Saturday, September 29, 2012

LAKE WOODMERE, RIVERSIDE CEMETERY



Lake Woodmere is at the Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown. Woodmere is an obscure word which means "little lake-let." The lake started as a pond from converted swamp land in 1884. Eventually, a water fall was added along with 2 fountains. It is estimated that 50-75 people visit the pond every day to enjoy the beauty, peace and serenity. (Which I was doing with some bread crumbs for the feathered flock and a good book until “Super Moms” unloaded their SUV with 3 strollers and 4 toddlers. So much for peace and serenity!) The pond is home to swans, geese, ducks and many other ‘visitors’ stopping by on their way north and south.


Each summer Lake Woodmere is the site of Kids Fishing Day. For the largely bullhead population of the lake, worms are the bait of choice!

  When the bread crumbs come out, every one heads in the same direction!

BARN HAPPY September 27th



Thursday, Sept 27th, I spent a wonderful morning visiting with Kathy and her friends camping near Dike Iowa -- then Kathy and I went down the road to Barn Happy for lunch. Cute place, 1940-50-60 vintage mismatched tables and chairs with patterned oil cloth on the tables. Doesn't get much more country than THAT! I had an excellent broccoli, ham, cheese quiche with Wisconsin cheese soup and topped it off with a piece of to-die-for pumpkin cheese cake! Just about had to ROLL me outta there!

The owners of Barn Happy were both Iowa ‘farm kids.” With their roots deep in the Iowa soil, it was important to them to find a ‘purpose’ for an old dairy barn built in 1925 once the cattle no longer called it home.

After expending lots of ‘elbow grease’ scraping, sweeping, power washing and bleaching, patching, repairing and remodeling, the old barn became a one-of-a-kind soup and sandwich tea shop. When you enter thru the doors, you no longer smell the cattle, feed, and other smells of the dairy barn, your senses are heightened with the aromas of fresh coffee, homemade soups, the makings for great sandwiches and pastries – lots of homemade pastries!

Opened in spring of 2003, Barn Happy also serves as a local outlet for the area artists and farmers. The barn is filled with the crafts, foods and products provided by area residents – from fresh honey and maple syrup and wines to homemade jams, jellies, salsas – the list goes on!

The old corn crib behind the barn is now The Crib,  a banquet hall.
Nothing goes to waste.  The old metal has been redesigned into a rooster and a chicken!

                                                                            

Green Mountain Iowa Windmill


Last summer as I was wandering about the countryside looking for the Green Mountain Train Wreck sight, I was fascinated with the windmill setting right in the middle of the main street in Green Mountain. A small park had developed around it with a park bench and some flower beds. I knew there had to be a reason for it being there, but unable to find anyone out and about in town, I had to assume it was something left from the rail road days.

The town of Green Mountain, population 126, was established in 1883. It was the site of the Green Mountain train wreck, the worst train wreck in Iowa history. On March 21, 1910, 52 people were killed in the accident as the train made its way from Gladbrook to Green Mountain.

A train wreck earlier that morning rerouted Rock Island Line trains from Cedar Rapids to Waterloo over Chicago Great Western tracks via Marshalltown. No. 21 St Louis-Twin Cities and No. 19 Chicago-Twin Cities had been combined into a 10-car train. The 2 locomotives were travelling backwards, tender first. The combined train had two wooden cars between the locomotives, a steel Pullman car, and other steel cars. The lead engine left the tracks coming to a sudden stop when it hit a clay embankment. The steel cars sliced through the two wooden coaches: a smoking car and a ladies' day coach containing many children. A relief train arrived 2 hours after the accident.  (My original post regarding the train wreck - with pictures - was posted Sunday, July 31, 2011)

Finally, this summer, I received an answer to my question. The windmill donated by W.B. Crystal. It was moved from it's original location on his farm to town and installed for the town’s centennial in 1986. According to the Mayor, John Worden, it is there to pay homage to the previous wooden windmill that sat at that location and pumped water to all of the homes in Green Mountain.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

It's September! I Should be in Texas but I'm Not!

September 2nd a classic car from the late 50’s/early 60s pulled in to the RV park; I couldn’t see who was driving. I didn't know who they were or what they wanted -- nosey me -- setting at my picnic table, I decided when they stopped down on the lower drive and I heard a door open and close, they must be up to ‘no good!” so went inside to get pencil and paper and get their license plate number (Oh, how trusting I am!!!) – the owner of the park was gone for the day.

When I came back out the lady was walking up the road and the car was following. Then I realized it was an older couple (about my age). I hollered and asked if I could help them -- had no idea what they were doing. He pulled the car in and they both came over and we chatted for awhile. They are from Pennsylvania,  traveling the old Lincoln Highway in their old classic car.  A couple of years ago they did Route 66. They had a book on the Lincoln Highway and were taking their time seeing the sights. They had stopped in the back so she could get out and take pictures of the Shady Oaks cafe sign. They were sorry they missed a chance to see the tree house but needed to get on down the road. He did say it was time to stock up on some supplies and wanted to know if there was a WalMart (she said that was the exception they made when it came to sticking with the OLD Lincoln Highway stuff!) They try to eat in the little diners and stay in the older travel courts when they can find them. Could have spent more time visiting with them but they wanted to get on their way. I did mention stopping at Niland Corners in Colo!

