Presented here is a bullet list of specific places I visited on my 8,540 mile road trip around America, going to and from the 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, San Jose, California from June 4, starting in Clinton, TN to July to July 30, arriving in Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400 NASCAR weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; and then heading back to TN.
Stories of my trip on my blog: http://judytoga.blogspot.com/
Pictures on Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/indyfanjudy.album
the specific trip album link is:
https://picasaweb.google.com/101909739033407700500/JudySJournalToGAAndBack#
June 5
Jackson, Mississippi capitol and downtown (visit with Kay and Dr. Mounger)
June 6
Vicksburg, MS and Mississippi River bridges
June 7
Texas Motor Speedway for Indy Car race
June 9
Albany Texas and wind turbines in fields of West Texas
June 10
Buffalo Gap, Texas
June 10
Abilene Christian University, Abilene Texas
June 10
Grace Hotel, now Grace Museum, Abilene Texas
June 11
Visit to Abilene Christian University library
June 11
San Angelo, Texas (visit with Rosemary Sluder)
June 13
Route 66; Four Corners monument of New Mexico, AZ, Utah, and Colorado; end of U.S. 64
June 13
The Unser (Auto Racing) Family Museum, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Route 66
June 14
Route 66 and Petrified Forest
June 15
Holbrook, AZ Wigwams, Winslow, Meteor Crater
June 15
Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff Arizona
June 16
Route 66 and Grand Canyon
June 17
Kingman, Arizona, Oatman, Arizona with Oatman burros to Needles California
June 18
Ludlow, California to Amboy, California and Roy’s Café (icon on Route 66)
June 19
Crystal Palace, (Buck Owens’ Theatre and Museum) Bakersfield, CA
June 20
Gonzales, CA church; Pinnacles National Monument, CA
June 20-28
San Jose, CA and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
June 28
The Tech Museum, San Jose, CA
June 29
Church of the Roses, Santa Rosa, CA (Presbyterian Church U.S.A.)
June 29
Charles Schultz’s Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
July 1
Bridgeport, CA covered bridge
July 2
Elko, Nevada Star Motel
July 3
Bonnieville Salt Flats International Speedway on the way to Salt Lake
July 3 pm
Temple Square and Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal
July 4
Temple Square in a.m., Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, Utah
July 6
Farmer Memorial Church, Rawlins, Wyoming and Devils Gate on the Mormon Trail
July 8
Pompey’s Pillar, on the Lewis and Clark Trail, near Billings Montana
July 9
Theodore Roosevelt National Park and prairie dogs, North Dakota
July 10
Portal, North Dakota and the U.S./Canadian boarder—the beginning of U.S. 52
July 11
Rugby, North Dakota—the geographical center of the United States
July 12
Terrific little towns on what was U.S. 52 before the Interstate
July 13
First Presby in Osakis, MN and Saux Centre, Minnesota—hometown of Sinclair Lewis
July 13
Terrific small towns and fabulous stained glass windows in Catholic churches
July 14
First Presby Church and Public Library, Minneapolis, MN
July 15
SPAM Museum at the Hormel Company in Austin, MN
July 16
Little Brown Church in the Vale church near Nashua, Iowa
July 16
Mason City, Iowa—home of Meredith Willson, “the Music Man”
July 17
Burr Oak, Iowa—Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
July 17
Bily Clocks Museum, Spillville, Iowa; and Froelich Covered Bridge, Iowa
July 18
Prairie De Chen, Wisconsin and Dubuque, Iowa—Effigy Mounds
July 19
Mines of Spain—Julien Dubuque burial monument, Bellevue, Iowa Mississippi River Locks and Dam; Dixon, Illinois—a boyhood home of Ronald Reagan
July 20
First Presby Church, Mendota, Ill and 2 covered bridges in Princeton, Illinois; Carnegie Library in Mendota; Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet
July 21
“Back Home Again in Indiana” when I reached Kentland Indiana with its different style Carnegie Library building
July 22
Earl Park Park, Fowler, Oxford, and Otterbein libraries
July 23
Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana libraries and end of my U.S. 52 trip on Lafayette Road, Indianapolis
July 24-29
In Indianapolis for the NASCAR Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
July 29 and July 30
Leaving Indianapolis, traveling U.S. 52 to Cincinnati, then I-75 to make it to Clinton, TN in time for the First Presbyterian Church Session meeting at 7 PM that night !!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Indiana Libraries, Bricks, and 8,540 miles later:
Tuesday, July 22 to Wednesday, July 30:
Indiana Libraries, Bricks, and 8,540 miles later:
I haven’t been able to post to the Blog since Monday, July 21. But, at 8,540 miles total since June 4 when I left Clinton, TN, I arrived back at my house in Clinton on Wednesday, July 30. I arrived two hours before a Session meeting at my church on Wednesday evening. I felt responsible to be at this Session meeting, since I was not present at the May and June meetings. But, admittedly, I was cutting it close.
