Red Faber

 Urban Charles “Red” Faber, born on September 6, 1888, in Cascade, Iowa, rose to become one of Major League Baseball's most celebrated pitchers. Over 20 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1914–1933), Faber's mastery of the spitball, a now-outlawed pitch, and his remarkable fastball earned him a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.

Red grew up right here, starting his baseball journey as a teenager. He earned just $2 to $5 per game pitching for the Dubuque Tigers, but it was enough to spark his dream of going pro.

Red’s parents, Nicholas and Margaret Faber, built the Hotel Faber in Cascade in 1893. This hotel became a centerpiece of the town, with its dining room, shop, and sample room for traveling salesmen. The building still stands today, a reminder of the Faber family’s roots in Cascade.

As a kid, Red’s talent for baseball stood out. At 16, he pitched Sunday games for local teams while attending school in Dubuque and Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. One of his most famous games was during his college years when he struck out 22 batters in a single game against St. Ambrose College.

Red’s big break came in 1909 when he joined the Dubuque Miners, a minor league team. From there, his career took off. He perfected his signature pitch—the spitball—at a time when it was still legal in professional baseball.

Red played his entire 20-year major league career with the Chicago White Sox, starting in 1914. He helped the team win the 1917 World Series, pitching three games in the series—still a record for a six-game championship. He persevered through injuries, illness, and even World War I, where he served in the Navy.

It is worth noting that while Red was a member of the White Sox team in 1919 during the infamous “Black Sox” scandal. Red was injured and unable to be part of the World Series team that were later to have been found out had “thrown” by losing on purpose to the Cincinnati Reds. Many say had Red been healthy and able to play, he would have rejected the bribes offered the players who cheated on the Series.  

Faber ended his career with 254 wins and was one of the last pitchers allowed to throw the spitball. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964, cementing his legacy as one of baseball’s greats.

Urban 'Red' Faber’s story reminds us that even a small-town kid from Cascade can achieve greatness. Next time you see a baseball game, think of the young man who started his journey right here."

 Now we’re going back in time to talk about the Narrow Gauge Railroad, an important part of our town’s history that helped connect Cascade to the outside world.

The Narrow Gauge Railroad ran from 1880 to 1936 and was the main way to travel between Cascade, Bellevue, and other small towns like La Motte, Zwingle, Bernard, and Fillmore. But what is a narrow-gauge railroad? It’s a train track that’s narrower than regular ones, making it cheaper to build and easier to fit into small spaces. This made it perfect for connecting smaller, more rural towns.

Cascade’s Narrow Gauge was one of the last railroads like it. At the time, towns with railroads were growing and doing well, but Cascade didn’t have one, so it struggled to keep up. That’s why the Narrow Gauge was built, running between Cascade and Bellevue, with stops in nearby towns. When the train got to Cascade, there was even a special turntable to spin the engine around so it could head back to Bellevue.

The train wasn’t very fast—it only went about 12 miles per hour—but it got the job done. It carried goods like groceries and supplies for general stores, and it also carried passengers. Some people would take a trip just to visit Bellevue, which was a big adventure back then. Others took advantage of the slow speed to hunt while on the train! They’d jump off, grab a rabbit or pheasant, and hop back on without any trouble.

Back in the 1880s, there weren’t any highways, so the Narrow Gauge was very important. Supplies would come from Dubuque on a bigger train, transfer to the Narrow Gauge in Bellevue, and get delivered to Cascade and the other towns. It was a lifeline for these communities and kept their economies going.

But by the early 1900s, trucks and paved roads started to replace trains. Trucks could deliver goods faster and more easily, so the railroad stopped making money. By 1936, the Narrow Gauge was shut down and torn apart. The tracks were sold for scrap, and some of the old train cars were even turned into chicken coops!

Even though the railroad is gone, it had a big impact. Cascade was able to grow because of it, but some smaller towns along the line, like Zwingle and La Motte, didn’t grow much after the railroad shut down.

Today, the site where the Narrow Gauge depot used to be is now Legion Park, which has a baseball field, playground, and swimming pool. But you can still learn about the railroad at the Tri-County Historical Society Museum. They have photos, videos, and old artifacts from the Narrow Gauge that tell the story of Cascade’s history.

To learn more about Red Faber and History of the Tri-County, Visit the Tri-County Historical Society Museum in front of you!  Hours vary and you can call for an appointment!”