Seems like all I do lately is run into WallyWorld to pick up meds or critter food! Bea and I have to stop eating out so much – I miss grocery shopping!

Weatherman talks about a ‘chill in the air’ – haven’t seen it come thru here yet, but I did make a run into the Salvation Army Thrift Store to see about some winter clothes since I’ll be here until mid-October. I planned out being out of here right after Labor Day so didn’t pack sweaters, jackets, long sleeved shirts or warm blankets!

My retirement plan changed insurance providers so needed to make sure I got copies to all of the docs here in Iowa that I use and Lincare since they provide my oxygen. New carrier was effective September 1.

Bea and I planned on going to Reiman Gardens, the botanical gardens at the State University on Saturday the 1st until we found out it was a home football game at Ames! So we went shopping in DesMoines! Stopped for pie and coffee and used one of the Groupons to eat at a BBQ rib joint.  In a way, I was a little relieved we didn't go to the gardens since I did a little too much walking last week on my day trips, up hills and up and down steps -- and then the walking Saturday in Des Moines – I spent a few days sucking down aspirins and sticking close to home.  Of course, I probably walked just as much shopping!

Now that most of the corn and bean crops are nearly ruined from the lack of rain this spring and summer, we are getting rains on a regular basis – nice gentle soaking rains – the kind the fields needed a couple of months ago. At least it will replenish the ground water.

Bea and I went to the local Mexican restaurant and, as usual, they pile way too much food on the plate – so I eat the beans and rice and salad stuff and bring the rest home in a ‘to go’ box. Then, in the AM, I fry up an egg and pop it on top of the left over burrito or whatever is in the box. Can’t say most folks would enjoy sharing my breakfast but it always tastes good to me!

Had a good rain the Thursday nite and when I woke up Friday AM, I kept hearing a drip. At first I thought there was something wrong with the water pump since I’m parked next to the pump house. Couldn’t find it inside or out but it was driving me crazy. Had to make a walk around twice to find where a drip was coming from --inside it was really loud -- but outside I couldn't hear it. As I was walking around the trailer, I noticed that the water was dripping frm the gutter thing on my roof onto the metal rear bumper -- could barely hear it outside, but inside, it sounded like a jack-hammer! Couldn't seem to adjust the drip spout, so I just sat a flower pot on the bumper,  That took care of it!

Too damp and chilly to set outside and read, even Li'lBit was using her papers INSIDE! Went out first thing in the AM and wouldn’t go out again - no matter how many times I went to the door and say "Out?"

Monday the 10th the weather warmed up enough that Li’lBit and I spent most of the time outside, even ate our lunch at the picnic table! I’m finally getting used to reading from my Kindle – but I swear those kindle books are like the old Reader’s Digest condensed version. They are the shortest books I’ve ever read! Bea and I met Jim and Kathy at the Pizza Ranch – pizza buffet but they also have a great salad bar and fried chicken!

Holly and Li’lBit have already started getting into their ‘winter habits.’ Don’t crawl out of bed or pester me to get up so early! Doesn’t break my heart any to have them ‘sleep in!’ Still having problems with my knees/legs – a trip to Brown’s Shoes to see if they had anything on sale that would help since my old tennies were really worn. Nothing I needed – or could afford!

Kathy came by and dropped off some more Midwest and Iowa magazines. I love those! Another trip to town – ran out of bird seed so they had to settle for bread crusts.  They must be getting ready for winter, as much as they are eating.  Haven't seen any hummingbirds for a couple of weeks so took down their feeders and put up some suet blocks for the winter birds.

Had some left over rotisserie chicken in the freezer so pulled it out to make some chicken vegetable soup with dumplings….when the north wind blows, drag out the crock pot!

I think life is getting a little boring when the most exciting thing on the list of “things to do today” is put more time on the Tracfone!

Thursday the 13th - Rain, Rain, Rain! Only 50 degrees in the AM. Holly and Li'lBit went right back to bed after Li'lBit went out (really fast - didn't know she could move that fast!) Then, when I started getting out my meds, I had Holly on my lapm it's the new fish oil caps (different brand than I had.)  Must smell more like fish or at least she can smell it (I can't!)   Supper at Perkins – I love their tomato basil soup and salad! YUMMY!

I'm doing so much better with the breathing.  At least I don't have the chest pain.  Occasionally I'll have a hard time catching my breath and need my inhaler - especially now that the fall pollens are blowing. But it has been a long time since I didn't avoid going somewhere 'cuz I'd have to walk. I walked up a small hill to see a statue of a cow and calf,walked up and down steps to get down to an old cabin and walked around the cabin! Been a long time since I've been able to do simple things like that. I didn't get everywhere I wanted to this trip. It was sooo hot during the summer that it was just too hot for me to wander about - then I was without the truck 'cuz of the air conditioner problems. But I have moved the things I missed on my list for next year!

