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.
Friday, August 31, 2007
September/October 07 Discussion
Did you know, we're now NOT linked from the official wikipedia entry for Marcus, IA. I added it, but someone took it out. I'm challenging the edit in wiki discussion.
I moved away from Marcus in 1963 when I was sixteen years old. I would have graduated in the class of 1965. My parents were M.W. (Mac) and Grace McCoy. My uncle is Gary McCoy who also has a posting on this discussion board. My family relocated to Mississippi on the Gulf Coast and I still reside there in Long Beach, MS. Glad to see the web site and enjoyed looking at all of the pictures. John McCoy
My link to this blog that I placed on the wikipedia entry for Marcus IA was deleted by a volunteer editor. I asked why and was directed to some content guidelinesthat are pretty clear that linkage to blogs and/or discussion forums are discouraged. So I'll let it go.
The links I added to the Marcus website and the Marcus historical society remain however.
Of course I remember you two and Mac and Grace. I wish my memory was clear enough to be specific about dates. It's been a long while since Mac came to work for my late husband, Melvin. Grace was such a good friend ! She helped me out in so many ways.
Right now, with so much talk of Katrina rehab in the Gulf, I keep thinking of the two of them after they moved to Gulfport. We visited them there shortly before they went through their BIG hurricane (What was it's name?) I've often related the story of how they rode it out, really out of inexperience, and ended up making it "big time" just because everyone else had left. What a story and what special people !
I still keep in touch with Dorothy in Cedar Falls at the holidays -- for the rest of you, she and Mac were married after Grace died.
Thanks, again, for renewing great memories ! ----Margaret Dorr
Great to hear from you. Remember the Bradys, Fitzgeralds, and Bancrofts from the neighborhood? Your mom always made the greatest snacks, which she passed out to all of us rug rats who would come up to your place to play. Elm Street looks much the same, except that there is a stop sign placed now for traffic on that street - right out in front of where your old house was. I remember we played lots of ball at the old Holy Name field next to our house. We always wanted Bob Brady on our team to pitch (expecially softball) and Pat Brady (to hit). It was only the real stars who could punch it into the outfield and on top of the old Holy Name gym.
Not even Beaver Cleaver had it as good as we did. Ran the neighborhood, rode bikes all over town, went to the variety store downtown for penny candy, stopped at Lage's or Fred Knox's place for the best french fries in the area, off to the swimming pool, cowboy movies at the Marland (I think it was called) where Barry Hagey was reputed to have caused a hole in the screen by throwing a wad of bubble gum through it, bought huge Baby Ruth bars for a nickel and listened to a great jukebox, also at Lage's, while waiting to get our driver's license to really start checking out "the scene". Great time to have grown up in Marcus. Since we didn't have a TV, I remember watching all the old Saturday morning shows on either Fitzgerald's or (I think) your set - Sky King, Rin Tin Tin, Lone Ranger, and of course Road Runner cartoons. And, finally, I remember sneaking up behind little old ladies' cars at a stop sign near your place, during the winter months, and grabbing the bumper for a quick slide down the street as they took off. Has the statute of limitations run on all this stuff?
Julie, the inclusion of persons in wikipedia entries is one of the more contentious editorial topics that arise over and over. There are not hard and fast rules about who is notable or famous. Many people like to add themselves as notable alumni to colleges and universities. And they are very quickly removed by other persons keeping an eye on things.
I think in this case, since Friedrich himself is identified on the wiki page for Concordia (Seward), it would likely not be challenged. So I invite you to go ahead and make the edit. Anyone can do it. Click on the edit link next to the title of the section.
Julie, Your wiki edit was just as quickly removed, by the same zealous editor that removed my link to this blog. Welcome to the wiki world, where some people get involved just to fight over things.
Always enjoy reading the blogs, trying to keep up with what's going on in Marcus and with Marcusites. Heard Tom Dorr is going to be involved in a seminar on renewable energy in Riverside, IA, next weekend (21st & 22nd). My sister, Vicki, and I would like to get together with him, however briefly, while he's here. Vicki lives in Kalona and I live in Iowa City. Have Tom contact me: my address is 766 Bay Ridge Drive, Iowa City, IA 52246-6102; my work phone (319) 384-6012, and my home phone is (319) 400-4703 (cell). I'll set something up. Tell Paul hi, too. He was in my class ('74) before he transferred to Orange City to finish his HS career. Also, any time anyone from Marcus ends up in Iowa City (although that's rare, since only Hawkeye fans seem to enjoy Iowa City.....), be sure to give me a ring. I'd love to see anyone from home! Later, folks!
