GAR SPECI DEN AL ISSU
E
I GREW IT MYSELF! A life-changing garden page 58
HEALING THE LAND
4
fabulous success stories page 20
AWESOME ANNUALS for great garden color page 14
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The Rosé Wines of Tassel Ridge…Simply Extraordinary® Leighton, IA • www.tasselridge.com Tassel Ridge wines are sold at the Winery and nearly 400 retailers in Iowa. For a complete list of retailers visit www.tasselridge.com/retail. Order wine by 1 telephone THE IOWAN | iowan.com at 641.672.WINE (9463). We offer shipping within Iowa and to select states. Adult signature required for receipt of wine.
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www.reynolds-reynolds.com March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
1
contents MARCH/APRIL 2015
volume 63 | number 4 iowan.com
ON THE COVER AND THIS PAGE: Gabriel Sandoval displays produce from his family’s garden. “Our First Garden,” page 58. Photographs by Dan Weeks
Features 20 Healing the Beautiful Land by Suzanne Kelsey These must-visit Iowa destinations have
transformed from problem to paradise.
30 Iowan Icon: Earl May
by Deb Wiley The savvy and likable Iowa entrepreneur used the power of radio and his own personality to build a national business in tiny Shenandoah.
42 Living Large in Small-Town Iowa
by Suzanne Kelsey Four couples in four Iowa towns say their locations are key to surprisingly cosmopolitan lifestyles.
58 Our First Garden Photoessay by Dan Weeks
In May, a young Corning family planted their first garden. By August, it helped change their lives.
Departments 4
from the editor
The Transformational Land
6 letters
The Best-Kept Secret
8
day trips
Events Worthy of an Excursion
12 food
Iow채an Dazs
14 garden
Annual Celebration
16 home Shed Your Doubts 70 flashback: 1955 60 Years Ago in The Iowan 72 escapades
On the Fence
from the editor Iowa’s Transformational Land “We should do a story about a young family’s first garden,” suggested longtime contributor Deb Wiley. It was an excellent idea, but neither Deb, nor I, nor the young couple that volunteered to have us chronicle their first growing experience had any idea how life-changing “Our First Garden,” page 58, would turn
PROUDLY PUBLISHED AND PRINTED IN IOWA BY THE PIONEER GROUP Publisher Polly Clark
Editor Dan Weeks
Creative Director Ann Donohoe
Senior Graphic Designer Megan Johansen
Image/Photo Specialist Jason Fort Copy Editor Gretchen Kauffman
Advertising Executives Kimberly Hawn
Ronda Jans Meghan Keller Tom Smull Becca Wodrich
out to be. Meanwhile, Ms. Wiley was hard at work on a story on a legendary Shenandoah entrepreneur who transformed a small-town seed company
into a national mail-order business that has supported generations of
gardeners. Iowan Icon “Earl May” is yours to enjoy on page 30. Transformation is the theme of “Healing the Beautiful Land,” page 20, as well. See how four badly damaged Iowa places — ranging from a former EPA Superfund site to a former strip mine — are now so beautiful that tens of thousands visit each of them every year. Iowa’s landscape figures in “Living Large in Small-Town Iowa,” page 42. Writer Suzanne Kelsey says the four couples she profiled “inspire us to live our best lives, no matter where we’ve been planted.” Each couple enjoys a cosmopolitan lifestyle that also includes gardens, landscaping, and easy access to Iowa’s beautiful countryside. Speaking of landscaping and transformation, see “Shed Your Doubts,” page 16. There you’ll find three examples of how Iowans have turned salvaged materials into beautiful garden sheds — and how you can, too. Whether you’re a gardener or just someone who appreciates Iowa’s landscape, we think you’ll enjoy rediscovering how our roots in the land have shaped our character, our values, and what we have to offer the world. Sincerely,
Dan Weeks, Editor editor@iowan.com iowan.com/blog facebook.com/theiowan @theiowan
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
Jim Slife Twilla Glessner Accounting Manager Allison Volker CEO
Production Manager
The Iowan, ISSN (0021-0772), is published bi-monthly by Pioneer Communications, Inc., 300 Walnut Street, Suite 6, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. This issue is dated March 1, 2015, Volume 63, No. 4. All content © 2015 The Iowan/Pioneer Communications, Inc., and may not be used, reproduced, or altered in any way without prior written permission. Periodicals Postage Paid in Des Moines, Iowa, and at additional mailing offices. We cannot be held responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited material. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to: The Iowan, 300 Walnut St., Suite 6, Des Moines, IA 50309. Prices: Subscriptions — Special rate when ordered direct or by mail: six issues per year for $24. International orders require additional postage. Please call for rates. Single copies — on newsstands: $4.95; current issue by mail: $4.95 plus $3.50 S+H. Please call for quantity discount pricing. Single past issues 2005 to present: $5.95 plus S+H, two for $9.95 plus S+H; prior to 2005: $14.95 plus S+H. New Subscriptions, Renewals, Gifts: iowan.com > SUBSCRIBE subscribe@pioneermagazines.com 877-899-9977 x211 Change of Address: iowan.com> CONTACT > Address Change subscribe@pioneermagazines.com 877-899-9977 x211 Past Issues: subscribe@pioneermagazines.com 877-899-9977 x211 Mail Orders: The Iowan Subscription Services P.O. Box 2516, Waterloo, IA 50704 Advertising Information: 515-246-0402 x202 or 877-899-9977 x202 advertising@iowan.com iowan.com Proudly printed in Iowa 10% PCW Paper Made in the USA facebook.com/theiowan
Figge Art MuseuM eXHiBitiON
Danish Modern Design for Living March 28 – June 21, 2015 Iconic examples of 20th century furniture design come to the Figge this spring with the exhibition Danish Modern: Design for Living. Organized by the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa, Danish Modern brings together a wonderful selection of the most influential pieces of postwar furniture design. The exhibition reminds us of how intertwined Danish design and our daily lives were in the post-war era, and invites us to look ahead by looking back at some of the most forward-thinking designs of the era. Sponsored by Helge Sibast, Chair Model No. 8, 1953, Sibast Furniture, collection of Rosalie Anderson; image courtesy of the Museum of Danish America; Jens Quistgaard, Covered bowl, 1955, Minneapolis Institute of Arts; Kaj Bojesen, Hippo, Monkey and Bear figures, Goldstein Museum of Design; Verner Panton, Wire Cone Chair, 1958-1966, Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
Davenport, IA • 563.326.7804 www.figgeartmuseum.org
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
5
letters IOWAN
ICON
Get Loessed!
Dan Gabl
MAGICAL
ic are a unique scen Iowa’s Loess Hills treasure. and recreational . tour fall eous Join us for a gorg
At 65, the legen dary wrestler and coach has a new book, an expanding collection of artificial body parts — and the same intensity as ever.
Thanks to you and Deb Wiley for
raphy by DAN WEEKS story and photog
by MARC HANSEN | photography by PAUL GATES
Dan Gable looks up at the TV screen and sees a sad, smiling file of the late Robin Williams. ph The most dominatin g American wrestli coach/wrestler of all time takes a deep breath. “He had everything in the world,” Gable says, “but it was like couldn’t get back home. h I think I could have helped him do that. was a wrestler, you He know.” Gable explains that Williams was chubby and self-conscious growing up. He signed up for wrestling because he liked the coach. Gable himself had no self-esteem problems, but he believes wrestling, combined with his go-till-you -drop work ethic, had everything to do with almost who he is today: a 65-year-ol ever-expanding collection d legend with an of artificial body parts whose latest mission is saving the sport he helped build. The injuries started coming around tenth grade, but last fall Gable seemed to be physically falling apart. At one point, he seriously thought he was dying of an infection that was taking over every in his body. joint He had a nerve block in his shoulder from a torn rotator that prevented him from feeling the chronic pain in his neck. When the nerves came alive, it was as if someone had taken a blowtorch to his skin. He couldn’t sleep. He felt like he was hallucinating. An ambulance took him to the hospital for a three-day stay. “My wife says it wasn’t as bad as I make it out to be,” he says with the hint of a smile, “but I’m really trying to hold down on the surgeries now.”
featuring our lovely conservatory at Vander Veer Botanical Park [“Bask in the Tropics of Iowa,” January/ February 2015, page 14]. An article like this is a great reminder to people that great places like this exist for them to get out and visit. A visitor September/Octob
IOWAN er 2014 | THE
27
THE BEST-KEPT SECRET I did so much enjoy your fun article
40
040-047 IA ICON
THE IOWAN | iowan.com
- Dan Gable.indd
40-41
November/December
place.” It just makes you feel good! Your magazine is great — I have
I received my recent The Iowan
enjoyed it for many years.
magazine and was pleased to see
—Vicki Mall Lead Indoor Horticulture Technician City of Davenport
“Frontier Scoundrels” [September/
an article about Dan Gable [“Dan Gable,” November/December 2014, page 40]. However, I was troubled by the article’s failure to mention that
October, 2014, page 40]. I definitely
he is a native Iowan, multiple state
hope that you will continue with more
champion from Waterloo West High
of the same. If possible, with enough
School, and national champion at Iowa
material, it could be a regular feature.
State. An unknowing reader could
That issue was even more extra special
easily have assumed that he might be
with the feature of the Loess Hills
from Florida, California, or even from
[“Get Loessed,” page 26]. We bought
outside the country. For a magazine
a hill in the early ’80s. The neighbors
that touts itself as being about Iowans,
wondered why anyone would want
you failed miserably.
this worthless pasture. Even today,
—Steven Geber Atascadero, California
people wonder why we had our house built with a 500-foot driveway going up. What they don’t see is the beauty laid out in front of us. Each season is a wonderful change. Winter, with
THE BEST ISSUE YET
us being snowed in, is the best of
November/December 2014 was the
all. We have deer come down to the
best issue of The Iowan yet; I found it
yard to graze, turkey up in the oaks,
outstanding. I loved every article and
and fish in our pond. This area has
photo, including the bank robber story.
to be the best-kept secret around. This magazine comes as a gift each Christmas and is one of the best Christmas presents we receive. Keep up the good work!
—Karen Dunne Atlantic
STAY IN TOUCH! The Iowan 300 Walnut Street, Suite 6 Des Moines, IA 50309 editor@iowan.com iowan.com > Contact Facebook.com > The Iowan
READ OUR BLOG! iowan.com/blog features local characters, favorite places, little-
—Mary Terrill Smithland
known facts, and other Iowa Discoveries every Friday.
SUBSCRIBE Like what you see? Don’t miss an issue by subscribing at iowan.com
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
41
10/29
YOU FAILED MISERABLY
recently told me, “This is a magical
2014 | THE IOWAN
Points of Interest in This Issue
27
36
32 16 12
7
41 14
34
20
42
5 40
37 3 1
26 15
21 28 11 17
6 2535
24 29 39 19 10
31
9
2
30
38
23 18 13 33
8 4
22
1. Ames — p. 8, 47
23. Malvern — p. 49
2. Bettendorf — p. 15
24. Maquoketa — p. 50, 51
3. Buckingham — p. 17
25. Marengo — p. 13
4. Burlington — p. 8
26. Marshalltown — p. 10
5. Cedar Falls — p. 8, 47, 71
27. Mason City — p. 10, 26, 70
6. Cedar Rapids — p. 9, 71
28. Mitchellville — p. 27
7. Cherokee — p. 10
29. Mount Vernon — p. 18
8. Corning — p. 9, 59
30. Ollie— p. 12
9. Council Bluffs — p. 24, 48
31. Pella — p. 18
10. Davenport — p. 15, 21, 22, 23, 51
32. Rockford — p. 26
11. Des Moines — p. 8, 71
33. Shenandoah — p. 4, 31, 32, 33,
12. Elkader — p. 9
36, 48, 49
13. Farragut — p. 48
34. Sioux City — p. 8
14. Fort Dodge — p. 71
35. South Amana — p. 12
15. Grinnell— p. 43, 44, 45
36. Spencer — p. 10
16. Hawkeye — p. 14
37. Steamboat Rock — p. 47
17. Honey Creek — p. 25
38. Thurman — p. 49
18. Imogene — p. 48, 49
39. Tipton — p. 12, 13
19. Iowa City — p. 9, 10
40. Waterloo — p. 9, 71
20. Iowa Falls — p. 46
41. Waverly — p. 71
21. Johnston — p. 15
42. Webster City — p. 10
22. Keokuk — p. 9
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
7
DAY TRIPS
Events worthy of an excursion NAIA Basketball
Antiques and Collectibles Show
CATCH THE EXCITEMENT!
FIND SOMETHING FANTASTIC
Sioux City, Tyson Events Center
Cedar Falls, UNI Dome
Wednesday, March 11–Tuesday, March 17
Friday, March 20–Sunday, March 22
400 Gordon Dr. naia.org 800-745-3000
2401 Hudson Rd. antiquespectacular.com/shows.asp 712-326-9964
$50 tournament pass, $12 single-session adult, $5 child
$8 for weekend pass, free parking
The entire National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Who knows what you’ll find at this
tournament is played in one city each year, and Sioux City
popular event. It features all eras and styles of vintage
hosts the Division II contest through 2017. See amazing
furniture, plus art pottery, stoneware, books, fine art and
athletes put Iowa back on the women’s basketball map.
prints, and primitives. American Indian items and jewelry are also favorites at the show.
The Chieftains START ST. PAT’S WITH A SONG
Iowa Flower, Lawn & Garden Show
Ames, Stephens Auditorium
HELP YOUR LAWN AND GARDEN GROW
Friday, March 13, 7:30 p.m.