I plan on leaving Iowa on Oct 15 and staying in Gatesville until Thanksgiving and going back to Rockport the Monday after Thanksgiving. I won't be getting into Gatesville until Oct 17 and so I might as well stick around and vote and have Thanksgiving with Johnnie Williams and her family. I'll probably make a quick run into Rockport for a memorial service for Ron Hanson that is planned for the end of October. Ron and his wife are full-timers in the RV park and he passed away following a broken hip. Thought I would plan on diving down (without the trailer) the day before the service, spend a couple of nites in my RV and then go back to Gatesville the day after. I'll take Li'lBit with me but leave Holly at the trailer in Gatesville.  The manager of the RV park there can check on her - and she sleeps so much, she may never know I'm gone! Of course it will depend on when the Memorial service is, but my mind is working and I’m filling in my October calendar!

Coming to the middle of September and it took until nearly 3 PM for it to make it up to 60 degrees -- damp and dreary! Not good weather for me to still be stuck in Iowa! Had to dig out my space heater. The furnace in this little camper is so loud! Works just fine, but I guess 'cuz the trailer is so small, it sounds like a jet is about to land! The space heater is a little too big for the trailer so I think I’ll trade it out with a smaller one I have in the 5th wheel when I get back to Rockport. Never thought I’d need a space heater in my SUMMER home, but I never thought I was staying until mid-October, either!

Friday the 14th I had lab drawn at the doc’s office – knew it was going to be an interesting report with all of the Iowa BEEF and Iowa PORK I’ve been eating!!

After the lab, I decided to stop at the gas station and picked up a donut, cup of coffee (it had been fasting lab!) and Des Moines Register and when I got to the truck, decided to treat myself to breakfast at Cecil's instead of eating the donut! But they were so busy there wasn't a place to park without having to go back with the trucks, so, I headed to OJs Diner.  I got there just after the place emptied from the early rush - only a couple of cars in the lot. By the time I ordered my breakfast and got my coffee, the place was filled up again! Must have squeezed in between their two morning rushes! So, I filled my belly with steak and eggs!

Sunday the 16th Bea and I headed to Reiman Gardens. I managed to walk over 1/2 of it but when it came to the part that went uphill near the end, I called it quits. Loved the butterfly room! Then we stopped at the Hickory Park BBQ place and it's a good thing I walked before I ate 'cuz they darn near had to roll me out AFTER I ate! Had to save room for one of their yummy ice cream sundaes so brought most of my meal home in a box! Would like to go back to the gardens next year while I'm here - maybe I can see the rest of it! Sure did sleep good Sunday nite after all the walking and the fresh air! Didn't crawl out of bed until 7:30!

Monday’s Dr appointment went better than I thought!! Cholesterol and other ‘glyceride’ levels up at the upper norm or just over – Thank You Iowa BEEF and PORK! It’ll be OK when I get back to Rockport and get back to my seafood and fish!

Maybe I need to start considering a hearing aid! I got to my appointment in plenty of time.  My appointment was 1:50 instead of 1:15...guess I need my hearing checked! Always pays to carry a book to an appointment! But, they took me right way. I went into the office with 66 degrees and sunny weather and came out 54 degrees, rainy and windy! Did NOT go running around looking for lawn furniture! Did stop at that Chinese buffet to have lunch and came home. But I do have my mind made up about looking for a recliner/lounger for outside so I don’t have to set at the picnic table all the time and  that would give me a way to get my feet up.  Still having some hip/knee trouble. Maybe a lounger type chair will help.

Was kinda worried about Li'lBit.  She decided to start acting like she was going to have a seizure about the time I was ready to leave. I put her up on the bed and covered her with the quilt. She was in the same spot when I got home. But she went outside, pottied and came back into the bed. I should have known the weather was going to change – I can almost correlate her seizure activity with weather changes.

Mexican food with my sis for supper! And typical for Mexican suppers, I had the left overs for breakfast the next day. It was a little spicy – had chili rellenos and they didn’t take all of the pepper seeds out of the pepper before they stuffed the ground beef in…..nippy on the tongue! Glad I had some milk in the fridge!

Tuesday the 18th the kids and I didn’t crawl outta bed at 7:30...nites are too chilly and I'm too warm wrapped in the blankets to crawl out of bed!  Li'lBit made a fast run outside so I figured it must not be too cold! At least it isn't windy. 44 degrees – brrr! Supposed to go into the mid 30s before the week is out!
Back to Pizza Ranch with Jim and Kathy for supper! Love that place! I can eat all the salad I want and they have all the good stuff to go on the mixed lettuce/spinach greens.



Friday, August 31, 2012

MATTHEW EDEL BLACKSMITH SHOP, HAVERHILL IA

Matthew Edel, born in 1856 in Stuttgart, Germany, immigrated to the US in the late 1860s with his parents and siblings. Initially settling in central Illinois, they moved to eastern Iowa where Matthew met and married Mary Hofman in 1883. They had 8 children. Matthew bought the property in Haverhill, IA for the shop in 1883. Already on the property was a 1 1/2 story building. He used the first floor as his shop with the upper level as family quarters. Several years later they built a separate home .

