This is a Blog site created by Bob Reed (in Florida) for folks who live--or used to live--in Marcus, Iowa. Its purpose is to exchange notes, news, remembrances, and thoughts about life in and about Marcus, or news about one's family, friends or acquaintances. Don Peters (in California) and Roger Rae (in New York) have talked about such a site and this is an attempt to allow expatriates and locals to exchange comments.
Let's begin July by repeating a couple of comments from late June. Remember, you CAN go back and read the previous months, but some of you may have missed these.
First, from Julia Meylor Simpson:
Which brings up another topic: Marcus cafes past and present. Any stories?
P.S. I get the Marcus News a little later than normal, so I know this isn't from the current edition, but in the paper I got today Velma seems to be a bit upset about comments on this blog. That saddens me because I would hope that Marcus doesn't see anything on this website as derogatory towards any community effort. I read the Marcus News from cover to cover and have been a faithful subscriber for almost 30 years now, ever since my parents first sent it to me as a freshman at Iowa State. I humbly apologize if any remarks were taken negatively from anything said here. Again, I know keeping a community newspaper alive is a daunting task, but it must survive as the pulse of the town.
And from new contributor Vana Marquis Bris-Bois:
Uncle Joe died in 1968 from a fishing accident. Marcia it's great to hear from you also. Do I ever remember that car. It was a gray 1948 Dodge. Dad didn't like me driving it too far but it sure got around town and out to the farm a lot. Remember how we would pile all the basketball players in the car to drive to the old gym during basketball season. I remember getting stuck in some snow drifts and everyone would get out and help push me out. That old car was built like a tank. I don't think the heater worked that well and if I remeber right a passenger door would fly open every once in awhile if you didn't get it shut just right. Teresa Kaufman drove an old Chevy and she and I thought we were tough stuff because we were two of the few girls that had cars but you sure wouldn't have called them muscle cars.
I don't subscribe to the Marcus News but anytime I have looked at it I can never find an email address to send suggestions or complaints to the editor. I wish they had such a feature, I think it would help make the paper more responsive to the communities needs. If it is listed and I missed it then I apologize for this post.
Now I hope no one at the paper is offended. Please take it as constructive criticism from a former resident that loves his home town and wants to see Marcus prosper in any way it can.
If there is such an email address can someone please post it here?
My name is Scott Stowater and I lived in Marcus only til I was 8yrs. old. I recently was saddened after being informed of my uncle Lorens passing. Although I'm not up to date on much of that side of my family. I do remember him as a great family man, and my condolences go out to all that knew him. I know he will truly be missed alot. scottstowater@cox.net
Was reading last months comments about best Marcus pitchers. I'm probally a little bias but Larry Slagter was my uncle. So guess who i'm voting for:) scottstowater@cox.net
Earl,I need to add some comments about our town softball team....Slate pitched but our best was a chap from Paulina that pitched for us during the week and pitched hardball, yes, hardball on Sunday for Paulina. I played 2nd base the summer after 47 graduation before cycle accident late summer. In Des Moines we beat one of the 2 top teams in the state...John Deere of Wtloo with a Red Foley pitching for them. Yes, I do remember that great little All-American Johnny Bright of Drake...some pitcher& running back
Im quite sure Dick Dorr was the other high school 47 grad...all the rest were GI's home from service.
I've another fond recollection of Marcus, this one relating to food. (Not cafes, Julie, but the homecookin' types all over our community.) It re-surfaced when I went back to Marcus for my father's funeral. My older brother and I were talking with one of the "church ladies" about how we would feed people after the service. She started by asking what we thought we wanted to serve. It was the most incredible thing - We'd say, potato salad, for example. She remark, "Oh that would be "X". She makes the best potato salad in town and she's fast." As we proceeded down the list of meats, side salads, desserts, she had "the best of" names for everyone of those categories.
I'll only say that my mom makes killer dressing at Thanksgiving. I won't go beyond that or I'll embarrass her and bore everyone else.
Do any of remember where in the Marcus area you ate the best fried chicken, chili, apple or peach pies, potato salad, soup, fresh bread or rhubarb crisp? You can name your own mother/father, but it would be more fun if you would offer up a name from your church, social circle or neighborhood.
My very German grandmother made coffe kuchen every Saturday, which we picked up at her house for after-church on Sunday. It was wonderful.
There are some tremendous cooks and bakers in Marcus. All you have to do is visit a church booth at the Fair and try some of the pies or think back to a church potluck.
Let's start a top-ten list of blue ribbon winners in the cooking and baking categories. Any nominees? Fred
Don, I must have hit an improper key and killed my blog. Glad to see you are up an running: we spent a long weekend in Del Mar this past Spring, but didn't call because of circumstances. The chap from Paulina was Ev Mueller [sp], he lived on a farm northwest of Marcus, went to high school in Paulina, played baseball at Iowa Teachers, and coached in a northeast Iowa high school. He was special. I played on the softball team in 1947. Jim Bird was first baseman but didn't make it to a game in Cherokee. I was watching in the stands and Joe Schmidt, manager, asked if I would fill in. I played in street clothes but started every game after that until I went into the Marine Corps in 1951. I also remember the motorcycle accident you and Lynn Simons survived just east of the Mile Corner. That ride started at the ball park and ended at the Illinois Central Hospital in Chicago. Good thing we were gandydancers on the section crew. Benefits were unusual at the time. Earl
As we begin a new month, we should rejoice in all the new folk posting on this blog! YEA! And we should encourage all our older bloggers (who haven’t been heard from in a while) to post their thoughts and questions and responses to queries and subjects. Your ideas, comments and news are most welcome in this “electronic-across-the-back-fence” means of communication!