Music syncopation with a bouncy off-beat melody and steady march rhythm enchanted listeners in the early part of last century. Iowans were delighted and many women in our northwest section of the state contributed to it. Ragtime music swept the nation between 1900 and 1917. It surprised and delighted urban and rural populations. And it threatened to upset mainstream society’s equilibrium, like the hip hop and rap music of today. In a time when entertainment meant Chautauqua talks, an occasional serious play, or a classical musical recital, the new music scandalized a lot of folks a hundred years ago. It joined other new inventions of the time including telephones, the automobile, silent movies and canned soup, adding robust music to the melody of American progress. My mother was a teenager in Sheldon then, and although she was never “Miss Corn Cob” at the annual Harvest Celebration, she did win a popularity contest and the prize was a piano. And like all the proper young ladies in long dresses, she tackled Brahms and Beethoven intermezzos to entertain her elders—and a few suitors—in the parlor at her mother’s restrained home evenings. Along came ragtime—created for the piano. Drawing from the spirituals and work songs created by African-Americans, the toe-tapping, hand-clapping music in 2/4 time set our nation afire. The American Federation of Musicians denounced the genre as “musical rot.” But female pianists responded. “The Maple Leaf Rag” and “Pickles and Peppers” by a nineteen-year-old Iowa lady from Algona were early major hits. The sheet music was sold in stores and available on the new 78” records. Everybody was “doin’ it”—except perhaps the cultural elite. Playing a rag was not easy. It was rendered at a sprightly pace and required two-handed dexterity. The left hand kept the steady march tempo while the right hand scampered away with a vigorous melody in syncopated time. It was sorta’ like tapping your head and rubbing your belly at the same time. But Iowa women embraced it and created and published rags that added to the craze. Some 2,000 songs were composed in the ragtime era. More than half of them were by nineteen Iowa women. Blanche Tice, a clerk at Davidson’s Department Store in Sioux City, published more than eighty pieces including “The Jolly Widower.” Miss Feta Brown of Storm Lake wrote “I Wish I Was in Heaven Sittin’ Down” as well as my personal favorite, “The Party That Wrote Home Sweet Home, Never Was a Married Man.” (Try saying that in rhythm.) My mother never wrote a rag, but she played many over the years. Her favorites were more standard sentimental tunes like “Just a Wearing for You” and “Beautiful Dreamer.” Her signature tune was “Just a Song at Twilight,” which she played almost every evening while waiting for my father to come home from the depot for supper. The ragtime fad began to fade out in 1917 when the first jazz recording was made and America embraced a newer sound. It was not until the 1940s that the popular “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” set toes atappin’ again. But the only remembrance today is from the film The Sting in 1971, with its haunting Scott Joplin’s background music, titled “The Entertainer.” Pity.
(I am indebted to an article, “An American Rhythm,” in the September edition of "The Iowan" for some information in this blog comment.)
Hey, Flipper Fans! My brother, Connie, just told me the guys he was in that band with are having a reunion in October in Iowa City at the "Speakeasy". They'll be coming in on Friday, October 5th, and playing on Saturday, October 6th. Connie may be coming back, too, if he can get things arranged to do so. At any rate, if you want to see a great band, bring back some terrific memories, and have a fabulous time, join me at the "Speakeasy" on Saturday, and let's cheer on those Fabulous Flippers one more time! For more information on the gig, the location, places to stay, etc., feel free to get in touch with me. My e-mail is beverly-mead@uiowa.edu, my work number is (319) 384-6012, and my cell number is (319) 400-4703. Yee-haa!
Thanks for the note about The Flippers. I would love to see them. Unfortunately, a group we are included in, from central Iowa, is planning to bike ride on the Root River Trail in southeast Minnesota that same weekend. Many of the people on the trip grew up in Iowa and would have the same feelings about The FF as I do, so maybe I can convince them to drive to Iowa City, from Lanesboro, Minn. on Saturday night, to enjoy the music one more time.
Charlie Addy was the best. Attended a few college football games with him in the day and worked at his station as a kid. Got busted for stealing candy from the DX station. After I spent a couple of Saturdays cleaning and sweeping around the station that curbed my appetite for candy theft. Marcus lost a great man this past weekend! Bill Seggerman (SP), Edgar Hagey, and Larry Slagter along with many other great guys...........DX played a big part in many a Marucsite's life and Charlie was the leader of that band!
Margaret Dorr, Nancy Heir, and Lulu Grauer outdid themselves this past weekend with the Lighted Lantern Walk. Honored families were as follows: 1. Louis Bork presented by Thelma Gravenish. 2. Joseph Alesch presented by Jack Clarkson. 3. Ignatius Collins presented by Bonnie Means. 4. Charles Bass presented by Bruce Bass. 5. Frank Benedict presented by Fran Briggs. 6. Jesse Means presented by David Means.
What an outstanding group of presenters. I never knew the history of such a great group of Marcus folks.
The Bass family served our nation with both boys serving in WW2 and CROC was a POW for 30 months. Amazing and to have his brother shot up on another invasion.
This is a must attend if you are ever in the area when it is being held....always in the fall.
The real treat was getting to see Bruce, Kay, and Kim Bass.
P.S. Rumor has it Candy Petersen from Maine is reading this blog. Hey Candy.....love Maine and especially this time of year.
Flags in Marcus, Iowa, are at half-staff today. Charles “Charlie” Addy died on September 22. Of course I know that only the president and state governors, under specific regulations, can order the lowering of the flag.
So actually, it’s the flags of affection that each of us carries in our own hearts that are at half-mast to honor the memory of a very special gentleman who’s been a vital part of our community as long as most of us can remember.
Charles, the oldest son of Stanley and Rachel Pimperton Addy, was born Oct. 1, 1913, on a farm in Amherst Twp. Graduating from Marcus High School with the class of 1931, he helped on the farm for a few years and then attended a business school in Kansas City for a year. His actual business career in our town began on March 1, 1936 when he started as a tank man for the Marcus Oil Company. By July 1, 1940, he had become their manager and bookkeeper, a position he held until his retirement in 1979.
I’m told Addy’s middle initial was G. for George, but it should have been S. for Service. That can’t be over-emphasized. No matter how early, how late, how cold or how hot, Charlie never refused a service call. Sundays, holidays, none were off-limits. Requests, most would consider downright impositions, were always granted with an obliging grin.
But this was true in his life as well as his business. He served on the council, the Businessmen’s Club, the Boy Scout Council and the Rotary Club, that time-honored service organization that did so much for our town. The Golf Association was an off-shoot of Rotary, and Charles worked endless hours on bringing our beautiful course to reality. Then there was the Medical Board -- it’s solely due to tremendous effort on the part of Charles and a handful of like-minded individuals that we have the Clinic and its services. He was also on the Farmers State Bank board for many, many years.
Others claimed that he was a big-time star athlete in high school, a claim Charlie always modestly denied, but we do know that he was a big-time fan of all that is good about athletics. He was very influential in the once-thriving Little League organization here in town. The MMC Eagles, the Hawkeyes and the Cardinals all shared his undying loyalty.
With mixed feelings, we want to celebrate his long good life, but still, the symbolism of an emotional flag at half-mast is comforting to all who mourn the passing of Marcus’ own Charles Addy.
