In the 170 years of its history, the city of Ottumwa, Iowa has experienced more than 50 disastrous fires and the loss of four firefighters in the line of duty. From leveling downtown blocks to destroying an entire college campus, fire has shaped the landscape of this river town, destroying landmarks but also paving the way for new development. Fires, and the firemen who fought them, are a crucial piece of the city’s story.
Doug Potter is an Ottumwa, Iowa native who has always cherished an interest in Ottumwa history. He is a founding member of the Facebook group Ottumwa, We Love Ottumwa, where he posts many historic items. He has been a writer for the Ottumwa Courier and the Ottumwa Sun.
Leigh Michaels is the author of more than 100 books, including 80 contemporary romance novels, a dozen historical romance novels, non-fiction books about writing, and local history books. More than 35 million copies of her books have been printed in 25 languages around the world. She is a six-time finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest, and was honored by Iowa Library Association with the Johnson Brigham Award for an Iowa author making a contribution to literature world-wide. For more information about her, visit her website at www.leighmichaels.com.
190 pages, illustrated in black and white