Before I, the Kornerman, forgets it, someone mentioned barber Loran Upton and I'm not sure that I have ever passed his name along.
K-----K
The locals are aware by now but you out-of-towners may not know that we had a rare event for our little community last weekend. One of our Toreador athletes set a new all-time Iowa state record in the 3200 meter run at the Drake Relays. Folks, this was not just a Drake record.......it was the first time an Iowa high school athlete had ever run that event in less than nine minutes.
Albert Meier's time was 8:58.46. That was a full six seconds better than the previous record. WOW! What an accomplishment. The Kornerman has personally watched Boone High athletic achievements for over 70 years and has studied accomplishments by BHS athletes for the years prior to that and I can't recall any previous Toreador athlete establishing an all-time state record. Please let me know if I've forgotten or am overlooking an equal achievement.
Albert was named the top high school performer at the Relays
Congratulations to Albert. He certainly gave Boone some great media publicity for a few days.
K-----K
John Kueck has some more memories of the Barry family and also of the Drake Relays. He wrote, "I believe Percy Barry headed the department responsible for "welfare services." While at the Barry home, I remember people showing up requesting government "free cheese." His wife was Florence, but, as I recall, she went by Rusty, probably because of her red hair. She did work at Duffy's. One time when I was about 12 years old, Percy asked me if I'd like to go to Ogden with them to a parade. I said, "I don't know." Percy said, "Well, if you don't know, then we'll go without you." I ran home crushed and sobbed to my mom that they went to a parade without me. Needless to say, that was a good lesson that I've carried forward in life...........to not hesitate when someone wants to do something for you."
John added, "In high school, I ran in the Drake Relays, which was the only time I had gone to the relays while in Iowa. In Minneapolis, through my wife, I met a friend who graduated from Drake and who had gone to the relays each year. My wife and I joined this couple and his parents to attend the relays for many years. Our friend's father also graduated from Drake and had been going to the relays forever. He'd buy the best tickets year after year so we had really great seats. Unfortunately, with the passing of the parents, we have discontinued this annual trek. I had even interested my children in going to the relays and my daughter and I ran in one of the 5k pre-races one year. As a runner and track enthusiast, the Drake Relays are as good as it gets to watch track and field."
Hey, the old Kornerman attended the relays while a BHS track team member and then, while working for the IHSAA for 30 years, I and Jo attended the relays each of those years. It is truly a great event and should be on everyone's bucket list. Watching the greatest track and field athletes in the world do "their thing" is amazing.........especially if the weatherman cooperates.
K-----K
Mark Tompkins wrote, "Several weeks ago, the Korner had some information about the Freedom trains that once passed through Boone and Des Moines. Last evening I chanced into a 15-minute documentary about the 1947 Friendship Food Train that stopped in Boone. The train was largely the idea of newspaper columnist Drew Pearson. It started on the west coast and gathered foods and medicine along the route to waiting cargo ships in New York. Between the main route from Los Angeles and a supplementary northern route that started in Indiana, the trains made 44 stops. In Iowa, those stops were in Council Bluffs, Boone, Ames, Cedar Rapids and Clinton. Folks donated food or money to buy food. In some towns, kids in junior high school would collect money to buy canned goods. Does anyone know if this was done in Boone? The train left Los Angeles on November 7, 1947, and by the time it got to New York, over 700 boxcars of food and medicine had been obtained to go to the ports in war-torn France and Italy. The first cargo ship arrived in France on December 18, 1947, and triggered a welcoming truck parade in Paris. Think of it, some Booneites can of evaporated milk got paraded through Paris.!"
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Stephen Peterson, 35, Gilbert. Boone survivor is his brother, Jarod Peterson...........Joyce Platter, 73, Boone. Worked at Bourns and the DOT in Ames. Lived in Pilot Mound before moving to Boone. Boone survivor is her son, Chris Cox...........Doris Shaw, 89, Boone. Attended Boone High. Was a cook and home care health aide. Boone survivors are sons Boyce Williams Jr. and Ross Williams and daughter Dorothy Knight............Ruby Henley, 84, Boone. Moved to Boone in 1989. Boone survivor is her daughter Von Richards.........Frances Peter, 92, Boone. Farmed in Boone County. Moved into Boone in 1981.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Saturday, April 26, 2014
We're Back in Business.......A Full Load
The old Kornerman received a very exciting email recently from Steve Shaler, BHS-59. As always, Steve and a group of friends had made plans for their annual attendance at the Drake Relays. And, to my delight, Steve said he would like to stop in Boone enroute to Des Moines and relive some memories with the Kornerman.
It happened on Wednesday. It was great to see Steve and relive life in Boone in the 50's and 60's era, learn about his family, plans for the Relays weekend and his regular visits with several Booneites who live in the "Land of Lakes."
Steve has been a resident of Saint Cloud, MN for a number of years. Now retired, he worked in the financial area, is married and has two daughters. He was anxious to get together with his sisters, Sally, Mary and Emilie, while in Des Moines.
Steve, Barry Wills and Steve Croxen have been going to the Relays for a number of years and the weekend provides for some good family time as well, highlighted by a final get-together at the Wills residence in Madrid Saturday night.
Back home, Steve said, on occasion, he gets together with several Booneites, Chuck McGriff, Larry Ford and others, who reside in the Twin Cities area.
It was great to see him. We had a great visit.
K-----K
Mike Howard provided some good memories this week. He wrote, "I worked at Lawson's Grocery in 1968-69. At that time, Chet Lawson was moving about on a motorized cart, Charlie Faust was his assistant and Bob Shuey was there in some leadership capacity as well. I worked with some BHS-70 guys like Paul Jacobsen, Jon Grasso, Mike Manderscheid and Jon Welin. Chet had a bit of distrust in the working sticktuitiveness of his staff and spent quite a bit of time driving around trying to catch "loafers." It became a game to try and avoid him. I remember one incident that involved the receiving of Hi C cases and stacking them in, somewhat of, a smokestack configuration that left the inside of the stack hollow. That stack would tower about 15 feet high. One day as Charlie was incessantly calling over the intercom, "sacker please," everyone responded but Grasso who could not be found. It was a big store so a couple of us went on a search and found Jon sleeping at the bottom of the stack."
Mike added, "Then too, I remember the burgers at what we called, "Clyde's" but was really the Hamburger Inn. The burgers, I recall, were 19-cents and Clyde (Moore) cooked them in old burger grease for some of the best burgers I have ever had. I am sure my cholesterol level went up as a result but umm-umm! I think I usually had at least four of them. Next door was Dan's Tobacco Shop where you could buy lots of fishing gear or dirty magazines if you chose. Dan didn't like you hanging around just checking out the merchandise. If he thought you were in there too long, he would start to tap his cane on the floor with increasing frequency. I bought enough comic books there that after a number of years, I sold my collection for $1400. Nancy's in West Boone had great tenderloins and I devoured many of them."
Thanks Mike......some great memories of Boone treasures.
K-----K
The Barry family was mentioned in a recent edition and the Kornerman remembered the family well but had no clue as to their existence after they left Boonetown. That brought a couple of responses.
Mary Mower of Cedar Rapids offered that, "Bob is in Monroeville, Pa and I think Gary is in the Milwaukee area." She added, "I really enjoy reading your column and it brings back lots of memories of Boone. Thanks for all of your work."
John Kueck added but with the caveat, "I could be wrong on some of this." "Gary was in the Air Force and became a pilot for one of the major airlines. I believe he was a BHS quarterback. Bob graduated from Iowa State in Electrical Engineering and became a Vice President for Westinghouse Nuclear Energy Systems. By coincidence, I had a large project at Control Data Corporaton to develop computer systems for that company at about that same time but I didn't know Bob was with WNES. Then too, my wife, Susan, has a cousin whose husband worked with Bob and the couple were great friends in Pittsburgh. I did communicate with Bob's wife Sandy (Southern) once several years ago. Rick became a lawyer and I believe had a high profile case in California as a U.S. Attorney. He later moved to Spencer, IA and practiced there. I think he was also a former BHS quarterback. I haven't seen any of the Barry's since I left Boone in 1966. What I have written is what I pieced together over the years from hearsay and memory so I hope I've been accurate."
The Barry's boys dad was Percy, who was a longtime Boone County Courthouse employee but I can't remember the exact title. Then too, I can't remember (this getting old is no fun, folks) their mother's name but I remember very reddish hair and didn't she work in Duffy's Appliance???
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Lori Gau Van Cannon, 44. Boone. BHS-88. Obtained degrees as a lab tech, in Biotechnolgy and Animal Science. Worked in quality control at Archway in Boone and Barilla in Ames. Boone area survivors include daughters Kristina and Laurian Van Cannon, their father David, Lori's mother Linda Gau and sister Darcy Gau.............Doris Walker Lee, 83, Minnesota, formerly of Boone. BHS-grad. Worked as an LPN including at Woodward hospital. Boone survivor is her brother Ted Walker.