Des Moines, Iowa State Fair Varied Industries Building
Lincoln Way and Elwood Dr. center.iastate.edu 515-294-3347 or 1-877-843-2368
Friday, March 20, 1–8 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
$20–$49
iowaflowershow.com 800-756-4788
The six-time Grammy-winning group has won countless Celtic music fans for more than 40 years. Band founder Paddy
$6.95 adults, $3.50 children 11–16, free 10 and under
Moloney, born in Ireland, started on the tin whistle at the age
The annual show’s 300 booths feature outdoor decorating
of 6 and was playing pipes at 8. The group has collaborated
ideas, patio furniture, fencing, sunrooms, decks, walkways,
with countless stars and performed for popes and queens.
spas, water gardens, and much more, including annual and perennial flowers, trees, herbs, plants, pots, and
Iowa Piano Competition ENJOY IOWA’S BEST Sioux City Orpheum Theatre Thursday, March 19– Saturday, March 21 528 Pierce St. iowapianocompetition.org 712-279-4817 Free Thursday and Friday evenings; $33–$365 Saturday Pianos may not come first to mind when you think of intense competition, but you’ll be riveted by the nuances of this three-day event. The contest begins with each of 12 competitors presenting a 30-minute solo recital. Next they perform with a trio; the final round is a movement of a piano concerto performed with the Sioux City Symphony.
8
THE IOWAN | iowan.com
shrubs for sale. Ten landscape displays will be sprinkled throughout the show, and gardening expert Jerry Kluver will host educational seminars featuring area gardening and landscape professionals all weekend.
Mummenschanz DELIGHT IN THE SILENT FANTASY Burlington, Memorial Auditorium Sunday, March 29, 7:30 p.m. 200 North Front St. burlcivicmusic.com 319-753-8111 $35 Mask and props steal the show, and it is all done without a sound. The Swiss “Musicians of Silence” entertain with subtle choreography in a colorful and fast-moving performance. They’ve enchanted audiences worldwide with their creative and colorful shows for more than 40 years.
day trips Steam Punk Murder Mystery Tea TAKE TEA — AND MYSTERY! Waterloo, Snowden House Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m.–noon 306 Washington St. groutmuseumdistrict.org 319-234-6357 $10, $8 for members Investigate a “murder,” learn about Steam Punk, and take part in a traditional British low tea. Historical Snowden House is a perfect venue for an English tea and Steam Punk, a merger of science fiction and fantasy that typically features steam-powered machinery and fantastical costumes.
The Whiffenpoofs HUM ALONG WITH TRADITION
Civil War Reenactment EXPERIENCE THE CIVIL WAR
Elkader, Elkader Opera House Friday, May 1, 7:30 p.m. 207 N. Main St. elkaderoperahouse.com 563-245-2098
Keokuk, Rand Park Saturday, April 25– Sunday, April 26
$20 Priority, $15 Adult, $10 Student/Senior
North 17th and Park Ln. keokukiowatourism.org 319-524-5599
You may have heard them recently on Glee or The West Wing, but the Whiffenpoofs, the oldest male a cappella
Free
group in the country, have been around a long time.
Tour the military camps,
They’ve performed at the Rose Bowl, Carnegie Hall, for presidents and foreign dignitaries, and now at the Elkader
visit Sutlors’ Row, listen to Civil War-era music, eat delicious food, and stroll with President and Mrs. Lincoln. A ladies’ brunch and style show, military ball, and procession of the wounded accompany
Opera House. Hear a sample of their broad repertoire at whiffenpoofs.com/music.
battle reenactments to provide insight into the best and the
May Day Afternoon Tea
worst of a dark time in American history.
HONOR THE FRENCH CONNECTION Corning, French Icarian Village
The Russian Masters REVEL IN ROMANTIC REPERTOIRE Iowa City and Cedar Rapids Iowa City West Auditorium and Cedar Rapids Paramount Theatre Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2 2901 Melrose, Iowa City; 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids paramounttheatrecr.com 319-398-5226 $19–$49 Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, considered by many to be the greatest violin work of all time, will highlight this tribute to the masters. The concert will also include The Spring by
Saturday, May 2, seating begins at 12:15 p.m. 2349 220th St. icaria.net 641-322-4717 $20 Corning’s French Icarian Village celebrates the Adams County Icarian experience, the longest existing nonreligious communal experiment in U.S. history. The Colony Foundation is hosting a tea on May 2 in honor of Icaria’s neighbors of English ancestry.
GET LISTED! Does your organization put on an event worthy of an excursion? We’d love to consider it for inclusion in Day Trips. For more information, email Calendar@iowan.com.
Glazunov and Symphony No. 2 by Borodin. World-renowned violinist Brian Lewis promises to make this a moving and memorable event.
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
9
Iowa City THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER Iowa City Community Theatre Friday, April 17–Sunday, April 19; Friday, April 24–Sunday, April 26 4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd., Exhibit A Hall iowacitycommunitytheatre.com 319-338-0443 $16 adults, $13 students and seniors, $8 children This Kaufman and Hart comedy from the 1940s begins with a mishap. A famous radio personality is injured at the home of a wealthy Ohio businessman at Christmastime and ends up staying, well, indefinitely.
Marshalltown THE UNEXPECTED GUEST Martha Ellen Tye Playhouse
COMMUNITY THEATERS TAKE CENTER STAGE Many Iowa communities are home to thriving community theaters; this spring brings a wide variety of performances throughout the state.
Friday, April 17–Sunday, April 19; Friday, April 24–Saturday, April 25 101 W. Anson St. marshalltowncommunitytheatre.org 641-752-4164 $15 adults, $10 for students In this Agatha Christie classic an intruder climbs into a window and nearly onto a corpse. The dead man’s wife, standing over the body with a gun, claims innocence, and
Webster City
the intruder believes her. Do you?
THE TRIAL OF GOLDILOCKS
Mason City
Webster City Community Theatre Friday, April 10–Sunday, April 19 1001 Willson Ave. wcctonline.org 515-832-4456 $10 You decide! Goldilocks is on trial for breaking and entering. The plaintiffs are none other than the three bears. The audience serves as jury. Other fairy tale characters are called to testify as witnesses, including Hansel and Gretel, Jack and Cow, and Granny.
Cherokee NOISES OFF! Cherokee Community Center Thursday, April 16–Saturday, April 18 530 Bluff St. cherokeeiowa.net 712-225-4440
ROWAN AND MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN Mason City Community Theatre Thursday, April 16–Sunday, April 19; Thursday, April 23–Sunday, April 26 215 S. Delaware mccommunitytheatre.com 641-424-6424 $14 adults, $8 students Veerry innterressting! The popular 1960s variety show is now a stage production — complete with sketches, blackouts, cameo commentary, and lots of laughs. Sock it to me!
Spencer JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Spencer Community Theatre Friday, April 24–Sunday, April 26; Thursday, April 30–Sunday, May 3
$15 adults, $12 students
518 1st Ave. E sctplayhouse.org 712-262-7336
The London Daily Telegraph declared this show the “funniest
$18 adult, $9 students
comedy ever written.” It received the Laurence Olivier Award
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice spin Broadway magic
for Best Play, the London Evening Standard Award for Best
from the Biblical saga of Joseph. Sold into slavery in Egypt,
Comedy, and Tony Award nomination for Best Play. The
he endures adventures and hardships set to musical styles
Cherokee Community Theater will deliver it.
ranging from country to bubble gum. A delight for all.
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
29th Annual Quad City Air Show Saturday & Sunday May 9–10, 2015 Featuring the United States Navy Blue Angels Demonstrations from: United States Navy Blue Angels including Fat Albert Airlines and SHOCKWAVE Triple Jet Semi, Ace Maker Air Shows, Joe Shetterly, Jeff Shetterly, Greg Shetterly, Red Star & Dragon Air Shows, Misty Blues, Hawkeye Jet Team and much more !!
563-322-7469 Ticket and additional info at: www.quadcityairshow.com
THIS AD PAID FOR IN PART BY:
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March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
11
Iowäan Dazs
A Tiptonian “super ultra premium” ice cream is poised to take the country by storm. by BARBARA HALL | photography by MARK TADE
“I grew up on my grandma’s ice cream,” says David Gott. His grandparents farmed near Ollie, and his grandmother used eggs from her chickens and cream from her cows. “She froze the ice in milk boxes, then we broke it up with the side of an axe,” Gott says. “We cranked the freezer by hand in the basement” — and got to lick the dasher when the ice cream was done. Those memories seeded Gott’s dream. As founder and President of David’s Famous Gourmet Frozen Custard, the former financial advisor’s goal is to have 1% of the North American ice cream market in three years’ time. He’s on his way. A new manufacturing plant opens in Tipton soon, and his products are already in grocery stores statewide — and poised to expand. “No matter what you make, if you make the best product you can and sell it at a fair price with a reasonable profit, you will succeed,” he says. Gott first made his own frozen custard 15 years ago, on the 4th of July, for friends in South Amana. A bit later, frustrated because his neighborhood ice cream shop constantly ran out of coffee, his favorite flavor, he decided to make his own. “I used six shots of espresso,” he remembers. He took a batch to Rotary Club and other friends and groups, and the begging began. “Everyone said I should be selling this stuff,” he recalls. Two years ago he took their advice. So why is it so good? And why is it called “frozen custard” rather than ice cream? Well, custard is ice cream but with at least 1.4% egg yolk solids added. (David’s Famous is 4% egg yolk solids.) Ice cream must contain at least 10% butterfat. “Super premium” ice creams contain 14% to 16% butterfat. HäagenDazs, for example, contains 16% butterfat. David’s Famous is 24.7% butterfat. “So I guess I qualify as super ultra premium,” Gott says.
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
David Gott juggles five pints of David’s Famous Gourmet Frozen Custard. Six more flavors are on the way.
food
Punkin’ Pie, Blueberry, and Pistachio are three of the company’s latest flavors. All David’s Famous Gourmet Frozen Custards are gluten- and wheat-free.
The proof, of course, is in the tasting. I happen to be an
PUNKIN’ PIE (SEASONAL): “I use a LOT of pumpkin
ice cream nut. [Indeed she is: Ms. Hall reviewed eight of her
puree,” says Gott. “People say they can taste the dollop of
favorite mom and pop ice cream shops in “We All Scream...”
whipped cream. I say it tastes like punkin’ pie.”
on page 12 of The Iowan’s May/June 2014 issue. —ed.] And
If that weren’t enough, Gott will be introducing more
Gott’s rich recipe and almost fanatical search for the best
flavors soon. He was kind enough to give us a preview. They
ingredients pays off in every bite. Here’s a rundown:
are Ginger (tangy and refreshing), Blueberry (a flavor burst,
COFFEE: The flavor that started it all. Gott imports the
yet still creamy), Rhubarb (if anything can beat Grandma’s
coffee from San Francisco. The best one-word description is
rhubarb pie, this is it), Black Walnut (very subtle but very
“intense.” If you like a deep, rich cup with lots of cream and
walnut), and Pistachio (knocks the socks off my previous
sweet, you’ll love it.
personal favorite, Ben and Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio), and
VANILLA: Nothing plain about it. “The key is Madagascar
Buttermint (VERY buttery with a hint of mint).
bourbon vanilla — and lots of it,” Gott says. Many types of vanilla ice cream go to waste on top of a pie or birthday cake. This one can stand on its own.
SEA SALT CARAMEL: “We make our own caramel because
WHERE TO FIND IT Find David’s Famous Gourmet Frozen Custard in most
I couldn’t find one good enough for us,” says Gott. “I bought
Hy-Vee stores statewide, some Fareway stores, Big G
a $27,000 kettle to make it in.” Not overwhelmingly sweet,
in Marengo, and Family Foods in Tipton, with more
Gott’s caramel melts in your mouth and leaves a pleasant
locations added regularly. Go to davidsfamous.com
sweet/salty aftertaste.
for an update or to request it at a store near you.
DUTCH CHOCOLATE: Rich, thick, creamy, and very, very chocolaty. “When Hy-Vee stopped carrying the cocoa I used, I found the importer in Germany and buy it directly from them now,” says Gott.
LEMON: “Not like a lemon drop. More like a lemon cream pie” is how Gott describes this one. I agree. Many lemon desserts have a bit of sour going on; this one is pure sweet and silky smooth.
Barbara Hall is a Des Moines-based freelance writer. Mark Tade is a native Iowan, a graduate of the University of Iowa, and a longtime commercial and editorial photographer based in Iowa City (marktade.com).
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
13
Celebrate diversity! Plant these underused annuals. by DEB WILEY
They’re the life of the party: annual plants that explode
“I am a huge fan of annuals,” says Keith Kovarik, owner
with color and bloom all summer. Annuals are likely to be
of K&K Gardens in Hawkeye. “Especially the dark purples and
the most exciting plants in your garden — that’s why they’re
brilliant reds.”
worth their yearly cost. Drop them into a container for
A true annual is one that grows, sets seeds, and dies
a punch of festive color. They’re standout players in the
in one year, but most Iowans consider any plant that can’t
landscape, too.
survive winter to be an annual.
This year don’t settle for ordinary. Try some of the plant
We asked Kovarik and two other independent garden
world’s most interesting yet underappreciated showoffs.
center owners for some of their favorite underused annual
Shake off any naysayers who urge planting only perennials.
plants more Iowans should try.
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
COURTESY BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY
Annual Celebration
garden COURTESY PROVENWINNERS.COM
of Wallace’s Garden Center in Bettendorf and Davenport suggests these as alternatives
NEW BEGONIA VARIETIES “These have really become popular, for good reason,” Borwick says. “The Dragonwing, Whopper (opposite), and Big series of begonias are drought-tolerant and can grow in full sun, full shade, or anything in between.”
PERSIAN SHIELD Kovarik calls this “a majestic addition to
to traditional bedding impatiens, which are plagued by
anyone’s garden.” At the
downy mildew. Caladiums, she says, “are really modern-
end of the season, you
looking now, especially the green and white varieties,
can bring this sun to
and it’s amazing how much color they can provide in
part-sun foliage stunner
the shade.” Caladiums are tubers you can dig up in fall,
inside and overwinter
overwinter in a cool, dry place, then plant again the
COURTESY PROVENWINNERS.COM
CALADIUMS Kate Terrell
it as a houseplant. It’s
following spring.
tolerant. If you’ve
The Bounce
for their flowers, this
series of hybrid
one may well make you
impatiens is
a foliage convert.
always grown annuals
another alternative. impatiens dry out,
‘GOLDDUST’ MECARDONIA
“They can wilt way
The leaves on this sun
Even if hybrid
COURTESY PROVENWINNERS.COM
COURTESY BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY
drought- and heat-
HYBRID IMPATIENS
down and come back and get nice
and big,” says Terrell. “They bloom in full shade, come in the same color palette, are more drought-tolerant, and are disease-resistant.”