In the late 19th century nearly every town in Iowa had a blacksmith shop. They provided horse shoes, wagon repair, repair and upkeep of farm machinery and tools.  However, Edel was an extraordinary small-town blacksmith, inventing and designing tools. His inventions and patents included Wire Grain binder (1881) used to harvest grain; Perfection De-Horning Clipper (1895) for more efficient de-horning of cattle; Fence Stretcher (1899) to assist is installing and repairing fences; Perfection Wedge Cutter (1901) produced wedges for wagons and carriages; and, Garden Weeding and Cultivating Hoe (1924) to help with gardening chores.

 He also produced decorative pieces, including iron cemetery crosses.

Matthew and his son Louis built an automobile repair garage in 1915. When his father died in 1940, Louis closed the blacksmith shop. The car repair business closed 1978 when Louis died. Louis Edel's grandaughter organized the effort to preserve the historic blacksmith shop, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The State Historical Society of Iowa owns and manages the site.



THE BUTTER COW LADY

Norma Duffield Stong Lyon (July 29, 1929 – June 26, 2011)  Known as "Duffy," she considered herself a dairy farmer and artist. She earned the nickname, The Butter Cow Lady, for her elaborate butter sculptures at the Iowa State Fair. From 1960 until her last sculpture in 2005, she sat in a cooler and sculpted a life-size 400-lb. butter cow.


Lyon was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Her father was a newspaper editor and her grandmother, Bertha Clark, was a founder of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. An uncle, Phil Stong, was author of the book “State Fair,” which was the basis of the Rodgers and Hammerstein film and musical of the same name.

Because they did not allow women in the Veterinary Sciences program, she studied animal science at Iowa State University in the late 1940s. The American sculptor, Christian Petersen, was an artist in residence at that time. His encouragement, after seeing an ice sculpture she made for a campus winter festival, led her to take several of his studio classes before graduating in 1951.

She married Joe Lyon in 1950 and they moved to Toledo IA to run their dairy farm, Lyon Jerseys. They had nine children.

In 1960, she took over the Iowa State Fair butter cow creation, a tradition since 1911. She later expanded to creating other sculptures, including Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley, John Wayne,  the Peanuts characters, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, American Gothic by Grant Wood and the Last Supper.

She died from complications of a stroke in Marshalltown IA, age 81.

The bronze butter cow statue, under what's left of a large oak tree on a hill at the intersection of Highway 30 and Highway 63, pays homage to Toledo's 'butter cow lady." Neal Deatron cast the sculpture Lyon made from 800 pounds of clay. The statue was sponsored by the Arts council of Tama-Toledo Area and was dedicated August 24, 1991.


THE RUDDICK CABIN

Setting off of Morman Ridge Road in northwest Marshall County IA is the Ruddick family cabin...a bit of history from a time when pioneer families struggled to settle a “new” land.











According to Bangor Township records that began in 1859, it was built by William C. Ruddick about 1856.  By 1859, he owned 200 acres of land, 5 parcels of 40-acres each, from the Iowa River and to the top of the ridge. Ruddick and his wife, Absillet, both from Indiana, arrived in Marshall County in 1856. The 1860 census records indicate William was 38 years old, his wife was 36. They had a daughter Mary, age 11, a son William, 9,  and an 8 month old son Isaac. Another son, Jesse, was born a few years later. In 1869 the Ruddick family had increased their possessions to nine cattle, two horses, two and a half mules, twenty sheep, ten swine, two vehicles, and other taxable items worth $50. His total worth was $1,870.

When Ruddick died in 1871, he left the land to his minor sons Isaac and Jesse. They kept the property until 1895.  The property went through many hands until 1989 when it was "rediscovered" as a log cabin.  Over the years improvements had been made and covered the original walls. 

View to the east from the front porch
The 16’ x 20’ cabin was donated to the Marshall County Conservation Board in November 1989 and the Conservation Board and MarshallCounty HistoricalSociety began plans for renovation and preservation of the cabin. Restoration work was a cooperative venture and with assistance from Eagle Scout candidate, Mark Lamer who  re-chinked all spaces between logs. Native trees were planted and a split rail fence was installed.

View to the south from the front porch

AUGUST COMES TO AN END, AUG 24-31

The cooler air was really nice – but weatherman said the 90 degree days are on their way back!  By the end of August, the afternoon temps were pushing close to 100 degrees. Sunday was BBQ pork sandwiches at my sister’s.

Had a day-trip planned for Monday but when Li’lBit and I rolled out of bed, the fog was so thick, I couldn’t see the house across the drive! Li’lBit had another seizure about 5AM. I usually know when one is coming 'cuz she tries with all of her might to crawl UNDER my skin!  She just lays in bed and trembles. I wish I know what triggered them. I used to think it was a change in the air pressure when a storm was coming in, but now it just ‘happens!” When it’s over, she just sets and stares at things like she doesn't know where she is. After she sleeps it off, she’s OK again until the next one. Definitely a trip to Dr Clay when we get back to Gatesville -- she's had too many this summer.

Finally the fog started lifting about 10 AM so I headed out to the blacksmith shop at Haverhill. The blacksmith shop wasn't open, but got some pics from outside. Sign said they open from noon -4PM daily during the summer so planned on heading back later.