Cindy Hockett, 55, Nevada, formerly of Boone. Ames High and DMACC grad. Worked at Mary Greeley hospital and Apria Health Care. Boone area survivors include her daughters Tina Banks of Ogden and Mollie Moorman of Boone..........Frances Peter, 92, Boone............Ronald Allen, 47, Waterloo. Lived for a time at Ogden Manor. Boone area survivor is a sister, Dorothy DeReus.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner Headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
It happened on Wednesday. It was great to see Steve and relive life in Boone in the 50's and 60's era, learn about his family, plans for the Relays weekend and his regular visits with several Booneites who live in the "Land of Lakes."
Steve has been a resident of Saint Cloud, MN for a number of years. Now retired, he worked in the financial area, is married and has two daughters. He was anxious to get together with his sisters, Sally, Mary and Emilie, while in Des Moines.
Steve, Barry Wills and Steve Croxen have been going to the Relays for a number of years and the weekend provides for some good family time as well, highlighted by a final get-together at the Wills residence in Madrid Saturday night.
Back home, Steve said, on occasion, he gets together with several Booneites, Chuck McGriff, Larry Ford and others, who reside in the Twin Cities area.
It was great to see him. We had a great visit.
K-----K
Mike Howard provided some good memories this week. He wrote, "I worked at Lawson's Grocery in 1968-69. At that time, Chet Lawson was moving about on a motorized cart, Charlie Faust was his assistant and Bob Shuey was there in some leadership capacity as well. I worked with some BHS-70 guys like Paul Jacobsen, Jon Grasso, Mike Manderscheid and Jon Welin. Chet had a bit of distrust in the working sticktuitiveness of his staff and spent quite a bit of time driving around trying to catch "loafers." It became a game to try and avoid him. I remember one incident that involved the receiving of Hi C cases and stacking them in, somewhat of, a smokestack configuration that left the inside of the stack hollow. That stack would tower about 15 feet high. One day as Charlie was incessantly calling over the intercom, "sacker please," everyone responded but Grasso who could not be found. It was a big store so a couple of us went on a search and found Jon sleeping at the bottom of the stack."
Mike added, "Then too, I remember the burgers at what we called, "Clyde's" but was really the Hamburger Inn. The burgers, I recall, were 19-cents and Clyde (Moore) cooked them in old burger grease for some of the best burgers I have ever had. I am sure my cholesterol level went up as a result but umm-umm! I think I usually had at least four of them. Next door was Dan's Tobacco Shop where you could buy lots of fishing gear or dirty magazines if you chose. Dan didn't like you hanging around just checking out the merchandise. If he thought you were in there too long, he would start to tap his cane on the floor with increasing frequency. I bought enough comic books there that after a number of years, I sold my collection for $1400. Nancy's in West Boone had great tenderloins and I devoured many of them."
Thanks Mike......some great memories of Boone treasures.
K-----K
The Barry family was mentioned in a recent edition and the Kornerman remembered the family well but had no clue as to their existence after they left Boonetown. That brought a couple of responses.
Mary Mower of Cedar Rapids offered that, "Bob is in Monroeville, Pa and I think Gary is in the Milwaukee area." She added, "I really enjoy reading your column and it brings back lots of memories of Boone. Thanks for all of your work."
John Kueck added but with the caveat, "I could be wrong on some of this." "Gary was in the Air Force and became a pilot for one of the major airlines. I believe he was a BHS quarterback. Bob graduated from Iowa State in Electrical Engineering and became a Vice President for Westinghouse Nuclear Energy Systems. By coincidence, I had a large project at Control Data Corporaton to develop computer systems for that company at about that same time but I didn't know Bob was with WNES. Then too, my wife, Susan, has a cousin whose husband worked with Bob and the couple were great friends in Pittsburgh. I did communicate with Bob's wife Sandy (Southern) once several years ago. Rick became a lawyer and I believe had a high profile case in California as a U.S. Attorney. He later moved to Spencer, IA and practiced there. I think he was also a former BHS quarterback. I haven't seen any of the Barry's since I left Boone in 1966. What I have written is what I pieced together over the years from hearsay and memory so I hope I've been accurate."
The Barry's boys dad was Percy, who was a longtime Boone County Courthouse employee but I can't remember the exact title. Then too, I can't remember (this getting old is no fun, folks) their mother's name but I remember very reddish hair and didn't she work in Duffy's Appliance???
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Lori Gau Van Cannon, 44. Boone. BHS-88. Obtained degrees as a lab tech, in Biotechnolgy and Animal Science. Worked in quality control at Archway in Boone and Barilla in Ames. Boone area survivors include daughters Kristina and Laurian Van Cannon, their father David, Lori's mother Linda Gau and sister Darcy Gau.............Doris Walker Lee, 83, Minnesota, formerly of Boone. BHS-grad. Worked as an LPN including at Woodward hospital. Boone survivor is her brother Ted Walker.
Cindy Hockett, 55, Nevada, formerly of Boone. Ames High and DMACC grad. Worked at Mary Greeley hospital and Apria Health Care. Boone area survivors include her daughters Tina Banks of Ogden and Mollie Moorman of Boone..........Frances Peter, 92, Boone............Ronald Allen, 47, Waterloo. Lived for a time at Ogden Manor. Boone area survivor is a sister, Dorothy DeReus.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner Headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Too Many Easter Goodies Slow Down Korner Viewers
It appears, as indicated by our lack of action, our Korner viewers inhaled too much ham and too many Easter eggs over the holiday weekend. Things have slowed to a snail's pace.
K-----K
Laurie Maurer Erbe wrote, "when I was a kid, my dad always went to "Chris, the barber." I think his name was Chris Eckhoff and his shop was across the street from the Trinity Lutheran Church."
Oh yes, the Kornerman remembers that.
K-----K
Regarding the KWBG memories, John Kueck wrote, "I did not listen to KWBG when I was in Boone. I was tuned to the Des Moines rock and roll stations. One of my best friends was Ricky Barry. I was constantly at the Barry home and knew their family very well, including brothers Bob and Gary. Brother Bob worked at KWBG as an announcer. D.J. Bob was very intelligent and very serious in my view. One day, Ricky and I visited his brother at the station while Bob was broadcasting. This was my first time hearing Bob speak on the air. I was very surprised at his voice since it was a completely different sound. It also had the upbeat hip hop character of the rock and roll DJ's. I would never have recognized his voice "on air" if I had not witnessed it directly. I guess that's what you call a "radio voice." By the way, it sounded great. Mo, you deserve all the praise that you get for bringing us all the Boone happenings and memories. Thank you."
The Kornerman remembers the Barry family well and wonders where those boys are. I remember they were good athletes and super students as well. I remember at least one was a BHS football quarterback.
K-----K
Ann Onymous was picking at me this week. She wrote, "If you are going to spread rumors from the "rumor mill" you could at least get the name of the company right. It is Caffrey Wholesale Inc.!!!" The Kornerman had written, "Caffrey Cigar Company."
In my own defense, the Kornerman indicates that in the local phone book, there is a Caffrey Cigar Company listed. In addition, the signage on the front of their building reads, "Caffrey Cigar Company." To be politically correct, let me add that there are actually two listings in the phone book........one each direction and on that sign in the front of the building......"Caffrey Cigar Company" is in big letters on top while underneath, in smaller letters, it reads, "Caffrey Wholesale Inc."
K-----K
Boone area deaths: Norman Peter, 92, Boone. Worked on the family farm, was a World War II vet, farmed near Ogden and then served as an engineer/custodian at the Boone City Hall prior to retirement in 1983. A brother, Hubert Peter, is a Boone survivor...............Dixie Currier, 95, rural Ogden. OHS-35. Was an Ogden school secretary from 1958-75 and a secretary at Ogden Manor from 1975-80. Boone area survivors include her husband, Raymond, and a daughter Connie Rudy of rural Ogden.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
K-----K
Laurie Maurer Erbe wrote, "when I was a kid, my dad always went to "Chris, the barber." I think his name was Chris Eckhoff and his shop was across the street from the Trinity Lutheran Church."
Oh yes, the Kornerman remembers that.
K-----K
Regarding the KWBG memories, John Kueck wrote, "I did not listen to KWBG when I was in Boone. I was tuned to the Des Moines rock and roll stations. One of my best friends was Ricky Barry. I was constantly at the Barry home and knew their family very well, including brothers Bob and Gary. Brother Bob worked at KWBG as an announcer. D.J. Bob was very intelligent and very serious in my view. One day, Ricky and I visited his brother at the station while Bob was broadcasting. This was my first time hearing Bob speak on the air. I was very surprised at his voice since it was a completely different sound. It also had the upbeat hip hop character of the rock and roll DJ's. I would never have recognized his voice "on air" if I had not witnessed it directly. I guess that's what you call a "radio voice." By the way, it sounded great. Mo, you deserve all the praise that you get for bringing us all the Boone happenings and memories. Thank you."