Terrell and Ann Borwick, owner of Piney Ridge Greenhouse in Johnston, recommend pentas. Even
tiny baby’s tears’ leaves with a wax coating. ‘GoldDust’ quickly forms a trailing carpet of tiny yellow blooms that last until frost.
ALTERNANTHERA The name is hard to
COURTESY PROVENWINNERS.COM
For sun, both
COURTESY PROVENWINNERS.COM
PENTAS
lover remind Borwick of
say, but the plant is easy to grow. Kovarik loves ‘Red Threads’ or any deep red to purple variety. This
though they’re not usually blooming in May when you’re
foliage plant comes
plant shopping, snap them up. As soon as temperatures
in a variety of shapes
warm, pentas bloom to attract hummingbirds and
and sizes, and many have deep burgundy or purple foliage
butterflies. “Pentas are a great pollinator plant,” Terrell
that pairs well with other annuals in contrasting colors.
says. “In summer they have so much more color than my geraniums because I’m not a very good deadheader.”
Deb Wiley is a Des Moines garden writer and regular
The new flowers on pentas come out over the spent ones.
contributor to The Iowan.
“I never deadhead mine,” Borwick says.
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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Shed Your Doubts An attractive garden shed built from recycled materials? You bet! story and photography by DAN WEEKS Gardens beg for a shed.
Gardeners do, too: If you’re like most gardeners, you’d
Then there’s the aesthetic argument: The addition of a little architecture, no matter how humble or grand, somehow
love a place to store your gardening tools, to pot plants —
completes the landscape. It gives a garden a focal point and
even to start seeds.
makes you feel like you have a miniature home out there.
Sure, you can toss the hoes and shovels in a pile in the
You can buy ready-made sheds or ready-to-build kits
garage or monopolize a south-facing window in your house
from several sources, but as with plant material, some of
with trays of seedlings. But doing so brings gardening mess
the best sheds are descended from native stock: Iowa is rich
into places it shouldn’t be. It’s so much more convenient to
in architectural salvage materials that can be used to make
keep everything right in the garden where it belongs.
great garden sheds. Here are three examples to inspire you.
The puzzlelike appearance of this shed is part of its charm. It was made entirely from windows left over from the conversion of a vintage schoolhouse and sits in the former schoolyard.
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home
The shed’s dimensions were determined by the windows used; the result is big enough to accommodate a large potting bench and still leave plenty of room for a sitting area.
A pretty potting shed
TIPS: This is not a project for beginners. But building-
If a light-filled potting shed that doubles as a season-
oriented do-it-yourselfers won’t find anything to deter
extending greenhouse appeals to you, start collecting old
them here. You can scrounge windows on craigslist.com
windows. This glassed-in garden shed was the by-product
or purchase them from architectural salvage stores and
of an old schoolhouse renovation in Buckingham. After the
recycled building materials outlets such as Habitat for
new owners converted the school to living quarters, they
Humanity’s ReStores. Old, wood-frame storm windows
had a door and a slew of windows — both interior and
work well; thousands are still gathering dust in barns and
exterior — left over. We can’t imagine a better use for them.
garages everywhere and are usually free for the asking.
The result is practical, yet whimsical. The front and back
You’ll need lots — along with a table saw to trim the
are elegantly symmetrical thanks to windows used in pairs;
frames to fit and some lumber for framing and for creating
the sides have a more random character that comes from
filler panels. Take precautions cutting painted window
puzzle-piecing the rest of the available windows together.
frames to avoid lead poisoning. Paint or seal all wood to
A bit of landscaping and a pop of color on the front door
encapsulate any lead paint and to prevent the window
and flowerboxes add to the outbuilding’s charm.
frames from deteriorating.
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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A tiny toolshed This outhouse-style tool shed was built in Pella from recycled barn board for a rustic look that’s right at home in the Iowa landscape. Old Iowa barns are generally sided with pine or fir that naturally weathers to a rich texture that doesn’t require paint or stain. Here, it’s complemented by similarly weathered hardware: a well-seasoned brass cabinet latch and rusty but serviceable hinges and door handle. Classic outhouse proportions give the shed a nostalgic sense of familiarity. The design is practical, too. The steeply pitched roof sheds rain and snow; the generous overhang helps keep the siding dry, prolonging its life. Inside, there’s just enough room to store rakes, shovels, and hoes that would otherwise clutter the garage. Another bonus: This little outbuilding is small enough to be easily moveable.
TIPS: Anyone with access to barn board and competent with a circular saw, measuring tape, and a few hand tools can construct a shed like this in a day or so. The only new material you’ll need is roofing shingles, but you might even have some in your garage left over from your house roof. There are a variety of simple-to-build, free shed plans on the internet — search under “garden shed plans” or “toolshed plans” for inspiration. You can often find barn board for sale — or free for the taking — on craigslist.com under
This rustic, outhouse-style toolshed is made of reclaimed barn board and vintage hardware.
“free stuff” or “materials.” Remove nails and fasteners from recycled wood before using. Avoid white-painted barn board as it likely contains lead, a dangerous poison.
A grand garden shed Inspired by some free, curved-glass windows discarded during a county courthouse renovation, this outbuilding is almost too handsome to be called a shed. It looks right at home in the yard of an elaborate Victorian farmhouse south of Mount Vernon. A salvaged wrought-iron fence and paving bricks create an elegant tableau. The owner, an experienced contractor, designed the structure around the windows and added period-style details such as decorative corbels under the eaves. You’d need the help of an architect or designer-builder to achieve a similar effect, so we’ll forgo including building tips here. The good news: Iowa is full of vintage building materials just waiting to be given new life — perhaps in your garden.
Dan Weeks is editor of The Iowan. Reclaimed courthouse windows and lots of period detail make for an elegant outbuilding.
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The Handcrafted Escape
Willkommen to the Amana Colonies! Seven charming villages where you’ll experience our unique German culture, savor our cuisine, sip our locally crafted wines and beers, and marvel at our handcrafted products.
Plan your escape to the Amana Colonies.
1(800) 579-2294 2.29"x4.75"-2_Layout 1 1/14/14 3:15 PM Page 1
www.amanacolonies.com
AmanaColonies_MAIowan_2015.indd 1 ACCVB_1.13.indd 1
• Located on the Great River Road and Grant Wood Scenic Byway • Historic Downtown
Annual Events June – Jackson County Pro Rodeo July – Heritage Days Celebration August – “Fishtival” Arts Festival
1/26/15 1/13/14 12:09 12:39PM PM
Amana Made. Working side by side creates a special sense of community. Together, we take pride in what we do. You can feel this warmth in the products we carefullly craft and prepare.
Come experience over 150 years of crafting textiles!
Check the Calendar of Events on our website!
563-872-5830 • bellevueia.com
Woolen Mill 800-222-6430 • 800 48th Ave., Amana, IA Open daily • www.amanawoolenmill.com
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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Healing the
Beautiful Land
Iowa is one of the most environmentally altered states in the union. But we’re also getting really good at restoring problem areas into paradises. by SUZANNE KELSEY
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We’ve had lots of reasons to do so lately. From border to border, Iowa is home to spectacular reclamation projects. They show that repairing even severe ecological damage is not only possible, it’s practical. These “reverse alterations” are gorgeous. And they’re not only healing to the land — they’re restorative to us when we spend time there. Here are four transformed places you’ll want to visit.
Davenport’s Nahant Marsh, a former EPA Superfund site, is now a model for other wetlands restorations— and a beautiful urban oasis.
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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PHOTO BY JULIE MALAKE
Iowa was once prairie, savanna, woodland, marshes, wetlands, and waterways. Ninety-two percent of the state is now farmed. We’re proud that Iowa holds one-third of the nation’s best farmland. But because so much of our state is devoted to agriculture, we especially treasure the natural areas that remain. And when polluted or degraded land gets restored, we celebrate.
PHOTO BY JULIE MALAKE
Wetlands such as Nahant Marsh have an ecological benefit disproportionate to their size: They host migrating wildlife, filter water, break down pollution, trap sediment, and mitigate flooding.
Nahant Marsh Walk slowly when you approach the camouflaged bird blind along Nahant Marsh. Otherwise, dozens of Canadian geese may swim away from you in one grand choreographed swoop. Be ready to see nature at its finest. Last July hundreds of pelicans descended upon this 265acre preserve in southwest Davenport to gobble up Mississippi River carp washed in by flooding “like they were fishing in a barrel,” says Brian Ritter, director of the Nahant Marsh Education Center since 2007. Last fall thousands of migrating red-winged blackbirds swirled in a huge cloud above the marsh. When they descended, “there was practically one blackand-red bird for every cattail,” Ritter says. More animals and plants exist per acre in a healthy wetland than in any other habitat. The word “abundant” comes to mind. Just 20 years ago, what was abundant at Nahant was lead. Between 1969 and 1995, the area was used for target practice by a hunters’ club. By the mid-’90s,
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waterfowl there were dying of lead poisoning, thanks to an astounding 240 tons of lead shot that had settled in the marsh bottom. A single handful of mud could yield more than 100 lead pellets. Industrial chemicals, fertilizer runoff, and just plain dumping also fouled the marsh: People had tossed everything from motorcycles to refrigerators to ATM machines into the water. In Iowa’s past, wetlands bordering rivers attracted clouds of migratory waterfowl, acted as safety valves for river flooding, and filtered and broke down harmful nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer runoff. Today, most Iowa wetlands have been drained for farmland. Those that have not been, says Ritter, “tend to be wastelands.” But at Nahant Marsh, residents and organizations pitched in for the save. They include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, River Action, the Quad City Audubon Society, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and the City of Davenport. The Environmental Protection
WHEN YOU GO Nahant Marsh 4220 S. Wapello Ave., Davenport 563-323-5196 nahantmarsh.org Trails: sunrise to sunset
PHOTOS BY JULIE MALAKE
Agency (EPA) declared the marsh a Superfund site and began a $2 million cleanup. In 1999 EPA workers drained the marsh and excavated “a monstrous pile” of contaminated soil, says Ritter, “two stories high and 300 feet long.” They treated it with chemicals to render the lead insoluble and trucked it to a landfill. They graded and smoothed the remaining ground and planted grasses. Marsh staff and volunteers use controlled fires to manage prairies and remove invasives so sedges, cattails, and other native plants can thrive and filter the water. Now there are hiking trails along the marsh, a blind from which visitors can view birds, and a dock for education purposes. Ten thousand visitors annually attend educational programs there. Waterfowl using the Mississippi River flyway have returned in droves. “We’ve seen 151 species of birds,” says Ritter. “Half of them nest here. You see northern shovelers, coots, Canada geese, snow geese, bitterns, great blue heron — even Sandhill cranes.” Last year the first Blanding’s turtle hatchling — a threatened species here — was discovered in more than a decade. The turnaround was so successful that researchers are using it as a blueprint for wetland restoration practices elsewhere. Ritter would like to see marshes restored along all of Iowa’s major waterways. The clang of train signals east of the marsh and the sounds of semis crossing the Mississippi on Interstate 280 are a constant reminder to nature that humankind is near. But the successful restoration of Nahant Marsh shows we’re learning how to successfully invite nature back to the places that need it most. In the process, we’re creating a map for others to follow. Twenty years ago wildlife in the marsh was dying of lead poisoning. Today more than 151 species can be seen there. Half are permanent residents; the rest are migrating waterfowl. A family of mallard ducklings, top, finds lots to eat in the newly clean marsh. Otters play on the wetland’s bank, middle. A migrating pelican cruises the marsh while egrets look on, bottom.
Education Center: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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PHOTOS BY DAN WEEKS
Visitors who rent these rustic vacation cabins at Hitchcock Nature Center are astounded to learn that the picturesque camping area had been a junkyard.
Hitchcock Nature Center This place, 15 miles north of Council Bluffs, should be on every Iowan’s bucket list. The 1,200-acre preserve is on the southern stretches of the national treasure known as the Loess Hills, a minimountain range of glacial silt that runs along the state’s western edge. Climb the 45-foot observation tower for a panoramic view. Take a 3-D tour in the Lodge exhibit gallery. Hike 10 miles of trails woven through woodlands and some of the largest native prairie remnants in Iowa. And while you’re marveling at summer butterflies or watching eagles migrate in November, count Hitchcock as an Iowa blessing. It very nearly became a garbage dump. In the late 1980s an out-of-state developer bought the old YMCA camp on 300 acres of what is now Hitchcock. Then he bulldozed 60 acres of trees and loess soil to make room for trainloads of waste from as far away as New Jersey. Fortunately, he went bankrupt before he could put his plan into effect. Then, fast-acting community 24
THE IOWAN | iowan.com
members bought 508 acres of the land from the developer with funds from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Iowa’s Resource and Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program. Hitchcock Nature Center was born. By the time Chad Graeve was hired as Pottawattamie County Head Ranger in 1998, it was 700 acres and growing. But a 22-acre private junkyard stood out like an unsightly island in the expanded preserve. “We knew it would be painful,” says Graeve, “but if we had the opportunity to acquire that ground, we should do that and clean it up.” After the owner died, the county bought the parcel and agreed to pay for the cleanup if the junkyard become a campground. Hitchcock’s mission is to help protect the globally significant Loess Hills landform. Cement pads for RVs, shower houses, septic lines, turf grass — it would all permanently change the natural habitat. But the habitat had already been changed, and Graeve and his team decided a campsite was a lot better than a junkyard. They salvaged items of value and
Careful planning allowed the nature center to avoid further disturbance of the Loess Hills site by using existing roads, left and above, as vehicle access routes and hiking trails. The campground is especially popular in fall when the Loess Hills foliage is in full color.
hauled trash to the county landfill. They converted road cuts, which had been bulldozed to accommodate dump trucks, into hiking paths. The new campground has three cabins, room for 18 RVs, a shower house with flush toilets, shelters, and two tent-camping areas with pit toilets. Graeve says every time they dig so much as a posthole for a fence, they hit more buried junk. But you’d never know it: The setting is idyllic and increasingly popular. While the use of other campgrounds tapers off after Labor Day, Hitchcock still welcomes campers arriving through October to admire the brilliant fall colors. Historically, the Loess Hills were open grassland or woodland maintained by grazing herds of bison and elk and frequent fires. “Then our culture moved in 150 years ago and began suppressing fires, kicking out the Native Americans, and killing the bison and elk,” says Graeve. “Trees took over and shaded out plants that held the soil.” Graeve and his team are developing healthier woodlands, nursing about 150 acres of remnant prairie
back to health, and reconstructing another 140 acres of prairie. Graeve envisions eventually expanding the Center to 2,200 acres, complete with herds of bison and elk. “People get overwhelmed by the experiences they have here in nature,” says Graeve. “It’s a great escape, a great release. It’s renewing.”
