Norway, Iowa
Downtown Norway
Conveniently located within a 15-minute drive of Cedar Rapids and the historic Amana Colonies, Norway lies four miles south of Highway 30 on County Road W24.
The community was founded in 1863 by Norwegian Osmond Tuttle and named in honor of its Scandinavian settlers. The 2000 census reports 601 residents.
Norway is well known for its strong baseball tradition that brought the Norway Tigers 20 state high school championships before the school joined the Benton Community School District in 1991.
Years later, the team’s grit and determination caught the eye of filmmakers, who in 2007 produced “The Final Season”, a movie based on the Tigers’ quest for their final championship. The movie was filmed in and around Norway and other eastern Iowa communities in the summer of 2006 and stars Sean Astin and Powers Boothe.
Many of Norway’s ballplayers went on to successful college, semi-pro, major and minor league careers. Homegrown talent includes pitcher Mike Boddicker, player for several teams during his 13-year career, including the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox. Catcher Bruce Kimm played for several minor league teams and coached or managed minor and major league teams for 21 years. Kimm eventually managed the Chicago Cubs and ended his professional baseball career in 2003 as Chicago White Sox third base coach.
A tribute to the community’s claim to fame, the Iowa Baseball Museum of Norway opened in February 2010 at 112 E. Railroad St. Proudly displayed are the Tigers’ 20 state championship trophies, pictures, awards, historic baseball items and the original scoreboard from high school ball diamond.
On view outside the museum is a mural designed by Norway native Malea Schulte. The 6-by-12 foot painting of a Norway ballplayer jumping for a fly ball won Schulte a Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum Scholarship in 2009.
The baseball museum is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m., or by appointment by calling (319) 721-6288. Admission is a free-will donation.
Frontier Natural Products Co-op, the world’s largest global supplier of organic herbs and spices, is located in Norway. A variety of other smaller businesses support the local economy.
In addition to the historic baseball diamond located on the southwest side of town adjacent to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Norway offers a city park for leisure activities. The park is located at 302 Line St.
For more information about Norway, visit: www.southslope.net/~norwaych/index.htm.
NORWAY CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Darrell Miller, Term ends Dec. 31, 2011
Loras Schulte, Term ends Dec. 31, 2011
Jack Barnes, Term ends Dec. 31, 2011
Tom Budak, Term ends Dec. 31, 2013
Don Volz Jr., Term ends Dec. 31, 2013
Mark Siebrecht, Term ends Dec. 31, 2013
The mayor and council are elected to two-year terms. Council meetings are held the first and third Mondays of the month at the City Hall and Norway Public Library building at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. To be on the agenda, contact the city clerk at (319) 227-7351 by noon the Friday before the meeting.
Norway City Hall is located at 108 Railroad St. East. City Hall hours are: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon. City Hall can be reached at (319) 227-7351.
Water is provided and billed by Poweshiek Water Association. A payment drop box is available at City Hall.
NORWAY CITY STAFF
Wendy Chesnes, City Clerk
(319) 227-7351
Email: norwaych@southslope.net
Mike Miller, Public Works Director
(319) 227-7351
Bill Sueppel, Jr., City Attorney
(319) 338-9222
PUBLIC SAFETY
For emergencies call 911
Norway Fire & Rescue
105 W. Railroad St.
Norway, IA 52318
(319) 227-7701
Fire Chief – Roy Becker
EMS
Norway First Responders
105 W. Railroad St.
Norway, IA 52318
Director – Shane Mellhane
Blairstown Ambulance
205 Main St. NE
Blairstown, IA 52209
(319) 454-0078
Police – Benton County Sheriff’s Department
113 E. Third St.
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 472- 2337
UTILITY INFORMATION
Water – Poweshiek Water Association (800) 543-7419
Electric/gas – Alliant Energy (800) 822-4348
Phone Service – Southslope Cooperative Communications (319) 626-2211
Internet, Cable TV – Southslope Cooperative Communications (319) 626-2211 or Mediacom (800) 542-7898
Trash/Recycling – Contact City Hall (319) 227-7351
EDUCATION
Benton Community School District
Administrative Offices
304 First St.
Van Horne, IA 52346
(319) 228-8702
Benton Community High School/Middle School
600 First St.
Van Horne, IA 52346
(319) 228-8701
Norway Elementary
100 School Drive
Norway, IA 52318
(319) 227-7142
Central Lutheran School
310 Third St. West
Newhall, IA 52315-0190
(319) 223-5271
SERVICES
U.S. Post Office: 202 Railroad W. St. (319) 227-7671. Window hours: 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:45 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday, 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Lobby open 24 hours.
Norway Public Library: 108 Railroad St. (319) 227-7487. Internet access. Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 2 to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.; Friday, 3 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.
WHERE TO WORSHIP IN NORWAY
Prairie View Christian Church
400 Main St.
(319) 227-9019
Pastor Chris Bozung
St. Michael’s Catholic Church
512 Evergreen St.
(319) 228-8131
Rev. Brian Dellaert
United Methodist Church
213 Washington St. East
(319) 228-8364
Pastor Norm Bennett
Email: peaceump@netins.net
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