The Kornerman remembers the Barry family well and wonders where those boys are. I remember they were good athletes and super students as well. I remember at least one was a BHS football quarterback.
K-----K
Ann Onymous was picking at me this week. She wrote, "If you are going to spread rumors from the "rumor mill" you could at least get the name of the company right. It is Caffrey Wholesale Inc.!!!" The Kornerman had written, "Caffrey Cigar Company."
In my own defense, the Kornerman indicates that in the local phone book, there is a Caffrey Cigar Company listed. In addition, the signage on the front of their building reads, "Caffrey Cigar Company." To be politically correct, let me add that there are actually two listings in the phone book........one each direction and on that sign in the front of the building......"Caffrey Cigar Company" is in big letters on top while underneath, in smaller letters, it reads, "Caffrey Wholesale Inc."
K-----K
Boone area deaths: Norman Peter, 92, Boone. Worked on the family farm, was a World War II vet, farmed near Ogden and then served as an engineer/custodian at the Boone City Hall prior to retirement in 1983. A brother, Hubert Peter, is a Boone survivor...............Dixie Currier, 95, rural Ogden. OHS-35. Was an Ogden school secretary from 1958-75 and a secretary at Ogden Manor from 1975-80. Boone area survivors include her husband, Raymond, and a daughter Connie Rudy of rural Ogden.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Have a Great Easter Weekend
According to the rumor mill, Caffrey Cigar Company, a Boone family business that has a very long history in the community will be closing in the fall.
A For Sale sign has appeared in front of another longtime Boone business, Schroeder-Walter Funeral Home, located on the northwest corner of Fifth and Story.
In school news, the story is that the Boone Community School Board has accepted a $75,000 offer for the Lowell School site. They had advertised it for $100,000.
At Boone High School, it appears that about half of the materials that fell during the recent demolition of a portion of the "old" building has now been cleared.
K-----K
K. Peterson has advised the Korner via email that, "posted barbers....I remember Arlow's. He was in the basement kitty corner of where Fareway was. He use to sit out on the railing. Jones brothers and the Sherbon brothers.....not sure on the spelling."
That verifies some info the Kornerman had previously posted. Arlo is still available in the same spot, underneath Holly's at the northwest corner of Seventh and Story and he still sits on the railing on occasion. The Sherbon's were father and son, Merle and Phil.
K-----K
Dorothy Clifton is a Korner fan. She wrote, "I enjoy your write-ups about the "Good Old Days". Fun to remember. You do such a nice job on the things people write about. Thanks for all you do."
K-----K
Larry Kelley with some thoughts about when we, he and I, were distinguished? members of the KWBG staff "way back when."
He wrote, "you had mentioned that Mark Campbell contacted you. Mark, as you remember, was quite a prankster, too! I remember him and this manikin that he found somewhere. I was doing sign-on at 6 a.m. so I would enter through the back door of the station when it was on Keeler Street. Well, Mark would take the manikin and place it's hand on the light switch just inside the door. When I reached in to turn on the light, I touched this "hand" and jumped twenty feet!! But that wasn't the end of the manikin stunts. Oh no, not for Markus. You may recall the tiny men's bathroom, just a sink and a toilet. It's an early morning and I'm rushing around trying to get the teletype news put together and sign on the transmitter, and just before 6 a.m., time to start on the air. I rushed to use the rest room at two minutes before air time. As soon as I turn on the light to this tiny room, there sits the manikin on the toilet!! It about knocked me out, I jumped back so far!! My heart was racing for ten minutes after that. I could tell you more of his stunts trying to break me up reading the news and his antics on the other side of the glass to studio two but you probably couldn't print them. I can only say I had all I could do to continue reading a serious newscast, all the while trying to shield my eyes from seeing what he was doing on the other side of the glass partition. I still laugh at a lot of those things today! We had some great times and how I loved the radio we had back then......very small townish but we had lots of listeners. People like my folks had their radios on all morning long."
Larry concluded, "Several people I've talked to of late, mentioning Kelley's Korner, have all agreed that it is great reading. I thank you for your online column and all the super memories you bring back for us to relive. So. congratulations to you and it's nice to see you still have your wit."
K-----K
The Kornerman loves these Lexophile's. When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate. A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months. The batteries were given out free of charge. A will is a dead giveaway. A boiled egg is hard to beat. Did you hear about the fellow whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.
K------K
Boone Area deaths: Piggy McGinn, 65. Worked as an LPN and in a Hospice facility. Moved to Boone in 2005. Boone survivor is a daughter Pam Van Pelt.............Rev. Jerry Newland, 74, Boone. BHS-58. Also a Boone Junior College grad. Served in several Iowa communities. Retired and moved back to Boone in 2008. Boone survivors are sisters Joan Sigmund and Karen McCool.............Sandy Shadle, 62, Boone, Stratford grad. Was a CNA at Eastern Star and was a dietary aide from 1978-2013. Boone survivors include her mother-in-law Bernice Shadle, brothers-in-law Charlie and Hollis Shadle, sisters-in-law Karen Donovan and Sandra Wisecup and her aunt and uncle Lyle and Betty Richey of Stratford.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
A For Sale sign has appeared in front of another longtime Boone business, Schroeder-Walter Funeral Home, located on the northwest corner of Fifth and Story.
In school news, the story is that the Boone Community School Board has accepted a $75,000 offer for the Lowell School site. They had advertised it for $100,000.
At Boone High School, it appears that about half of the materials that fell during the recent demolition of a portion of the "old" building has now been cleared.
K-----K
K. Peterson has advised the Korner via email that, "posted barbers....I remember Arlow's. He was in the basement kitty corner of where Fareway was. He use to sit out on the railing. Jones brothers and the Sherbon brothers.....not sure on the spelling."
That verifies some info the Kornerman had previously posted. Arlo is still available in the same spot, underneath Holly's at the northwest corner of Seventh and Story and he still sits on the railing on occasion. The Sherbon's were father and son, Merle and Phil.
K-----K
Dorothy Clifton is a Korner fan. She wrote, "I enjoy your write-ups about the "Good Old Days". Fun to remember. You do such a nice job on the things people write about. Thanks for all you do."
K-----K
Larry Kelley with some thoughts about when we, he and I, were distinguished? members of the KWBG staff "way back when."
He wrote, "you had mentioned that Mark Campbell contacted you. Mark, as you remember, was quite a prankster, too! I remember him and this manikin that he found somewhere. I was doing sign-on at 6 a.m. so I would enter through the back door of the station when it was on Keeler Street. Well, Mark would take the manikin and place it's hand on the light switch just inside the door. When I reached in to turn on the light, I touched this "hand" and jumped twenty feet!! But that wasn't the end of the manikin stunts. Oh no, not for Markus. You may recall the tiny men's bathroom, just a sink and a toilet. It's an early morning and I'm rushing around trying to get the teletype news put together and sign on the transmitter, and just before 6 a.m., time to start on the air. I rushed to use the rest room at two minutes before air time. As soon as I turn on the light to this tiny room, there sits the manikin on the toilet!! It about knocked me out, I jumped back so far!! My heart was racing for ten minutes after that. I could tell you more of his stunts trying to break me up reading the news and his antics on the other side of the glass to studio two but you probably couldn't print them. I can only say I had all I could do to continue reading a serious newscast, all the while trying to shield my eyes from seeing what he was doing on the other side of the glass partition. I still laugh at a lot of those things today! We had some great times and how I loved the radio we had back then......very small townish but we had lots of listeners. People like my folks had their radios on all morning long."
Larry concluded, "Several people I've talked to of late, mentioning Kelley's Korner, have all agreed that it is great reading. I thank you for your online column and all the super memories you bring back for us to relive. So. congratulations to you and it's nice to see you still have your wit."
K-----K
The Kornerman loves these Lexophile's. When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate. A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months. The batteries were given out free of charge. A will is a dead giveaway. A boiled egg is hard to beat. Did you hear about the fellow whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.
K------K
Boone Area deaths: Piggy McGinn, 65. Worked as an LPN and in a Hospice facility. Moved to Boone in 2005. Boone survivor is a daughter Pam Van Pelt.............Rev. Jerry Newland, 74, Boone. BHS-58. Also a Boone Junior College grad. Served in several Iowa communities. Retired and moved back to Boone in 2008. Boone survivors are sisters Joan Sigmund and Karen McCool.............Sandy Shadle, 62, Boone, Stratford grad. Was a CNA at Eastern Star and was a dietary aide from 1978-2013. Boone survivors include her mother-in-law Bernice Shadle, brothers-in-law Charlie and Hollis Shadle, sisters-in-law Karen Donovan and Sandra Wisecup and her aunt and uncle Lyle and Betty Richey of Stratford.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Big Bucks Were Awarded
Ann Coe wrote, "I've been thinking about the theatres in Boone and well remember the Rialto (the big one with some double seats in the balcony and usually with first run (best) films;) and the Princess that drew the kids Saturday afternoon crowd and almost every western ever put on film; plus the Boone Theatre that was closed as much as it was open. I knew Mr. Fangman was a manager for a long time, but never knew who owned any of the threatres. Just curious! "Bank Night" was always a big deal and a ticket bought in the afternoon was just as good for the drawing as one bought that night. No, you didn't have to be present to win. Any information or memory will be appreciated. I truly do appreciate all your efforts. Thanks much and keep it up."