WHEN YOU GO Hitchcock Nature Center 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek 712-545-3283 pottcoconservation.com/parks-and-habitat-area/ hitchcock-nature-center Park: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., year-round Lodge: March–November, Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. December–February, Friday–Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Call for holiday hours
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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PHOTOS BY DAN WEEKS
Rockford is one of few places in the country where anyone can hunt — and take home — a handful of Devonian-era fossils, far left.
Fossil and Prairie Park Preserve Twenty miles east of Mason City and just west of Rockford is one of Iowa’s most spectacular and unexpected landscapes. Get out of your car in the parking lot, walk a few paces, and you’re standing at the rim of a weathered crater of multicolored clay reminiscent of South Dakota’s badlands. Incongruously nestled in the crater’s bottom is a cerulean pond with water as aquamarine as the Caribbean. A short walk away, you traverse a moonscape of bricks and tiles with distorted, Salvador Dali-like shapes. A bit farther, you come to the picturesque, overgrown ruins of three huge brick and tile kilns that look for all the world like marooned, prehistoric spaceships. Oh, yes — and the whole landscape is littered with the remains of brachiopods, cephalopods, and corals, remnants from 375 million years ago when warm shallow seas covered Iowa. It’s one of the few places in the country where you can pick up fossils up and take them home with you. Commercial hunting is prohibited, but the average visitor walks away with a handful. Welcome to Floyd County Fossil and Prairie Park. In a bizarre twist on the usual environmental preservation narrative, it was created from an abandoned brick and drainage-tile quarry after the native prairie had been strip-mined for its underlying blue shale. Like Hitchcock Nature Center, this park was on its way to becoming a landfill in the 1980s because of its natural clay lining. But after a public outcry, Floyd County purchased the lands with the first competitive
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
The former brick and tile quarry combines badlandslike terrain with sparkling ponds and lush wetlands, left.
REAP grant. After more donations and additions, the park now encompasses 402 acres. “It’s not very often people get to explore such a large chunk of ground,” says Heidi Reams, naturalist for Floyd County Conservation. “And there’s such a variety of types of habitats. People don’t think of this part of Iowa as having hills, but we have hills here and such unique vegetation with the native prairies.” In addition to the quarry and kilns, the park includes 60 acres of remnant prairie that has never been turned by a plow. Creeping juniper, a rare plant in Iowa, grows here, along with purple coneflowers and the brilliant orange butterfly milkweed. Deer, turkeys, eagles, and migrating birds flourish in the grass wetlands and along the Winnebago River, on the north side of the property. And the kilns stand like picturesque monuments to another time. You can spend hours there enjoying it all. Reams likes to point out the trees and grasses that are taking over the quarry, growing around the railings and the beehive kilns that were used to fire the bricks and tiles. “The students see how nature takes it back and ‘fixes things’ after man is done.”
WHEN YOU GO Fossil and Prairie Park Reserve and Center 1227 215th St., Rockford 641-756-3490 fossilcenter.com Park: sunrise to sunset Visitors center: Memorial Day through Labor Day, 1 to 4 p.m. daily May, September, October: Saturday–Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. and by appointment
PHOTO BY MARK DAVITT
Thomas Mitchell Park This popular park is an Iowa gem. Its 175 acres include Camp Creek, an oak- and hickory-filled woodland ridge with a spectacular spring wildflower display, mushrooms, and woodland birds commonly not seen elsewhere; a nature trail system used by hikers, birders, and mushroom hunters; prairie; and a six-acre pond. Campgrounds, shelters, playgrounds, and the pond attract more than 100,000 visitors per year. The problem was that the six-acre, 1970s-era pond was dying: By 2007, an algae bloom had removed oxygen from the water and killed the fish, and a steady accumulation of sediment had filled it in. The result: a murky, mucky puddle. Agricultural runoff wasn’t the problem, says Polk County Conservation Natural Resources Manager Mark Dungan. Neighboring farmers had practiced healthy conservation by putting some areas into pasture and reestablishing waterways. Ironically, most of the destructive sediment was from the park’s own woodlands. A healthy woodland has an overstory of trees such as oaks and hickories and a groundcovering of plants such as May apple, ginger, and hepatica. The foliage of the understory between the groundcover and the canopy breaks up raindrops, and its roots help hold soil in place, reducing erosion (it also puts on a beautiful woodland flower show in the spring). But light-blocking invasives had colonized this forest, weakening the understory and allowing rainfall to wash soil into the pond. Dungan and his team cut, pulled out, killed, and burned off the invasives. They opened the canopy, allowing light in so native oak, hickory, hackberry, and Kentucky coffee trees — along with a healthy understory — to thrive. They planted native prairie grasses and forbs (native plants that do not include grasses) on 10 acres west of the pond and built basins to collect any sediment. Then they drained the pond, removed the silt, and added spawning beds and fishing piers. They had a lot of public input and help from local citizens, the National Resource Conservation Service, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Water
A clean, clear stream and a restored six-acre pond beckons families and fishermen to Mitchellville’s Thomas Mitchell Park.
and Land Legacy (a bond referendum passed by Polk County voters in 2012 to improve Polk County watersheds), the Watershed Improvement Review Board, and Living Land and Waters. Total project cost: around $500,000. Result: Mallards now glide on a waterway that glitters like polished silver — an idyllic pond that will last at least 100 more years. Dugan is modest, but proud. “We created a nice water feature that is beginning to provide some good habitat,” he says. “By this spring, the pond should provide the size fish anglers want to catch.”
WHEN YOU GO Thomas Mitchell Park 4250 NE 108th St., Mitchellville 515-967-4889 mycountyparks.com/county/Polk/Park/Thomas-Mitchell Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Winter: sunrise to sunset Campground: April 1–November 30. Campground shower houses: mid-April through mid-October Walk-in tent camping: year-round
Suzanne Kelsey is a freelance writer based in Iowa City and a frequent contributor to The Iowan.
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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Keep Iowa Beautiful Iowa’s powerhouse is growing vibrant communities Small, but mighty, the nonprofit of Keep Iowa Beautiful is driving statewide economic development in a very quiet way. Orchestrating the organization’s powerful network of government bodies, community coaches, grants and public resources, Keep Iowa Beautiful takes action in Iowa communities and transforms public spaces into attractive and welcoming streetscapes. But their passion for renewal is impacting more than community face fronts–social and economic shifts are a natural emanation. From city parks and main streets to urban communities and school gardens, Keep Iowa Beautiful maintains a thumb on the pulse of change in Iowa communities.
HOMETOWN PRIDE PROGRAM
GARDEN FOR EVERY SCHOOL
By improving the appearance and pride of Iowa’s counties, the Hometown Pride program builds stronger communities both culturally and economically. The program walks alongside qualifying Iowa communities to provide five years of long-term technical and professional coaching by community improvement experts. The Hometown Pride program digs in to identify the problems of the community and apply a holistic approach to improved roadways, facilities, homes, signage and community entryways by connecting community leaders to training, leadership education and grant resources. “When you can walk with these communities, you empathize with the challenges they are experiencing and you become vested,” says Gerry Schnepf, executive director of Keep Iowa Beautiful and founder of the Hometown Pride program. “It’s such a reward to see the sense of stability and empowerment these communities gain. Eventually the training and education leads to a full transition as we turn the initiatives back to the communities.”
There is mounting evidence that students who participate in school gardening score significantly higher on standardized science achievement tests and are more likely to make healthy food choices. This, along with a passion, vision and plan to create a garden for every school is the precipice for launching the Garden for Every School program in 2014. After months of research, Keep Iowa Beautiful designed the comprehensive program to educate school administrators and teachers on the logistics of managing and maintaining a school garden, long term. “Watching a child learn where food comes from and make that connection is truly priceless. A Garden for Every School training can help give teachers the tools they need to get planting,” says Darren Fife, parent and garden volunteer for Cowles Elementary School. The program seeks sponsorship to achieve their initial goal of planting gardens in 87 Greater Des Moines elementary schools.
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
Special Advertising Section
KEEP MY TOWN TIDY Litter is gross. In 2013, Keep Iowa Beautiful along with the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa Department of Natural Resources learned that while litter is down slightly, the cost to clean up litter by volunteers and state entities still rang in at nearly $35 million. Knowing the facts and figures doesn’t make littering stop, but educating Iowa’s youth just might. That’s why Keep Iowa Beautiful launched a web-based campaign this month to reach elementary school teachers, elementary students and parents of young school children to change behaviors from the youth, up. “We believe that respect for the planet begins with respect for your neighborhood. Those ideals are shaped at an early age. From cleaning up local neighborhoods to celebrating the beauty of Iowa’s great green spaces, today’s youth can be catalysts for a changing generation,” says Schnepf of the newly launched website dedicated to the Keep My Town Tidy campaign.
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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IOWAN
ICON
Earl May
The Iowa entrepreneur and pioneering radio personality loved seeds and the people he sold them to. by Deb Wiley
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
Earl May was smooth. Real smooth. The round-faced farm boy from Hayes Center, Nebraska, wasn’t smooth in a slick, con artist sort of way. That would never have flown among the downto-earth people of Shenandoah. No, Earl May was smooth in the way that a talented, type-A person can be when he loves what he does so much that he wants the world to love it, too. Before he died of a heart attack in 1946 at 58, May rocketed his eponymous nursery and seed company to national acclaim, created a radio station that earned him friends worldwide, erected an Oriental palace to house the station, and mingled as easily with American presidents as he did with rural folk. Today, his name is still synonymous with gardening supplies in Iowa, and the company he founded nearly 100 years ago remains in his family’s hands. Earl Ernest May was born March 21, 1888, on a farm near Hayes Center in western Nebraska. He grew up herding cattle, feeding cattle and hogs, and growing grain. At 17, he started teaching school at the Grimm Wise School District near Wauneta, Nebraska, where he earned $50 a month for the seven-month job, then attended Fremont Normal School in Nebraska. He returned to Hayes Center to become the principal of his former high school before realizing it wasn’t his calling. But May was acquiring rich life experiences he’d parlay into folksy tales for print and radio. “I carried my dinner to school along with the school kids and I think all of us learned a lot that year … That gave me my idea for ‘Country School’ that has been a feature over KMA for 10 years,” wrote May in his 1939 catalog. History is fuzzy on why May chose to enter the University of Michigan law school in 1911. But he capitalized on his natural gifts of gab and sales acumen to pay for it by selling seeds for Michigan-based D.M. Ferry & Co. for several summers, riding his horse, Music, through the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was his first exposure to what would become his life’s work. “I carried my samples in saddle bags, and usually spent the night wherever I happened to be at sundown,” May recalled.
May’s early catalogs looked like oversize seed packets. May, an engaging writer, penned the folksy copy himself.
When his father died in 1912, May briefly returned home but opted to continue studying law at the University of Nebraska. There, he met his destiny in the form of another Husker student, Gertrude Welch, daughter of Edward S. Welch, the owner of Mount Arbor Nursery in Shenandoah. Lured by both love and opportunity, May moved to Shenandoah in 1915 to work for Welch. In June of 1916 at the age of 28, he married Gertrude, 23. Their first child, Frances Lenore, was born in 1917; a son, Edward, followed in 1920. In 1916 Shenandoah was a literal hotbed of garden-related businesses, including Mount Arbor; Welch’s Nursery; the Henry Field Seed Company; and Shenandoah Nursery, then the Midwest’s largest producer of apple trees. (Shenandoah was also where The Iowan magazine was launched in 1952.) Just three years later, with the financial backing of May’s father-in-law, another name joined the pantheon: March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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A Model T truck leaves the May seed house laden with product. The May Seed and Nursery Co. joined four other garden-related businesses in Shenandoah when the business was founded in 1919.
the May Seed and Nursery Company. Started in the building that still serves as its headquarters, it sold baby chickens, tires, batteries, radios, paint, shoes, and clothing along with seed. “When we first started, Earl May was almost a shopping mall,” says Betty Jane Shaw, May’s granddaughter, who today runs the company with her husband, Bill. Little of May’s ebullient personality shows in that first catalog, printed as World War I came to an end. The catalog simply noted that “E.E. May, treasurer, is connected with the production end. He has had eight years’ experience and knows what good seeds and nursery stock are.” But May, with his genuine warmth and outgoing personality, quickly took over the marketing.. “As far as it lies in my power, I try to make a friend of everyone who deals with the May Seed and Nursery Company,” he wrote. In the years to come, he would brand everything with the May name: The trial grounds were dubbed Mayview; Maygold was the seed corn line; Mayfair Auditorium housed the radio station; and his 18-hole miniature golf course was Mayfairways. The 1922 catalog announced that MAY stood for Multiply America’s Yield.
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The fledgling company limped along its first few years, but by 1923 technology changed the world. Radio was fast becoming the source for entertainment and news. Henry Field, May’s great friendly competitor, was traveling the 66 miles on dirt roads to make occasional radio broadcasts at WOAW in Omaha, one of the first broadcasting facilities in the Midwest. Even Gertrude May sang on WOAW as a member of the Shenandoah Congregational Church. May was eager to try it himself. On January 17, 1924, the May Seed and Nursery Company performers trekked to Omaha for their first performance. May couldn’t legally advertise on the radio, but the savvy businessman offered to mail iris roots to the first 10,000 listeners who sent him a card.