My name is Sandy Boyd. I live in Cedar Lake In. I looked up my Uncle Jim's name because my mom wanted a copy of his wake info when he died in 05. I ended up here. My mom is Jean Fetsch nee Alesch !! Someone mentioned all of Uncle Jim's kids starting with K's - all ten of them. We used to visit grandma (rosemary and Henry Alesch ) and grandpa at fair time in Marcus. I had the best times !! I was about 14 and Uncle Jim owned a bar. We'd play on the farm and go to the fair. I sure miss those days. My mom is doing well. So is my Aunt Jan. So glad to see you all have kept your roots !
Sandy Boyd ----I lived (and still live) in the house across the street from where your grandparents lived. The Alesch brothers who were early area settlers were featured in our annual Lighted Lantern Walk. Jack Clarkson, grandson of Joseph, did a great job as presenter Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you a copy of that script. I'm sure your mother and aunt would enjoy seeing it. Greet them for me. I remember them both. Margaret Dorr
Sandy Boyd:I was one of the young guys that lived in the house across the street from your grandparents and always looked forward to seeing the "KIDS" from Indiana come to town every summer. If I am not mistaken you have a brother or two as well correct? If so tell me their names again and where they are living.
Your grandparents had their hands full with all of young ones tearing throw their yard at night playing kick the can and such!!!!
Sincerely, One of Margaret's sons "MANY SONS AT THAT" but not as many as the Alesch clan!!!!!
This past Friday night I was at a restaurant on Rush Street in Chicago "GIBSON'S" with a couple of friends of mine in from Texas. One of them actually played for the Chicago Bears for 12 years....#29 on the '85 Super Bowl team and has been a good friend ever since my Baylor days!
As we waited for our car outside the restaurant a tall younger man and his date exited the restaurant as well. I approached him as I knew that I knew him and asked if he was a basketball player to which his girlfriend smiled. I then was informed that he was REMSEN, IOWA'S very own Jarod Homan who played for the ISU Cyclones.
Well Jarod and I realized that I had met him at a Baylor/ISU basketball game a couple of years ago in Ames along with his parents and sister. We then visited for a while and I was informed that he was one of three unsigned invited players who are vying for a spot or two on the Chicago Bulls.
We had a great chat and talked about the fact that his family bought and live on what was once a DORR FARM southwest of Marcus and that Kirk Hinrich "SIOUX CITY BOY" and Jarod Homan will both potentially be playing a big part in the success of the Chicago Bulls.
Who would have ever thought two young men from Northwest Iowa would be playing for the BULLS?
Fred & All Other Flipper Fans: The venue is not overly large; it will probably seat about 100 inside, but there is outdoor seating, too, so a lot of people could hear, if not see the band. I'd love to get together with anyone from home who can get down here. I'll have my cell phone with me, (319) 400-4703, and I'll be sitting as close to the band as I can get! Hope to see as many of YOU there as possible, too!
I am Sara Marra, the daughter of Roger and Pat Rae, formerly of Marcus. Sadly, my Roger passed away last December and someone posted a note about his death on this blog and also mentioned that he was the only male cheerleader at Marcus HS. My dad used to tell such funny stories of when he was young but we had never heard that one! Does anyone know more about him being a cheerleader? We would love any info on that! Thanks. Sara
Hi Sara! Your dad Roger Rae, was--to my knowledge--the only male cheerleader ever at the old Marcus High School. He was a member of a 5-person squad in 1945-46. (I was a freshman). Cheerleading in those days did not involve the acrobatics and air tosses of today. The moves were almost like a restrained ballet, modest and carefully choreographed like a close-order drill. Tight arm movements and turns. The squad of four girls and a guy were dressed in blue sweaters with a big gold "M" on the front. Blue slacks and pleated skirts(with gold lining) and blue--sometimes gold--tights completed the ensemble for the girls.The group led the poetry-like cheers for the football and basketball teams. "Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar. All for Marcus, stand up and holler." (A bit was slang for $.25 in those days.) Rog was a popular lad with all the girls. He was handsome and an excellent dancer. Great white smile and good build. Some of the senior girls teased him about becoming a cheerleader that year. He took them up on it. Somewhere I have a pic of that squad, and when we got together a few years ago, he said he had the same pic. Ask your mom--Pat--if she has it somewhere. If not, I'll dig into some boxes. As far as I know, Rog was the only male cheerleader--past or future--in ol' MHS. He created quite a stir when visiting teams and fans came to town or when the teams went on the road. A male cheerleader was almost unheard of in Iowa high schools at that time. Everyone was proud of his participation. We felt we were really uptown and sophisticated-sorta' like a college. Go Eagles! Bob Reed
Margaret and Phillip Dorr Thanks so much for writing back. I am on the phone with my mom right now reading it to her. She is so surprised to hear from you !! She still loves her home town so much. I will be sure to let my Aunt Jan know too. My e-mail is medicme34@hotmail.com. I will send on any messages. Any yes, I have three brothers. Steve, Stuart, and Shawn. What was it with the Alesch kids that they all named their kids with the same first letters ?? My Aunt Jan's kids are all T's. Tim, Tom, Theresa, and Tina. And Uncle Jim, all K's. I don't think I'd get them all if I tried... Thanks again for making my mom's day.
Thanks so much Bob - loved hearing that story. Would love to hear any more funny or memorable stories if you have any. I don't think my mom has that picture. If you come across it i would love to have it. My address is Sara Marra, 524 Morningside Road, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Thanks again. Sara
Kim, Kirk, Kelli, Kevin, Kay, Keith ... Ken, Kory ... used to be able to do it, Sandy. I just saw Kim (Alesch) Daum a few days ago, and she remembers your visits too. My grandparents, Ed & Amanda Meylor, lived next door to your grandparents in town. Before we went to Girl Scouts after school, we always stopped at your grandma's house for a snack. Odd scrap of memory...:)
If you haven't read "The Children's Blizzard" you should. It's about the January 12, 1888 blizzard that struck the Dakota's and Nebraska and killed hundreds of Children as they tried to make it home from country school. I had never heard of this storm until my brother Jon lent me his copy of the book. It is very fascinating and tragic. I never heard of this storm growing up. Has anyone else?
