WATERLOO - A rock sits alone amid the hustle and bustle of traffic and business - a link to the time when Waterloo was young and bright with promise. Hundreds pass by it every day, yet few know it exists. It is forgotten.

The large rock sits just off University Avenue, in front of McDonald's restaurant. It bears a plaque in memorial to George W. and Mary Melrose Hanna, who founded Waterloo township 163 years ago on June 19, 1845. The Hanna family built the first house in Waterloo near the spot where the rock now sits.

Kathleen "Kitty" Miller is the great-great-granddaughter of Mary Hanna. She recently discovered she had cousins in Mexico, also descendents of the Hanna family. They organized a family reunion in Waterloo and Cedar Falls in June. Kitty took her relatives to see the Hanna rock and was upset by its condition.

"My cousins were very excited to see the rock," Miller said. "Imagine my extreme embarrassment and disappointment in finding it in its current condition. Here is this beautiful rock representing the founding of the city in which it stands, and it looks absolutely awful."

The foundation the rock sits on is crumbling, and portions of the rock itself are discolored. The plaque appears to be in good condition. However, when the city expanded University Avenue, the rock was moved from its original location to a spot farther back. It was placed next to a manhole cover and behind some streetlights - something Miller finds discourteous to the memory of her ancestors.

An article published in the Courier on Sept. 1, 1935, details the origins of the memorial. It states that Mrs. Mary Tiller and Mrs. Edith Knupp, daughters of George and Mary Hanna, offered the memorial site to the Early Settlers Association of Black Hawk County on the condition that the group would "perpetually care for the ground." The Early Settlers held reunions there annually until the mid-century, when Emily Hanna George, a daughter of the Hanna family, built an estate known as "Texowa." Later, Platt's nursery bought much of the land that made up the original estate.

It is not known if the rock and plaque were set up during the 1935 ceremony. In fact, not much is known about the rock at all. The Early Settlers association disbanded in 1958, and various calls to city agencies turned up no information about who currently takes care of the rock. The Leisure Services Commission is aware of the memorial, because workers have to mow around it when they do lawn maintenance on University Avenue, but a representative for the commission said they didn't think anyone was in charge of actually caring for the rock itself.

Miller is determined to change that. She has written a letter to Mayor Tim Hurley. Several of her cousins, including the ones from Mexico, have done the same.

"In my opinion, and that of my family, this rock should be a symbol of the past, present and future and should be honored with the respect that it deserves," Miller wrote. "My family would be more than willing to help out in any way that we can, but I think that this is something that should not be put aside."

Miller and her family said they would like to see the foundation the rock sits on repaired and flowers planted around the base. They also thought a flag pole would be a nice addition, because Mary Hanna was known for being passionate about the flag of her country.

Shirley Kirkle, 79, is Miller's mother and a resident of Cedar Falls. She applauds her daughter's efforts to restore the memorial.

"Just like my family, I am very concerned over the condition of the rock," Kirkle said. "The homes of George and Mary Melrose Hanna," and their families, "are long gone, and this is the only apparent vestige of the family left in Waterloo." The Hannas are buried in Elmwood Cemetery.

Mayor Tim Hurley's office said they are looking into the issue.

Contact Samantha Donisi

at (319) 291-1423 or

samantha.donisi@wcfcourier.com.