“Come and visit us if you are near. Write me freely. I like to be bothered.” — Earl May, 1922 May also told listeners that the Shenandoah National Bank would give $15 to the listener who sent a telegram from the farthest away. The next day, the station announced that 17,840 congratulatory messages had been received, second in station history after the broadcast of the 1923 World Series. A former
Beginning in 1926, Earl May invited his radio listeners to a jubilee in Shenandoah. Each year, tens of thousands of visitors descended; one year, they gobbled 350,000 pancakes, 930 gallons of syrup, 1,200 pounds of coffee, and 7,500 pounds of bacon and sausage during the three-day festival.
Shenandoah resident, Mrs. Frank Buntz in Blythe, California, won the cash prize. He must have been a little dismayed when, just a month later, on February 2, 1924, Field and his Seedhouse Folk began a daily radio broadcast just three blocks away, at new Shenandoah-based station KFNF. Unable to match that feat, May made a deal with WOAW to have a telephone line installed in his secondfloor flower and garden seed room to make remote radio broadcasts from Shenandoah. It was a start. The company served cider, crackers, and cheese to a seed house crowd of 500 people on November 4, 1924, when election returns were broadcast (Coolidge won the presidency) and May’s Mandolin Musicians performed. Field was reaping great benefits. According to KMA Radio, The First Sixty Years by Robert Birkby, in its first year, KFNF, the “The Friendly Farmer Station,” had more than doubled Field’s seed business, and hundreds of people toured the company every day. It was no doubt to May’s great joy that his own radio station, KMA, went on the air in August of 1925.
The race was on, and the winner would be the city of Shenandoah. Just a year later, Radio Digest magazine’s coveted Gold Cup award for most popular announcer — decided by readers’ votes — went to Earl May, with 452,901 votes. The victory came thanks in part to Henry Field, the previous year’s third-place winner, who withdrew to throw support to May. Even so, Field finished sixth. To celebrate the win over big-city radio candidates, KMA held its first radio jubilee the first three days of November with a free pancake feed. Some 25,000 people swarmed Shenandoah. It was just a taste of things to come. Suddenly two men whose radio popularity was making them celebrities from coast to coast were drawing more people than they could easily entertain. In February of 1927 Henry Field announced he was building a new KFNF Auditorium. Not to be outdone, Earl May announced his plans for his new building in May.
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The Mayfair Auditorium was built at a cost of $100,000 in 1927 to house May’s daily radio broadcasts. The decor and architecture had a Moorish influence, and electric lights in the blue ceiling made stars seem to twinkle there.
“The Earl May Seed & Nursery Company was able to finance the auditorium because its business had increased 425 percent over the previous year,” Birkby writes. “Sales receipts of the garden seed department were 14 times greater than those 12 months earlier; those of the nursery department had been multiplied by seven, and the number of employees had tripled … In the first year the station was on the air, Earl May estimated that the company’s mailing list had grown by a million names.” And what a building it was. The 1,000-seat Mayfair Auditorium was designed to resemble a Moorish temple with a large onion dome, brightly colored patterned walls, and an arched ceiling with machines that gave the illusion of moving clouds and twinkling stars. The stage, where radio programs were produced, could be made soundproof by lowering a sheet of glass 6 feet tall and 24 feet long to separate it from the audience. Motion pictures could play on a screen. May wanted everyone to visit. “Remember, we do not put on any style here. Everyone is welcome,” he wrote. 34
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“If you are in your working clothes and decide to come, why come ahead because you’ll find me here in my working clothes, too.” — Earl May The company had been in business just eight years, and the excitement was just beginning. By the next year, May’s business quadrupled. “I’ve had such pleasant dealings for so long with all of you folks that I actually feel I know a great many of you personally,” wrote May in his 1929 catalog. “I’d like to meet you. I like visitors. I like to entertain them. I hope at least a million of you will give me the pleasure of knowing you during 1929.” The jubilees hosted by the stations — sometimes on the same week — offered free food and a carnival atmosphere. More than 400,000 attended in 1930. Extra facilities were built around town to accommodate the guests, and local businesses benefited.
By 1928, Earl May’s photo and personality burst forth from the company’s catalog, left, spouting his radio greeting. The tagline “from the home of KMA” made it clear that the business had been built on the airwaves. May’s radio show made him a national figure. Shortly after Franklin Roosevelt’s first election, May, above, far left, presented Mrs. Roosevelt, above center, with 100 choice roses for the White House Rose Garden.
But the Depression was beginning. As banks failed, May did whatever it took to instill a sense of confidence in his customers. “During the last year over a thousand customers have sent us their signed checks and left it to us to fill in the amount required for goods,” he wrote. We certainly appreciate this confidence, for we realize that only a concern who has dealt fairly and squarely with its customers over a number of years could win their confidence to this extent.” Both May’s and Field’s businesses made it through lean years with belt-tightening. “Don’t be frightened,” May wrote. “Things look gloomy now — but the banks will open. And your checks are good with me. Order what you and your family need. I will accept your checks.” Now, more than ever, he relied on the relationships he’d worked years to build.
By the 1940s, May had expanded, placing Earl May Stores in cities throughout Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri, a business that continues to this day with 31 locations, including two in Kansas. World War II brought more challenges, such as shortages of various commodities, including paper on which to print catalogs. Recognizing the need for produce to fill out diets limited by ration cards, he touted planting more fruits and vegetables. “Millions of our young men and women are engaged in the grim business of war,” May wrote in 1944. “While they secure our continued freedom with their privations and sufferings and even with their lives, the least we can do is to take hold of the nation’s need for foods.” The 1944 catalog shows May in shirtsleeves, leaning forward and smiling behind his KMA radio
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“We take a friendly interest in everyone who comes here. In fact, I am more interested in people than in anything else.” — Earl May As the Earl May Garden Centers cruise toward their 100th anniversary in four years, their seeds still grow to feed and beautify the country. “I know I have thousands and thousands of friends and really believe it’s because I have always liked people,” he wrote in his 1939 catalog. Earl May’s love for and belief in his customers are the hallmarks of a great salesman who planted the seeds of hope and inspiration in untold numbers.
PHOTO BY DEB WILEY
mike. By 1945 his photo shows him wearing a suit, leaning back in his office chair, and looking somber. “The job is STILL ours,” he writes. In the 1946 catalog, the same photo was used. “Our heritage has been saved for us again, and with it comes the responsibility for working for peace as devotedly as we did to win the war.” It was his last catalog message. May suffered a heart attack and died while vacationing at his summer cottage on Echo Lake near Mercer, Wisconsin, on December 19, 1946. Gertrude carried on until her own death in a fire at the cottage on July 9, 1973. Earl and Gertrude are buried in the appropriately named Rose Hill Cemetery east of downtown Shenandoah. Mayfair Auditorium was torn down in 1964 after being declared structurally unsound. Henry Field died in 1949; family ownership continued until 1981. The Henry Field’s Seed and Nursery name continues, owned by an Indiana company. KMA is owned by the children of Edward May. Frances May’s children control the garden center business. President Betty Jane Shaw, who was seven when her grandfather died, says the fourth generation is also somewhat involved.
AN OVERNIGHT SUPERSTAR Especially for folks in rural states such as Iowa, the advent of AM radio in the 1920s was revolutionary. It liberated them from isolation and loneliness by bringing news and entertainment right into their living rooms. Many if not most farm homes had batterypowered parlor radios decades before the arrival of the electrical grid. Listeners often viewed hosts of popular programs as trusted friends. During a brief window between the dawn of commercial radio in the mid-1920s and government regulation of radio signals beginning in 1934, powerful stations could be received nearly worldwide. They were often owned and run by businesses as a sideline. The stations produced a variety of live programs and hosted studio audiences, all the while indirectly promoting the businesses’ mainline products. During that time, visionary pioneers such as May could instantly reach a vast audience from anywhere — even tiny Shenandoah. (May said without exaggeration that his station’s call letters stood for Keep Millions Advised. Listeners wrote in from as far away as Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand.) May’s folksy manner and genuine enjoyment of people made him a natural for radio, and he became an overnight superstar. His seed business offered products nearly every household needed and could afford. The combination of message, medium, product, and audience made May one of the most famous
Deb Wiley is a Des Moines garden writer and regular
Iowans of his time — and his business one of Iowa’s
contributor to The Iowan.
greatest early 20th-century success stories.
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Our Story
FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED
From the very beginning, Earl E. May wanted to provide his customers with the best quality seed and nursery stock and most importantly, the best possible service. Today that same passion for gardening and commitment to customer service continues. While our reach may seem wide, our roots are firmly planted in the small Southwest Iowa town of Shenandoah. We pride ourselves in providing our customers with product that is guaranteed to succeed in the Midwest. We grow and package many of our products at our 22 acre facility just south of Shenandoah. Most of what we do not grow, is sourced locally to ensure less time from grower to garden center so that you, our customers, can have the freshest product available.
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Nursery & Garden Center www.earlmay.com March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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Open Every Day
10am - 5pm
Space Available for Quality Dealers!
Mall Gift cards Available!
Antique Malls 250 of the area’s finest dealers displaying antiques and collectibles In 3 large connecting malls including 3 floors in our 1880’s dairy barn. Retro furniture, Pyrex, glassware, Disney and Star Wars collectibles, Matchbox, Hot Wheels, architecture and garden, vintage tools and hardware. 100’s of showcases, dozens of booths and so much more!
Mercantile Mall 50 dealers displaying antiques, collectibles, movie, TV, sports and animation collectibles, classic video games and systems, home décor, huge selection of die-cast collectibles, furniture, toys and games, bar collectibles, sports themed merchandise, reproduction tin signs, glassware, jewelry, trains, vintage bicycles, gifts, and lots more! At the Famous Volo Auto Museum Near Routes 12 and 120 In Historic Volo, Illinois
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Northeast Iowa's premier destination garden center. Celebrating twenty years in 2015! Showcasing over an acre of display gardens, featuring water gardens, Garden Cottage, Gift House, and a diverse selection of hosta, daylilies, dwarf conifers, perennials, succulents, bedding plants, shrubs, garden gifts, water plants, trees, and more.
Open everyday April 24–October 108 E Wilbur St, Hawkeye, IA 52147 (30 minutes South of Decorah)
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HOURS M–F 10–7 Sat 8–6 Sun 10–5
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Celebrate Spring
34 acres of beauty to explore
and get your garden started with Seed Savers Exchange
March 1 Lillian Goldman Visitors Center Opens March-Oct: Open Daily 10-5 Nov-Dec: Thurs-Sun 10-5
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LIVING LARGE in Small-Town Iowa Four couples share their secrets to living the good life. by SUZANNE KELSEY | photography by JUSTIN HAYWORTH
“She was snatched back from a dream of far countries, and found herself on Main Street,” wrote Sinclair Lewis of Carol Kennicott. That character’s ambivalence about living in fictitious Gopher Prairie, Minnesota, was the subject of Lewis’s 1920 novel, Main Street. Nearly a century later, many residents of smalltown Iowa have no such ambivalence.
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“I don’t have to live in New York or San Francisco to have this really rich, intellectually challenging and interesting life,” says Jim Powers of Grinnell. Here’s how Powers and his partner, Dave Thompson, right, and three other fascinating couples — from artists to farmers — live enviable lifestyles by making the most of their small-town Iowa home bases.
Dave Thompson and Jim Powers relax on a garden swing in their Grinnell backyard. A steady stream of friends often joins them there from as far away as Europe.
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Powers is an avid gardener; Thompson, an experienced landscaper. They’ve spent more than 20 years turning their triple lot into lush gardens complete with waterfall, stream, and koi pond. Lily, their rescued terrier mix, keeps a close eye on the fish.
OUR OASIS
Jim Powers and Dave Thompson Graphic Designer and Retired Fireman Grinnell, population 9,118 Powers, 54, met Thompson, 58, in the early 1990s, a few years after moving to town to work as a graphic designer for Grinnell College (he’s now director of communications there). Powers intended to job-hop to a big city. “But with the college here, and so much activity and interesting people, suddenly I’d been here a lot longer than I thought I’d want to be. There are world-class intellectuals living here, and I get to hang out with them! It just fits.” Grinnell native Thompson is recently retired from the city’s fire department and still works parttime as a firefighter, school bus driver, and landscaper. Surrounded by his own friends and family, he’s nonetheless quick to welcome Powers’ diverse lot of college connections. One of the couple’s alumni friends works for the Department of Justice; another runs
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a medical research lab in Cleveland. One friend has served as legal counsel for the Oakland A’s and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two more work in international finance in Romania and London. “They all have unique jobs,” says Thompson. But when they return to town for alumni activities, “they are as common as can be. We can joke with them and harass each other. And the guys can relax here. They have such stressful lives, some of them. They can just come back here, hang out, and use our cars.” During the past 24 years, Powers and Thompson have hosted many alumni and their families at their earth-sheltered home six blocks south of downtown. Behind their home is a large deck and arbor and a series of magnificent gardens, including a rock-lined waterfall and koi pond, that hosts everything from small dinner parties to large picnics with 80 or more guests. Hospitality is clearly a way of being for the men. But, Powers says, “We also can be introverted. We’re perfectly happy sitting on the deck with the dogs.”
Part of the beauty of living in Iowa is an affordable cost of living that allows for travel elsewhere. “We’ve decided leaving Iowa in February to go somewhere tropical is not a bad idea,” says Powers. Last year, the two men vacationed in Hawaii.