Off to Melbourne for the mousehole.
Couldn't find it - how can I get lost in Melbourne, population 800! Stopped in at the post office -- always get good directions at the post office.

In the late 1800s, 8 local passenger trains, 4 local freights and several through-passenger trains that went through Melbourne. The underpass was constructed in 1906 after the farmers and people in the town joined together to fill the open trestle with earth.




Drove thru the mousehole, then off the Niland corners – took some more pics, then came back on the Lincoln highway. State Center has a neat little Main Street.




A town defined by it's relationship to the Lincoln Highway
 and the rail road.


State Center IA












Headed back into Marshalltown and stopped by the graves of the three little Burmese kids that drown in the Iowa River July 4th.. Took some flowers, snack crackers and a bottle of Sprite. Meant to do that the first week of school but forgot. From the wrappers and bottles at the gravesite, it seems there have been lots of visitors. Someone even left some school supplies and a little truck.

Tuesday evening it was Calvin Rockett's restaurant with Jim and Kathy. Special was clam chowder – so that was it – clam chowder, house salad and a small order of clam strips. I think I’m homesick for Rockport seafood!!!

Wednesday I headed out about 9:30. Off to Albion to find the old cabin. Stopped in the convenient store for directions, but when the guy said, “Well, go down to my place and take the gravel road to the left,…” I knew I was already lost! I think I traveled every county and gravel road between Albion, Lipscomb and Bangor -- but I found the cabin -- and it was really easy to get to once I stopped following everyone’s instructions and followed my map! South out of Bangor, there it was, Morman Ridge Road – dusty gravel. It wasn’t too far down the gravel (and a couple puffs on the inhaler!) until the cabin came in sight. I’m always so damn proud when I find some off-the-beaten-path site!

Heading east toward Gladbrook, I planned on going down to the Green Mountain Train Wreck site and leave flowers for Sandy’s husband’s family members that were lost there, but road construction halted that side-trip. So I handed the highway worker the small bunch of daisies and told him to have a good day!

On to Gladbrook and a stop at the Veterans Memorial Park.








Next stop Toledo to look for the “butter cow” lady's cow and calf statue -- this one is of bronze, not butter!
Don't even bother to ask where the statue is -- no one seems to know. I knew it was at the intersection of Highways 30 and 63 – well, so is a lot of other stuff. I stopped in two convenient stores. No luck. Pulled into a vegetable stand at the intersection and asked the guy if he knew; he pointed to the hill behind him! There it was! So, guess who had to climb the hill!

Then down to LeGrand to look for the old Lincoln Highway marker on the Marshall/Tama county line.


Inscription:
Marshall County Paving built by Anderson & Empie 1925

Lists the 1924-25 Supervisors and Engineers
Marshalltown 11.6 miles

The paving and the upkeep of the Lincoln Highway was done by the states, counties and the towns along the route.


And off to the blacksmith shop. Almost sorry I went back to the blacksmith shop -- don't think it has been cleaned or dusted since they closed it up years ago -- and with the doors open the dirt floors were just blowing all over the place. Didn't stay long. Left with inhaler in hand!

Stopped for a late lunch at Taylor’s Maid-Rite of one of Iowa’s famous loose meat sandwiches and a chocolate malt that is served in the metal mixing container. Came home and did another breathing treatment after so many miles of dusty roads and the dirt floor at the shop.

Thursday was laundry and ‘rest day,’ – give the ol’ knees a break after so many hills and steps! Bea and I met Marilyn at Pizza Ranch for their chicken and pizza buffet and that was just about all the walking I wanted to do!








Monday, August 27, 2012

REED-NILAND CORNER, COLO, IOWA

August 2008, I did several blog entries on the Lincoln Highway, so won’t bore you with all of that again….but I will attempt to bore you with some info on the Jefferson Highway!


Inspired by the success of the east to west (New York City to San Francisco) Lincoln Highway, the Jefferson Highway stretched from Winnipeg, Canada down to New Orleans, winding thru “The Louisiana Purchase.” Named after the third president, Jefferson, in office when the Louisiana Purchase was brought into the US, it was built as part of the National Auto Trail system (1910).

Citizens from Winnipeg convinced the Americans to make the northern point of the route at their city. Nicknamed the “Pine to Palm Highway” for the trees found at either end, it wandered its way from Canada, to the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and Common Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. A marker remains there to this day. The first route went through Oklahoma and Texas. Later a more direct route through Arkansas was paved.

Each state was responsible for grading, paving and maintaining its portion of the roadway. Louisiana was first to complete their portion, followed by Minnesota. Completion of the route meant nothing more than grading and paving. October 30, 1930, the governors of Iowa and Minnesota dedicated a granite monolith at the state line to commemorate the completion of the highway across their states

Since 1926, the north-south highway has been US 65, but it was first known as the Interstate Trail (1911-1915) and then as the Jefferson Highway (1915-1926). . Most of the roadway/route still exists today. You can travel the entire 2300 miles and still be in the same time zone! It roughly parallels Interstate 35.