Odd. I know I just read a poem that spoke of this same event. But I can't remember who wrote it. I'll have to retrace my steps. The poem spoke in the voice of different people in a town and how some lived, some died. Some young teachers got some children home and others stayed in their country schools. That book sounds interesting though. Thanks for the info.
While home this time, I went with my parents to the capsized steamboat museum that is a few exits above Omaha. I was impressed with the building, the display, an artist's works from around the area, and the great view out the windows. Also drove through the Loess Hills ... thought I was in the hollows of Kentucky! Definitely NOT flat!!
We also tried to visit this little county site that is somewhere down by Dog Creek -- which is an old swimming hole near Sutherland (?). It wasn't open, but the caretaker let us in for a few minutes before he had to leave. It, too, was new and had an incredible view down on a little valley below. Quite pretty!
Since you enjoyed the spot by Dog Creek, you would enjoy visiting the O'Brien Co. Heritage Center that is between Sutherland and Peterson. See this site:http://www.obriencounty.com/government/conservation.htm
They even have some resident buffalo. They have some interesting exhibits in their new building and I'm sure it is a place visited by many school children.
That's it! That's where we went. The view from that panoramic window is spectacular and he had several pair of binoculars there to scan the skies for eagles and such. Quite worth it!
This was the book-length poem about the same blizzard. Kooser is very accessible for those who get nervous about poetry...
The Blizzard Voices was produced in 1986 and is a collection of Kooser’s poems that provide a haunting dramatized narrative of the devastation unleashed on Nebraska Territory by the Great Blizzard of January 12, 1888 (which is often referred to as “The Children's Blizzard”). His text was drawn from the reminiscences of the survivors: the men and women who were teaching school, working the land, tending the house – when the storm arrived and changed their lives forever. Tom Pohrt illustrated the book with twelve period-like line drawings.
A few descriptive remarks about our fire storm..wind blowing about 25 MPH starting after church last sunday. by 4 pm sun totally brown and sky very dark. reverse 911 call at 4:30 and I was about the 50th car into qualcomm NFL stadium around 5:30. Wind up to 70 MPH went we left. 10,000 people at the stadium when we left later for a hotel downtown.
First of many wonderful happenings....people were getting out of their cars and asking police at the stadium what could they do to help....not where is the water and food. Picked Marge at the airport at 3:30 and talked our way into the Hanalie Hotel downtown leaving wednesday afternoon to see if our street was open...it was and here is what we found.... 5 homes to the ground (only chimneys standing) some 4 blocks from our home and just 500 feet from my home which is now rented to one of our neighbors furnished for 18 months. Eastview area of Rancho Bernardo has 150 homes with 15 totaled; Rancho Bernardo (39,000)400 homes lost & our local RBCommunity Presbyterian church members lost 69 homes Ken Blanchard (1 minutes manager) Charger coach many executives lost their homes ranging in value from $700,000 to 7.5 million (yes some were over 4 acre lots and 10,000 sq.ft.
My daughter and family along with their dog, Boji (guesswhere that name came from) and huge rabbit had to vacate living in Rancho Sante Fe (just 17 minutes west of us) and ended up in Palm Springs--100 miles to the east...no damage to their home..very close to the Crosby estates that had damage.
Firemen 12 hours on and 12 off...hundreds of which worked a solid 48 straight hours....one of their camps is at our comm'typark about a mile from the closest fire.
For those of you who missed it, the Flippers reunion was incredible! These guys have not lost it; if anything, they're even better now! It's even more poignant that they had this reunion when they did, because Larry Weldon (who played bass and was a member of FunkDaddies in Iowa City for the past several years) died Thursday, 11/01/07. His wife, Bonnie, was the woman who organized the reunion. She didn't know why at the time, but said she felt it was something important that she had to do, even when Larry kept telling her not to bother. Now, she says she knows why it was so important. The night of the reunion, the boys were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, several years after other members of the band had been. Connie was really glad to have been able to see Larry before he died, since it was very sudden and not at all expected. Larry was undergoing a routine physical on Tuesday, 10/30/07, and had a heart attack on the treadmill doing the stress test. He underwent surgery and they opened up a couple of his arteries, and was doing so well, they planned to discharge him Friday; he died unexpectedly Thursday. Bonnie has already set up the next reunion, August 1, 2008. I'm sure Connie would be happy to hear from any of you; his e-mail address is cpmead@nbnet.nb.ca. Drop him a line. And keep in touch with me, too!
John McCoy said...
ReplyDeleteI moved away from Marcus in 1963 when I was sixteen years old. I would have graduated in the class of 1965. My parents were M.W. (Mac) and Grace McCoy. My uncle is Gary McCoy who also has a posting on this discussion board. My family relocated to Mississippi on the Gulf Coast and I still reside there in Long Beach, MS.
Glad to see the web site and enjoyed looking at all of the pictures.
John McCoy
My link to this blog that I placed on the wikipedia entry for Marcus IA was deleted by a volunteer editor. I asked why and was directed to some content guidelinesthat are pretty clear that linkage to blogs and/or discussion forums are discouraged. So I'll let it go.
ReplyDeleteThe links I added to the Marcus website and the Marcus historical society remain however.
Gary and John (Butch?) Mc Coy ----
ReplyDeleteOf course I remember you two and Mac and Grace. I wish my memory was clear enough to be specific about dates. It's been a long while since Mac came to work for my late husband, Melvin. Grace was such a good friend ! She helped me out in so many ways.
Right now, with so much talk of Katrina rehab in the Gulf, I keep thinking of the two of them after they moved to Gulfport. We visited them there shortly before they went through their BIG hurricane (What was it's name?) I've often related the story of how they rode it out, really out of inexperience, and ended up making it "big time" just because everyone else had left. What a story and what special people !