The Kornerman is old enough to remember the trio and longtime Rialto manager Cy Fangman. Who remembers Ina Emerson? Well, I know her Boone daughter does. I don't know if Ina was the only one but she was definitely a person I remember taking to the stage on "Bank Night" and guiding the drawing presentation. I have no idea what the money amount awarded was but this was the late 40's into the 50's and almost any amount that came on a bill was well received by the recipient.
K-----K
Yes, there was a barber by the name of Fred Mushrush. Ann Onymous wrote that she thought he barbered in the basement of what is now the Doran Law Firm and Mike Goodwin agreed.
Mike wrote, "My mother knew him and that's how I ended up going to him for haircuts. I had been going to Charlie Moss before that. Fred was in the basement of the old IHSAA building (now the Doran Law Firm building) and you had to go down some outside stairs on the west side of the building. I remember he charged 75-cents. Also, I remember there was a spittoon beside the chair that he would spit in. You didn't want to go there before lunch. The other barbers I remember were Louis Springer on the northeast corner basement of Eighth and Story and a guy with the last name of Fibiker (sp?) who was in the Boone National Building next to Dr. Collis dental office. I still keep up with the Korner and enjoy it. I look forward to your posts every week."
Mike reported in from the Denver area and we were sorry to hear he's had some tough months, healthwise, due to receipt of the West Nile Virus from a mosquito which led to a case of Gillian Barre Syndrome. It pretty much paralyzed his legs and it took six months before he was able to get around via a cane. We're happy to hear that he's about 90-percent recovered by now.
In other barber additions, Michael Sundall said that Daryl Anderson was one of those who worked with Clyde Anderson and Bill Kennedy from Barrington, IL said that the Kennedy clan's cousin, Walter Carpenter, was a barber in the Holst Hotel for many years. He wrote, "all the Kennedy boys from Moingona went to Walter for our haircuts many years ago. I admit, though, I had to call brother Jim Kennedy to help me remember that."
The Kornerman made another mistake. I replied to Bill and mentioned the fact I remembered he was a good wrestler. Wrong again. Wrong Kennedy. Bill answered, "my nephews, Ray Kennedy's boys, were the wrestlers, not me. I only played American Legion baseball with Ray Morris as my coach. He was a great coach. I was just short of talent. Brother Jim did play lots of baseball and softball when the softball leagues were most popular in the 50's and 60's. Janaan and I enjoy the Korner. Keep up the good work."
Hey, the Kornerman remembers that Jim Kennedy was a good ballplayer. He was several years before me but I was a bat boy in those days when he and others, including my uncles, played lots of ball.
K-----K
It was wonderful hearing from my classmate, Carol Hopkins Pyeatt, from Springfield, MO. She wrote, "please know how much I appreciate all the time you give to the Korner. I love the technology we have today so we can view your blog. For many of us living away it's a chance to stay connected with our home town that brings back the wonderful and warm memories of our past. Stay well, Mo."
K-----K
Former KWBG fellow inmate Larry Kelley sent some great memories of our days there which we will get to in a future edition.
Right now, the Kornerman wants you to know that, as of yesterday, April 15, a famous vehicle is on sale. Larry wrote, "we are selling the "bus" as we affectionately call it. The one that was used for Jamie's shows from 1996 until last year. We just don't use it anymore and we are not campers. Its been pretty much strictly for shows including one trip to the Tupelo, Mississippi fair where Elvis first sang in a contest. Its also been to Memphis, Vegas and New Jersey for the Harrah's shows in 2005 and for the Vineland show in 2009. We will be removing the name off of the side of the bus. It has just crossed the 100k mark but runs great. I'm at 515-432-4332."
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Myron Kent, 87, Stratford. Farmed in the Lehigh/Stratford area...........Arvel Coats, 77, Kansas City. Area survivor is his father, Clark of Stratford.............Joseph Scott Dennis, 23, Boone. BHS-2012. He was a client of Iowa Home Cares. Boone area survivors include his parents, Robert and Amanda Dennis, brothers Brian and Sean, sisters Lyndsey Zahradnik and Jordan Sloan and granddaughter Loretta Bass all of Boone.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
The Kornerman is old enough to remember the trio and longtime Rialto manager Cy Fangman. Who remembers Ina Emerson? Well, I know her Boone daughter does. I don't know if Ina was the only one but she was definitely a person I remember taking to the stage on "Bank Night" and guiding the drawing presentation. I have no idea what the money amount awarded was but this was the late 40's into the 50's and almost any amount that came on a bill was well received by the recipient.
K-----K
Yes, there was a barber by the name of Fred Mushrush. Ann Onymous wrote that she thought he barbered in the basement of what is now the Doran Law Firm and Mike Goodwin agreed.
Mike wrote, "My mother knew him and that's how I ended up going to him for haircuts. I had been going to Charlie Moss before that. Fred was in the basement of the old IHSAA building (now the Doran Law Firm building) and you had to go down some outside stairs on the west side of the building. I remember he charged 75-cents. Also, I remember there was a spittoon beside the chair that he would spit in. You didn't want to go there before lunch. The other barbers I remember were Louis Springer on the northeast corner basement of Eighth and Story and a guy with the last name of Fibiker (sp?) who was in the Boone National Building next to Dr. Collis dental office. I still keep up with the Korner and enjoy it. I look forward to your posts every week."
Mike reported in from the Denver area and we were sorry to hear he's had some tough months, healthwise, due to receipt of the West Nile Virus from a mosquito which led to a case of Gillian Barre Syndrome. It pretty much paralyzed his legs and it took six months before he was able to get around via a cane. We're happy to hear that he's about 90-percent recovered by now.
In other barber additions, Michael Sundall said that Daryl Anderson was one of those who worked with Clyde Anderson and Bill Kennedy from Barrington, IL said that the Kennedy clan's cousin, Walter Carpenter, was a barber in the Holst Hotel for many years. He wrote, "all the Kennedy boys from Moingona went to Walter for our haircuts many years ago. I admit, though, I had to call brother Jim Kennedy to help me remember that."
The Kornerman made another mistake. I replied to Bill and mentioned the fact I remembered he was a good wrestler. Wrong again. Wrong Kennedy. Bill answered, "my nephews, Ray Kennedy's boys, were the wrestlers, not me. I only played American Legion baseball with Ray Morris as my coach. He was a great coach. I was just short of talent. Brother Jim did play lots of baseball and softball when the softball leagues were most popular in the 50's and 60's. Janaan and I enjoy the Korner. Keep up the good work."
Hey, the Kornerman remembers that Jim Kennedy was a good ballplayer. He was several years before me but I was a bat boy in those days when he and others, including my uncles, played lots of ball.
K-----K
It was wonderful hearing from my classmate, Carol Hopkins Pyeatt, from Springfield, MO. She wrote, "please know how much I appreciate all the time you give to the Korner. I love the technology we have today so we can view your blog. For many of us living away it's a chance to stay connected with our home town that brings back the wonderful and warm memories of our past. Stay well, Mo."
K-----K
Former KWBG fellow inmate Larry Kelley sent some great memories of our days there which we will get to in a future edition.
Right now, the Kornerman wants you to know that, as of yesterday, April 15, a famous vehicle is on sale. Larry wrote, "we are selling the "bus" as we affectionately call it. The one that was used for Jamie's shows from 1996 until last year. We just don't use it anymore and we are not campers. Its been pretty much strictly for shows including one trip to the Tupelo, Mississippi fair where Elvis first sang in a contest. Its also been to Memphis, Vegas and New Jersey for the Harrah's shows in 2005 and for the Vineland show in 2009. We will be removing the name off of the side of the bus. It has just crossed the 100k mark but runs great. I'm at 515-432-4332."
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Myron Kent, 87, Stratford. Farmed in the Lehigh/Stratford area...........Arvel Coats, 77, Kansas City. Area survivor is his father, Clark of Stratford.............Joseph Scott Dennis, 23, Boone. BHS-2012. He was a client of Iowa Home Cares. Boone area survivors include his parents, Robert and Amanda Dennis, brothers Brian and Sean, sisters Lyndsey Zahradnik and Jordan Sloan and granddaughter Loretta Bass all of Boone.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
More, more, more
Mistake prone. Old age seems to be the only defense the Kornerman can muster. We try hard to stay free of goofs but they happen. Thanks to Ann Coe for pointing out that the Charley Moss barber shop was on the south side of the street, not the north. She also talked about some old theatres which we will feature next time.
