Marshall County Courthouse and Clocktower

Some time ago, I posted about the Marshall County Courthouse in Marshalltown, Iowa.  We visited during the winter, and the clock tower was closed for the season.  So, during the summer of 2015, we called the county Board of Supervisors, and Lisa Gassman kindly agreed to give us a tour.

Courthouses that allow visitors to climb the stairs up to the clock tower are few and far between, so we were especially grateful for this opportunity.

Liscomb Church of Christ

Sunday evening, my family and I went to Liscomb Church of Christ to hear friend and fellow blogger Phil Gould sing.  Phil used to sing as part of the country duo Sugar and Spice.  If you have a very good memory, you may recall his observations on eating sweet corn that I posted about in 2014.  I also mentioned having his autograph in my collection and hearing him sing in 2012 after shoveling a grain bin.

Stepping out of the car a few minutes before the concert, I realized, "I should post about this church!"  Built in 1911, it was one of two churches in Liscomb, Iowa, a town of 301 people.  The second church down the road--which also must have been beautiful in its day--had become a home for raccoons, and recently was torn down.

Cars at Culvers

Driving through Marshalltown on our way to Menards the other day, Papa and I noticed many classic cars on the road.  Where were they all headed?  We soon found out.  The Culver's parking lot was filled with beautiful, classy rides--and people admiring them.  It wasn't something we were going to miss!  I've paid to visit a museum with cars like these.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."  --St. Augustine

Marshall County Courthouse

The Marshall County Courthouse in Marshalltown, Iowa, was built between 1884 and 1886 on land given to the county by the town's founder, Henry Anson, with the provision that a courthouse costing at least $100,000 would be built.  Construction costs totalled just short of $150,000.

Our objective in visiting the courthouse was to visit the clock tower and see the view from the top of the courthouse like we did in Grundy County.  Papa and I were told that the clock tower is closed during the winter, but tours are available during the summer months, so we contented ourselves with admiring the architecture and visiting a courtroom.

Watson's Grocery Museum

On the same day we visited Niland's Cafe in Colo, we stopped at Watson's Grocery Museum in State Center.  It was closed, so we contented ourselves with looking intently through the windows.  Jeff Merrill, who owns Remarkable Rose, Floral & Gifts down the street, was watering flower pots at the business next-door, noticed our interest, and offered to open the museum up and give us a tour!  

Things like that don't happen every day!  Needless to say, we were delighted and very thankful!  Having grown up in State Center, Mr. Merrill was very familiar with the history of the grocery store and surrounding area and proved a very informational guide.

Tasty Freeze and Taylor's Maid-Rite

After the Bontrager concert, Papa surprised us by taking us out to Tasty Freeze where we ordered chocolate dipped ice cream cones ($2.50 each).  Considering how big our medium cones were, we had a hard time imagining large ones.  It was a challenge to eat mine before it melted!

Through the front window we could watch the cones being dipped very skillfully.  I've never tasted a bad chocolate-dipped ice-cream cone; we picked a never-fail winner.

Culver's

Teenage life cannot be complete until one has visited Culver's, so on my last day as a teenager, my dear Papa took me to Culver's in Marshalltown on our way home from chess camp where I was an instructor (more about that in another post).   

We each ordered a single-patty Cheddar Butter-Burger ($2.69).  The burger was very flavorful, and I loved the fresh tomato slice; it was a lot better than many other fast-food burgers.  And, did I say fast?  Culver's service is lightning speed!  I got our drinks and no sooner had I sat down when a waitress brought us our dinner.  

The Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop

We recently visited the Matthew Edel Blacksmith Shop in Haverhill, Iowa.  Matthew Edel immigrated to the United States from Germany. He opened his blacksmith shop in 1883.  Until the family could build themselves a house, they lived above the shop in the attic.  They were avid gardeners, growing and preserving food from their own large gardens. This photo from 1915, which hangs in the shop, shows Mr. Edel (center) with his then 16-year-old son Louis on the left and a customer on the right.  

A Drive Through the Countryside

This morning we awakened with the dawn to deliver a load of our concrete pads for propane tanks to a co-op near Des Moines.  The grass was still glittering with dew and crepuscular creatures were singing mellifluous ballads to our magnanimous Creator, thanking Him for another beautiful day.

Our journey to the co-op was uneventful.  We noticed several family businesses on the way, selling trellises, quilts, eggs, and potted flowers.  It was delightful to note that the spirit of entrepreneurship still flourishes in rural Iowa.

On our way home we chose a circuitous route, aiming to catch a glimpse of the more colorful side of the countryside.

Here's Saylorville Lake:

It reaches as far as the eye can see.

Shortly after crossing the lake, we reached Polk City where this large nut caught our eye:

"Can you imagine how big of a wrench you would need to tighten that?" Papa asked.  It's perfect for a Brobdingnagian.  Unfortunately the artist was not at the studio so we couldn't get a closer look at his artwork.

We drove through Rhodes and checked on the tank which adorns the heart of the town (I wrote about it here last year).

Down the road a ways in another small town we came across an old Phillips 66 gas station.

It was closed, but there would be a rush at the pumps if it reopens someday at the price of the last sale!

Total price: $1.95 (?)  36.9 cents per gallon.

Reminders of the past are always present in the countryside and small towns where the good old days will ever live on.  We returned safely home, and can only thank the Lord for "oh, what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day!"

"The Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."

Treasures of Small Town Iowa

When we make deliveries of the concrete pads we sell for propane tanks, we often like to take country roads which lead us through small towns. 

Every area of the country has its own secrets which only locals know.  In our neck of the woods most everyone knows that "Lonny's" is where all the farmers go to drink their coffee, swap stories, and eat peanuts; the thrift store behind Subway is the best place for bargain shopping; my dad's shop is where to have welding done; the blue pick-up truck belongs to so-and-so, etc.  But outsiders are clueless (and my dear readers would still be lost trying to discover these local secrets from the tips above without additional help from locals).  

While we certainly haven't cracked the enigmas of any of the small towns we drive through, we have skimmed the surface to discover a few of the small town treasures.

Rhodes, Iowa has a population of 305 and was founded in 1803.  Driving through the town, we wondered what treasures it held.  As we neared the center of the town we saw a tank!

The Vietnam era tank  (pictured above) was placed on display  in the early 1990s.  The treads of the tank reach to a height of about 5 feet.  During the Vietnam War, the tanks would plow through vegetation, leaving paths behind them which troops could follow without having to cut their way through the jungles.  At the park and veterans' memorial where the tank sits, we met Jerry, who as a member of the city council helped arrange for the tank to be moved to Rhodes.  He explained to us that the tank was now welded shut, but in the case of a national emergency the welds could be removed and the tank could be put back into service.  

I didn't get any good full-body shots of the tank, so here's one from randomiowa.com

Another town we drove through is State Center, the Rose Capital of Iowa.  State Center is a slightly larger town with a population of 1,468.  Some of the flowers in the Rose Garden were starting to fade, but enough of the roses were vibrant enough for it to still be a photographer's heaven!

A park bench

And such is the beauty of small town and country life!