at The Three Stars Plaza
and Motofest III
in Clear Lake, Iowa
and Motofest III
in Clear Lake, Iowa
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at The Three Stars Plaza and Motofest III in Clear Lake, Iowa |
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Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo
County, Iowa. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located.
Clear Lake is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related
businesses.
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Three
Stars Plaza, downtown Clear Lake, Iowa
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n Roll stars, Buddy Holly, J.P. The Big Bopper Richardson
and Ritchie Valens are remembered at Three Stars Plaza located ½
block west of the legendary Surf Ballroom. An original work of art representing
a giant record player spindle stacked with three 45 rpm records is located
in the center of Three Stars Plaza. The 15-foot art feature honors the
stars' fateful final performance at Clear Lake’s Surf Ballroom in
early February 1959. The trio, along with pilot Roger Peterson, died hours
after their performance in a plane crash in a field north of Clear Lake.
At night the three records are beautifully lit in blue neon. Lots more history on the crash can be found by using the link at the bottom of this page. |
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On June 2, 2012, Lee and Karen Duquette, The Two RV Gypsies, attended a City Park Festival in Downtown Clear Lake, Iowa called Motofest III, which was presented by The Motorcycle Awareness Group of North Iowa. Over two dozen vendors and many local sponsors participated in events in downtown Clear Lake, Iowa. Lee and Karen Duquette watched a motorcycle stunt show, enjoyed browsing a vintage bike and scooter display, and listened to a live band while enjoying lunch purchased at the park. A lot of bikers were also in attendance. Below are a few of the vintage bikes that were on display. |
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Below
are more sections of the adventures of Lee and Karen Duquette in Iowa.
You may view them in any order you wish. So always scroll all the way
down every page for the main buttons. |
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Lake, Iowa (this page) |
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ORContinue Navigation in any year, any place, in the order
of your choice |
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The region around the lake that would later be called Clear Lake
was a summer home to the Sioux and Winnebago natives. During a land
survey of northern Iowa done in 1832 by Nathan Boone, the son of the
famous explorer Daniel Boone, a map was made showing the lake and other
bodies of water in the area. In 1851 Joseph Hewitt
and James Dickerson brought their families to camp on the east side
of Clear Lake, soon building a cabin, and began a friendship with the
Winnebago natives. By 1853 many more white settlers had also came to
settle in the area. By the year 1855 the first Clear Lake school was
built and the first steam saw mill. In 1855 a hotel was built by James
Crow.By 1870 the town had 775 residents and by
1871 the streets were graded and sidewalks were made of raised boards,
a sure sign of thriving new city. The city of Clear Lake was incorporated
on May 26, 1871. The first bandstand built in Clear Lake was in 1877
at the City Park. The town grew and built its first library in 1889.
In 1933 the Surf Ballroom open up on the site
of the old Tom Tom ballroom that had been destroyed by fire. The opening
dance night had approximately 700 couples attending. In 1947 the Surf
Ballroom burned down and a new Surf Ballroom was built across the street
in 1948. 
AFTER you have viewed all 9 sections above,
please continue on to the adventures of Lee and Karen Duquette, The
Two RV Gypsies, in Minnesota: 