Back to those barbers for just a few more minutes. Why do I, the Kornerman, keep thinking of the name Fred Mushrush when considering barbers of the past? A fictitious name, I assume, but one often heard.
Mark Tompkins wrote, "I'll stir the pot on barbers. Who was the barber that had a shop on the east side of the Mondt Hotel? I got my first flat-top there and I guess I was old enough to make the decision, but, at first, mom wasn't enthused about it."
Bernie Lewiston said, "I haven't seen anyone mention Orville Bice, who operated a barber shop underneath the old Farm Bureau office for many years. He opened at 4:30 a.m. and never charged more than $1.00 for a cut."
John Kueck wrote in reference to Clyde Anderson's shop. John could recollect the shop but not the occupants. He did recall there were usually a pair of barbers there. Dobie Anderson was one of Clyde's hands and, for a time, there was another fellow. I, the Kornerman, just remember his mustache.
John also told about being a Quinn's employee and having one of the dirtiest jobs there, unloading a railroad car of coke. He said the coke dust permeated every exposed part of his body, including his hair. He wrote, "I was a blond but walked into the barber shop with a black face and black hair. I'm sure the barber looked at me reluctantly but he did cut my hair. He could hardly get the comb through my hair and I think I dulled his clippers and scissors. Once done, they asked me to take a bath before I came next time."
John also recalled watching a tornado funnel while yes, sitting in the barber chair. He wrote, "We were warned to take cover but I believe it dissipated before taking that step."
Just thought of another barber name.......Loren Upton.
K-----K
Recent talk of those weekend nights propelled some memories from Larry Jackson. He wrote, "The Friday night shopping talk reminded me of the verbal battles that took place when it was decided to switch the main shopping night downtown from Saturday to Friday. I don't recall how the sides were divided but it seemed to be the merchants saying, "yes," to Friday and the farming community saying, "no," because it would make it difficult for farm families to get to town on Friday night after having been in the fields all day, especially in the warmer months, thus, making Saturday night a much better time. Obviously, the Friday night fans prevailed and once it happened, you never heard anymore about it. Not sure just when this took place but guess it was around 1950 or 1951."
K-----K
Back to Mark Tompkins. Speaking of the Mondt Hotel, Mark wonders how many hotels and motels there were in Boone, "back in the day?" In addition to the Mondt, he recalls the Shangri La which was located on Story Street between Fourth (Mamie) and Fifth, east side..........close to where there is a Subway Shop now.
K-----K
Rick Houser used the mail service for contact. What do you think of that? He actually did write a letter, of all things. He wrote, "It's been awhile, but I never miss your blog." He sent a copy of a story from a newspaper about the death of Iowan John Wayne. It was actually a review of a book, "John Wayne, the Life and Legend." Rick added, "He was someone we all grew up with. I can't believe it's been 35 years since he passed away. I also just heard of Mickey Rooney's death at 93. I guess you can say we were still kids when those two were most popular. I'm still here and reading Kelley's Korner faithfully."
K-----K
John Kueck sent a card that fits in very well right about now, a time when we are daydreaming of times past. On the cover it shows a young lady singing, "The melody haunts my reverie." John writes, "Thanks for your blog. I think as I grow older, my attraction to my home town grows, even though I don't live there. Thanks to you, you keep me in the "Boone Space."
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Joshua Myers, 31, Boone. BHS-2001. Worked at several Fareway stores. Boone area survivors include his parents, Tim and Jamie Myers, his partner, Ryan Wiedner, his children Kristikn and David, his aunt Rosemary Stuckey and cousin Karen Rosengreen all of Boone.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Back to those barbers for just a few more minutes. Why do I, the Kornerman, keep thinking of the name Fred Mushrush when considering barbers of the past? A fictitious name, I assume, but one often heard.
Mark Tompkins wrote, "I'll stir the pot on barbers. Who was the barber that had a shop on the east side of the Mondt Hotel? I got my first flat-top there and I guess I was old enough to make the decision, but, at first, mom wasn't enthused about it."
Bernie Lewiston said, "I haven't seen anyone mention Orville Bice, who operated a barber shop underneath the old Farm Bureau office for many years. He opened at 4:30 a.m. and never charged more than $1.00 for a cut."
John Kueck wrote in reference to Clyde Anderson's shop. John could recollect the shop but not the occupants. He did recall there were usually a pair of barbers there. Dobie Anderson was one of Clyde's hands and, for a time, there was another fellow. I, the Kornerman, just remember his mustache.
John also told about being a Quinn's employee and having one of the dirtiest jobs there, unloading a railroad car of coke. He said the coke dust permeated every exposed part of his body, including his hair. He wrote, "I was a blond but walked into the barber shop with a black face and black hair. I'm sure the barber looked at me reluctantly but he did cut my hair. He could hardly get the comb through my hair and I think I dulled his clippers and scissors. Once done, they asked me to take a bath before I came next time."
John also recalled watching a tornado funnel while yes, sitting in the barber chair. He wrote, "We were warned to take cover but I believe it dissipated before taking that step."
Just thought of another barber name.......Loren Upton.
K-----K
Recent talk of those weekend nights propelled some memories from Larry Jackson. He wrote, "The Friday night shopping talk reminded me of the verbal battles that took place when it was decided to switch the main shopping night downtown from Saturday to Friday. I don't recall how the sides were divided but it seemed to be the merchants saying, "yes," to Friday and the farming community saying, "no," because it would make it difficult for farm families to get to town on Friday night after having been in the fields all day, especially in the warmer months, thus, making Saturday night a much better time. Obviously, the Friday night fans prevailed and once it happened, you never heard anymore about it. Not sure just when this took place but guess it was around 1950 or 1951."
K-----K
Back to Mark Tompkins. Speaking of the Mondt Hotel, Mark wonders how many hotels and motels there were in Boone, "back in the day?" In addition to the Mondt, he recalls the Shangri La which was located on Story Street between Fourth (Mamie) and Fifth, east side..........close to where there is a Subway Shop now.
K-----K
Rick Houser used the mail service for contact. What do you think of that? He actually did write a letter, of all things. He wrote, "It's been awhile, but I never miss your blog." He sent a copy of a story from a newspaper about the death of Iowan John Wayne. It was actually a review of a book, "John Wayne, the Life and Legend." Rick added, "He was someone we all grew up with. I can't believe it's been 35 years since he passed away. I also just heard of Mickey Rooney's death at 93. I guess you can say we were still kids when those two were most popular. I'm still here and reading Kelley's Korner faithfully."
K-----K
John Kueck sent a card that fits in very well right about now, a time when we are daydreaming of times past. On the cover it shows a young lady singing, "The melody haunts my reverie." John writes, "Thanks for your blog. I think as I grow older, my attraction to my home town grows, even though I don't live there. Thanks to you, you keep me in the "Boone Space."
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Joshua Myers, 31, Boone. BHS-2001. Worked at several Fareway stores. Boone area survivors include his parents, Tim and Jamie Myers, his partner, Ryan Wiedner, his children Kristikn and David, his aunt Rosemary Stuckey and cousin Karen Rosengreen all of Boone.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Barbers......continued
How in the world could the Kornerman forget HIS own barber? Richard Longworth and Tom Canfield both remembered Charley Moss, who worked in that little building on the southside of the street between Carroll and Greene on Seventh. You know, the one just a block east of BHS. Richard was headed in the right direction, namewise, but cited the wrong location. He wrote, "didn't Pete Moss (or maybe it was Pete's father) have a shop down a flight of outdoor steps beneath Meyer's Clothing?" Pete was Charley's son but we just mentioned where Charley's shop was actually located.
Richard added, "I got my crewcuts from Tom Corl when I was a kid. Tom charged a quarter, but would play a game of cribbage after, double or nothing. I lost every time and had paid for some 50-cent haircuts by the time my father found out about it and put an end to it."
Larry Jackson chimed in with his memory of Henry, a barber in the Holst Hotel. Larry wrote, "Enjoyed the converation about barbers. The barber in the Holst Hotel was Henry (I have no recollection of his last name). My dad took me there as a kid for haircuts -$.50 back then in the late 40's.Henry, like most barbers of the day, had a one-size-fits-all cut that quickly fell out of favor when you really wanted a flatop at age 14. At the risk of starting a Best Haircut in Boone debate, I recall that Susan Jones' dad, at the shop located near the Mondt Hotel, was considered the go-to-guy for a flat-top cut. But truth be told, I had no idea there were so many barbers in town until I read the last two versions of the Korner. As always, like all of your readers, your work to keep KK going is greatly appreciated."