And let’s hear from some Marcus residents! For the thing that brings us together is a common love of our ol’ home town. As the writer J.R. Moehringer notes in a different context:
"Everyone has a holy place, a refuge, where their heart is purer, their mind clearer, where they feel close to God or love or truth or whatever it is they happen to worship."
He was talking about a bar.
Which leads me to ask about the Hawkeye. Has it been sold or is it still up for sale? Has it closed? If so, what will the town do without that place, where the companionship of a fellow pilgrim’s journey through life requires the assistance of a drop or two?
10. eating juicy black mulberries ripe from the tree while slapping mosquitoes after bean walking 9. the plentiful leftovers from the huge dinner after the workers and neighbors left who were cutting and baling hay 8. various homemade cinnamon rolls and sticky buns after church with huge chunks of butter 7. chili and homemade pie at the Methodist (?) Church stand at the Marcus Fair while waiting for dad to finish working at the Bingo stand 6. Jello desserts in the various shapes, colors and adornments at every event or holiday I ever remember 5. the fried chicken brought to picnics and get-togethers of card clubs and hobby clubs held at the park on summer Sundays 4. big pans of gooey, rich Rice Krispie Scotcheroos after playing kick the can in the summer 3. my mom's strawberry-rhubarb or mulberry-rhubarb pie ... awesome! 2. tomato and bacon sandwiches after coming back from August vacations because the garden was full of bursting tomatoes
AND THE NUMBER ONE MIDWEST culinary delight??
1. BIG PANS of BUTTERED POPCORN!!! ... no microwave fluff here ... just kernels shucked from the small ears put away or Jolly Time during every season of the year ... cooked in a heavy, deep skillet on the stove, poured into a long pan (trough-like) for communal sharing (you learned to scoop out big handfuls very quickly) and covered in melted butter and salt.
Scott your Uncle was a great guy in high school; I playled football and basketball my soph year when your uncle, "Stipe" was our center. I remember the nite that he had the flu and came out and scored his career high as our center. Because of his rebounding ability, he started most all of our fast breaks such as theywere. I do recall, Johnny Leavitt at the other guard and Leon Ebert at one forward (Leon was also a soph). Stipe always had a big smile and whether it athletics or work or just fun he gave it 110% all the time....you would of been proud to see him on the court or at school. Good Luck. Don P
Right now, I am thinking of sweet corn and lots of it. We'd eat it every day until it was too hard or the coons got it all. When our sweet corn patch was right behind our house I remember dad putting a radio out there. It would be on all night keeping the racoons away... or they enjoyed a little dinner music.
Scott Stowater: Loren and I were in the same class. As sophomores, we were crowned King and Queen of the Homecoming Game. We were friends from 4th grade on but never dated. He did date my girl friend, Rosemary Nacke, for a while. Loren always smiled and was so good-natured. As a kid, he and his twin brothers and Larry Slagter played basketball all summer long in any barn or facility the town had to offer. Over 350 people attended his funeral and the luncheon that followed and every one of them admired him greatly. Bonnie Morgenthaler
I don't want to start a controversy by saying this, but Loren [Stipe] Stowater was the best all around basketball player I ever witnessed at Marcus High School. He was best in the county, and there were a number of good players in that day. He was always in a friendly mode with a great smile, and a deep laugh. It ran in the family. Father, Jethro, was as warm and friendly to to all. Brothers Bob and Herb were also down to earth friendly. He was not immune to impulse though; one night in Le Mars, he, Alan Grauer, and I were spending a boring evening. At eleven tht evening Loren decided we should go to Omaha and see what was going on. We did. the highways south of Sioux City were flooded, andwe had a highway patrolman ride on our running board [does that date us] to guide us and keep us on the road. We got to Omaha at about one, found there was less going on in Omaha than LeMars. We got a room at the Flatiron Hotel, slept until nine, drove home to Marcus, and for some reason, laughed all the way. Al and Loren are both gone now, but the memories still bring a smile. Loren was a gentleman in the strictest meaning of the term. Earl Rae
I read with great interest some of the posts regarding the strong musical talent produced by our community school. I was a product of the Bertrand years... concert band, marching band, jazz band, he had us do it all. Practices began promptly at 7:10 in the morning. If it was marching, we had to be out *on the field* with instruments at 7:10! If it was jazz, we had to be warmed up and ready to play in the band room at 7:10.
I mention all this because the band at the high school is currently in very sad shape. Not because of lack of talent, but because of the low numbers of students who are participating.
Did you know that this past school year, the high school band had only 21 members?!?!? Twenty-one... and that's a 3-town consolidated school, people! There is no marching band at all anymore. And it's nearly impossible to have a jazz band with any less than 20 students (assuming 5 parts per section). Heck, it's hard to even have a concert band with so few instruments. Any quality piece of music is written for far more players to cover all the parts.