They say their perch in Grinnell offers them the unique ability to choose — and afford — a lifestyle that’s often coveted by their big-city friends. In addition to many friends, they enjoy: GREAT FOOD. “We’re blessed with a number of good restaurants in Grinnell,” says Powers, “but there are also a lot of good cooks in this town. There’s a lot of socializing around food.” SERVICE. Thompson volunteers for the City of Grinnell as chair of the Human Rights Commission; Powers has served on the board of Imagine Grinnell, helping enhance the town’s quality of life through upgraded parks and trails. In a small town, they say, it’s easy to make a big difference — and have fun doing it. HOSPITALITY. “Our friends come stay here at our oasis, and then they give us amazing opportunities when we travel,” Powers says. Those include backstage passes to Grateful Dead shows, staying at the Ritz at Motel-6 rates in San Francisco, and free access to Disney World.
TRAVEL. “We love our place and lives in Grinnell,” says Powers. “But we both have had intense jobs, and so our enjoyment here also has to do with being able to leave.” Thompson’s “midlife crisis” led to an Audi convertible, which has taken the couple to both coasts on multithousand-mile road trips. They’ve also traveled to Hawaii the past three years. Says Powers, “We’ve decided leaving Iowa in February to go somewhere tropical is not a bad idea.” “In a small city like Grinnell, it’s easier to meet a wider variety of people because we don’t have homogeneous subcultures in which people can isolate themselves like in a larger city,” Powers says. As much credit as Thompson and Powers give to the town, the college, and their friends, it’s easy to see that the two men have helped create much of the environment they so enjoy. They’re both extraordinarily generous guys who seem to know everyone in town, offer a warm welcome to newcomers, and respect and appreciate those they encounter regardless of lifestyle or political persuasion.
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Mary and David Jensen find the front porch of their newly renovated ranch on Mary’s family’s home place is a great place to be. Their extended family often returns for reunions; the Jensens frequently travel as far as Tanzania to volunteer and teach.
TIED TO THE LAND
Mary and David Jensen Retired Teacher and Retired Farmer Rural Iowa Falls, population 5,146 Mary Jensen, 72, remembers the isolation she felt summers growing up on a farm near Iowa Falls during the 1950s, stuck in the country while town friends cavorted at the swimming pool. After leaving for the University of Iowa in the early ’60s, she vowed never to marry a farmer. More than 50 years later, Mary and her retiredfarmer husband, David, sit on the front porch of their home, just a few feet away from where Mary’s old home place used to be. They muse about how their return to the family farm out of financial desperation as broke young parents in the mid-’60s was key to the comfortable, cosmopolitan life they enjoy there today. In the beginning David, 73, quickly became known as a progressive farmer. “He was among the
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first in the area to practice no-till,” says Mary. However proud she is of being a farmer’s wife, she’s not a farm wife. “I’ve only driven a tractor once,” she declares. Dave, part taciturn farmer and part comic, adds, “She doesn’t have any two-buckles.” Instead, Mary’s passion for psychology and some additional schooling led to a 27-year teaching career at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls. The dual-career couple’s hard work paid off. Their recently gutted and renovated ranch, dubbed a “Botoxspecial” by David, has large windows; triple porches; and an open kitchen, dining, and living area. A large machine shed nearby serves as part Dave’s workshop and part bunkhouse for overflow visitors. Their lives are anything but isolated, with years of community service and other ties to the Iowa Falls community. At home, the couple is quick to greet friends and family with warm hugs. Their 12 grandchildren, now grown, played together nearly every summer while growing up and still love to gather
with their cousins at the farm — as will the newest generation of nine great-grandchildren. Dave still spends summers just across the gravel road grooming the six-acre lake and nearly 30 acres of surrounding woods and prairie. An expansive deck with a large picnic table and swinging bench beckons the couple’s many friends and large extended family to visit. Here are some of the ways they have packed it in — at home and beyond: GUMPTION. David engineered the lake out of a ravine and creek and planted the trees and prairie. After their youngest of five children graduated from high school, Mary pursued a master’s program in behavioral analysis at Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York City. “I missed David way more than I thought I would,” she admits. He leans in with a dry understatement: “That’s why getting together was always fun.” She returned from the city after nine months with new appreciation of her spacious farmhouse. ENTERTAINING. With larger cities like Ames and Cedar Falls nearly an hour away, the Jensens are pros at creating their own entertainment. Every 4th of July weekend a crowd gathers at the lake for a pig roast, Mary’s potato salad, a keg of beer, and a live band. The couple has organized everything from canoe rides on the Iowa River, bike rides from Iowa Falls to Steamboat Rock, ice skating, fan support for Mary’s stint as a driver in the Hardin County Fair Demolition Derby, and black-tie consignment-store-attire art openings, complete with prizes for art, music, and culinary entries. TRAVEL. Since retirement the couple has been seeing the world through Global Volunteers. “It’s a much more interesting way to travel,” says Mary. “You get to be part of the community” in places such as Poland, Tanzania, Saint Lucia, and South Africa. Mary teaches reading or English; David consults on farming and computers. The couple ends each trip with an adventure such as a safari or brief resort stay. Mary and Dave are now tied to the land out of love, not need. Peers may go south in the winter, but the couple prefers to watch the seasons change from home. Their contentment makes a compelling case.
A 6-acre lake helps the Jensens’ farm double as their vacation spot — and is a great draw for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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JUST CREATE IT
Rebecca Castle, Kevin Olson, and son, Solon, above top, say the town of Imogene feels like extended family. Patrons at their Emerald Isle bar and restaurant, above, feel right at home, too.
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Rebecca Castle and Kevin Olson Entrepreneurs Imogene, population 69 Sixty-nine people is more the size of a large extended family than a small town. Yet the town of Imogene in southwest Iowa is the center of one couple’s universe — and their window on the world. How so? Take a popular restaurant/bar called the Emerald Isle that serves 250 or 300 each weeknight and operates as community center for all ages after weddings and funerals at the nearby St. Patrick Catholic Church. Add the 63-mile Wabash Trace Nature Trail, one of Iowa’s longest and most popular bike routes, that runs south from Council Bluffs to the Missouri border. Midway, bikers often dismount in Imogene and head into the Emerald Isle for brews and burgers. “During the summertime, not a weekend goes by that we don’t see someone we’d never see if not for the bike trail,” says curly-haired co-owner/bartender Kevin Olson, 34, who sits at a table in the Isle on a late afternoon. He notes that like the Emerald Isle, the Trace connects every age and every walk of life. “You’ll see everyone from the doctors who ride down from Creighton University to the guys who make ends meet by giving plasma.” “Bikers riding coast to coast look for long sections of trail like the Trace to avoid riding highways,” adds Rebecca Castle, 30, Olson’s wife and the other co-owner of the Isle. She’s fielding phone calls and checking on the couple’s son, Solon, who is finishing a nap in back. Living large for Olson and Castle is not just about their business or the Trace. They’re also highly involved. With two houses — one in Imogene and one in Shenandoah, Olson’s hometown a few miles south — they consider themselves residents of both towns. Olson was elected mayor of Imogene a few years ago. He runs a youth wrestling program in Shenandoah. He is also a member of a county economic development board and a ubiquitous supporter of fund-raising events. Castle, from Farragut, southwest of Shenandoah, is president of the Southwest Iowa Nature Trails. She
Down the hatch! Solon gobbles some of his dad’s macaroni and cheese. His parents say that their lives and work meld together almost seamlessly — a real benefit of small-town life.
also chairs the Imogene portion of the annual Wabash Trail marathon, tries to save old historic buildings in Shenandoah and Imogene, and dreams about additional businesses to open in the area. Here are some of the ways Castle and Olson lead lives in and from Imogene: PITCHING IN. Castle and Olson and others started a community club called Sons and Daughters of Imogene to help with preservation efforts around town. The organization sponsors an annual softball tournament/ fund-raiser that brings in more than 400 players, families, and fans. “If you think a community is lacking something,” says Castle, “then just create it.” BIKING. Castle has participated in RAGBRAI every year of her life, including as a baby being pulled by her parents. Says Olson, “There’s not a town in Iowa she hasn’t been through.”
HAVING FUN. “We’re busy,” Olson says, “but our social calendar is full, too.” He says Shenandoah is a great music town because the owner of the Depot Deli is connected to musicians traveling from Nashville. “There’s a beautiful winery in Thurman, west of here,” says Olson. Castle mentions a popular restaurant and art studio in Malvern, northwest of Imogene. “If you’re bored in southwest Iowa, it’s your own fault!” she says. And the way they encourage others to join them, Imogene may not be tiny for long. “If you spent three days here, off our recommendation, you would feel like you have family here,” says Olson. “There are so many good people. And it’s neat to see someone from the outside grab on.”
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Rose Frantzen and Chuck Morris count great old buildings and plenty of affordable room to spread out as an advantage of their Maquoketa location.
URBAN REFUGEES
Rose Frantzen and Chuck Morris Artists Maquoketa, population 6,083 Rose Frantzen and Chuck Morris talk about space and beauty when asked about their quality of life in Maquoketa. “All this space would be absolutely impossible for us in a large city,” says Morris of the Old City Hall Gallery, built in 1901 and located downtown, which provides ample space for the couple’s paintings; their loft-style residence and Morris’s studio above the gallery; and Frantzen’s studio in a former church several blocks away. The Maquoketa Art Experience (MAE), a nonprofit cofounded by Morris that offers classes and rotating exhibit space, spans five storefronts downtown along with the Chamber of Commerce. “If we did find the space like this in New York,” says Morris, “it would be in a high-crime area with industrial noises all around — and even that would be unaffordable.”
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They know this because they both lived there in the early 2000s. By 2005 they were tired of cramped, over-priced housing and complicated commutes. They decided to move back to Maquoketa, Frantzen’s home town, where she had established the gallery and lived part-time before their marriage. Frantzen and Morris live and breathe their art, working late into the night — Frantzen on large figural oil paintings; Morris on drawings, oil portrait commissions, and mobile phone apps — when the rest of the town is sleeping. They find endless inspiration in Maquoketa’s everyday beauty, from thistle plants to the goldfinches darting into the sunflower patch outside Frantzen’s church studio. “We only have to drive into the country for five minutes to find a stunning landscape,” says Frantzen. Frantzen revels in skies, sunsets, bean fields in late summer, her parents who run her gallery, her townspeople, and the town itself. She gained national prominence with Portrait of Maquoketa, a collection of 180 head-and-shoulder oil portraits of her fellow
The two artists’ airy studios — Morris’s in a loft above the couple’s gallery; Franzen’s in a former church — are paired with easy access to stunning country landscapes to paint.
Maquoketans that was exhibited in 2009–2010 at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in D.C. The exhibit, which now includes a stunning panoramic painting of the town nestled in the countryside, is a part of the permanent collection at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport. Here are some of the other ways Frantzen and Morris appreciate their Maquoketa-based lives: LOCATION. “Maquoketa is centrally located in the U.S., so it’s an easy launching pad for heading to the East or West Coast and all over the place,” says Morris. When Frantzen is asked to teach or do demonstrations with the Portrait Society of America in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and D.C., the couple takes off in their van packed with gear, sleeping on a futon in back or staying with friends. A recent seven-week trip included two weeks of lodging and studio space in Taos and a week along the Monterey Peninsula. PACE. With a slower pace come fewer distractions. “Living in New York, you can have thousands of experiences, but you don’t have time to digest them,” Morris says.
COLLABORATION. The MAE recently formed a pilot project with faculty from the University of Iowa designed to cultivate a University presence in the town and region via art exhibits, film screenings, and theater performances. “We’re having some great interactions with some great people,” says Morris. “I’m inspired by that.” Each morning when the artists are ready to begin the day’s work, Morris often sends Frantzen off by saying, “Be bold.” The charge is appropriate for a couple who boldly stepped away from a thriving artists’ community in New York to make their own in Iowa. The space, the lower cost of living, and the family and community support in Maquoketa have allowed the couple to do what they do best — make and share art with a world that is recognizing their talents. Suzanne Kelsey is a freelance writer based in Iowa City and a frequent contributor to The Iowan. Justin Hayworth is staff photographer for Grinnell College [grinnell.edu] and an occasional freelancer.
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This is ahh-mazing.
Stroll through a tranquil garden that’s home to 90 varieties of roses. Find your groove at the nationally renowned Iowa City Jazz Festival. Explore the Midwest’s largest and most diverse collection of 1930’s Art Deco architecture. Meander among larger-than-life sculptures in the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park—one of the nation’s largest public collections. Extraordinary art and uncommon culture come together in Iowa. Discover unexpected trip ideas at traveliowa.com. 52
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TRAVELIOWA.COM
CARROLL
CEDAR FALLS
Take a road trip to Shop, Dine & Experience Carroll. Shop at unique boutiques that have a big city selection at small town prices. Dine at the many ethnic, casual and family restaurants. And experience golfing, fishing, hiking, or a picnic at Swan Lake State Park. Carroll, It’s All Here!
Iowa’s 2014 Outstanding Tourism Community features hard trails, soft trails, water trails, University of Northern Iowa, and award-winning historic downtown with museums, public art, locally owned breweries, shops, and restaurants. Cedarfallstourism.org | 800.845.1955
Carrolliowa.com | 712.792.4383
CEDAR RAPIDS
CHARLES CITY
Take a road trip to watch the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. And while you’re here, check out NewBo City Market for homegrown food and events. Then tour the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Brucemore Mansion and Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.
Experience the thrills of Iowa’s first whitewater park, view breathtaking works of art, play on a grass tennis court or take a trip back in time at an historic site. Exciting events, intriguing specialty shops and first-class recreational facilities make Charles City a must-see on your travel list.
cedar-rapids.com | 800.735.5559
charlescitychamber.com | 641.228.4234
CLAY COUNTY
CLEAR LAKE / MASON CITY
Experience the unique atmosphere of Clay County. While you’re visiting, take in our historical sites, countless parks and trails, and first-class entertianemnt. And don’t forget the “World’s Greatest County Fair” held each Septmeber. Whether it’s for a lifetime or just a day, we hope you Explore, Stay, Do Clay!
