Calmar Courier
November 5, 2013 Vol. 35, Issue 45
Community News. Community Service. Address: PO Box 507, Calmar, IA 52132 Email: calmarcourier@hotmail.com Phone: (563) 562-3488 Web: www.calmarcourier.com USPS: 335-690
Official Paper of Calmar, Fort Atkinson, Spillville, Ridgeway, Waucoma, Winneshiek County & Turkey Valley Community Schools
Calmarʼs WhistleStop Finds a New Home
Joyce Meyer Surrounded by once treasured items, that may have went out of style many years ago and now are antiques or collectibles, are in the loving hands of the Tom and Mary Welch at the Whistletop Antique store in Calmar. Many collectibles are advertising souvenirs from different area towns, from cookbooks to knickknacks. To find these special treasures, stop by the newly relocated Whistlestop Antiques, fitting in nicely at Calmar’s historic old train depot building. Mary and Tom have graciously
agreed to also give out tourist information since it is right beside the Prairie Farmer Trail, helping out the town of Calmar. They are also working on putting together a small museum in the back. They kicked off last weekend with their first historical area book signing and presentation by Calmar resident Elaine Myhre Hegg and plan to sell area authors’ books in the store. The couple became interested in being serious collectors in the early 1990’s, when they were liv-
ing in Dubuque and both working there, though Mary was very interested in antiques before that and Tom had worked for the “Antique Trader” (a national antiques news magazine) in his younger days. After graduating from Loras College in 1970, Tom soon began his first career as a news reporter for the local Dubuque television station. Tom has fond memories of interviewing Svetlana Stalin (Joseph Stalin’s daughter), and also covering the then famous Wadena Rock Festival.
Mary recollects, “My father was Art Rolfes, who had a jewelry and watch repair business in Calmar for many years, beginning in 1952. Dad had lost most of his eyesight due to macular degeneration and was worried about what would become of his store building. It was more than just a store building to me, as my mother, father, grandmother, and I had lived in the upstairs apartment for about six years--it was the first home I remember. We bought it from him and after having quite a bit of work
Hello Calmar!
Santa’s Helpers Is Coming!
Halloween Highlights
‘Hero of the Year’
An article from the new owners of your very own Calmar Courier. All the details of what’s to come on page 2.
See page 3 for the full deatils, guideline, and entry deadline.
Photos and stories from many of the Halloween events can be found on pages 5 and 16.
Check page 8 for the article about ‘Hero of the Year’ finalist Chad Pregracke.
done on it, opened up as a weekend-only antique business in 1996. After doing this a while, an opportunity came up for me to transfer my job to the Decorah area due to someone’s retirement and luckily, Tom could also transfer to an employer in this area for the insurance sales he was involved with in 1998. Both of our children were out of school and away from home, so it seemed like a good time to relocate to Calmar. The store was successful and Tom eventually WHISTLESTOP to page 3
inside this issue: $0.50 per copy