So, to backtrack, when I arrived in northwest Indiana on U.S. 52, I visited some of the libraries that I worked with when I was an ALSA library network director from 1976 to 1986. The Raub, Otterbein, West Lafayette Public Libraries, as well as the IVYTech Community College/branch of the Tippecanoe County Public Library have new buildings. Outside of Raub and Earl Park, Indiana I found more wind turbines in the middle of Indiana cornfields. I was able to visit with two library directors who I worked with as an ALSA Director. I also was able to visit the retired library director of the West Lafayette Public Library.
Getting to Indianapolis for the NASCAR Brickyard 400 weekend meant there was not much time to get on the Internet, update a Bog, or even do much email. Friday and Saturday were spent at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway watching practice and qualifications. My brother, Bucky, went with me on Saturday. We had a good time sitting up in the race day expensive seats up in the Paddock Penthouse.
Indiana Libraries, Bricks, and 8,540 miles later:
I haven’t been able to post to the Blog since Monday, July 21. But, at 8,540 miles total since June 4 when I left Clinton, TN, I arrived back at my house in Clinton on Wednesday, July 30. I arrived two hours before a Session meeting at my church on Wednesday evening. I felt responsible to be at this Session meeting, since I was not present at the May and June meetings. But, admittedly, I was cutting it close.
So, to backtrack, when I arrived in northwest Indiana on U.S. 52, I visited some of the libraries that I worked with when I was an ALSA library network director from 1976 to 1986. The Raub, Otterbein, West Lafayette Public Libraries, as well as the IVYTech Community College/branch of the Tippecanoe County Public Library have new buildings. Outside of Raub and Earl Park, Indiana I found more wind turbines in the middle of Indiana cornfields. I was able to visit with two library directors who I worked with as an ALSA Director. I also was able to visit the retired library director of the West Lafayette Public Library.
Getting to Indianapolis for the NASCAR Brickyard 400 weekend meant there was not much time to get on the Internet, update a Bog, or even do much email. Friday and Saturday were spent at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway watching practice and qualifications. My brother, Bucky, went with me on Saturday. We had a good time sitting up in the race day expensive seats up in the Paddock Penthouse.
Now, for those of you who know what took place on Sunday, my opinion is Goodyear and NASCAR made a mistake by not doing a tire test using the so called “Car of Tomorrow” long before the weekend of July 27. For those who do not know, let us just say, the Brickyard 400 was a series of sprint races, connected by yellow flag laps. It was not a normal race. Jimmy Johnson won; not our first choice. We were hoping Carl Edwards, the second place finisher, would have beat Jimmy to the flag at the end of the final “sprint car” race of the last 7 laps.
On Tuesday, I left my brother’s house, went to the Motor Speedway to re-order Brickyard 400 tickets for next year, tried to go find a friend at home, and then hit the downtown central branch of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library. I “got into” the older maps that the library has and, before I knew it, the library was getting ready to close at 9 p.m. So, I left and drove on U.S. 52 as far as I could in Indiana. U.S. 52 goes off toward south east Ohio along the Ohio River when it reaches Cincinnati. I drove only to the Flying J Travel Plaza, just south of Cincinnati. On Tuesday, I took my time driving some of U.S. 25, instead of I-75, which caused me to arrive back in Clinton at 4:35 p.m.
Arriving home, I found that I had lost the remainder of the maple tree in my backyard. The tree had been previously damaged in previous storm. I also discovered that the new building for the Food City Grocery Store right behind my backyard has a good start. I was presently surprised that Clinton also has a new Radio Shack Store. A Weigels Milk Store being completed at the Interstate; and the new Walmart (which opened May 21st) is going strong.
On my next blog post, and probably the final one of this Blog, I will be bullet listing the highlights of sites and places I saw. This journey has been one wonderful way to spend part of the summer.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Back Home Again in Indiana....
Monday evening, July 21st:
A blog update from earlier this a.m. About one half hour ago, (6:30 p.m. c.s.t.) I crossed over the Illinois/Indiana state line on U.S. 52/24 at my odometer reading of 82,890-- 7,588 miles from when I left Clinton on June 4. I am in Kentland, Indiana (Newton County) at their public library, using their Gates Foundation Public Access Computer, as they do not have wifi. This is a small, Carnegie library about 5 miles inside the state line. This library is still on Central time (upper northwest Indiana stays with Chicago). I am only three or four miles north of the Eastern time zone in Benton County (Fowler, county seat). I will be using some of my time tomorrow just to "drop in" on two or three of the public libraries that were in my ALSA (library network area) when I lived in Crawfordsville, IN before moving to TN.