Now I don't pretend to know the exact cause of this decline, but I've been told that it maybe has something to do with scheduling (putting band in the same period as required courses). At the risk of sounding like an "old fogey" maybe today's kids are too lazy to put forth the time & effort that playing in the band requires. I'd hate to think that it's because the parents aren't encouraging their kids to participate in the program.
Regardless of the reasons, I'm extremely saddened by the current circumstances. If the decline in music students continues to drop, you KNOW the budget going toward fine arts will also drop. We risk losing the band program entirely! Are we willing to let that go??
Here in Florida it's impossible to get any good versions of my favorite delacacy--sweet corn--even in farm stands. And I never order the awful soaked-in-water stuff they offer in resturants.
In my youth, we used to have what my brother came to call "sweet corn orgies." In season, we had nothing for 'supper' but corn, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers washed down with lotsa milk. Our chins dripped butter and we added some salt(according to individual taste) to each bite.
There was always some discussion about how one should best devour the rows (across, down, sideways etc) and which was better---white or yellow corn. But for the most part we were too busy enjoying the feast to worry about technic or color. We gobbled it down! It was SOOOOOGOOD!MMMMMM!
My mother maintained that corn had to be very fresh to be really excellent. So she put the pot on to boil, had us walk out the back door to our little plot, pick and then husk the ears on the way back to the house and then plop 'em in the pot.
I've searched for good seeet corn all over the world and nothing compares to the Iowa variety. We even had a contest once between Iowa and some Minnesota and South Dakota corn that some visitors had brought down. Our local stuff won handily.
And today, nothing beats Jolly Time popcorn, which I import from Sioux City.
I agree wholeheartedly with June Dias.The instrumental prog. at MMC is in distress. On the other hand,the vocal dept., under the leadership of Randy Ewing, is a phenomenal success. Could there be some factors, beside those June mentioned, involved in the decline of the band? It's food for thought. By the way, here's still another to add to the long list of 'greats' who've come out of Jerry Bertrand's years at MMC. Tom Cronin, recent USD grad, has been hired as band director(grades 6 thru 12) at Westwood-Sloan. It's one of the plum jobs in the area. His 'starting at the top' so to speak, says a lot for Tom and for Jerry's remarkable program.
Okay, okay, how the heck did I forget sweet corn from the Top 10 list? When I tell people out here that I used to eat fried chicken and sweet corn every day of the week starting in late July, they think I am exaggerating or losing it. But that was the menu day in and day out -- and we looked FORWARD to it every day. We had our chicken pieces (now known as trendy "free-range" and not fishy tasting Perdue) staked out (white or dark -- and don't dare shake up the status quo and change) and, yes, platters of corn on the cob. And, what, now we worry about that smidgeon of butter or whether to break an ear in two to share? It was nothing to inhale a half dozen ears back then!
Maybe we just realized that what we didn't eat had to be cut off the cob in marathon canning sessions, so the "orgies" (loved that) were self-serving. It never tasted as good out of the freezer anyway.
Bob, the memory about the "dinner music" in the corn patch was priceless.
To all you Iowa sweet corn lovers: We just had our first corn of the season last night. Remember when it used to be "knee high by the 4th of July". Well now due to the wonders of modern growing techniques we have the real thing by almost the 4th. (In our case the weekend after.) In central Iowa anyway the serious sweet corn growers cover the ground with a gauze-like netting, the effect of which is to bring the corn to maturity several weeks ahead of the normal rotation. I don't know if it traps moisture, protects against cold night air, heats the soil a bit more or what, but it sure is funny to drive around and see the good black dirt all swaddled up so that we can eat corn starting the first week of July.
And yes it was wonderful. BBQ'd chicken fresh off the grill and piles of fresh Iowa sweet corn. (That helps make up for the cold blasts of winter at year end.)
No tomatoes yet. More good things to come.
To all the Floridians who contribute to this site, or monitor it, I hope you escaped the wrath of Dennis. Fred
I have been reading several of the postings and WOW are they fun to read.
My name is Beth Ann Meyer. My dad and his family grew up in Marcus in the 30's, 40's and so on. I know that between the Meyer kids (Donny, Jerry, Bernie and Doris) they will know many of the names and families that have been written about here.
It was especially fun to look at the pictures that have been posted and to reminisce with my dad on the phone, Bernie Meyer, about people, places and things that he knew and did when he and his siblings were growing up.
My dad went to Holy Name, as did his brothers Don, Jerry and their sister Doris. I remember stories I've heard them tell about a monkey that lived in town, about things they did on 'the farm' and about life in general.
Thanks for such a great site! I will definately be back to read and maybe even coach my dad a little bit on how to use the computer himself!
I know he still receives and reads the Marcus News religiously (in Lakeville, MN) and I always enjoy hearing stories about his childhood. Thanks for sharing all your memories and thoughts. I look forward to learning more about Marcus, 'back in the day'.
Well summer has arrived in full force where I live in Naperville, IL. We have had no rain for about 2 months now. Very very dry.
Japanese beetles are now attacking my Valley Forge American Elm trees in my yard. That got me to thinking of all the old beautiful American Elms we used to have in Marcus. My folks had a gorgeous one in our backyard. I remember coming home from school one day in 1971 and it was being cut down. I was so upset to see it die, but I never gave up my love of American Elm trees.