K-----K
Larry also had a few words about Boyds. He wrote, "It was always a favorite. If I remember correctly, both John and Jim graduated from Iowa State and started the dairy in Boone upon their return from World War II duty. John and his family had a house on Fifth Street between Marshall and Story, located just a block north of my dad's Standard station and only a block or so from the dairy. I remember walking from the station with two empty half-gallon milk bottles to return and bringing back full ones for us to take home. Oh, and did I mention the chocolate/marshmallow malts? Nothing like it since that I have come across."
Editors Note: Actually, it was brothers Gene and Jim that started the dairy. John was the son of Mr and Mrs Gene Boyd.
K-----K
Oh, those Friday nights downtown in the 40's and 50's. Who could ever forget them. John Kueck hasn't. John sent a picture taken of he and his parents on one of those Friday nights and explained that a photographer would often take such photos and attempt to sell them to you. In the photo, John's dad looks very dapper. A nice hat, shirt and tie and a double-breasted suit. His mom is wearing a two-piece outfit and little Johnny has a nice looking sport jacket on. John wrote, "I have a second photo with just me and my dad, which makes me think that we posed for them even if they were candid while walking. I doubt that they do that today. Does anyone remember any more about this experience?"
John added, "As a form of entertainment, we typically went downtown on Friday nights when the stores were open. We did not shop, but often stopped at my uncle Jule Kueck's jewelry store to visit. Did anyone else go downtown on Friday nights just for entertainment, socialization or, perhaps, window shopping. My parents always dressed up, which seems unusual in this day of casual dress. Since my dad worked in a foundry all his life, he probably enjoyed the chance to dress up. I'm not sure that I did. Keep up the great blog. I hope you know how much many of us enjoy it."
K-----K
The Kornerman recalls those Friday nights much as John does. I recall that it was a big deal to get a car downtown early in the afternoon for the purpose of getting a "premiere" parking spot. Nobody would go down and sit in the car that early..........the purpose was to simply get the empty car there for occupancy later. People would sit in or on their cars and friends and relatives would come by, stop and visit. Popcorn and ice cream were special treats but the main purpose was simply socializing. Remember........television was new in, at least, some of those years and even then, pretty limited.
K-----K
The Kornerman noted that in the members segment, a Carol Dahlgren Sharp had checked in. She stated that she spent her childhood in Boone but graduated from St. Joe's in Des Moines. She currently lives in Denton, TX..
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Debbie Griswold, 59, Ogden.........Delores (Dodee) Craven Davis, 72, Council Bluffs, formerly of Boone. BHS-60. She worked for an attorney prior to retirement due to health issues. Boone area survivors include her sister Susan Davis and a nephew, Tyler Davis of Boone............Mark Anderson, 72, Boone. Grand Community-61. Worked as a mechanic for Groat Implement and Brooks Implement. Boone area survivors include his wife, Kathy, and son David of Boone, brother Mike of Pilot Mound, sisters Evelyn Swanson of Ogden, Joan Hull and Jill Loudon of Boone and brother-in-law Deck Crouch of Pilot Mound.
Marty Dannatt reported to the Korner the death of Paul Clemenger, 63, of Papillion, NE. Korner readers may recall that Paul had communicated with us several times while fighting a serious illness. Although he left Boone with his family when he was a teenager, he never forgot the Boone community and his friends and classmates here. Marty wrote, "Paul passed away last Saturday. He really loved your column. He also came to our 45th Class of 1968 reunion in September and said that was one of his "happiest moments." He could not believe all of the people who remembered him. Paul was just really a nice guy." Services are being held today (Wednesday) in Papillion. www.kahlerdolcemortuary.com
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
Richard added, "I got my crewcuts from Tom Corl when I was a kid. Tom charged a quarter, but would play a game of cribbage after, double or nothing. I lost every time and had paid for some 50-cent haircuts by the time my father found out about it and put an end to it."
Larry Jackson chimed in with his memory of Henry, a barber in the Holst Hotel. Larry wrote, "Enjoyed the converation about barbers. The barber in the Holst Hotel was Henry (I have no recollection of his last name). My dad took me there as a kid for haircuts -$.50 back then in the late 40's.Henry, like most barbers of the day, had a one-size-fits-all cut that quickly fell out of favor when you really wanted a flatop at age 14. At the risk of starting a Best Haircut in Boone debate, I recall that Susan Jones' dad, at the shop located near the Mondt Hotel, was considered the go-to-guy for a flat-top cut. But truth be told, I had no idea there were so many barbers in town until I read the last two versions of the Korner. As always, like all of your readers, your work to keep KK going is greatly appreciated."
K-----K
Larry also had a few words about Boyds. He wrote, "It was always a favorite. If I remember correctly, both John and Jim graduated from Iowa State and started the dairy in Boone upon their return from World War II duty. John and his family had a house on Fifth Street between Marshall and Story, located just a block north of my dad's Standard station and only a block or so from the dairy. I remember walking from the station with two empty half-gallon milk bottles to return and bringing back full ones for us to take home. Oh, and did I mention the chocolate/marshmallow malts? Nothing like it since that I have come across."
Editors Note: Actually, it was brothers Gene and Jim that started the dairy. John was the son of Mr and Mrs Gene Boyd.
K-----K
Oh, those Friday nights downtown in the 40's and 50's. Who could ever forget them. John Kueck hasn't. John sent a picture taken of he and his parents on one of those Friday nights and explained that a photographer would often take such photos and attempt to sell them to you. In the photo, John's dad looks very dapper. A nice hat, shirt and tie and a double-breasted suit. His mom is wearing a two-piece outfit and little Johnny has a nice looking sport jacket on. John wrote, "I have a second photo with just me and my dad, which makes me think that we posed for them even if they were candid while walking. I doubt that they do that today. Does anyone remember any more about this experience?"
John added, "As a form of entertainment, we typically went downtown on Friday nights when the stores were open. We did not shop, but often stopped at my uncle Jule Kueck's jewelry store to visit. Did anyone else go downtown on Friday nights just for entertainment, socialization or, perhaps, window shopping. My parents always dressed up, which seems unusual in this day of casual dress. Since my dad worked in a foundry all his life, he probably enjoyed the chance to dress up. I'm not sure that I did. Keep up the great blog. I hope you know how much many of us enjoy it."
K-----K
The Kornerman recalls those Friday nights much as John does. I recall that it was a big deal to get a car downtown early in the afternoon for the purpose of getting a "premiere" parking spot. Nobody would go down and sit in the car that early..........the purpose was to simply get the empty car there for occupancy later. People would sit in or on their cars and friends and relatives would come by, stop and visit. Popcorn and ice cream were special treats but the main purpose was simply socializing. Remember........television was new in, at least, some of those years and even then, pretty limited.
K-----K
The Kornerman noted that in the members segment, a Carol Dahlgren Sharp had checked in. She stated that she spent her childhood in Boone but graduated from St. Joe's in Des Moines. She currently lives in Denton, TX..
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Debbie Griswold, 59, Ogden.........Delores (Dodee) Craven Davis, 72, Council Bluffs, formerly of Boone. BHS-60. She worked for an attorney prior to retirement due to health issues. Boone area survivors include her sister Susan Davis and a nephew, Tyler Davis of Boone............Mark Anderson, 72, Boone. Grand Community-61. Worked as a mechanic for Groat Implement and Brooks Implement. Boone area survivors include his wife, Kathy, and son David of Boone, brother Mike of Pilot Mound, sisters Evelyn Swanson of Ogden, Joan Hull and Jill Loudon of Boone and brother-in-law Deck Crouch of Pilot Mound.
Marty Dannatt reported to the Korner the death of Paul Clemenger, 63, of Papillion, NE. Korner readers may recall that Paul had communicated with us several times while fighting a serious illness. Although he left Boone with his family when he was a teenager, he never forgot the Boone community and his friends and classmates here. Marty wrote, "Paul passed away last Saturday. He really loved your column. He also came to our 45th Class of 1968 reunion in September and said that was one of his "happiest moments." He could not believe all of the people who remembered him. Paul was just really a nice guy." Services are being held today (Wednesday) in Papillion. www.kahlerdolcemortuary.com
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Boone Barbers
Michael Sundall got it going in the last edition. He mentioned Boone barbers Clyde Anderson and Dan Veeder and wondered about other Boone barbers.
Ron Hopkins clear out in Washington state wrote, "In 1956-57, I worked at Red's Toy and Hobby shop in the basement at Eighth and Story under Meyer's Clothing. That space was shared with an elderly barber named Grover. Sharp instruments were scary in his shaky hands, so I think the only customers were faithful, long-time patrons. Clyde, at the northside, was my favorite. Since I left Boone, my talented wife, Judy, has cut my hair and her own. In our 50 years of marriage, she has, obviously, saved us thousands of dollars. Maybe this suggests a new criterion for spousal selection? Keep up the interesting work."