It has been good to see green cornfields through Iowa, Illinois, and now Indiana. John Deere is every where!! I saw a billboard that asked: Do you dream in yellow and green?
A blog update from earlier this a.m. About one half hour ago, (6:30 p.m. c.s.t.) I crossed over the Illinois/Indiana state line on U.S. 52/24 at my odometer reading of 82,890-- 7,588 miles from when I left Clinton on June 4. I am in Kentland, Indiana (Newton County) at their public library, using their Gates Foundation Public Access Computer, as they do not have wifi. This is a small, Carnegie library about 5 miles inside the state line. This library is still on Central time (upper northwest Indiana stays with Chicago). I am only three or four miles north of the Eastern time zone in Benton County (Fowler, county seat). I will be using some of my time tomorrow just to "drop in" on two or three of the public libraries that were in my ALSA (library network area) when I lived in Crawfordsville, IN before moving to TN.
It has been good to see green cornfields through Iowa, Illinois, and now Indiana. John Deere is every where!! I saw a billboard that asked: Do you dream in yellow and green?
Mendota, and in pursuit of covered bridges and Chicagoland Speedway
Sunday, July 20 (Moon Day—1969)
I arrived at the First Presbyterian Church of Mendota, Illinois about 15 minutes before worship. Walking in the door, I was greeted by the Pastor. His expression told me we had met before, and I too had this feeling we had met before. I introduced myself, and mentioned that I was taking a long way back to TN from General Assembly. Then he remembered: not only were we both Commissioners to General Assembly, we served on the same General Assembly Committee, #14 Review of Permanent General Assembly Committees. Now folks, things like this “just don’t happen.”
The First Presbyterian Church in Mendota had been organized in the 1860's. The present building was built in 1898. Its interior woodwork is oak. Of course, I am always “into” the stained glass windows. I was given a copy of a small booklet that had been produced about their stained glass windows. The church was celebrating its new addition complete with elevator and handicapped bathrooms. Two ladies were present in worship this morning that had not been able to attend for along time. The elevator has allowed them to come back. The pastor made the point that this was the real reason they were celebrating---that folks will be able to attend who have not been able to in the past. Amen.
Having seen a postcard picture the day before of the Red Bridge, I went off to Princeton—a 26 mile detour from U.S. 52. When coming into town, I had pulled over to take a picture of the town sign and thought that I had run over something that might have damaged my tire. Putting the van’s flashers on, a policeman driving by stopped to ask if everything was o.k. Looking at the van, I explained to him why I stopped, but the tire looked o.k. I asked him for directions to the bridge. He told me the town now has two bridges, including one built in 2006. He gave me very good directions to both. Arriving at the Red Bridge, I found it in good shape with a little park beside it. But, no sign to announce how old it was, and the date was not painted above its opening. Backtracking to the new one, I found the Captain Swift Bridge. Beside it was a nice paved parking area. Two ladies on bicycles told me that believed it had been named after an older gentleman who had lived on adjoining land for a long time. I mentioned that it is unusual to see new covered bridges. They shared that a bridge needed to be replaced; apparently the county decided it was as cheap to build a covered bridge as it would be build a concrete bridge. Ummm. The bridge has stone abutments and bricked approaches to the bridge on the roadway. The bridge had been constructed using the Burr Arch design. It was a find. The citizens of Princeton and the county should be very proud of their new bridge.
Coming back into Mendota, I found that the old Carnegie Library was open. The building now houses a historical collection. I found some old documents about the Presbyterian Church as well as some others. There was a large, well archived photograph collection of the area that one could spend a whole day perusing. This Carnegie building, built in 1904 had both a fireplace and a front lawn equaling one-half of a city block. Mendota is the home of the National Sweet Corn Festival. The ladies inside shared with me that the lawn is the site of the flee market under big tents. Umm, shades of Rockville, Indiana and their Covered Bridge Festival.
Leaving Mendota, traveling due south, and then east on U.S. 52, I came to Chubby’s Corner, a restaurant/bar that looked lonely because there wasn’t any NASCAR race for folks to watch on their big screen TV this afternoon. However, what made me stop was their sign out front announcing “The World’s Largest Ham Sandwich.” Well, it was large—like the ones at Shapiro’s Deli in Indy, but made with very thin sliced ham. Served with potato chips and pickles, it was certainly good and cheaper than those at Shapiro’s. The sandwich with good, brewed ice tea was $5.50.