10-12 years ago I started planting a variety called the Liberty Elm around my folks home in Marcus. Others picked up on it and now they are planted around the Marcus High School, so they are making a comeback! Unfortunately one of the Liberty Elms in my mom's yard died from DED. I have since found a newer variety called the Valley Forge Elm that is purportedly more DED resistant than the Liberty Elm. You can buy it from Bruce Carley at the website listed below if interested. I have 3 in my yard and so far so good.
Mark Glackin was killed in a motorocycle accident on July 14th. He and his family were in the process of moving to Ringsted where he was to be the new principal. It is my understanding that a truck driver did not see him and turned left right in front of him. May he rest in peace.
Kurt, this is in reply to your question about adding photos.
We cannot add images to the comment threads. Blogger.com allows and facilitates images in the posts, but in this case, our "posts" only occur once a month.
Thanks Baritone Bob, I figured that was the case but wanted to ask anyway. I appreciate your help. Dan, I heard about Mark yesterday. What a shame. He only lived right up the street from us. His sister Lorie(sp?) was in my class. Was Doug the oldest? Was Mark the former military academy graduate with a degee in Mathematics? Can someone clarify for me?
Kurt, Mark Glackin's obituary can be found at www.foutsfuneralhome.com. Jim Glackin was at West Point. Mark had just accepted a superintendent position at Amstrong-Ringsted.
Okay, this was a day of minor trauma. Knapp-Storms, the suitcase dorms, were imploded today at Iowa State. They were ugly, they were hot or cold, they moved in the wind, and they were a long haul from campus. BUT they represented the best of times and the worst of times for us all. My sister Nancy's husband was one of the many to watch it go down. She sent me the link to CBS News where there is a short video of the implosion.
Regarding the band program at mmc... there are a multitude of reasons for the decline. The students aren't lazy they are just asked to do more things all the time. Many have jobs so they can earn enough money for college. There are uncertain family situations that don't provide a good environment for practicing at home. Mr. Ewing has done a very good job with the vocal and in some ways that has affected the band. In fairness to him he has tried hard to keep kids in band and encouraging them. Scheduling is the number one problem. Kids go to Cherokee to take advance classes for college which is great in its own way..but the scheduling of this has decimated the band during first period of the school day. Well you all have heard too much about this situation but it is very distressing to those of us who took such pride in our program. It would take a very concentrated effort on the part of the school to resurrect the program at this point. A teaching position has been eliminated. Resources are spread thin trying to meet the many requirements that are expected to provide for students of all abilities within the public school setting.....well i'm going on the bike ride for a couple days but will check back in on this later. steve smith.
Steve has so many good points. High school life is not what it used to be. I look at the lives of my students and wonder how they can possibly do it all. By the time they are juniors the brightest are taking advanced placement courses (at least two and three or four by senior year), working an after-school/weekend job, most are involved in at least one sport (if not one per season), some are still doing dance or gymnastics or other out-of-school programs or lessons, religious classes, community volunteering is a must for National Honor Society now and some schools require a special senior project, after-school band practices, and drama (which consumes hours way into the night). And classes start at 7:30 a.m. Some aren't home before 10 p.m. and that's when they start homework. I can remember going in early for play and speech practice and staying after for sports. But I don't remember working 15 to 30 hours a week on top of that. That's where the insanity comes in. I'm not sure where it all ends.
regrading the band program at MMC. Steve says they have "eliminated a teaching position". Does that mean that there is no band director--only the vocal teacher? Can some pressure be put on the Superintendent and Board to address this awful situation?
There is still one full time instrumental music teacher at MMC. There are two vocal instructors for K-12. I am not sure if one of them will have some duties with instrumental students. I don't think so right now because the numbers have become small and one teacher can probably handle the number of students involved with instrumental unless the numbers come up. One other example of kids being pushed to adulthood and busy all the time....we had no cheerleaders for the high school basketball games. Pretty hard to show "school spirit" when there aren't even any cheerleaders. There were cheerleaders for wrestling and they did a good job. Still seems a little odd at the basketball games. We do have a new boys coach so maybe the enthusiasm will pick up. Steve Smith
As a fromer cheerleader of Marcus High School, I am pleased to hear that the squad will be returning this fall, however not at the expense of the music program!!!!!
46 comments:
Let's begin July by repeating a couple of comments from late June. Remember, you CAN go back and read the previous months, but some of you may have missed these.
First, from Julia Meylor Simpson:
Which brings up another topic: Marcus cafes past and present. Any stories?
P.S. I get the Marcus News a little later than normal, so I know this isn't from the current edition, but in the paper I got today Velma seems to be a bit upset about comments on this blog. That saddens me because I would hope that Marcus doesn't see anything on this website as derogatory towards any community effort. I read the Marcus News from cover to cover and have been a faithful subscriber for almost 30 years now, ever since my parents first sent it to me as a freshman at Iowa State. I humbly apologize if any remarks were taken negatively from anything said here. Again, I know keeping a community newspaper alive is a daunting task, but it must survive as the pulse of the town.
And from new contributor Vana Marquis Bris-Bois:
Uncle Joe died in 1968 from a fishing accident.