Experience music history unlike any other at the Surf Ballroom and Music Man Square. Then put on your walking shoes and explore famous Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and magnificent art, sculptures and gardens. And, of course, no trip is complete without spending a relaxing day on Clear Lake.
exploreclaycounty.org | 712.580.TOUR (8687)
travelnorthiowa.com | 800.285.5338
COUNCIL BLUFFS
CRESTON / UNION COUNTY
Bring the kids and your camera to a River’s Edge concert! Grab onto an exhilarating zip line, build a digital railroad, and taste local food, cheeses, and wines. Scenic, Entertaining, Historic, and Engaging. We are Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County.
Have a blast at our Three Mile and Twelve Mile Lakes, Green Valley State Park—and festivities like our 4th of July celebration, Annual Hot Air Balloon Days (3rd weekend in September) and No Place Like Creston for the Holidays. unioncountyiowatourism.com | 641.782.7022
travelcouncilbluffs.com | 844.271.6909 Special Advertising Section
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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DECORAH & WINNESHIEK COUNTY
DES MOINES
Named one of the “100 Best Small-Town Getaways” by Midwest Living Magazine. You’ll reconnect with the outdoors by canoeing, hiking, camping, and bird watching. Shop till you drop at specialty shops, antique shops, and galleries. And learn something new at our nationally acclaimed museums.
Catch a blockbuster musical at the Civic Center. One of the top farmers’ markets in the nation. Boutique shopping in the East Village. A stroll through the Sculpture Garden. Local brews and live music. Fine dining. High-action sports. Catch a love for Des Moines. catchdesmoines.com | 800.451.2625
visitdecorah.com | 800.463.4692
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FAIRFIELD
FOREST CITY
Fairfield is big on culture and thriving with creativity. Enjoy lunch in our bistros. Participate in our 1st Fridays Art Walk. Bike along the Fairfield Loop Trail. Experience a show at the Sondheim Center. It won’t take long for you to see how Fairfield is distinctly unique.
Explore the beautiful Pilot Knob State Park, tee off for a round of golf and kayak the Winnebago River. See how motorhomes are made at Winnebago Industries. And check out great summer events like Puckerbrush Days, International Fest, and Adventure Race.
travelfairfield.com | 641.472.2828
forestcityia.com | 866.585.2092
FORT MADISON
MATCHSTICK MARVELS
Watch a battle reenactment from the War of 1812 at Old Fort Madison. Catch a glimpse of the oldest prison west of the Mississippi. Saddle up for the TriState Rodeo. Enjoy unparalleled dining & shopping. And witness the beautiful views of the Great River Road. This is where Iowa began.
Since 1977, Gladbrook artist Patrick Acton has created dozens of intricate models and sculptures – constructed entirely of ordinary wooden matchsticks. To date, he’s used more than four million matchsticks to complete more than 67 models. See 16 of these works of wonder on display at Matchstick Marvels.
visitfortmadison.com | 800.210.TOUR
matchstickmarvels.com | 641.473.2410
OKOBOJI
PELLA
With abundant water recreation activities like boating, fishing and parasailing, to our vast bike trail system, Arnolds Park Amusement Park, golf courses, museums, shopping, unique dining and more, it’s no wonder we’re called Iowa’s #1 Vacation Destination! Pack your swimsuit and sunglasses, because summer isn’t summer without Okoboji.
Welkom to Pella, America’s Dutch Treasure, where you can see turning windmill blades, hear Dutch “klompen” on the streets and taste delectable Dutch pastries. There are countless small wonders that will tempt your senses and make your visit to our European-inspired village rich and memorable.
vacationokoboji.com | 800.270.2574 THE IOWAN | iowan.com
visitpella.com | 888.746.3882
Visit TRAVELIOWA.COM for more trip ideas.
RIVERBOAT TWILIGHT
STORM LAKE
Experience the Mighty Mississippi River aboard the luxurious, Victorian-style Riverboat Twilight. Departing the Quad Cities and Dubuque, our Captain will be your river guide for our one and two day cruises as you experience the geography, wildlife and history of the Upper Mississippi River Valley.
Storm Lake is a year-round destination with a fascinating history and a promising future. Its 3200-acre glacial lake is one of Iowa’s best places to catch walleyes. Storm Lake is one of Iowa’s richest, most diverse communities. There’s something special about Storm Lake.
riverboattwilight.com | 800.331.1467
visitstormlake.com | 888.752.4692
UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
WATERLOO
Celebrate spring and the current exhibitions during Brunnier in Bloom, an annual pairing of beautiful art and fabulous flowers, showcasing the talents of floral designers who create arrangements inspired by art on exhibition in the Brunnier Art Museum, March 27-29.
Come experience Waterloo! Explore our vibrant downtown that features outdoor recreation, locally owned restaurants, museums and cultural activities. Tour the John Deere Museum, visit the Isle Casino and enjoy our trails via bicycle or kayak. And did we mention we’re home to Lost Island Water Park? It’s Iowa’s largest!
museums.iastate.edu | 515.294.3342
travelwaterloo.com | 800.728.8431 Special Advertising Section
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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This is a place you’ll always remember.
TRAVELIOWA.COM Enjoy festivals that capture your imagination. Museums that take you back 10,000 years. Towering bluffs that will give you a breath of fresh air. Delicious delicacies that will make your mouth water for more. And sculpture gardens that will take you to another world. Want some amazing Iowa trip ideas? Select the destinations that interest you and we’ll send you more information about them.
an all volunteer 501(c)3 organization, dedicated since 1968 to beautifying and preserving public green spaces in the Iowa City/Johnson County area.
Mail this card to: Iowa Tourism Office 200 East Grand Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50309 USA
UPCOMING EVENTS
NAME __________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________________ CITY _____________________________________ STATE ________ ZIP ____________________ EMAIL _________________________________________ PHONE ________________________ ❑ CARROLL
❑ CRESTON/UNION COUNTY
❑ OKOBOJI
❑ CEDAR FALLS
❑ DECORAH & WINNESHIEK COUNTY
❑ PELLA
❑ DES MOINES
❑ STORM LAKE
❑ CEDAR RAPIDS ❑ CHARLES CITY ❑ CLAY COUNTY ❑ CLEAR LAKE/MASON CITY ❑ COUNCIL BLUFFS
GREEN
❑ FAIRFIELD
❑ RIVERBOAT TWILIGHT
❑ FOREST CITY
❑ UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
❑ FORT MADISON
❑ WATERLOO
❑ MATCHSTICK MARVELS
❑ IOWA TRAVEL GUIDE
March 8 — Garden Forum Speaker: Richard Jauron, ISU Dept. of Horticulture “Low Maintenance Perennials” Iowa City Public Library 2–4 pm May 9 — Garden Fair & Plant Sale Carver Hawkeye Arena 9–11:30am June 20 — Garden Tour View 6 diverse area gardens 3–8pm For more details go to
www.projectgreen.org
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Special Advertising Section
1/15/15 4:41 PM
tıpton Unwind in
www.visittipton.org
Great Local Dining • Old Cedar County Jail Museum • Carnegie Library & Grant Wood Art Collection • Fourth of July Celebration • Charming Downtown Shopping • Ridiculous Days Celebration • Hardacre Film Festival • Historic Painted Ladies Victorian Home Tour • Cedar County Attic Museum • Old Fashioned Christmas & Tour of Lights • James Kennedy Family Aquatic Center • Golf Courses • Cedar County Historical Museum • Cedar County Raceway
Iowa’s Largest Quality Arts & Crafts Shows Des Moines, IA – Iowa State Fairgrounds
February 27 - March 1 Fri. 5-9, Sat. 9-5, Sun. 10-4 300 Exhibitors, Adm. $6
Council Bluffs, IA – Mid-America Center March 21-22 Sat. 9-5, Sun. 9-4 150 Exhibitors, Adm. $5
Greater Des Moines
Botanical Garden Exploring, explaining and celebrating the world of plants Members and children 3 and under: FREE 909 Robert D. Ray Drive Des Moines, IA 50309-2897
Dubuque, IA – Grand River Center Saturday, March 28 9-4 100 Exhibitors, Adm. $5
Coralville, IA – Marriott Conference Center Saturday, April 25 9-4 125 Exhibitors, Adm. $5
Bring this ad to any of the above shows for $1.00 off one admission. Thousands of unique handmade products at every show. All fantastic shopping events. Callahan Promotions, Inc. 563-652-4529
dmbotanicalgarden.com 515.323.6290
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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Eighteen-month-old Prairie Rose watches her mother, Amanda, plant an heirloom tomato in the hole the two dug.
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Our First Garden
In May, a young Corning family planted a garden. By August, it helped change their lives. story and photography by DAN WEEKS
Jaime and Amanda Sandoval thought they were planting economy when they troweled heirloom seeds into the ground last May. To their surprise, they also harvested much more: great taste; a wonderland for their children, Gabriel, 3, and Prairie Rose, 18 months; and daily gifts for family. The Sandovals had switched to a diet high in natural foods a year before and noticed many benefits: Jaime and Amanda each lost about 20 unwanted pounds without even trying. Amanda’s chronic sinus and ear infections went away. Prairie Rose was no longer subject to rashes and eczema and Gabe’s behavior improved. But they’d also discovered that such food can be hard to find and expensive in a small town, and they wanted to try growing their own. They’d not gardened before and were initially apprehensive: Would things thrive? What about weeds, insects, disease? My wife, Randi, and I helped till a 20×40-foot strip of their backyard. “Plant what you’d like to eat and see what happens,” we said. What happened was transformational. The garden became a favorite place to be. “The kids come out here daily,” says Amanda. “They love to walk around in the plants. They both get really excited to pick stuff. Gabe will say, ‘Look! Tomato! I got you one!’ Prairie will go grab a stool to pick what she can’t reach from the ground. She knows where food comes from.” It became easier to follow a healthy diet. “Gabe wouldn’t eat veggies before. Now he loves to pick stuff and eat it,” says Amanda. “They eat carrots like crazy,” says Jaime. “We eat a lot of tomatoes and squash; Amanda really likes arugula with salad. The watermelon is just for fun.”
Their tastes continued to evolve. Now that it’s right out their back door, “We eat about 80 percent organic food these days,” says Jaime. “Once we were eating our own produce, it’s what we wanted to eat. Your palate changes; you crave different things. We no longer wanted lots of carbs and sweets.” Their beginners’ apprehensions vanished. The garden was less work than they’d imagined. “We were pretty laissez-faire about it,” says Amanda. We tilled in some composted horse manure before planting for fertilizer. The Sandovals laid down a blanket of cypress mulch early on to cut down on weeds. Later, everything grew so fast that their biggest task was harvesting. They saved money. “At least $200 per month on groceries,” says Jaime. “And that doesn’t even count all the stuff we share with our extended family.” “There’s almost more than we can eat,” he adds. “We’ll harvest a gallon container of lettuce at a time. If we have too much, we’ll take it to our families or to work. It’s great to be able to share.” “I’m at the sink washing vegetables right out of the garden, and it feels good,” says Amanda. “Like I’m right out of Little House on the Prairie. It’s good to reclaim those skills, to feel a little self-sufficient.” Next year, Jaime says, they’ll stagger the lettuce planting for a more even harvest, rearrange the layout a bit so the arugula gets more sun, and maybe add strawberries to the mix. Their advice for other beginning gardeners? “Just try it. Get your fingers dirty. Be passionate,” says Jaime. “Plants are really cool. They give a lot to us. It’s great to watch something so small grow to be so big and fruitful.”
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Three-year-old Gabriel often plays in the garden. It’s a magical landscape that’s part playhouse, part jungle, and part treasure hunting ground — with homegrown produce as the reward.
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Jaime picks a salad’s worth of arugula. “Sometimes we almost have more than we can eat,” he says. The family enjoys sharing its bounty with friends and relatives.
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Prairie Rose, knee-deep in watermelons, hunts for a snack. “She knows where her food comes from,� says Jaime.
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Amanda holds a bowl of freshpicked heirloom tomatoes, carrots, and arugula. “I cook right out of the garden,” she says. Dan Weeks is editor of The Iowan.
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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gives “Beauty you peace
wherever you encounter it in the world.
JENS JENSEN |
”
Danish-American Landscape Architect
EXPLORE OUR JENS JENSEN PRAIRIE LANDSCAPE PARK SOON ELK HORN, IA | DANISHMUSEUM.ORG
Battle of Old Bradford Civil War Reenactment May 16–17, 2015 9 AM–5 PM
Open Daily 9-5 • i-90 exit 14 (605) 642-West (9378) • COWbOys, RanCh life, histORy Of RODeO • ameRiCan iNDian CultuRe anD aRtifaCts • GOlD mininG, fORestRy anD bentOnite • authentiC antique WaGOns anD faRm implements
• fuRnisheD lOG Cabin anD RuRal sChOOlhOuse • live lOnGhORn Cattle • bOOk stORe & Gift shOp • live COWbOy musiC anD pOetRy • LIVE HISTORICAL PROGRAMS
see OuR viRtual tOuR at WWW.WesteRnheRitaGeCenteR.COm
Old Bradford Pioneer Village
Museum & Gift Shop Open May 1–Oct 1, 2015 Hours: M–Sat 9–5 Sun 1–5
Iowa’s Best Kept Secret
Now Handicapped Accessible 2729 Cheyenne Ave. Nashua, IA 50658 641-435-2567
The Dollies
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This unique display is now open near the 1905 Study Hall. Anatomically correct, these 81 hand-carved “Dollies,” also known as the “Firewood Floozies,” are 5/8ths human size and complete with handmade clothing, jewelry, and furniture. The artist, Robert Smith, farmed near Battle Creek and created the collection over 20 years. Visit one of the Midwest’s largest county heritage museums to see these treasures and more!
Plymouth County Historical Museum
335 First Avenue SW, LeMars, Iowa pchmuseum@gmail.com
Iowa Museum Association
715 D Ave, Kalona, IA 52247 319-656-2519 www.kalonaiowa.org Delaware County Historical Society Nine Buildings (Restored Lenox College): Civil War Monument and Resources. Local, School, Farm, Railroad, Pharmacy and Natural History displays. Listed on Iowa Scenic Byway and National Register Historic Places 563.926.2639 www.delcoiowahistory.org
Special Advertising Section
Take a small scale adventure into the history of agriculture!