Coming to Joliet, I missed a turn and found myself on U.S. 30 and U.S. 6. Having to retrace my route to U.S. 52 and then going the correct way, I found myself at a drawbridge at the Des Planes River, at the time it was raising for a boat to cross under it. What a mechanical movement to draw the road pavement straight up. Continuing on, it looked on my map that I would go past the Chicagoland Speedway. I was hoping to get there before dark, but I had to turn back to Illinois 53 to approach it and it was getting dark. I never did find a sign on the highway that said “Chicagoland.” What I found was “Route 66 Raceway.” Pulling in going toward the grandstands, it was obvious by the trash that an event had taken place that day. Some souvenir trailer staff was still packing away their souvenirs. They explained that the Raceway was the dragstrip and a ¼ clay track, but the Chicagoland Speedway was part of the complex also. I could see the large grandstands, but could not get to them, passing them the first time. Going back, I did find the approach road and then, finally, a sign that said “Chicagoland Speedway.” I also found a security guard. I was explaining to her why I was driving around. We talked racing for awhile. So, from covered bridges to racetracks, my trip from Mendota was a good one.
I am at a McDonalds this a.m. (Monday) waiting for storms to pass. There was a gully washer last night. I should be “Back Home Again in Indiana” sometime later this afternoon, getting to the state line, then joining up with U.S. 41 for a short distance, and also crossing U.S. 24.
I arrived at the First Presbyterian Church of Mendota, Illinois about 15 minutes before worship. Walking in the door, I was greeted by the Pastor. His expression told me we had met before, and I too had this feeling we had met before. I introduced myself, and mentioned that I was taking a long way back to TN from General Assembly. Then he remembered: not only were we both Commissioners to General Assembly, we served on the same General Assembly Committee, #14 Review of Permanent General Assembly Committees. Now folks, things like this “just don’t happen.”
The First Presbyterian Church in Mendota had been organized in the 1860's. The present building was built in 1898. Its interior woodwork is oak. Of course, I am always “into” the stained glass windows. I was given a copy of a small booklet that had been produced about their stained glass windows. The church was celebrating its new addition complete with elevator and handicapped bathrooms. Two ladies were present in worship this morning that had not been able to attend for along time. The elevator has allowed them to come back. The pastor made the point that this was the real reason they were celebrating---that folks will be able to attend who have not been able to in the past. Amen.
Having seen a postcard picture the day before of the Red Bridge, I went off to Princeton—a 26 mile detour from U.S. 52. When coming into town, I had pulled over to take a picture of the town sign and thought that I had run over something that might have damaged my tire. Putting the van’s flashers on, a policeman driving by stopped to ask if everything was o.k. Looking at the van, I explained to him why I stopped, but the tire looked o.k. I asked him for directions to the bridge. He told me the town now has two bridges, including one built in 2006. He gave me very good directions to both. Arriving at the Red Bridge, I found it in good shape with a little park beside it. But, no sign to announce how old it was, and the date was not painted above its opening. Backtracking to the new one, I found the Captain Swift Bridge. Beside it was a nice paved parking area. Two ladies on bicycles told me that believed it had been named after an older gentleman who had lived on adjoining land for a long time. I mentioned that it is unusual to see new covered bridges. They shared that a bridge needed to be replaced; apparently the county decided it was as cheap to build a covered bridge as it would be build a concrete bridge. Ummm. The bridge has stone abutments and bricked approaches to the bridge on the roadway. The bridge had been constructed using the Burr Arch design. It was a find. The citizens of Princeton and the county should be very proud of their new bridge.
Coming back into Mendota, I found that the old Carnegie Library was open. The building now houses a historical collection. I found some old documents about the Presbyterian Church as well as some others. There was a large, well archived photograph collection of the area that one could spend a whole day perusing. This Carnegie building, built in 1904 had both a fireplace and a front lawn equaling one-half of a city block. Mendota is the home of the National Sweet Corn Festival. The ladies inside shared with me that the lawn is the site of the flee market under big tents. Umm, shades of Rockville, Indiana and their Covered Bridge Festival.
Leaving Mendota, traveling due south, and then east on U.S. 52, I came to Chubby’s Corner, a restaurant/bar that looked lonely because there wasn’t any NASCAR race for folks to watch on their big screen TV this afternoon. However, what made me stop was their sign out front announcing “The World’s Largest Ham Sandwich.” Well, it was large—like the ones at Shapiro’s Deli in Indy, but made with very thin sliced ham. Served with potato chips and pickles, it was certainly good and cheaper than those at Shapiro’s. The sandwich with good, brewed ice tea was $5.50.
