A new name for a vital community corridor: Ranshaw Way

The late Mayor Tom Salm expressed a desire to rename Highway 965 to something better representing its transition from an old state highway to a vital community corridor. To that end, the North Liberty City Council solicited names from the community, convened a committee to consider suggestions and approved the committee’s recommendation.

At 11 a.m. on Friday Aug. 11, 2017, at the road’s intersection with Community Drive, we’ll officially unveil the new name: Ranshaw Way. Following the unveiling, the community is invited to celebrate with a community picnic at the Ranshaw House, located just east of Community Drive at 515 W. Penn St.

The name Ranshaw honors North Liberty’s history, using a name from our town’s past; but it also reflects our self-identity as a forward-thinking community: the Ranshaws’ home had indoor plumbing with hot and cold taps, gas lighting, softened water and other amenities before such innovations were common place. The home, built in 1908 and on the National Historic Register, still stands just north of the Community Center.

While the honorary renaming won’t require any change in mailing addresses, we hope members of the community use the name Ranshaw Way and encourage its adoption among others.