Marcia it's great to hear from you also. Do I ever remember that car. It was a gray 1948 Dodge. Dad didn't like me driving it too far but it sure got around town and out to the farm a lot. Remember how we would pile all the basketball players in the car to drive to the old gym during basketball season. I remember getting stuck in some snow drifts and everyone would get out and help push me out. That old car was built like a tank. I don't think the heater worked that well and if I remeber right a passenger door would fly open every once in awhile if you didn't get it shut just right. Teresa Kaufman drove an old Chevy and she and I thought we were tough stuff because we were two of the few girls that had cars but you sure wouldn't have called them muscle cars.
I don't subscribe to the Marcus News but anytime I have looked at it I can never find an email address to send suggestions or complaints to the editor. I wish they had such a feature, I think it would help make the paper more responsive to the communities needs. If it is listed and I missed it then I apologize for this post.
Now I hope no one at the paper is offended. Please take it as constructive criticism from a former resident that loves his home town and wants to see Marcus prosper in any way it can.
If there is such an email address can someone please post it here?
Kurt:
Check this link:
http://www.inanews.com/apps/displaypapers.php?county=Cherokee&mod=About&action=County
My name is Scott Stowater and I lived in Marcus only til I was 8yrs. old. I recently was saddened after being informed of my uncle Lorens passing. Although I'm not up to date on much of that side of my family. I do remember him as a great family man, and my condolences go out to all that knew him. I know he will truly be missed alot. scottstowater@cox.net
Was reading last months comments about best Marcus pitchers. I'm probally a little bias but Larry Slagter was my uncle. So guess who i'm voting for:) scottstowater@cox.net
Thank you anonymous! But is that information in the Marcus News! That's where it should be.
Don Peters of SD,CA here.
Earl,I need to add some comments about our town softball team....Slate pitched but our best was a chap from Paulina that pitched for us during the week and pitched hardball, yes, hardball on Sunday for Paulina. I played 2nd base the summer after 47 graduation before cycle accident late summer. In Des Moines we beat one of the 2 top teams in the state...John Deere of Wtloo with a Red Foley pitching for them. Yes, I do remember that great little All-American Johnny Bright of Drake...some pitcher& running back
Im quite sure Dick Dorr was the other high school 47 grad...all the rest were GI's home from service.
Don P
I've another fond recollection of Marcus, this one relating to food. (Not cafes, Julie, but the homecookin' types all over our community.) It re-surfaced when I went back to Marcus for my father's funeral. My older brother and I were talking with one of the "church ladies" about how we would feed people after the service. She started by asking what we thought we wanted to serve. It was the most incredible thing - We'd say, potato salad, for example. She remark, "Oh that would be "X". She makes the best potato salad in town and she's fast." As we proceeded down the list of meats, side salads, desserts, she had "the best of" names for everyone of those categories.
I'll only say that my mom makes killer dressing at Thanksgiving. I won't go beyond that or I'll embarrass her and bore everyone else.
Do any of remember where in the Marcus area you ate the best fried chicken, chili, apple or peach pies, potato salad, soup, fresh bread or rhubarb crisp? You can name your own mother/father, but it would be more fun if you would offer up a name from your church, social circle or neighborhood.
My very German grandmother made coffe kuchen every Saturday, which we picked up at her house for after-church on Sunday. It was wonderful.
There are some tremendous cooks and bakers in Marcus. All you have to do is visit a church booth at the Fair and try some of the pies or think back to a church potluck.
Let's start a top-ten list of blue ribbon winners in the cooking and baking categories. Any nominees? Fred
Helen Nelson has to be in this list some where. Any given Saturday she had some GREAT cookin going on in that home!
e
Don, I must have hit an improper key and killed my blog. Glad to see you are up an running: we spent a long weekend in Del Mar this past Spring, but didn't call because of circumstances. The chap from Paulina was Ev Mueller [sp], he lived on a farm northwest of Marcus, went to high school in Paulina, played baseball at Iowa Teachers, and coached in a northeast Iowa high school. He was special. I played on the softball team in 1947. Jim Bird was first baseman but didn't make it to a game in Cherokee. I was watching in the stands and Joe Schmidt, manager, asked if I would fill in. I played in street clothes but started every game after that until I went into the Marine Corps in 1951. I also remember the motorcycle accident you and Lynn Simons survived just east of the Mile Corner. That ride started at the ball park and ended at the Illinois Central Hospital in Chicago. Good thing we were gandydancers on the section crew. Benefits were unusual at the time. Earl
Hey Bloggers!
As we begin a new month, we should rejoice in all the new folk posting on this blog! YEA! And we should encourage all our older bloggers (who haven’t been heard from in a while) to post their thoughts and questions and responses to queries and subjects. Your ideas, comments and news are most welcome in this “electronic-across-the-back-fence” means of communication!
And let’s hear from some Marcus residents! For the thing that brings us together is a common love of our ol’ home town. As the writer J.R. Moehringer notes in a different context:
"Everyone has a holy place, a refuge, where their heart is purer, their mind clearer, where they feel close to God or love or truth or whatever it is they happen to worship."
He was talking about a bar.
Which leads me to ask about the Hawkeye. Has it been sold or is it still up for sale? Has it closed? If so, what will the town do without that place, where the companionship of a fellow pilgrim’s journey through life requires the assistance of a drop or two?