 A better map with towns listed can be found at http://www.jeffersonhighway.org/
The Reed-Niland Corner sits at the intersection of the original 1913 Transcontinental Highway (Lincoln Highway) and the 1915 Jefferson Highway. From 1921 until 1938 the highway turned west at a section of property owned by the Reed and Niland families and joined the Lincoln Highway for 15 miles into Ames, IA. The curved connection to the Lincoln Highway formed a “Y” that became the site of Reed-Niland One-Stop Corner. It is one of the most intact and best preserved commercial "one-stop" sites on the Lincoln Highway.

Charlie Reed built a gas station at the intersection in the early 1920s. At first called the Lincoln and Jefferson Service Station and later as Reed's Standard Service Station.

Although they did not provide mechanical services, motorists could buy gasoline, oil, tires, batteries, cigarettes, cigars, soda pop, and candy. Until the late 1940s, they could have motor oil changed and tires repaired. The station was open around the clock and was a stop for the Greyhound and Jefferson intercity bus lines. It closed in 1967. Today the building is a museum.

Food service at Reed-Niland corner also began in the 1920s with a lunch stand selling sandwiches and cold drinks during the summer. It was replaced by a small cafĂ© and by the late 1930s, its name had been changed from the L & J (Lincoln and Jefferson) Cafe to Niland's Cafe. The classic roadside cafĂ©, complete with neon “EAT” signs and open long hours, specialized in ‘home style’ cooking.

The Colo Cabin Camp (later replaced with the Colo Motel) began in 1928 with 6 cabins and grew to a 12 cabin camp. Open from early May into October, the cabins were furnished with a bed, a table, two wooden chairs, and a single light hanging from the ceiling. When travelers checked in, they were handed clean sheets, blankets, pillows and towels. None of the cabins had bathroom or shower. Only two of the cabins were heated with pot-bellied stoves that burned coal or cobs. .
Most of the cabins were demolished for the motel building, completed in 1947. Several years later, 2 surviving cabins were joined together and remodeled. The only other remnant of the cabin camp is the building which once housed the camp's laundry room and communal showers and toilets. Note the threshold inscriptions "Ladies" and "Men.”

The Colo Motel included a small 2-unit building used mainly during peak demand during the summer and the 5 unit building constructed in 1948. Even after the main motel building was converted to an apartment building, these five units continued to be rented to travelers until 1995.

In 1948 a unit rented for $2.50 a night. The up-to-date features included heat, toilet and shower, 1 or 2 double beds and a radio. Air conditioning was installed in the early 1950s and by the middle of the ‘50s, each room had a TV set.

Relatives Charlie Reed and the Niland families have operated the business that provided gas, food and lodging to travelers along the highways since the 1920s.










Sunday, August 26, 2012

School Started

School started for the students of Anson Elementary School in Marshalltown IA last Tuesday.  There was much improvement in the playground that became a construction pit.  The games that were on the previous playground are missing and they have lost several feet of playground to the construction area at the building next door.  I still don't quite understand how, a construction project that far away had to involve a playground up close to the school building.   But, at least the kids now have a blacktop area for recess, a fire exit that doesn't open into a mud pit and access to their handicapped entrance.


Friday, August 24, 2012

MESKWAKI CODE TALKERS

In France during World War I, a communications company of Native Americans was assigned to the 142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Division. With a staff of 18 Choctaw, soldiers from the Cheyenne, Comanche, Cherokee, Osage and Yankton Sioux spoke 26 languages and dialects. Prior to their arrival in France, the Germans had broken every code the Americans used. They never broke the Indian “code,” and these soldiers became known as “code talkers.”


Prior to WWII, 27 Meskwaki men, ages 18-22, enlisted in the Iowa National Guard in January 1941. Those 27 represented 16% of Iowa's Meskwaki population. Eight were selected for special instruction in the use of the walkie-talkies, communications radios, and machine guns. This training, an experiment using a code derived from Native American languages for secret communications, predated America’s entry into the war.

The challenge during this experimental phase was to take the Native language and cross-reference Native words with military terms that were not in the Native language. A “Colonel” was a “silver eagle,” a “fighter plane” became “hummingbird,” “minesweeper” became “beaver,” “half-track” became “race track,” a “tank” was a ‘turtle, ‘and “pyrotechnic” became “fancy fire.”

The 8 Meskwaki men were Frank and Willard Sanache (brothers), Dewey Roberts, Edward Benson, Melvin Twin, Dewey Youngbear, and brothers Judy Wayne Wabaunasee and Mike Wayne Wabaunasee. They joined Company H, the heavy weapons company of the 168th Infantry, 34th Red Bull Division. The unit was mobilized three weeks later. Their initial training was at Marshalltown and Camp Dodge, Iowa, but they were soon sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, for more intensive jungle warfare training. After jungle training in Louisiana and code talker training in Scotland and England, they were sent to the desert in Algiers North Africa to meet up with Rommel’s Afrika Corps near Tunisia. Frank Sanache said, "It was the worst place this side of hell," referring to the African desert!

“The 34th Division got chewed up,” recalled Dewey Roberts. “From Salerno to the Naples area we lost a lot of men. They were killed, wounded, and captured.” Naples and mighty German defenses, but the Allies finally liberated Rome on June 4, 1944.