Belle Plaine Area Museum & Henry B. Tippie Annex
The Figge Art Museum
Come experience Belle Plaine’s history along the Lincoln Highway. Visit the Belle Plaine area museum and Henry B. Tippie Annex. 901 12th Street, Belle Plaine, IA 52208 319.434.6093 info@bpiowahistory.com www.bpiowahistory.com
Open everyday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Dyersville, IA • 1-877-475-2727 www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com
Visit Heritage Square Park in Odebolt �
Put a little art in your life and visit today. The Figge is known for art exhibitions, education and some of the Midwest’s finest collections. 225 West 2nd Street Davenport, IA 52801 563.326.7804 www.FiggeArtMuseum.org
Date: 7-10-2013 Proof #: 1
The Iowa Rural Schools Museum features a representative classroom, artifacts, and school books from the 1880s–1950s. The Peterson Pioneer Home, furnished as a reminder of early pioneer life in NW Iowa. Odebolt’s Historical Museum, featuring items from the Adams and Cook Ranches. Find us at www.iowaruralschoolsmuseum.net www.odebolt.net 712-668-2231
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BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE SINCE 1967
The Iowa Children’s Museum
(319) 351-5738
Playing is learning! Family attraction for hands-on, active learning fun, inspires every child to imagine, create, discover, and explore though the power of play.
Johnson County860 Historical Society Quarry Rd. “Bringing History to Life since 1967” Coralville, IA 52241 860 Quarry Rd. Museum Hours: Coralville, IA 52241
Admission: Tues-Sat: 10am-5pm $5/visitor Sun: noon-5pm 12 and under: free (319) 351-5738
1451 Coral Ridge Avenue Coralville, IA 52241 319.625.6255 www.theicm.org
www.johnsoncountyhistory.org
www.johnsoncountyhistory.org
Museum Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10:00 am- 5:00 pm Sunday: 12:00pm-5:00 pm JohnsonCoHist_MAIowan_2015.indd 1
Admission: $5/visitor 12 and under are free
Open 7 Days a Week Year-Round 641-842-6176
NatlSprintCarMuseum_JAIowan_2014.indd Special Advertising Section 1
1/28/15 11:34 AM
Shelby County Historical Museum
Visit the
George M. Curtis Mansion 420 5th Ave S, Clinton, Iowa
1850s log cabins, horse-drawn farm equipment, military exhibit, presidential signatures, pioneer artifacts, Native American artifacts, and genealogy and research center 1805 Morse Avenue Harlan, Iowa 51537 (712) 755-2437 Open M–F 8–4
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Home of the Clinton Lumber Industrialist Schedule a tour, event or meeting.
563.242.8556 Go to www.georgemcurtismansion.org for upcoming events & more information
10:54 AM 20111/9/15 67 www.IowaMuseums.org
1/24/14 9:02 AM GeorgeMCurtis_MAIowan_2015.indd 1 THE IOWAN July/August
CARNEGIE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Hub City Heritage Corp. Railway Museum
Proudly preserving Oelwein, Iowa's railroad heritage.
An Iowa Century Museum...
COME SEE... WHERE IOWA BEGAN
Featuring train cars, handcars, 75 ft. Yardmaster tower, and a 1914 Vintage wooden caboose.
housed in the first of 1,689 Carnegie-endowed library buildings since 1892. The collections include Roman Antiquities, Native American artifacts and relics from the Civil War.
Join us for our annual
Heritage Days Celebration
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 1–4 p.m. First Friday Art Walk: 6–9 p.m.
North Lee County Historical Society
112 S. Court Street, Fairfield, IA 52556 641.472.6343 www.fairfieldmuseum.com fairfieldmuseum@gmail.com
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Take a journey through our heritage Mon–Sat 10am–3:30pm Sun 12pm–3:30pm Closed for major holidays
fortmadisonhistory.org 319-372-7661
Open Sundays May–Sept. 1–5 pm or by appointment 26 2nd Avenue SW, Oelwein IA 319-283-1939 www.cgwoelwein.com
1 1/20/15 Take a step HubCity_MAIowan_2015.inddTRAINS on the back into FARM small-town Iowa History! Model & Toy Trains, Railroad Artifacts 1/13/15 9:12 AM
Visit the Historic Burkard Riegel Blacksmith Shop 210 Mill St, Clermont, IA Open Memorial Day–Labor Day for self-guided tours. Guided tours by appointment. Call (563)423-5561
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Writing the history of Pen City
— always the 3rd weekend in August —
11:46 AM
Museum, Children’s Toys, Ag Toys, Dioramas of the Civil War, Circus, Wild West & Disney
Join us for a time of fun, nostalgia, history “On The Farm” Tours lasting 2, 5 or 8 hrs are available — call for more information. 30215 170th Street Clarksville, IA 50619 319.278.4847 www.trainsonthefarm.com
1/7/14 2:04 PM
The
Operating Toy Train Museum in Iowa
Amana Heritage Museum
o-PEN Mon & Fri 10am–2pm Private Tours Available By Appointment
sheafferpenmuseum.org 319-372-1674
Spring Events
Exhibits in three 19th century communal buildings tell the story of the Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark. Introductory video. Museum Store.
319-622-3567 www.amanaheritage.org
Open May 23–September 7 10:00am–6:00pm Daily
515.674.3813
www.trainlandusa.com 3135 Highway 117N Colfax, IA (North at exit 155 off I-80)
Don’t miss the Calamu s Depot!
Main Street Quilt Walk
March 2nd–14th Avenue G Historic Main Street District
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1/26/15 11:57 AM
Trains, Tracks & Modeling Meet April 16th–18th Santa Fe Depot Museum Avenue H & 10th Street
Old Fort Madison Living History Weekend
April 18th–19th 9am–5pm Experience life during the War of 1812!
1-800-210-TOUR visitfortmadison.com FortMadison_MAIowan_2015.indd 1
Iowa Museum Association
Buffalo Bill Museum and River Pilot's Pier Exhibits on Buffalo Bill Cody, river history, regional history and the Lone Star, the last wooden hulled steamboat in the U.S. 199 N. Front St., LeClaire, IA open year round Mon–Sat 9am–5pm Sun Noon–5pm
buffalobillmuseumleclaire.com 563-289-5580
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Rock Island Depot
Wilton, Iowa Museum focuses on Wilton and Rock Island items. Open Saturday and Sunday afternoons Other days of the week by appointment
563-299-8603
1/29/15 11:13 AM WiltonHist_MAIowan_2015.indd 1
1/20/15 3:59 PM
Special Advertising Section
CELEBRATE RAILROAD HERITAGE
&Museum
Celebrate National Train Day May 9, 2015
Excursion Train Rides at 1:30 p.m.
Visit the James H. Andrew Railroad Museum Dinner & History Train Center at 5:30 p.m. Open Reservations 10 a.m to Required for Dinner Train 5 p.m. Register to WIN!!!! Dinner Train Tickets 1-800-626-0319 www.bsvrr.com
Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum 225 10th St. • Boone, IA
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM Trace the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad • Discover artifacts from President Abraham Lincoln’s life and railroad legacy • Immerse yourself in the height of Union Pacific’s passenger service • Explore the technology used by today’s railroad •
Visit today! Admission is free.
200 Pearl Street • Council Bluffs, IA 51503 Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (712) 329-8307 • www.uprrmuseum.org
Creston’s Restored Depot
The restored depot symbolizes Creston’s railroad heritage. The depot, built in 1899, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s easy to see the building’s rich history both inside and out. Enjoy the 50+ trains that pass by daily as well as the many shops in Uptown Creston. Come enjoy and explore the regional center of SW Iowa.
Open Monday–Friday 8 am–5 pm All day on the 4th of July All day on September 19 Hot Air Balloon Days All day on December 3 Lighted Christmas Parade www.crestoniowachamber.com 641-782-7022 116 West Adams, Creston, IA
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March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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60 Years Ago in The Iowan
A six-day-old Guernsey calf graced the March 1955 cover. Inside, a letter from Paul Engle, longtime director of the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop, praised the magazine for “a fine job . . . well done.”
A single Guernsey calf such as this one can grow up to produce some eight tons of milk per year, making them a favorite with dairy farmers.
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
An article featured Central Show Printing Company of Mason City, “one of the world’s largest circus poster printing plants.”
flashback: 1955
Terrace Hill was still home to the Hubbell family in a photoessay on page 26. It wouldn’t become the governor’s mansion until 1976.
A thief creeps through a homeowner’s front door in this Northwestern Bell ad while the moon comments on how an extension line could have saved the day.
“Bowling is ‘respectable’ now,” announced an article on page 18. “It has become a family sport” no longer associated with “saloons and other disreputable places.”
In 1955 you could still ride from Fort Dodge to Des Moines and between Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Waverly, and Cedar Rapids on rural trolleys. But not for much longer. (The Cedar Valley Road by Linda McCann, available from iowan.com, chronicles the history of one interurban.)
March/April 2015 | THE IOWAN
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escapades
On the Fence When it’s barbed wire, the decision is easy by LOUREE CLEM | illustration by DAVE TOHT For decades, high schools in the Midwest offered a course in “normal training” that prepared juniors and seniors to be teachers after graduation. I was one of them. True, we were not certified for urban classrooms, but we were a necessity in the one-room schoolhouses that dotted rural America. Miss Burton was the training mentor in our Iowa town. She was a buck-toothed, homely spinster with a prodigious
I packed my canvas bag, locked up, and crossed the
sense of humor and infinite patience. Her life motive was to
road to the fenced cornfield. The wind had now whipped to a
steep us in child psychology, room management, and the
fury. I grasped the fence post and stepped up with both feet
pedagogy of reading, spelling, math, and social studies.
on the barbed wire. As I tried to balance myself, the wind
In September, after graduation and barely beyond our
forced me against the barbs, which snagged my legs. When
own childhood but meticulously prepared, we faced our
I managed to straddle the fence, a fierce gust shook me
class in an isolated one-room school. My first year I taught
against the cutting wires again. Steadying myself, I swung
12 children in five grades. Built into me by Miss Burton was
over the savage barrier and took off across the stubble field.
an awesome compulsion to provide lessons in every subject and for every grade daily. 1930s country kids were cooperative and unspoiled.
The wind shoved me back and sucked my breath away as I plodded through the snow. At last, up ahead I could barely see a figure moving toward me. My father shouted
They relished singing at Opening Exercise while I pedaled
my name and in seconds wrapped his strong arm around my
the tunes on the organ. On winter days everyone brought a
shoulder. We trudged along together. I was crying, but he
potato to bake on the heating stove. At noon we scurried for
didn’t know it.
our lunch pails and sat like a big family eating and talking.
That very night, covered with Merthiolate antiseptic
This simple setting kept Iowa first in the nation for literacy.
and bone-tired, I made the decision. Next year, somehow
After the first three weeks, I knew my workload would
I would get away and go to college. I could save up most
never lessen. Building the fire, pumping the water, and
of my $55 monthly salary and do it! That decision wrought
sweeping up at the end of the day added to the burden. I felt
in desperation took me into a new world and changed the
a deep sense of accomplishment, but wondered how long I
course of my entire life.
could keep it up. One gray morning I wrote February 7, 1939 on the blackboard. A struggling fire was beginning to raise the
After earning a certificate, a B.A., and an M.A. in teaching,
subfreezing temperature of the room. By early afternoon
Louree Clem taught for decades in Iowa and Missouri.
snow was falling in opaque sheets and I dismissed early. A
Dave Toht is a writer, illustrator, book publisher, and blogger
farmer arrived to relay a telephone message from my father:
(davetoht.tumblr.com).
The road to the school was impassable. I should walk two miles across fields to the highway, where he would meet me.
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THE IOWAN | iowan.com
Do you have a story about your escapades in Iowa? Email it to editor@iowan.com and we’ll consider it for publication.
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APRIL 11 Practice Night 18 Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series 25 MAY 2 9 16 23 30 JUNE 6 13 20 26 27
JULY 4 10 11 14 16 18 25
AUGUST 1 Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship
Season Opener plus 305’s Pella Motors Race For Your School Night/Lion’s Club Night Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #2 plus 305’s
Cup Series #16 410’s & 360’s Candi’s Flowers Night
Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #3 plus 305’s Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series Night #4 (National Sprint League) Holtkamp's Trailer Repair and Randall's Performance Night in honor of Brian Hetrick plus 305's and Dirt Trucks Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #5 plus 305’s Knoxville McKay Insurance/Allied Insurance Night Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #6 plus 305’s Pizza Hut Night Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #7 plus 305’s Pella Corp & JDRF are Racing to a Cure for Diabetes Night National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Induction Banquet
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6 7 8
25th Annual Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals plus 305’s
9
Knoxville Championship Cup Series #17 4th Annual Capitani Classic - 410’s
55th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Stores 12 RacingJunk.com Qualifying 13 Lucas Oil Qualifying 14 SPEED SPORT Knoxville World Challenge 15 55th Annual FVP Knoxville Nationals Finals
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Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #8 plus 305’s World of Outlaws Mediacom Shootout plus 360’s KCCS #9 Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #10 plus 305’s Nostalgia at Knoxville Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #11 Mid Season Championships (National Sprint League) Farm Bureau Night plus 305’s Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Induction Banquet
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Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series Finals #18 (National Sprint League) Walmart Night plus 305’s (Sept 5 rain date) Knoxville Enduro
SEPTEMBER 18 Monster Jam 19 Monster Jam 24 25 26
12th Annual Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s General Store
Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #12 (National Sprint League) Marion Co. Cattlemen, Corn and Soybean Growers Night at the Races 360 Twin Features Night Marion Co. Fair Entertainment – TBD in Concert Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #13 HyVee Night, Marion Co. Fair Marion Co. Fair Entertainment – Full Blown Rodeo Harris Clash Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #14 Town Crier Twin Features Night (410’s) Fill the Stands for Hospice Night Lucas Oil Knoxville Championship Cup Series #15 plus 305’s - 3M Night
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M O .C Y A W E C A R KNOXVILLE November/December 2013 | THE IOWAN
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