Bob. are you sure Mr. Moehringer wasn't referring to my half bath off the laundry room. Earl rae
Okay, my top ten Midwestern culinary delights ...
10. eating juicy black mulberries ripe from the tree while slapping mosquitoes after bean walking
9. the plentiful leftovers from the huge dinner after the workers and neighbors left who were cutting and baling hay
8. various homemade cinnamon rolls and sticky buns after church with huge chunks of butter
7. chili and homemade pie at the Methodist (?) Church stand at the Marcus Fair while waiting for dad to finish working at the Bingo stand
6. Jello desserts in the various shapes, colors and adornments at every event or holiday I ever remember
5. the fried chicken brought to picnics and get-togethers of card clubs and hobby clubs held at the park on summer Sundays
4. big pans of gooey, rich Rice Krispie Scotcheroos after playing kick the can in the summer
3. my mom's strawberry-rhubarb or mulberry-rhubarb pie ... awesome!
2. tomato and bacon sandwiches after coming back from August vacations because the garden was full of bursting tomatoes
AND THE NUMBER ONE MIDWEST culinary delight??
1. BIG PANS of BUTTERED POPCORN!!! ... no microwave fluff here ... just kernels shucked from the small ears put away or Jolly Time during every season of the year ... cooked in a heavy, deep skillet on the stove, poured into a long pan (trough-like) for communal sharing (you learned to scoop out big handfuls very quickly) and covered in melted butter and salt.
Anyone else?
To Max Stowater and friends,
From: Don Peters, San Diego
Scott your Uncle was a great guy in high school; I playled football and basketball my soph year when your uncle, "Stipe" was our center. I remember the nite that he had the flu and came out and scored his career high as our center. Because of his rebounding ability, he started most all of our fast breaks such as theywere. I do recall, Johnny Leavitt at the other guard and Leon Ebert at one forward (Leon was also a soph). Stipe always had a big smile and whether it athletics or work or just fun he gave it 110% all the time....you would of been proud to see him on the court or at school.
Good Luck. Don P
Right now, I am thinking of sweet corn and lots of it. We'd eat it every day until it was too hard or the coons got it all. When our sweet corn patch was right behind our house I remember dad putting a radio out there. It would be on all night keeping the racoons away... or they enjoyed a little dinner music.
Scott Stowater: Loren and I were in the same class. As sophomores, we were crowned King and Queen of the Homecoming Game. We were friends from 4th grade on but never dated. He did date my girl friend, Rosemary Nacke, for a while. Loren always smiled and was so good-natured. As a kid, he and his twin brothers and Larry Slagter played basketball all summer long in any barn or facility the town had to offer. Over 350 people attended his funeral and the luncheon that followed and every one of them admired him greatly. Bonnie Morgenthaler
I don't want to start a controversy by saying this, but Loren [Stipe] Stowater was the best all around basketball player I ever witnessed at Marcus High School. He was best in the county, and there were a number of good players in that day. He was always in a friendly mode with a great smile, and a deep laugh. It ran in the family. Father, Jethro, was as warm and friendly to to all. Brothers Bob and Herb were also down to earth friendly. He was not immune to impulse though; one night in Le Mars, he, Alan Grauer, and I were spending a boring evening. At eleven tht evening Loren decided we should go to Omaha and see what was going on. We did. the highways south of Sioux City were flooded, andwe had a highway patrolman ride on our running board [does that date us] to guide us and keep us on the road. We got to Omaha at about one, found there was less going on in Omaha than LeMars. We got a room at the Flatiron Hotel, slept until nine, drove home to Marcus, and for some reason, laughed all the way. Al and Loren are both gone now, but the memories still bring a smile. Loren was a gentleman in the strictest meaning of the term. Earl Rae
I read with great interest some of the posts regarding the strong musical talent produced by our community school. I was a product of the Bertrand years... concert band, marching band, jazz band, he had us do it all. Practices began promptly at 7:10 in the morning. If it was marching, we had to be out *on the field* with instruments at 7:10! If it was jazz, we had to be warmed up and ready to play in the band room at 7:10.
I mention all this because the band at the high school is currently in very sad shape. Not because of lack of talent, but because of the low numbers of students who are participating.
Did you know that this past school year, the high school band had only 21 members?!?!? Twenty-one... and that's a 3-town consolidated school, people! There is no marching band at all anymore. And it's nearly impossible to have a jazz band with any less than 20 students (assuming 5 parts per section). Heck, it's hard to even have a concert band with so few instruments. Any quality piece of music is written for far more players to cover all the parts.
Now I don't pretend to know the exact cause of this decline, but I've been told that it maybe has something to do with scheduling (putting band in the same period as required courses). At the risk of sounding like an "old fogey" maybe today's kids are too lazy to put forth the time & effort that playing in the band requires. I'd hate to think that it's because the parents aren't encouraging their kids to participate in the program.
Regardless of the reasons, I'm extremely saddened by the current circumstances. If the decline in music students continues to drop, you KNOW the budget going toward fine arts will also drop. We risk losing the band program entirely! Are we willing to let that go??
June (Pallesen)Dias
Cleaning up a "senior moment", Loren Stowater's father was Lynn, not Jethro. earl rae
Here in Florida it's impossible to get any good versions of my favorite delacacy--sweet corn--even in farm stands. And I never order the awful soaked-in-water stuff they offer in resturants.