I still keep in touch with Dorothy in Cedar Falls at the holidays -- for the rest of you, she and Mac were married after Grace died.
Thanks, again, for renewing great memories ! ----Margaret Dorr
Butch:
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you. Remember the Bradys, Fitzgeralds, and Bancrofts from the neighborhood? Your mom always made the greatest snacks, which she passed out to all of us rug rats who would come up to your place to play. Elm Street looks much the same, except that there is a stop sign placed now for traffic on that street - right out in front of where your old house was. I remember we played lots of ball at the old Holy Name field next to our house. We always wanted Bob Brady on our team to pitch (expecially softball) and Pat Brady (to hit). It was only the real stars who could punch it into the outfield and on top of the old Holy Name gym.
Not even Beaver Cleaver had it as good as we did. Ran the neighborhood, rode bikes all over town, went to the variety store downtown for penny candy, stopped at Lage's or Fred Knox's place for the best french fries in the area, off to the swimming pool, cowboy movies at the Marland (I think it was called) where Barry Hagey was reputed to have caused a hole in the screen by throwing a wad of bubble gum through it, bought huge Baby Ruth bars for a nickel and listened to a great jukebox, also at Lage's, while waiting to get our driver's license to really start checking out "the scene". Great time to have grown up in Marcus. Since we didn't have a TV, I remember watching all the old Saturday morning shows on either Fitzgerald's or (I think) your set - Sky King, Rin Tin Tin, Lone Ranger, and of course Road Runner cartoons. And, finally, I remember sneaking up behind little old ladies' cars at a stop sign near your place, during the winter months, and grabbing the bumper for a quick slide down the street as they took off. Has the statute of limitations run on all this stuff?
Hope everything is well with you.
Fred Dorr
Another suggestion for our famous people from Marcus list for wikipedia:
ReplyDeleteRev. Brian Friedrich, 10th president of Condordia University Nebraska, at Seward, 2004- present.
Brian was a member of the Class of 1975 at Marcus High School.
Anyone else? Do they have criteria for famous people?
Julie Simpson
Julie, the inclusion of persons in wikipedia entries is one of the more contentious editorial topics that arise over and over. There are not hard and fast rules about who is notable or famous. Many people like to add themselves as notable alumni to colleges and universities. And they are very quickly removed by other persons keeping an eye on things.
ReplyDeleteI think in this case, since Friedrich himself is identified on the wiki page for Concordia (Seward), it would likely not be challenged. So I invite you to go ahead and make the edit. Anyone can do it. Click on the edit link next to the title of the section.
Thanks Bob,
ReplyDeleteDone deal.
Julie,
ReplyDeleteYour wiki edit was just as quickly removed, by the same zealous editor that removed my link to this blog. Welcome to the wiki world, where some people get involved just to fight over things.
This editor - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Nyttend - has been accused of "forceful editing".
See the history of the Marcus edits on wikipedia here.
ReplyDeleteOh well. Undone deal.
ReplyDeleteIs he a picky Wiki?
ReplyDeleteI think he's a bit nit wiki!
ReplyDeleteK Dorr
Always enjoy reading the blogs, trying to keep up with what's going on in Marcus and with Marcusites. Heard Tom Dorr is going to be involved in a seminar on renewable energy in Riverside, IA, next weekend (21st & 22nd). My sister, Vicki, and I would like to get together with him, however briefly, while he's here. Vicki lives in Kalona and I live in Iowa City. Have Tom contact me: my address is 766 Bay Ridge Drive, Iowa City, IA 52246-6102; my work phone (319) 384-6012, and my home phone is (319) 400-4703 (cell). I'll set something up. Tell Paul hi, too. He was in my class ('74) before he transferred to Orange City to finish his HS career. Also, any time anyone from Marcus ends up in Iowa City (although that's rare, since only Hawkeye fans seem to enjoy Iowa City.....), be sure to give me a ring. I'd love to see anyone from home! Later, folks!
ReplyDeleteIOWA’S RAGTIME LADY COWBOYS
ReplyDeleteMusic syncopation with a bouncy off-beat melody and steady march rhythm enchanted listeners in the early part of last century. Iowans were delighted and many women in our northwest section of the state contributed to it.
Ragtime music swept the nation between 1900 and 1917. It surprised and delighted urban and rural populations. And it threatened to upset mainstream society’s equilibrium, like the hip hop and rap music of today.
In a time when entertainment meant Chautauqua talks, an occasional serious play, or a classical musical recital, the new music scandalized a lot of folks a hundred years ago. It joined other new inventions of the time including telephones, the automobile, silent movies and canned soup, adding robust music to the melody of American progress.
My mother was a teenager in Sheldon then, and although she was never “Miss Corn Cob” at the annual Harvest Celebration, she did win a popularity contest and the prize was a piano. And like all the proper young ladies in long dresses, she tackled Brahms and Beethoven intermezzos to entertain her elders—and a few suitors—in the parlor at her mother’s restrained home evenings.
Along came ragtime—created for the piano. Drawing from the spirituals and work songs created by African-Americans, the toe-tapping, hand-clapping music in 2/4 time set our nation afire. The American Federation of Musicians denounced the genre as “musical rot.”
But female pianists responded. “The Maple Leaf Rag” and “Pickles and Peppers” by a nineteen-year-old Iowa lady from Algona were early major hits. The sheet music was sold in stores and available on the new 78” records. Everybody was “doin’ it”—except perhaps the cultural elite.
Playing a rag was not easy. It was rendered at a sprightly pace and required two-handed dexterity. The left hand kept the steady march tempo while the right hand scampered away with a vigorous melody in syncopated time. It was sorta’ like tapping your head and rubbing your belly at the same time.
But Iowa women embraced it and created and published rags that added to the craze. Some 2,000 songs were composed in the ragtime era. More than half of them were by nineteen Iowa women.