Coming to Joliet, I missed a turn and found myself on U.S. 30 and U.S. 6. Having to retrace my route to U.S. 52 and then going the correct way, I found myself at a drawbridge at the Des Planes River, at the time it was raising for a boat to cross under it. What a mechanical movement to draw the road pavement straight up. Continuing on, it looked on my map that I would go past the Chicagoland Speedway. I was hoping to get there before dark, but I had to turn back to Illinois 53 to approach it and it was getting dark. I never did find a sign on the highway that said “Chicagoland.” What I found was “Route 66 Raceway.” Pulling in going toward the grandstands, it was obvious by the trash that an event had taken place that day. Some souvenir trailer staff was still packing away their souvenirs. They explained that the Raceway was the dragstrip and a ¼ clay track, but the Chicagoland Speedway was part of the complex also. I could see the large grandstands, but could not get to them, passing them the first time. Going back, I did find the approach road and then, finally, a sign that said “Chicagoland Speedway.” I also found a security guard. I was explaining to her why I was driving around. We talked racing for awhile. So, from covered bridges to racetracks, my trip from Mendota was a good one.
I am at a McDonalds this a.m. (Monday) waiting for storms to pass. There was a gully washer last night. I should be “Back Home Again in Indiana” sometime later this afternoon, getting to the state line, then joining up with U.S. 41 for a short distance, and also crossing U.S. 24.
More Iowa Churches to Mendota, Illinois
Saturday, July 19:
Starting out the day from Dubuque, Iowa, I followed U.S. 52 south from downtown. Crossing a bridge, I came upon a Recreational Area, entitled the Mines of Spain. Being curious, I took a left. What I found first a mystery of the name. Coming upon a fisherman, he told me this land went from the French to Spanish control in 1792, but the French had mined lead before the American Revolution. So, the mines were lead mines. Then, the best part—he told me to go farther and I would come to a view of the Mississippi, the town of Dubuque, and the grave monument of Julien Dubuque, himself. His monument is in the shape of a castle piece in a chess set.
Tracing my way back to U.S. 52, GRAPE and I headed down the highway with the Mississippi River basically to our left. We came upon a couple of small towns named after the Roman Catholic Church that was the town’s focal point. The first, Saint Catherine’s, (not spelled the same way as my Aunt Kate’s name) was not open. An interesting side observation: the name of the town, road to the church, and church sign all spelled “Catherine.” The cornerstone of the church stated: Saint Catharina, 1887. The second town and church I came to was Saint Donatus. This church was open. Walking inside, I found myself among vaulted ceilings with stencils, elaborate alter pieces, and narrow stained glass windows with each focusing on one of the apostles. This church building, being finished in 1908 is one hundred years young. From its sturdiness in looks, it will be around for another 100 years. Contrast that with our “throw away” stadiums and arenas in today’s cities such as in Indianapolis.
At Bellevue, Iowa there is a Subway Sandwich Shop restaurant that must have the best views outside their building of any Subway’s franchises. The Subway is built on a bluff above the Mississippi River at the site of Lock and Dam #12. The building has a deck that one can go eat their sandwich and watch barges being put into the locks for the water to be raised. This process allows barges to continue to float down Ol’ Man River.
As I was ready to go drive east on U.S. 52 over the river to Illinois on one of those boring, modern-day bridges, I looked back to the west on Iowa S.R 64 to find what I thought was a small country church. Turns out it was a modern day Iowa Welcome Center made in the shape and looks of a little white one room school house. Going inside, it was complete with the appropriate school desks, blackboard, and pot bellied stove of the day. It was so cute.
Crossing over into Illinois, I headed toward Mendota, Illinois, passing through Dixon along the way. Dixon, Illinois is “advertised” as Ronald Regan’s Boyhood Home. However, the sign on “boyhood home” indicated he only lived there three years. The house was closed, and maybe there are other homes in the town where he lived. If not, I am not sure but, Dixon maybe doing some false advertising. However, the local public library building with a date of 1900 at its top, does give acknowledgement that Ronald Regan, in 1920, at nine years of age, was issued library card number 3695, “becoming a frequent library visitor and avid reader during his Dixon years.”
Traveling on to Mendota, I stopped for the night so that I could attend the Presbyterian Church the next morning. When I found the church, I discovered what time the service was by the sign in front that turns: one side for 9 am worship in the summer, one side for 10 am worship during the rest of the year.
Starting out the day from Dubuque, Iowa, I followed U.S. 52 south from downtown. Crossing a bridge, I came upon a Recreational Area, entitled the Mines of Spain. Being curious, I took a left. What I found first a mystery of the name. Coming upon a fisherman, he told me this land went from the French to Spanish control in 1792, but the French had mined lead before the American Revolution. So, the mines were lead mines. Then, the best part—he told me to go farther and I would come to a view of the Mississippi, the town of Dubuque, and the grave monument of Julien Dubuque, himself. His monument is in the shape of a castle piece in a chess set.