In my youth, we used to have what my brother came to call "sweet corn orgies." In season, we had nothing for 'supper' but corn, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers washed down with lotsa milk. Our chins dripped butter and we added some salt(according to individual taste) to each bite.
There was always some discussion about how one should best devour the rows (across, down, sideways etc) and which was better---white or yellow corn. But for the most part we were too busy enjoying the feast to worry about technic or color. We gobbled it down! It was SOOOOOGOOD!MMMMMM!
My mother maintained that corn had to be very fresh to be really excellent. So she put the pot on to boil, had us walk out the back door to our little plot, pick and then husk the ears on the way back to the house and then plop 'em in the pot.
I've searched for good seeet corn all over the world and nothing compares to the Iowa variety. We even had a contest once between Iowa and some Minnesota and South
Dakota corn that some visitors had brought down. Our local stuff won handily.
And today, nothing beats Jolly Time popcorn, which I import from Sioux City.
I agree wholeheartedly with June Dias.The instrumental prog. at MMC is in distress. On the other hand,the vocal dept., under the leadership of Randy Ewing, is a phenomenal success. Could there be some factors, beside those June mentioned, involved in the decline of the band? It's food for thought.
By the way, here's still another to add to the long list of 'greats' who've come out of Jerry Bertrand's years at MMC. Tom Cronin, recent USD grad, has been hired as band director(grades 6 thru 12) at Westwood-Sloan. It's one of the plum jobs in the area. His 'starting at the top' so to speak, says a lot for Tom and for Jerry's remarkable program.
Okay, okay, how the heck did I forget sweet corn from the Top 10 list? When I tell people out here that I used to eat fried chicken and sweet corn every day of the week starting in late July, they think I am exaggerating or losing it. But that was the menu day in and day out -- and we looked FORWARD to it every day. We had our chicken pieces (now known as trendy "free-range" and not fishy tasting Perdue) staked out (white or dark -- and don't dare shake up the status quo and change) and, yes, platters of corn on the cob. And, what, now we worry about that smidgeon of butter or whether to break an ear in two to share? It was nothing to inhale a half dozen ears back then!
Maybe we just realized that what we didn't eat had to be cut off the cob in marathon canning sessions, so the "orgies" (loved that) were self-serving. It never tasted as good out of the freezer anyway.
Bob, the memory about the "dinner music" in the corn patch was priceless.
To all you Iowa sweet corn lovers: We just had our first corn of the season last night. Remember when it used to be "knee high by the 4th of July". Well now due to the wonders of modern growing techniques we have the real thing by almost the 4th. (In our case the weekend after.) In central Iowa anyway the serious sweet corn growers cover the ground with a gauze-like netting, the effect of which is to bring the corn to maturity several weeks ahead of the normal rotation. I don't know if it traps moisture, protects against cold night air, heats the soil a bit more or what, but it sure is funny to drive around and see the good black dirt all swaddled up so that we can eat corn starting the first week of July.
And yes it was wonderful. BBQ'd chicken fresh off the grill and piles of fresh Iowa sweet corn. (That helps make up for the cold blasts of winter at year end.)
No tomatoes yet. More good things to come.
To all the Floridians who contribute to this site, or monitor it, I hope you escaped the wrath of Dennis. Fred
Hope you don't mind my posting this Fred.
Fred Dorr's Guest Column in the July 12, 2005 issue of the Des Moines Register
Hi everyone!
I have been reading several of the postings and WOW are they fun to read.
My name is Beth Ann Meyer. My dad and his family grew up in Marcus in the 30's, 40's and so on. I know that between the Meyer kids (Donny, Jerry, Bernie and Doris) they will know many of the names and families that have been written about here.
It was especially fun to look at the pictures that have been posted and to reminisce with my dad on the phone, Bernie Meyer, about people, places and things that he knew and did when he and his siblings were growing up.
My dad went to Holy Name, as did his brothers Don, Jerry and their sister Doris. I remember stories I've heard them tell about a monkey that lived in town, about things they did on 'the farm' and about life in general.
Thanks for such a great site! I will definately be back to read and maybe even coach my dad a little bit on how to use the computer himself!
I know he still receives and reads the Marcus News religiously (in Lakeville, MN) and I always enjoy hearing stories about his childhood. Thanks for sharing all your memories and thoughts. I look forward to learning more about Marcus, 'back in the day'.
Beth Ann Meyer (San Diego, CA)
Well summer has arrived in full force where I live in Naperville, IL. We have had no rain for about 2 months now. Very very dry.
Japanese beetles are now attacking my Valley Forge American Elm trees in my yard. That got me to thinking of all the old beautiful American Elms we used to have in Marcus. My folks had a gorgeous one in our backyard. I remember coming home from school one day in 1971 and it was being cut down. I was so upset to see it die, but I never gave up my love of American Elm trees.
10-12 years ago I started planting a variety called the Liberty Elm around my folks home in Marcus. Others picked up on it and now they are planted around the Marcus High School, so they are making a comeback! Unfortunately one of the Liberty Elms in my mom's yard died from DED. I have since found a newer variety called the Valley Forge Elm that is purportedly more DED resistant than the Liberty Elm. You can buy it from Bruce Carley at the website listed below if interested. I have 3 in my yard and so far so good.