Blanche Tice, a clerk at Davidson’s Department Store in Sioux City, published more than eighty pieces including “The Jolly Widower.” Miss Feta Brown of Storm Lake wrote “I Wish I Was in Heaven Sittin’ Down” as well as my personal favorite, “The Party That Wrote Home Sweet Home, Never Was a Married Man.” (Try saying that in rhythm.)
My mother never wrote a rag, but she played many over the years. Her favorites were more standard sentimental tunes like “Just a Wearing for You” and “Beautiful Dreamer.” Her signature tune was “Just a Song at Twilight,” which she played almost every evening while waiting for my father to come home from the depot for supper.
The ragtime fad began to fade out in 1917 when the first jazz recording was made and America embraced a newer sound. It was not until the 1940s that the popular “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” set toes atappin’ again.
But the only remembrance today is from the film The Sting in 1971, with its haunting Scott Joplin’s background music, titled “The Entertainer.”
Pity.
(I am indebted to an article, “An American Rhythm,” in the September edition of "The Iowan" for some information in this blog comment.)
Bob Reed
Marcus Historical Society merchandise is now available!
ReplyDeleteWe've got 2008 wall calendars which feature a different black & white historical photo for each month.
The highly anticipated Souvenir Playing Cards are now available as well. These will NOT disappoint! Be sure to collect an opened deck too.
Both items would make great holiday gifts for anyone who knows and loves Marcus Iowa.
Check out the Society's website at www.MarcusHistoricalSociety.org and click on "Fundraisers" for ordering information on each product.
June (Pallesen) Dias
Marcus Historical Society President
In the above post, I meant to say to "collect an UNopened deck" as well. (I really need someone else to proof my typing for me.)
ReplyDeleteJune
Hey, Flipper Fans! My brother, Connie, just told me the guys he was in that band with are having a reunion in October in Iowa City at the "Speakeasy". They'll be coming in on Friday, October 5th, and playing on Saturday, October 6th. Connie may be coming back, too, if he can get things arranged to do so. At any rate, if you want to see a great band, bring back some terrific memories, and have a fabulous time, join me at the "Speakeasy" on Saturday, and let's cheer on those Fabulous Flippers one more time! For more information on the gig, the location, places to stay, etc., feel free to get in touch with me. My e-mail is beverly-mead@uiowa.edu, my work number is (319) 384-6012, and my cell number is (319) 400-4703. Yee-haa!
ReplyDeleteBev:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the note about The Flippers. I would love to see them. Unfortunately, a group we are included in, from central Iowa, is planning to bike ride on the Root River Trail in southeast Minnesota that same weekend. Many of the people on the trip grew up in Iowa and would have the same feelings about The FF as I do, so maybe I can convince them to drive to Iowa City, from Lanesboro, Minn. on Saturday night, to enjoy the music one more time.
How big is the venue?
If I get there, I'll try to track you down.
Thanks again.
Fred
Charlie Addy apparently passed away this past Saturday. What a classy guy, he will be missed a great deal.
ReplyDeleteK Dorr
Charlie Addy was the best. Attended a few college football games with him in the day and worked at his station as a kid. Got busted for stealing candy from the DX station. After I spent a couple of Saturdays cleaning and sweeping around the station that curbed my appetite for candy theft. Marcus lost a great man this past weekend! Bill Seggerman (SP), Edgar Hagey, and Larry Slagter along with many other great guys...........DX played a big part in many a Marucsite's life and Charlie was the leader of that band!
ReplyDeleteMargaret Dorr, Nancy Heir, and Lulu Grauer outdid themselves this past weekend with the Lighted Lantern Walk.
ReplyDeleteHonored families were as follows:
1. Louis Bork presented by Thelma Gravenish.
2. Joseph Alesch presented by Jack Clarkson.
3. Ignatius Collins presented by Bonnie Means.
4. Charles Bass presented by Bruce Bass.
5. Frank Benedict presented by Fran Briggs.
6. Jesse Means presented by David Means.
What an outstanding group of presenters. I never knew the history of such a great group of Marcus folks.
The Bass family served our nation with both boys serving in WW2 and CROC was a POW for 30 months. Amazing and to have his brother shot up on another invasion.
This is a must attend if you are ever in the area when it is being held....always in the fall.
The real treat was getting to see Bruce, Kay, and Kim Bass.
P.S. Rumor has it Candy Petersen from Maine is reading this blog. Hey Candy.....love Maine and especially this time of year.
Gray Matters #26
ReplyDeleteCharles Addy
Flags in Marcus, Iowa, are at half-staff today. Charles “Charlie” Addy died on September 22. Of course I know that only the president and state governors, under specific regulations, can order the lowering of the flag.
So actually, it’s the flags of affection that each of us carries in our own hearts that are at half-mast to honor the memory of a very special gentleman who’s been a vital part of our community as long as most of us can remember.
Charles, the oldest son of Stanley and Rachel Pimperton Addy, was born Oct. 1, 1913, on a farm in Amherst Twp. Graduating from Marcus High School with the class of 1931, he helped on the farm for a few years and then attended a business school in Kansas City for a year. His actual business career in our town began on March 1, 1936 when he started as a tank man for the Marcus Oil Company. By July 1, 1940, he had become their manager and bookkeeper, a position he held until his retirement in 1979.
I’m told Addy’s middle initial was G. for George, but it should have been S. for Service. That can’t be over-emphasized. No matter how early, how late, how cold or how hot, Charlie never refused a service call. Sundays, holidays, none were off-limits. Requests, most would consider downright impositions, were always granted with an obliging grin.
But this was true in his life as well as his business. He served on the council, the Businessmen’s Club, the Boy Scout Council and the Rotary Club, that time-honored service organization that did so much for our town. The Golf Association was an off-shoot of Rotary, and Charles worked endless hours on bringing our beautiful course to reality. Then there was the Medical Board -- it’s solely due to tremendous effort on the part of Charles and a handful of like-minded individuals that we have the Clinic and its services. He was also on the Farmers State Bank board for many, many years.