Tracing my way back to U.S. 52, GRAPE and I headed down the highway with the Mississippi River basically to our left. We came upon a couple of small towns named after the Roman Catholic Church that was the town’s focal point. The first, Saint Catherine’s, (not spelled the same way as my Aunt Kate’s name) was not open. An interesting side observation: the name of the town, road to the church, and church sign all spelled “Catherine.” The cornerstone of the church stated: Saint Catharina, 1887. The second town and church I came to was Saint Donatus. This church was open. Walking inside, I found myself among vaulted ceilings with stencils, elaborate alter pieces, and narrow stained glass windows with each focusing on one of the apostles. This church building, being finished in 1908 is one hundred years young. From its sturdiness in looks, it will be around for another 100 years. Contrast that with our “throw away” stadiums and arenas in today’s cities such as in Indianapolis.
At Bellevue, Iowa there is a Subway Sandwich Shop restaurant that must have the best views outside their building of any Subway’s franchises. The Subway is built on a bluff above the Mississippi River at the site of Lock and Dam #12. The building has a deck that one can go eat their sandwich and watch barges being put into the locks for the water to be raised. This process allows barges to continue to float down Ol’ Man River.
As I was ready to go drive east on U.S. 52 over the river to Illinois on one of those boring, modern-day bridges, I looked back to the west on Iowa S.R 64 to find what I thought was a small country church. Turns out it was a modern day Iowa Welcome Center made in the shape and looks of a little white one room school house. Going inside, it was complete with the appropriate school desks, blackboard, and pot bellied stove of the day. It was so cute.
Crossing over into Illinois, I headed toward Mendota, Illinois, passing through Dixon along the way. Dixon, Illinois is “advertised” as Ronald Regan’s Boyhood Home. However, the sign on “boyhood home” indicated he only lived there three years. The house was closed, and maybe there are other homes in the town where he lived. If not, I am not sure but, Dixon maybe doing some false advertising. However, the local public library building with a date of 1900 at its top, does give acknowledgement that Ronald Regan, in 1920, at nine years of age, was issued library card number 3695, “becoming a frequent library visitor and avid reader during his Dixon years.”
Traveling on to Mendota, I stopped for the night so that I could attend the Presbyterian Church the next morning. When I found the church, I discovered what time the service was by the sign in front that turns: one side for 9 am worship in the summer, one side for 10 am worship during the rest of the year.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Prairie du Chen to Dubuque, Iowa—Effigy Mounds and the Mississippi River
Friday, July 18: first, let me share with you that I have posted some pictures tonight that actually are a part of older posts. I have had the Mcdonald's wifi in Dubuque, Iowa to do this. It's not fast, but at least it is available. Hope you like the pictures from last Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday. You have to scroll down past this post, and the next one about Thursday, July 17.
Today was mostly a driving day, leaving Prairie du Chen, WI and crossing back over the Mississippi River to Marquette and McGregor, IA. After driving around those two towns some, I headed north three miles to Effigy Mounds National Monument. Here I was able to drive the back roads to some ancient Indian mounds that a civilization a long time ago created in simple shapes of bears and birds, cones and links. There was a short walk out to an overlook of the Mississippi River, looking back toward Prairie du Chen. Going back to Marquette, I found a restaurant that made me some yummy fried potatoes (not exactly like my Grandma Cobb’s, but still yummy.). The homemade chicken salad sandwich on toasted wheat bread wasn’t bad either. Leaving Marquette, IA on U.S. 18 West, I headed back to U.S. 52. Traveling through small towns, I happened on to some more pre-1900 Roman Catholic churches, and an interesting garden with Roman Catholic religious icons of Saints and the Apostles.
I found a McDonalds here in Dubuque, where I am using their wifi. However, I am fighting my fingers from freezing with a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt with a hood to fight off the air conditioning blowing on me. I can’t move from this spot very far, because of the outlet being here—the only one in the seating area.
Today was mostly a driving day, leaving Prairie du Chen, WI and crossing back over the Mississippi River to Marquette and McGregor, IA. After driving around those two towns some, I headed north three miles to Effigy Mounds National Monument. Here I was able to drive the back roads to some ancient Indian mounds that a civilization a long time ago created in simple shapes of bears and birds, cones and links. There was a short walk out to an overlook of the Mississippi River, looking back toward Prairie du Chen. Going back to Marquette, I found a restaurant that made me some yummy fried potatoes (not exactly like my Grandma Cobb’s, but still yummy.). The homemade chicken salad sandwich on toasted wheat bread wasn’t bad either. Leaving Marquette, IA on U.S. 18 West, I headed back to U.S. 52. Traveling through small towns, I happened on to some more pre-1900 Roman Catholic churches, and an interesting garden with Roman Catholic religious icons of Saints and the Apostles.