Valley Forge Elm
Bring back the American Elm! It's a fast grower and lives up to 300 years. It's great for quick shade.
http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=324
Baritone Bob, can we now use this to add pics to this blog?
Mark Glackin was killed in a motorocycle accident on July 14th. He and his family were in the process of moving to Ringsted where he was to be the new principal. It is my understanding that a truck driver did not see him and turned left right in front of him. May he rest in peace.
Dan Steffen
Kurt, this is in reply to your question about adding photos.
We cannot add images to the comment threads. Blogger.com allows and facilitates images in the posts, but in this case, our "posts" only occur once a month.
Thanks Baritone Bob, I figured that was the case but wanted to ask anyway. I appreciate your help. Dan, I heard about Mark yesterday. What a shame. He only lived right up the street from us. His sister Lorie(sp?) was in my class. Was Doug the oldest? Was Mark the former military academy graduate with a degee in Mathematics? Can someone clarify for me?
Kurt,
Mark Glackin's obituary can be found at www.foutsfuneralhome.com. Jim Glackin was at West Point. Mark had just accepted a superintendent position at Amstrong-Ringsted.
Pat Ducommun
Thank you for the information Pat.
Kurt, if I can remember right, the Glackin kids were Lori, Judy, Doug, Jim, Milissa (Missy), and Mark. Mark was the youngest.
Dan S
Very good series of articles in today's (Sunday July 17, 2005) Des Moines Register on the fate of farming in Iowa.
Turning Over the Soil
Someone early in the month asked for the email address for the Marcus News. I didn't see it posted so here it is:
marcusnews@midlands.net.
Okay, this was a day of minor trauma. Knapp-Storms, the suitcase dorms, were imploded today at Iowa State. They were ugly, they were hot or cold, they moved in the wind, and they were a long haul from campus. BUT they represented the best of times and the worst of times for us all. My sister Nancy's husband was one of the many to watch it go down. She sent me the link to CBS News where there is a short video of the implosion.
www.cbsnews.com
What a way to go!
Regarding the band program at mmc... there are a multitude of
reasons for the decline. The students aren't lazy they are just asked to do more things all the time. Many have jobs so they can earn enough money for college. There are uncertain family situations that don't provide a
good environment for practicing at home. Mr. Ewing has done a very good job with the vocal and in some
ways that has affected the band. In
fairness to him he has tried hard to keep kids in band and encouraging them. Scheduling is the
number one problem. Kids go to
Cherokee to take advance classes for college which is great in its
own way..but the scheduling of this
has decimated the band during first
period of the school day. Well you
all have heard too much about this
situation but it is very distressing to those of us who
took such pride in our program. It
would take a very concentrated effort on the part of the school
to resurrect the program at this
point. A teaching position has been
eliminated. Resources are spread
thin trying to meet the many requirements that are expected to
provide for students of all abilities within the public school
setting.....well i'm going on the
bike ride for a couple days but
will check back in on this later.
steve smith.
Steve has so many good points. High school life is not what it used to be. I look at the lives of my students and wonder how they can possibly do it all. By the time they are juniors the brightest are taking advanced placement courses (at least two and three or four by senior year), working an after-school/weekend job, most are involved in at least one sport (if not one per season), some are still doing dance or gymnastics or other out-of-school programs or lessons, religious classes, community volunteering is a must for National Honor Society now and some schools require a special senior project, after-school band practices, and drama (which consumes hours way into the night). And classes start at 7:30 a.m. Some aren't home before 10 p.m. and that's when they start homework.
I can remember going in early for play and speech practice and staying after for sports. But I don't remember working 15 to 30 hours a week on top of that. That's where the insanity comes in. I'm not sure where it all ends.
regrading the band program at MMC.
Steve says they have "eliminated a teaching position". Does that mean that there is no band director--only the vocal teacher? Can some pressure be put on the Superintendent and Board to address this awful situation?
Would someone be able to let me know how to post some pictures?? I have a couple that might be fun to see.
Brenda --
To post pictures, see the May 6 comment by Baritone Bob, in response to the same query by Kurt Dorr. Max
There is still one full time instrumental music teacher at MMC.
There are two vocal instructors for
K-12. I am not sure if one of them
will have some duties with instrumental students. I don't think so right now because the numbers have become small and one
teacher can probably handle the
number of students involved with
instrumental unless the numbers
come up. One other example of
kids being pushed to adulthood and
busy all the time....we had no
cheerleaders for the high school
basketball games. Pretty hard to
show "school spirit" when there
aren't even any cheerleaders. There
were cheerleaders for wrestling and
they did a good job. Still seems
a little odd at the basketball games. We do have a new boys coach
so maybe the enthusiasm will pick up. Steve Smith
Tom Dorr swearing in ceremony pictures from yesterday. Thought all Marcusites would like to see this.
Tom Dorr swearing in ceremony pics
I know that next school year there will be basketball cheerleaders because my niece Danica will be one. Go Dani!!!
Michele Hanson
As a fromer cheerleader of Marcus High School, I am pleased to hear that the squad will be returning this fall, however not at the expense of the music program!!!!!
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