Somebody mentioned Tom Corl and Ross Hanson wrote from Wisconsin, "I remember Springer's shop that started next to the Citizens Bank on Eighth Street, then moved underneath the Bowman Shoe
Store on the northeast corner of Eighth and Story. I think the father's name was Lee and then sons Bill and Leonard worked in the business also."
Michael Loehrer wrote from Ohio, "Merle and, later, Phil Sherbon had a shop across from Mrs. Fox's popcorn stand on Ninth Street. I remember they ran a contest as to the favorite singer of the 50's, Elvis or Pat Boone. Haircut recipients voted but I don't recall if there was a prize. Then, Clyde Anderson moved to town and the Northside Barber Shop became the place to go. Clyde was a great guy and made everyone welcome. It didn't hurt that his son's, Gary and Toby, made a great many friends and brought them into the shop."
K-----K
Thanks to Karen Musser for a show of support for this effort and also providing an interesting article. The Kornerman didn't realize the magazine, "The Iowan," was alive clear back in 1953, the year I graduated from BHS. Yet, here was a story from that January edition about an "Unusual Iowan" who was a Booneite. His name was A.L. Ingersoll and in the magazine, he was called, "Boone's Amazing Steeple Jack."
In the story it says that although A.L. weighed just 97 pounds, he was called, "Big." He began as a painter for his dad but, eventually, he began painting tall objects like water towers, flag poles, courthouses and radio towers. His biggest project was the WOI-TV tower in Ames which was 685 feet high. "Big," a father of nine, was 60 years old at the time of the magazine story. He never used a safety belt and was never able to buy insurance coverage for his climbing work.
Karen wrote, "I didn't become a Boone resident until 1961 so this was before my time here. I enjoy your blog and I know that Chuck would have also. In fact, he could have added lots of sport memories. Thanks for keeping everyone informed."
Chuck, of course, is Chuck Musser, Karen's late husband. That Musser clan was a very talented athletic group, especially as Toreador basketball stars, and Chuck was certainly as good as any.
Now, the question of the day. Anyone out there in Kornerland have any recollection of "Big" or his family members? Would any still be around?
K-----K
A couple of quick notes: Davi Mondt Lowman noticed we had mentioned recently Iowa ballrooms and her husband had one to add to the list. Husband Galen was raised in Laurens and recalled the "Ridotto Ballroom" in Havelock. According to Galen it was nicknamed, "The Bloody Bucket." Davi said she learned more about that and many other Iowa ballrooms via the web site.......
http://www.iowaballroom.com/p/past/ridotto.html
Tom Matt has great memories of Boyds. He wrote, "What a memory that is for the majority of Boone people 50 to 60 years ago. Of their three locations, ice cream was made on the north side, milk was processed and bottled on the south side and at the west side store across from the Adobe Lounge in West Boone. Dick Farley managed the north side store and was my brother, Jim's, boss in 1957-58. He was my boss in 1959-60 and then in the 70's, my daughter, Marcia Matt Hughes, worked for Dick. He always had kids from Sacred Heart and Boone High working so they could fill in for each other when different school activities were going on. Boyd's was great to see you didn't miss out because of work. We could also have all the ice cream we wanted and we made some crazy things to try. Jim Boyd was a super guy. What a great place for kids to learn customer service and how to count back change. You don't get that now at Mac and Don's."
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Marjorie Lebo, 94, Boone. Farmed in Boone County before moving to Ames. There, she worked at Iowa State. Returned to Boone in 1992.............Edward Dean Nelson, 84, Ogden. OHS-47. Worked over 40 years for Northern Natural Gas. A six-year member of the Iowa National Guard and spent over 25 years as an Ogden volunteer firefighter.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Ron Hopkins clear out in Washington state wrote, "In 1956-57, I worked at Red's Toy and Hobby shop in the basement at Eighth and Story under Meyer's Clothing. That space was shared with an elderly barber named Grover. Sharp instruments were scary in his shaky hands, so I think the only customers were faithful, long-time patrons. Clyde, at the northside, was my favorite. Since I left Boone, my talented wife, Judy, has cut my hair and her own. In our 50 years of marriage, she has, obviously, saved us thousands of dollars. Maybe this suggests a new criterion for spousal selection? Keep up the interesting work."
Somebody mentioned Tom Corl and Ross Hanson wrote from Wisconsin, "I remember Springer's shop that started next to the Citizens Bank on Eighth Street, then moved underneath the Bowman Shoe
Store on the northeast corner of Eighth and Story. I think the father's name was Lee and then sons Bill and Leonard worked in the business also."
Michael Loehrer wrote from Ohio, "Merle and, later, Phil Sherbon had a shop across from Mrs. Fox's popcorn stand on Ninth Street. I remember they ran a contest as to the favorite singer of the 50's, Elvis or Pat Boone. Haircut recipients voted but I don't recall if there was a prize. Then, Clyde Anderson moved to town and the Northside Barber Shop became the place to go. Clyde was a great guy and made everyone welcome. It didn't hurt that his son's, Gary and Toby, made a great many friends and brought them into the shop."
K-----K
Thanks to Karen Musser for a show of support for this effort and also providing an interesting article. The Kornerman didn't realize the magazine, "The Iowan," was alive clear back in 1953, the year I graduated from BHS. Yet, here was a story from that January edition about an "Unusual Iowan" who was a Booneite. His name was A.L. Ingersoll and in the magazine, he was called, "Boone's Amazing Steeple Jack."
In the story it says that although A.L. weighed just 97 pounds, he was called, "Big." He began as a painter for his dad but, eventually, he began painting tall objects like water towers, flag poles, courthouses and radio towers. His biggest project was the WOI-TV tower in Ames which was 685 feet high. "Big," a father of nine, was 60 years old at the time of the magazine story. He never used a safety belt and was never able to buy insurance coverage for his climbing work.
Karen wrote, "I didn't become a Boone resident until 1961 so this was before my time here. I enjoy your blog and I know that Chuck would have also. In fact, he could have added lots of sport memories. Thanks for keeping everyone informed."
Chuck, of course, is Chuck Musser, Karen's late husband. That Musser clan was a very talented athletic group, especially as Toreador basketball stars, and Chuck was certainly as good as any.
Now, the question of the day. Anyone out there in Kornerland have any recollection of "Big" or his family members? Would any still be around?
K-----K
A couple of quick notes: Davi Mondt Lowman noticed we had mentioned recently Iowa ballrooms and her husband had one to add to the list. Husband Galen was raised in Laurens and recalled the "Ridotto Ballroom" in Havelock. According to Galen it was nicknamed, "The Bloody Bucket." Davi said she learned more about that and many other Iowa ballrooms via the web site.......
http://www.iowaballroom.com/p/past/ridotto.html
Tom Matt has great memories of Boyds. He wrote, "What a memory that is for the majority of Boone people 50 to 60 years ago. Of their three locations, ice cream was made on the north side, milk was processed and bottled on the south side and at the west side store across from the Adobe Lounge in West Boone. Dick Farley managed the north side store and was my brother, Jim's, boss in 1957-58. He was my boss in 1959-60 and then in the 70's, my daughter, Marcia Matt Hughes, worked for Dick. He always had kids from Sacred Heart and Boone High working so they could fill in for each other when different school activities were going on. Boyd's was great to see you didn't miss out because of work. We could also have all the ice cream we wanted and we made some crazy things to try. Jim Boyd was a super guy. What a great place for kids to learn customer service and how to count back change. You don't get that now at Mac and Don's."
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: Marjorie Lebo, 94, Boone. Farmed in Boone County before moving to Ames. There, she worked at Iowa State. Returned to Boone in 1992.............Edward Dean Nelson, 84, Ogden. OHS-47. Worked over 40 years for Northern Natural Gas. A six-year member of the Iowa National Guard and spent over 25 years as an Ogden volunteer firefighter.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
A Favored Subject.......Ice Cream
I don't go after it like I did in my younger years but I'm an ice cream guy..........always have been. When my parents had their small grocery on the north side, they, perhaps, wondered why the profit was so consistently short. In those days, I was eating a pint a day on a regular basis with all the trimmings as well, chocolate syrup, peanuts, bananas. Lady Borden was a favorite and it came in attractive pint boxes. And, I even added regular trips to Boyd's Dairy. I had to laugh when I ran into one of the Nyman boys recently and the first thing he said was, "I made you malt's in Boyd's." What an item to be well known for.
I was digging into some Blue Bunny Tin Roof the other night and that's what reminded me of all this. I thought it was Tin Roof that made Jim Boyd a national celebrity. I thought he was the inventor of that brand. To make sure, I contacted Linda Boyd Bravard. Good thing I checked it out.
Linda replied, "Your flavor is wrong. Bubble Gum is the flavor that landed dad a spot on NPR, National Public Radio. No, unfortunately, there were no residuals, just the stature of being on NPR. It's fun to imagine what the size of his bank account would be if he had been paid for each dip of Bubble Gum scooped in stores throughout the country over the years!"