I found a McDonalds here in Dubuque, where I am using their wifi. However, I am fighting my fingers from freezing with a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt with a hood to fight off the air conditioning blowing on me. I can’t move from this spot very far, because of the outlet being here—the only one in the seating area.
First Day of Rain, more Iowa that I Expected
Thursday, July 17:
Staying in the little town of Cresco last night, I woke up this a.m. to real rain. Not heavy, but enough to use the wipers more than on intermittent. Believe it or not, since I began this trip on June 14th, 7,195 miles ago, this is the first real rain I have encountered. After having oatmeal and a cinnamon roll for breakfast at Suzy-Q’s, I started driving back to U.S. 52 (Cresco is on State Road 9 in Iowa.) However, I quickly came upon the Cresco Public Library—still in its Carnegie building of 1914. Going inside, I checked out (pardon the library pun) the inside of the building with its distinctive wood and stained glass windows that had been preserved. The building had an addition added; tasteful designed to match the original Carnegie in wood and design lines.
The library staff and I had a chat, which included how I got the idea for following a United States Highway from the start/end point. I told them about reading William Least-Heat Moon’s book, Blue Highways, more that twenty years ago. His idea of traveling the highway colored blue on the road maps of the day, I morphed into following a United States Highway and staying off the Interstates as much as possible. I read them my favorite line from the book: “the 42,500 miles of the straight and wide could lead to hell for all I cared; I was going to stay on the three million miles of bent and narrow rural American two-lane roads….”
Leaving Cresco, I headed back up to Harmony, MN to pick up U.S.52. This was not the most direct way to U.S. 52, but it is essentially where I “detoured to go to Mason City, Iowa.” South of Harmony, at the Minnesota/Iowa state line, was the State Line United Methodist little country Church and its cemetery. It was on the Minnesota side.
Passing quickly through the town of Prosper, because there was not much to it, I came to Burr Oak, Iowa. This is a small town where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived a few years with her family, helping to run a boarding house. It was not a good time for Laura so she never wrote about her experiences there in her Little House series of books. One starts the tour at an old bank building across the street from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. In the museum, many period pieces, including some of Laura’s, are displayed. As a boarding house, twenty people could stay a night in a total of four bedrooms. The Ingalls family of five lived in one room. Ma Ingalls and the girls did the cooking for the guests in the boarding house. It is a side of Laura’s life that is not shared in the books, and, as I recall, was not part of the TV series.
Upon recommendation of the tour guide, I found an interesting restaurant in Decorah for a late lunch, including graham cracker pie. The only place I would find graham cracker pie before this week was Barbara Fritchie’s Restaurant in Fredrick, Maryland. Within two days, I have found it on this trip. The other place for graham cracker pie was in Austin, MN in the restaurant where I had the Spamburger.
Also, upon the recommendation of the Wilder Museum tour guide, I made a small detour off of U.S. 52 into Spillville, IA late in the afternoon. Spillville is a predominantly Czech town of about 400 people, which was founded in 1854 by Joseph Spielman. Although the first few settlers were German, like Spielman, the majority to follow were Bohemian and Czechoslovakian. They all immigrated to the site lovingly called "Little Switzerland" and made it their home. There I found the Bily Clocks Museum. Two brothers, Frank and Joseph Bily (pronounced bee lee) were Czech farmers. When they were idle in farm work, they set about carving and creating elaborate wooden clocks, beginning in 1913. There is no way to describe the details that were created in these works of art. No pictures were allowed, so postcards will have to do. Also, the second floor of the building was the home of the famous Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak, and his family during the summer of 1893. The building’s first floor housed his friend’s tin shop. The Bily Clocks were moved to the building in 1946. Within the St. Wenceslaus Church’s graveyard, where the two Bily brothers are buried, are elaborate metal crucifix tomb markers. They reminded me of the ones Bridgie and I saw in Victoria, Kansas on our trip passing through there in 1981.
While in Spillville, I visited the public library (not a Carnegie). The library was going to close in twenty minutes, so I only had time to read and respond to a few emails.
Driving through the town of Ossian, IA, “advertised” was a public restroom and phone. The sign led me to just that, built and available as part of the City Office Building and Library. The door was opened to the very well kept restroom and phone in the lobby. I made use of both. I drove away thinking, “Umm, I wish more towns off the Interstate would be so accommodating.