Others claimed that he was a big-time star athlete in high school, a claim Charlie always modestly denied, but we do know that he was a big-time fan of all that is good about athletics. He was very influential in the once-thriving Little League organization here in town. The MMC Eagles, the Hawkeyes and the Cardinals all shared his undying loyalty.
With mixed feelings, we want to celebrate his long good life, but still, the symbolism of an emotional flag at half-mast is comforting to all who mourn the passing of Marcus’ own Charles Addy.
My name is Sandy Boyd. I live in Cedar Lake In. I looked up my Uncle Jim's name because my mom wanted a copy of his wake info when he died in 05. I ended up here. My mom is Jean Fetsch nee Alesch !! Someone mentioned all of Uncle Jim's kids starting with K's - all ten of them. We used to visit grandma (rosemary and Henry Alesch ) and grandpa at fair time in Marcus. I had the best times !! I was about 14 and Uncle Jim owned a bar. We'd play on the farm and go to the fair. I sure miss those days. My mom is doing well. So is my Aunt Jan. So glad to see you all have kept your roots !
ReplyDeleteSandy Boyd ----I lived (and still live) in the house across the street from where your grandparents lived. The Alesch brothers who were early area settlers were featured in our annual Lighted Lantern Walk. Jack Clarkson, grandson of Joseph, did a great job as presenter Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you a copy of that script. I'm sure your mother and aunt would enjoy seeing it. Greet them for me. I remember them both.
ReplyDeleteMargaret Dorr
Sandy Boyd:I was one of the young guys that lived in the house across the street from your grandparents and always looked forward to seeing the "KIDS" from
ReplyDeleteIndiana come to town every summer. If I am not mistaken you have a brother or two as well correct? If so tell me their names again and where they are living.
Your grandparents had their hands full with all of young ones tearing throw their yard at night playing kick the can and such!!!!
Sincerely,
One of Margaret's sons "MANY SONS AT THAT" but not as many as the Alesch clan!!!!!
Thelma will love this story:
ReplyDeleteThis past Friday night I was at a restaurant on Rush Street in Chicago "GIBSON'S" with a couple of friends of mine in from Texas. One of them actually played for the Chicago Bears for 12 years....#29 on the '85 Super Bowl team and has been a good friend ever since my Baylor days!
As we waited for our car outside the restaurant a tall younger man and his date exited the restaurant as well. I approached him as I knew that I knew him and asked if he was a basketball player to which his girlfriend smiled. I then was informed that he was REMSEN, IOWA'S very own Jarod Homan who played for the ISU Cyclones.
Well Jarod and I realized that I had met him at a Baylor/ISU basketball game a couple of years ago in Ames along with his parents and sister. We then visited for a while and I was informed that he was one of three unsigned invited players who are vying for a spot or two on the Chicago Bulls.
We had a great chat and talked about the fact that his family bought and live on what was once a DORR FARM southwest of Marcus and that Kirk Hinrich "SIOUX CITY BOY" and Jarod Homan will both potentially be playing a big part in the success of the Chicago Bulls.
Who would have ever thought two young men from Northwest Iowa would be playing for the BULLS?
Fred & All Other Flipper Fans:
ReplyDeleteThe venue is not overly large; it will probably seat about 100 inside, but there is outdoor seating, too, so a lot of people could hear, if not see the band. I'd love to get together with anyone from home who can get down here. I'll have my cell phone with me, (319) 400-4703, and I'll be sitting as close to the band as I can get! Hope to see as many of YOU there as possible, too!
Beverly
I am Sara Marra, the daughter of Roger and Pat Rae, formerly of Marcus. Sadly, my Roger passed away last December and someone posted a note about his death on this blog and also mentioned that he was the only male cheerleader at Marcus HS. My dad used to tell such funny stories of when he was young but we had never heard that one! Does anyone know more about him being a cheerleader? We would love any info on that! Thanks. Sara
ReplyDeleteHi Sara!
ReplyDeleteYour dad Roger Rae, was--to my knowledge--the only male cheerleader ever at the old Marcus High School. He was a member of a 5-person squad in 1945-46. (I was a freshman).
Cheerleading in those days did not involve the acrobatics and air tosses of today. The moves were almost like a restrained ballet, modest and carefully choreographed like a close-order drill. Tight arm movements and turns.
The squad of four girls and a guy were dressed in blue sweaters with a big gold "M" on the front. Blue slacks and pleated skirts(with gold lining) and blue--sometimes gold--tights completed the ensemble for the girls.The group led the poetry-like cheers for the football and basketball teams.
"Two bits, four bits, six bits a dollar. All for Marcus, stand up and holler." (A bit was slang for $.25 in those days.)
Rog was a popular lad with all the girls. He was handsome and an excellent dancer. Great white smile and good build. Some of the senior girls teased him about becoming a cheerleader that year.
He took them up on it.
Somewhere I have a pic of that squad, and when we got together a few years ago, he said he had the same pic. Ask your mom--Pat--if she has it somewhere. If not, I'll dig into some boxes.
As far as I know, Rog was the only male cheerleader--past or future--in ol' MHS. He created quite a stir when visiting teams and fans came to town or when the teams went on the road. A male cheerleader was almost unheard of in Iowa high schools at that time. Everyone was proud of his participation. We felt we were really uptown and sophisticated-sorta' like a college.
Go Eagles!
Bob Reed
Margaret and Phillip Dorr
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for writing back. I am on the phone with my mom right now reading it to her. She is so surprised to hear from you !! She still loves her home town so much. I will be sure to let my Aunt Jan know too. My e-mail is medicme34@hotmail.com. I will send on any messages. Any yes, I have three brothers. Steve, Stuart, and Shawn. What was it with the Alesch kids that they all named their kids with the same first letters ?? My Aunt Jan's kids are all T's. Tim, Tom, Theresa, and Tina. And Uncle Jim, all K's. I don't think I'd get them all if I tried... Thanks again for making my mom's day.