In answer to another question, she added, "I don't know what prompted dad to do the Bubble Gum. It was sometime after 1961. Another popular flavor then was the Rhubarb Sherbet. My mom used to go out in the country to George and Lois Riker's farm and cut rhubarb in the spring. Then, she cooked huge pots of it which went into the Rhubarb Sherbet. Every year, they packed up several pints of it to send to a former Booneite in San Francisco. Dad loved coming up with unusual Crazy Daze flavors such as Dill Pickle and Sauerkraut."
By the way, Linda is promoting Blue Bell ice cream which is sold in the southwestern part of the country. She said, "It's the closest thing to Boyd's I've ever tasted......especially the vanilla. Keep up the good work. We love your blog. It's a better way to keep up with what's going on in Boone than through the Boone paper."
In the back of this aged mind, the old Kornerman still has a question about the national publicity Jim received for his special flavor. Anybody remember Monitor? Television was still in its infancy and for 20 years, on NBC radio, starting in 1955, Monitor was a very popular weekend mix of news, sports, music etc.. It started as a 40-hour show and was always hosted by the most famous announcers of the time,
Dave Garroway, Hugh Downs, Frank McGee, Frank Blair etc.. For some reason, I seem to think Jim Boyd was interviewed on that national radio show about his Bubble Gum ice cream. Anyway, the national exposure secured, however, was a big deal for Boone, Iowa.
K-----K
Davi Mondt Lowman wrote, "I just love the chatter and memories that Korner readers contribute. Many of those memories are quite clear to me and take me right back to the 60's when we were so lucky to be growing up in Boone. Jude Rolfes stories about the cars made me laugh out loud. One summer, at about 3 a.m., the summer before we were going to be sophomores, Terry Rolfes, Donna Jacobson and I pushed Mr. Rolfes car out of their garage, down an alley and into the street. We drove it all over town. It was great fun but we were so nervous doing this we could hardly enjoy it. We returned about a half-block from the garage, turned off the engine and pushed the car home. However, we caught the edge of the garage door on the front part of the car and scratched it. We were sworn to secrecy and the incident was never mentioned to any adult until now. Terry never said whether her dad ever discovered the scratch. Until I read Judes story, I had no idea we were carrying on a family tradition. Speaking of Terry, she was such a darling girl and I always liked her so much. She died some years ago from cancer, much, much too young."
K-----K
Michael Sundall of Cedar Rapids and formerly of Boone was in town recently and had a visit with Berniece Anderson and her daughter-in-law, Corky Veeder Anderson. That got him thinking about Boone barbers and barber shops. Clyde Anderson, the late husband of Berniece, was a Boone barber, as was Corky's dad, Dan Veeder.
Mike wrote, "I drove around downtown Boone and remembered the "big three" barber shops that were once there, Clyde and his partner, Daryl Anderson; Dan's shop and Arlo's shop."
Michael was wondering about other Boone barber shops. The Kornerman remembers those three but there were many others through the years as well. Some barbers I quickly recall were Jimmy Rader, Claire Sparks, the Jones brothers, Dick Harris, the fellow who had a shop in his house across from Trinity Lutheran Church, the fellow that ran a shop in the basement of what is now the Doran Law firm, a shop under what is now Eckstein's Jewelry and wasn't there a barber in the Hotel Holst? Times, of course, have changed. In those days there may have been some, but I don't recall a visable female barber. That's no longer the case. In fact, female barbers may now outnumber the male barbers in Boone, Iowa.
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: John Geneser, 87, Boone, formerly of Woodward. Operated Geneser Implement and then worked for Barr-Nunn Transportation in Granger. Survivors include son Daniel of West Des Moines and Daniel's wife, Margaretta (Gretta) Ray Geneser, a Boone native..........Sharon Lantz, 89, Boone. BHS grad. Worked at Fort Dodge and Des Moines Southern before moving to California. Returned to Boone in retirement in 1983. Husband Dick passed away in December, 2013. Boone survivor is daughter Lori Nystrom and grandchildren............Dorothy Kieffer, 79, Ogden. Was an elementary teacher. Boone area survivors include her husband Tom and sons Bob and Steve of Ogden.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
I was digging into some Blue Bunny Tin Roof the other night and that's what reminded me of all this. I thought it was Tin Roof that made Jim Boyd a national celebrity. I thought he was the inventor of that brand. To make sure, I contacted Linda Boyd Bravard. Good thing I checked it out.
Linda replied, "Your flavor is wrong. Bubble Gum is the flavor that landed dad a spot on NPR, National Public Radio. No, unfortunately, there were no residuals, just the stature of being on NPR. It's fun to imagine what the size of his bank account would be if he had been paid for each dip of Bubble Gum scooped in stores throughout the country over the years!"
In answer to another question, she added, "I don't know what prompted dad to do the Bubble Gum. It was sometime after 1961. Another popular flavor then was the Rhubarb Sherbet. My mom used to go out in the country to George and Lois Riker's farm and cut rhubarb in the spring. Then, she cooked huge pots of it which went into the Rhubarb Sherbet. Every year, they packed up several pints of it to send to a former Booneite in San Francisco. Dad loved coming up with unusual Crazy Daze flavors such as Dill Pickle and Sauerkraut."
By the way, Linda is promoting Blue Bell ice cream which is sold in the southwestern part of the country. She said, "It's the closest thing to Boyd's I've ever tasted......especially the vanilla. Keep up the good work. We love your blog. It's a better way to keep up with what's going on in Boone than through the Boone paper."
In the back of this aged mind, the old Kornerman still has a question about the national publicity Jim received for his special flavor. Anybody remember Monitor? Television was still in its infancy and for 20 years, on NBC radio, starting in 1955, Monitor was a very popular weekend mix of news, sports, music etc.. It started as a 40-hour show and was always hosted by the most famous announcers of the time,
Dave Garroway, Hugh Downs, Frank McGee, Frank Blair etc.. For some reason, I seem to think Jim Boyd was interviewed on that national radio show about his Bubble Gum ice cream. Anyway, the national exposure secured, however, was a big deal for Boone, Iowa.
K-----K
Davi Mondt Lowman wrote, "I just love the chatter and memories that Korner readers contribute. Many of those memories are quite clear to me and take me right back to the 60's when we were so lucky to be growing up in Boone. Jude Rolfes stories about the cars made me laugh out loud. One summer, at about 3 a.m., the summer before we were going to be sophomores, Terry Rolfes, Donna Jacobson and I pushed Mr. Rolfes car out of their garage, down an alley and into the street. We drove it all over town. It was great fun but we were so nervous doing this we could hardly enjoy it. We returned about a half-block from the garage, turned off the engine and pushed the car home. However, we caught the edge of the garage door on the front part of the car and scratched it. We were sworn to secrecy and the incident was never mentioned to any adult until now. Terry never said whether her dad ever discovered the scratch. Until I read Judes story, I had no idea we were carrying on a family tradition. Speaking of Terry, she was such a darling girl and I always liked her so much. She died some years ago from cancer, much, much too young."
K-----K
Michael Sundall of Cedar Rapids and formerly of Boone was in town recently and had a visit with Berniece Anderson and her daughter-in-law, Corky Veeder Anderson. That got him thinking about Boone barbers and barber shops. Clyde Anderson, the late husband of Berniece, was a Boone barber, as was Corky's dad, Dan Veeder.
Mike wrote, "I drove around downtown Boone and remembered the "big three" barber shops that were once there, Clyde and his partner, Daryl Anderson; Dan's shop and Arlo's shop."
Michael was wondering about other Boone barber shops. The Kornerman remembers those three but there were many others through the years as well. Some barbers I quickly recall were Jimmy Rader, Claire Sparks, the Jones brothers, Dick Harris, the fellow who had a shop in his house across from Trinity Lutheran Church, the fellow that ran a shop in the basement of what is now the Doran Law firm, a shop under what is now Eckstein's Jewelry and wasn't there a barber in the Hotel Holst? Times, of course, have changed. In those days there may have been some, but I don't recall a visable female barber. That's no longer the case. In fact, female barbers may now outnumber the male barbers in Boone, Iowa.
K-----K
Boone Area Deaths: John Geneser, 87, Boone, formerly of Woodward. Operated Geneser Implement and then worked for Barr-Nunn Transportation in Granger. Survivors include son Daniel of West Des Moines and Daniel's wife, Margaretta (Gretta) Ray Geneser, a Boone native..........Sharon Lantz, 89, Boone. BHS grad. Worked at Fort Dodge and Des Moines Southern before moving to California. Returned to Boone in retirement in 1983. Husband Dick passed away in December, 2013. Boone survivor is daughter Lori Nystrom and grandchildren............Dorothy Kieffer, 79, Ogden. Was an elementary teacher. Boone area survivors include her husband Tom and sons Bob and Steve of Ogden.
K-----K
Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.
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