Frank Sanache was captured by Italian soldiers in Tunisia in 1943 and held at a POW camp in Poland. Dewey Youngbear and Judy Wayne Wabaunasee were captured by the Germans.

Besides suffering harsh treatment, American Indians, rarely seen in Europe, faced racial prejudice in Italian and German POW camps. The desperate feelings of these men lead to numerous escape attempts. Dewey Youngbear, who no doubt paid a heavy price each time he was recaptured. On his third attempt, he managed to find an Italian soldier’s uniform to wear as a disguise but was identified because he didn’t know the language. Judy Wayne Wabaunasee also escaped his captors in Italy but later, when he arrived at the same prison camp in Germany, guards noticed that Youngbear and Wabaunasee knew each other. They both received “rough treatment” for refusing to give information about the other.

Like many POWs, they required hospitalization after their release, and they suffered life-long problems. Youngbear died in 1948 of tuberculosis he contracted as a POW. Other Meskwaki veterans also had war-related health problems.

Rather than live on a government reservation, the Meskwaki had purchased their Settlement land, about 320 acres, in the late 1800s . Though economically poor, the tribe retained its heritage by preserving their language, customs and ceremonies. More than 50 Meskwaki had served during World War II, and the returning veterans established their own American Legion post, The Robert Morgan Post, as tribute to the first Meskwaki casualty of the war.

For many years, the code talkers’ work remained classified and their achievements were unnoticed until 1968. On June 18, 2002, Congress passed the Code Talkers Recognition Act to recognize the important part that these Soldiers played in “performing highly successful communications operations of a unique type that greatly assisted in saving countless lives and in hastening the end of World War I and World War II.” The act states that at “… a time when Indians were discouraged from practicing their native culture, a few brave men used their cultural heritage, their language, to help change the course of history.” The codes were never cracked by enemy forces.

Eighteen tribes were involved; the Comanche and the Meskwaki were among the first to be trained as code talkers. The Navajo, who sent up to 420 men, are perhaps the best known. Soldiers from other tribes, including the Kiowa, Winnebago, Chippewa, Creek, Seminole, Hopi, Lakota, Dakota, Menominee, Oneida, Pawnee, Sac, Fox and Choctaw served during the war. Many of the code talkers continued in their military careers, serving during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

These men were the first generation of Meskwaki to enjoy the full rights as US citizens. Citizenship was not granted to Native Americans until 1924. They honorably defended this country, fighting as warriors for both their homeland and adopted nation.

Alex Walker, Meskwaki Tribal Council Chairman, grew up hearing tribal tales of the code talkers. He said the veterans were revered and would tell their stories at the tribal ceremonies. Walker said, "They were treated like the old time warriors."

Frank Sanache, the recipient of 3 Bronze Stars, was the last of the Meskwaki code talkers. He was interviewed in 2002, just months before his passing. Sanache died in August 2002 at the age of 86.

Aug 14-24: I Think I'm Getting Homesick!

Tuesday the 14th I had my appointment with the cornea doc -- not much he is going to do right now but wants to see me again in 2 months -- have an appt for Oct 10 -- so I'll be hanging around Iowa until the middle of October! So, here I am! He said basically for all the abuse the eye has taken, the eye is in good shape, but there is still a really high risk of rejection.


The truck was ready (AGAIN!) so my sister dropped me off to get it outta ‘hock!’ Then we went to Culvers for “all you can eat chicken” night. On the way back home, the presidential motorcade came whizzing down the street.

President Obama had been in town on his campaign trek across Iowa. Initially he was to have spoken at the court house steps and I thought I would like to have gone, but plans changed and it was held in the auditorium at Miller School – don’t you know my sister was glad it wasn’t at her school! Tickets were available, first-come-first-served, on Sunday but I was not about to stand out in the rain to get tickets – the line was down the street and around the corner! So what did I do – went to the Tama Pow Wow and SAT in the rain!
Earlier in the day Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana, had spoken in town….missed that one, too!

Wednesday was Long John Silvers night with Marilyn. I do so enjoy visiting with her.

Thursday the 16th the Historical Society had a presentation on WWII Code Talkers from the Meskwakie Settlement near Tama. Even though the original speaker couldn’t make it, it was still quite interesting listening to the men that spoke.

Got my truck back with the A/C 're-fixed' just in time for the cool snap to come thru! A couple of nights the temps were down in the upper 40s/lower 50s. Told Bea I didn't pack for the winter months so I was going to make a trip to Good Will and the Salvation Army Thrift Store and pick up a couple long sleeve shirts, a jacket and another blanket! Then I'll just leave them in the camper in case I find myself up here during a 'chill' at some other time. At least I do have a small space heater with me so I don't have to run the noisy furnace!

Continued to get some rain on and off – not a lot, but things are so dry, we will take every drop. It does mess with me setting outside reading at the picnic table…still too windy and chilly -- and the picnic table is still wet!

