Corps in Iowa, and about the electric trolley that ran from Waverly to Cedar Rapids. She will have copies of all her books with her, available for purchase.

Linda is now researching the ‘Rosie the Riveters’ from Iowa. She is looking for women who were Rosie’s, or families who have info to share. They may contact Linda through their local librarian.