Thanks so much Bob - loved hearing that story. Would love to hear any more funny or memorable stories if you have any. I don't think my mom has that picture. If you come across it i would love to have it. My address is Sara Marra, 524 Morningside Road, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Thanks again. Sara
ReplyDeleteKim, Kirk, Kelli, Kevin, Kay, Keith ... Ken, Kory ... used to be able to do it, Sandy. I just saw Kim (Alesch) Daum a few days ago, and she remembers your visits too. My grandparents, Ed & Amanda Meylor, lived next door to your grandparents in town. Before we went to Girl Scouts after school, we always stopped at your grandma's house for a snack. Odd scrap of memory...:)
ReplyDeleteKarla and, ummm... that's all I can add.
ReplyDeleteKim, Kirk, Kelli, Kevin, Kay, Kris, Kenny, Keith, Karla and Kory.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't read "The Children's Blizzard" you should. It's about the January 12, 1888 blizzard that struck the Dakota's and Nebraska and killed hundreds of Children as they tried to make it home from country school. I had never heard of this storm until my brother Jon lent me his copy of the book. It is very fascinating and tragic. I never heard of this storm growing up. Has anyone else?
ReplyDeleteKurt Dorr
Odd. I know I just read a poem that spoke of this same event. But I can't remember who wrote it. I'll have to retrace my steps. The poem spoke in the voice of different people in a town and how some lived, some died. Some young teachers got some children home and others stayed in their country schools. That book sounds interesting though. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteWhile home this time, I went with my parents to the capsized steamboat museum that is a few exits above Omaha. I was impressed with the building, the display, an artist's works from around the area, and the great view out the windows. Also drove through the Loess Hills ... thought I was in the hollows of Kentucky! Definitely NOT flat!!
We also tried to visit this little county site that is somewhere down by Dog Creek -- which is an old swimming hole near Sutherland (?). It wasn't open, but the caretaker let us in for a few minutes before he had to leave. It, too, was new and had an incredible view down on a little valley below. Quite pretty!
Julie,
ReplyDeleteSince you enjoyed the spot by Dog Creek, you would enjoy visiting the O'Brien Co. Heritage Center that is between Sutherland and Peterson. See this site:http://www.obriencounty.com/government/conservation.htm
They even have some resident buffalo. They have some interesting exhibits in their new building and I'm sure it is a place visited by many school children.
Pat Ducommun
Hi Pat!
ReplyDeleteThat's it! That's where we went. The view from that panoramic window is spectacular and he had several pair of binoculars there to scan the skies for eagles and such. Quite worth it!
This was the book-length poem about the same blizzard. Kooser is very accessible for those who get nervous about poetry...
ReplyDeleteThe Blizzard Voices was produced in 1986 and is a collection of Kooser’s poems that provide a haunting dramatized narrative of the devastation unleashed on Nebraska Territory by the Great Blizzard of January 12, 1888 (which is often referred to as “The Children's Blizzard”). His text was drawn from the reminiscences of the survivors: the men and women who were teaching school, working the land, tending the house – when the storm arrived and changed their lives forever. Tom Pohrt illustrated the book with twelve period-like line drawings.
A few descriptive remarks about our fire storm..wind blowing about 25 MPH starting after church last sunday. by 4 pm sun totally brown and sky very dark. reverse 911 call at 4:30 and I was about the 50th car into qualcomm NFL stadium around 5:30. Wind up to 70 MPH went we left. 10,000 people at the stadium when we left later for a hotel downtown.
ReplyDeleteFirst of many wonderful happenings....people were getting out of their cars and asking police at the stadium what could they do to help....not where is the water and food. Picked Marge at the airport at 3:30 and talked our way into the Hanalie Hotel downtown leaving wednesday afternoon to see if our street was open...it was and here is what we found....
5 homes to the ground (only chimneys standing) some 4 blocks from our home and just 500 feet from my home which is now rented to one of our neighbors furnished for 18 months. Eastview area of Rancho Bernardo has 150 homes with 15 totaled; Rancho Bernardo (39,000)400 homes lost & our local
RBCommunity Presbyterian church members lost 69 homes Ken Blanchard (1 minutes manager) Charger coach many executives lost their homes ranging in value from $700,000 to 7.5 million (yes some were over 4 acre lots and 10,000 sq.ft.
My daughter and family along with their dog, Boji (guesswhere that name came from) and huge rabbit had to vacate living in Rancho Sante Fe (just 17 minutes west of us) and ended up in Palm Springs--100 miles to the east...no damage to their home..very close to the Crosby estates that had damage.
Firemen 12 hours on and 12 off...hundreds of which worked a solid 48 straight hours....one of their camps is at our comm'typark about a mile from the closest fire.
Don Peters
For those of you who missed it, the Flippers reunion was incredible! These guys have not lost it; if anything, they're even better now! It's even more poignant that they had this reunion when they did, because Larry Weldon (who played bass and was a member of FunkDaddies in Iowa City for the past several years) died Thursday, 11/01/07. His wife, Bonnie, was the woman who organized the reunion. She didn't know why at the time, but said she felt it was something important that she had to do, even when Larry kept telling her not to bother. Now, she says she knows why it was so important. The night of the reunion, the boys were inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, several years after other members of the band had been. Connie was really glad to have been able to see Larry before he died, since it was very sudden and not at all expected. Larry was undergoing a routine physical on Tuesday, 10/30/07, and had a heart attack on the treadmill doing the stress test. He underwent surgery and they opened up a couple of his arteries, and was doing so well, they planned to discharge him Friday; he died unexpectedly Thursday. Bonnie has already set up the next reunion, August 1, 2008. I'm sure Connie would be happy to hear from any of you; his e-mail address is cpmead@nbnet.nb.ca. Drop him a line. And keep in touch with me, too!
ReplyDeleteBeverly