Sunday, my sister had some shopping to do in Des Moines so instead of our usual Sunday Brunch, we took my Groupon coupon for The Corn Patch, a restaurant in Grimes, and headed that way. I cannot believe the amount of food -- onion rings, a tureen of homemade potato soup (specialty of the house), homemade loaf of bread, dinner salad, Bea had their fried chicken Sunday special (all you can eat with french fries) and I had the baked seafood platter with baked potato -- and we got it all, plus our beverages (no room for dessert) for a Groupon that cost me $15! I was so miserable I didn’t want to move! But it was so good! And then we did some shopping on our full bellies!  Maybe it is a good thing I have to stick around until October - we still have 3 or 4 more Groupon Coupons to use!

Thought Monday the 20th would be a 'do nothing' day -- to recover from my Sunday activity and get ready for my Tuesday and Wednesday outings. Holly changed those plans. She got sick last night --in the bed! So, off to the laundry. She was in really sad shape, kinda thought this might be the time I would lose her – but she was perkier in the AM.  Evidentially she just ate a few too many crickets or locusts!

Tuesday I headed to the casino at Tama – met with Kathy at the buffet. She is from Waterloo, IA but I hadn’t seen her since last winter in Rockport. She has a 5th wheel down there in one of the other RV parks, but we manage to get together with a few other RVers about once a month down there for good food and chatter!

Wednesday was lunch and chatter with Sherri, Susan, and Ingrid at the Landmark Restaurant Williamsburg. When you walk in the door and the waitress recognizes you and tells the hostess to put you way in the back, you know you have been going there too long!! I ordered their patty melt (they do a really good patty melt) – comes with soup and salad – so I ate the soup and salad and brought the patty melt home for supper (along with a piece of strawberry rhubarb pie!)
Thursday 23rd Bea and I went to our favorite Mexican restaurant in town – it had changed owners and has been closed since I’ve been here – it’s back open with the same menu, same wait staff – same good food!

By Friday, I was back in my ‘normal routine’ for summers in Iowa. Had a real busy morning. Decided not to go into town; didn’t need anything really important. Took some brats out of the freezer and found some potatoes that were getting full of eyes and kinda wrinkly -- they made just about enough potato salad for a couple of days! Emptied the kitty litter, took my ‘recycle’ stuff up to the recycle bins, emptied the trash and emptied the sewer tank. Just doesn’t get much more exciting than that! After all that excitement, Li’l Bit and I had to go outside and rest! Nothing like a good breeze and a good book!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

It's August!

After over a year’s use, I finally had to fill one of the propane tanks! Guess I don’t cook very often! My ‘regular’ propane place is gone so had to try a new one. Nice folks –even let me leave my tank while I ran errands so I didn’t have to carry it in the back of the truck.

I hadn't been able to get the thing disconnected, twisted, turned, tugged until I was afraid I was going to damage the connection.  Since Bea and I were going to That Place in Conrad with Jim and Kathy for supper (I love their catfish!) Jim came over with all sorts of tools – jiggled it around a little, straightened it out and it disconnected right away!

Sunday afternoon I went over to Bea’s place for a cook out. Monday was laundry and errands. The day started at 59 degrees and I pulled my hoodie out of the closet! But I do enjoy the cooler nites! Haven’t had to do a lot of grocery shopping – we eat out way too much! I’ll really get to hear about that when I have my lab work drawn and see where the cholesterol, blood sugar and A1C is! When I got back home, I grill some pork tenderloin slices and a small piece of beef I had – eat some and put the rest back in the freezer!

Tuesday started with Holly rubbing her head against my feet! Can’t stand anyone touching my feet! It must have been good sleepin’ weather; I was out like a light! Holly had decided it was time for me to be up; her bowl was empty. She started nudging my hand. That evidentially didn’t work, so right for the feet. Can’t handle THAT! I was up! Had to run back into WalMart to see if my Rx had been straightened out – they had filled the wrong med! OOPS! Went by the Salvation Army Thrift Store to see if they had anything I couldn’t live without! Of course I found a couple of things! That evening Bea and I met Kathy and Jim Black at Applebees.

Wednesday, Aug 8, I met Sherri at the Windmill cafĂ© in Pella. We had a nice rain but not too much to keep me from driving to meet friends for a visit and good eats! Sherri had pictures from the class reunion and had a set made for me – how terrific! I love the architecture in Pella.

Stopped at the bakery for some Dutch letter pastries, but headed home without delay as the sky turn black and the thunder rolled.  I managed to stay ahead of most of the wind and rain on the way home. The pics below were taken from the truck as I drove down the highway.









Approaching the "Wind Farm" near Laurel IA







Took the truck back in for the A/C problem on the 9th. The next day, Rose, from the auto shop, called to say I had left my Kindle in the truck and she had it secured for me in the office! Nice folks!

Still without a truck on Sunday, Sherri picked me up for the Pow Wow in Tama. It had rained all night and was damp and drizzling but we headed down anyway. The Pow Wow was stopped a couple of time to let the rain pass. I certainly don’t blame them – that Regalia they wear can’t be CHEAP! And I know most of them make their own.

















After the rain, the announcement was made that tennis shoes could be worn on the wet grass.  Many of the young'ens were also wearing their 'hoodies!'

After Pow Wow, we met Bea at Rube’s in Montour, IA – nice steak place, grill your own. What a way to end a perfect (if wet) day