I really like pizza (who doesn’t). It’s so nutritious, and delicious, that the USDA once recognized it as a vegetable for school lunches (not true, but a really great example of an urban legend). Before my wife and I hit the road for seven years of full-time RVing, we raised our kids in Owatonna, Minnesota.

When we left, in 2015, there were more than 20 places in town that served pizza (NOT including the schools). I wonder just how many there are here in Webster City!

I’ve tried Leon’s, of course, and Casey’s and Pizza Hut; I am not about to reveal which is my favorite.

However, having spent some time each summer in Ellsworth, I got to enjoy Pickles’ in Kamrar. One word describes, for me, their “German Pizza” (ham and sauerkraut)… wunderbar.

Kamrar is a town name that, honestly, baffled me. As a historian, I love a good mystery and the chase it brings about. At first, I was satisfied that the town was named after someone connected with a railroad (so Iowan).

Then, we moved to “Our Neighborhood” here in Webster City, across the street from Graceland Cemetery; naturally, one of my neighbor’s “homes” is labeled Kamrar… well, duh.

John L. Kamrar was a man I’d love to have known. He wasn’t born here; he was a veteran (during the Civil War) and moved here in 1869 while still a young man. Working in real estate, he felt driven to study law and passed the bar, studying under Judge DD Chase.

Kamrar was elected as senator from Hamilton County in the Iowa legislature for two terms beginning in 1881. Kamrar came within two votes of being a candidate for Governor here in Iowa.

Elected twice as mayor of Webster City, Kamrar also served on the school board and was an elector for Iowa for the Benjamin Harrison presidential ticket.

He was an attorney for the Chicago & Northwestern in Hamilton County (got that one right) and was known and appreciated by Webster City residents for the 61 years he lived here.

His health slowed him down in his 80s and he passed while in his house on Willson Avenue in late December of 1929 at the age of 87.

Kamrar was married twice; his life was about his family and his community.

I feel extremely fortunate (blessed, actually), to be living in this city. I’ve met so many friendly folks, enjoy the many parks here and main street.

I’m looking forward to biking around to explore more of Webster City, as the weather warms up (it’s been a bit of a roller coaster the past couple of weeks).

I thank J.L. Kamrar, and other former residents, for a lot of this. His last words before he passed were “May our Heavenly Father continue to bless and prosper our city and people, is and will be my last wish.”