I drove across the Mississippi River across McGregor, IA into Prairie du Chen, Wisconsin. Being told there was a McDonalds, I was hoping for wifi access, but none was available. So, I wrote my day’s adventures into a Microsoft Word document, ready to copy into the blog when I found wifi again.
In spite of my trip’s first day of cloudy skies all day, it was a very good day.
Staying in the little town of Cresco last night, I woke up this a.m. to real rain. Not heavy, but enough to use the wipers more than on intermittent. Believe it or not, since I began this trip on June 14th, 7,195 miles ago, this is the first real rain I have encountered. After having oatmeal and a cinnamon roll for breakfast at Suzy-Q’s, I started driving back to U.S. 52 (Cresco is on State Road 9 in Iowa.) However, I quickly came upon the Cresco Public Library—still in its Carnegie building of 1914. Going inside, I checked out (pardon the library pun) the inside of the building with its distinctive wood and stained glass windows that had been preserved. The building had an addition added; tasteful designed to match the original Carnegie in wood and design lines.
The library staff and I had a chat, which included how I got the idea for following a United States Highway from the start/end point. I told them about reading William Least-Heat Moon’s book, Blue Highways, more that twenty years ago. His idea of traveling the highway colored blue on the road maps of the day, I morphed into following a United States Highway and staying off the Interstates as much as possible. I read them my favorite line from the book: “the 42,500 miles of the straight and wide could lead to hell for all I cared; I was going to stay on the three million miles of bent and narrow rural American two-lane roads….”
Leaving Cresco, I headed back up to Harmony, MN to pick up U.S.52. This was not the most direct way to U.S. 52, but it is essentially where I “detoured to go to Mason City, Iowa.” South of Harmony, at the Minnesota/Iowa state line, was the State Line United Methodist little country Church and its cemetery. It was on the Minnesota side.
Passing quickly through the town of Prosper, because there was not much to it, I came to Burr Oak, Iowa. This is a small town where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived a few years with her family, helping to run a boarding house. It was not a good time for Laura so she never wrote about her experiences there in her Little House series of books. One starts the tour at an old bank building across the street from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. In the museum, many period pieces, including some of Laura’s, are displayed. As a boarding house, twenty people could stay a night in a total of four bedrooms. The Ingalls family of five lived in one room. Ma Ingalls and the girls did the cooking for the guests in the boarding house. It is a side of Laura’s life that is not shared in the books, and, as I recall, was not part of the TV series.
Upon recommendation of the tour guide, I found an interesting restaurant in Decorah for a late lunch, including graham cracker pie. The only place I would find graham cracker pie before this week was Barbara Fritchie’s Restaurant in Fredrick, Maryland. Within two days, I have found it on this trip. The other place for graham cracker pie was in Austin, MN in the restaurant where I had the Spamburger.
Also, upon the recommendation of the Wilder Museum tour guide, I made a small detour off of U.S. 52 into Spillville, IA late in the afternoon. Spillville is a predominantly Czech town of about 400 people, which was founded in 1854 by Joseph Spielman. Although the first few settlers were German, like Spielman, the majority to follow were Bohemian and Czechoslovakian. They all immigrated to the site lovingly called "Little Switzerland" and made it their home. There I found the Bily Clocks Museum. Two brothers, Frank and Joseph Bily (pronounced bee lee) were Czech farmers. When they were idle in farm work, they set about carving and creating elaborate wooden clocks, beginning in 1913. There is no way to describe the details that were created in these works of art. No pictures were allowed, so postcards will have to do. Also, the second floor of the building was the home of the famous Czech composer, Antonin Dvorak, and his family during the summer of 1893. The building’s first floor housed his friend’s tin shop. The Bily Clocks were moved to the building in 1946. Within the St. Wenceslaus Church’s graveyard, where the two Bily brothers are buried, are elaborate metal crucifix tomb markers. They reminded me of the ones Bridgie and I saw in Victoria, Kansas on our trip passing through there in 1981.
While in Spillville, I visited the public library (not a Carnegie). The library was going to close in twenty minutes, so I only had time to read and respond to a few emails.
Driving through the town of Ossian, IA, “advertised” was a public restroom and phone. The sign led me to just that, built and available as part of the City Office Building and Library. The door was opened to the very well kept restroom and phone in the lobby. I made use of both. I drove away thinking, “Umm, I wish more towns off the Interstate would be so accommodating.
I drove across the Mississippi River across McGregor, IA into Prairie du Chen, Wisconsin. Being told there was a McDonalds, I was hoping for wifi access, but none was available. So, I wrote my day’s adventures into a Microsoft Word document, ready to copy into the blog when I found wifi again.
In spite of my trip’s first day of cloudy skies all day, it was a very good day.
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