Old Story Street Businesses

     Mark Tompkins, BHS-60, the travelin' man from Council Bluffs, was back home recently and told about his time in Boonetown. He wrote, "I stopped at the library. From time to time, something in the Korner gets me curious about which Boone businesses were where, when. I couldn't investigate everything, but I did write down the Story Street businesses in the 500 through 800 blocks for the years, 1940, 1947, 1956, 1964, 1976 and 2014. There were 54 businesses in those four blocks in 1956, just 37 in 2014. As I worked on these pages, I began to wonder what is Boone's longest running business? The hospital might qualify, as might Schroeder's Funeral Home, but I'm guessing the railroad, under its different names, might take the prize. By the way, the Citizen's National Building was, for years, the place to be for doctor's or so it would seem. For example, in 1940, these doctors were all housed there........W.H. Longworth, R.B. Allender, C.L.Updegraff, H.S. Hill, R.E. Sadler, R.P. Westfall, M.A.and M.J. Healy, O.E. Ganoe, R.E. Gunn, C.A. Rhoads, F.S. Hogan and T.E. Kane."
     The Kornerman says, "Mark even sent his list/s of all those stores for us to peruse. In 1940, I, the Kornerman, was only five years of age but I started getting real interested in the list of 1947 which I was more familiar with. In fact, most of those stores that year sounded familiar, except for Osborne's Firestone. In the other, later, years, I didn't see many that I didn't remember. Anyway, thanks Mark. Very interesting. Appreciate your effort and the fact you shared all this info."
     In the meantime, if any viewers have any questions about a store or store addresses from those years, we will keep this material on hand for possible answers.
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     Anybody out there familiar with Roger Maxwell? Roger has been a Kornerman friend for quite some time and he is a very familiar figure in the Iowa music community. There was a great story about his life in Iowa recently in the Des Moines Register. Roger is a black man who came to this state in the 40's when there were still many extra challenges for residents of his race. He has always been a strong musician himself, a well-respected music teacher and gained extra fame when he, for many years, directed an all-Iowa choir's rendition of the "Messiah."
     The Kornerman wrote a note to Roger about the great story that was told in the Register and he replied this week in a very unique way. He thanked Jo and I for the letter we wrote him and enclosed our names written in jazz rhythm. He wrote, "it is my way of saying how much I enjoy and treasure our friendship."
     P.S. Some of you television watchers may remember when Des Moines metro newscasts were anchored by Courtney Maxwell Greene. That's Roger's daughter. Courtney is currently the Communications Director for Iowa Workforce Development.
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    The Kornerman has not had a Steve Shaler sighting this week. Those three amigos, Shaler, BHS-59, Tim Croxen, BHS-59 and Barry Wills, BHS-58, have, for years, made the Drake Relays a destination for a reunion. Normally, the Kornerman has been alerted but no word this year. We're hoping they're all okay and still ready and able to have their annual get-together. We don't think the less than desirable weather would keep those guys away.
     By the way, speaking of track, the combination of Boone High Toreador boys and girls track teams this year have been about as successful a group as the Kornerman's old head can ever recall.
School records in both divisions have been falling or at least threatened and several individuals have competed very well on a statewide basis. Its been fun to watch all this success.
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Kevin Lee Beyer, 58, Ankeny. Worked 36 years as an electronic engineer for the George A. Rolfes Company and its successor company, Boone Cable Works and Electronics...........Gary Hovick, 66, Madrid. Formerly of Boone. Was a supervisor for the former Heinrich Envelope Company in Boone.........Marvin Bushore, 76, Boone. BHS-57. A carpenter and welder for several businesses. Boone area survivors include his wife, Patricia, sons, Christopher and Brian, sisters, Jackie Tabor and Roberta Smith, and sisters-in-law, Millie Bushore and Martha Knight, all of Boone and sister, Vivian Khan of Moingona............Donna Foshee, 82, Boone. Played in the Boone municipal band. Worked at the Ericson Library and at ISU before retiring.........Joyce Armstrong, 81, Madrid..........George A. Smith, 82, Ogden...........Betty Stringer, 93, Ogden. Retired in 1983 and moved to Ogden. Boone area survivor is a daughter, Cindy Smith, of Ogden.
     Gary Knox informed the Korner of the passing of his aunt, Thelma Youll, 93. BHS-41. Thelma and her husband, Ralph, managed two neighborhood grocery stores in Boone and Ralph played on Boone softball teams. Prior to Boone, the Youll's lived in Sac City and Thelma was a teacher. Her dad, John Richards, operated a gas station at 22nd and Story in Boone.
     Gretchen Otis send the Kornerman a copy of the BHS class of 1952 newsletter and then informed us that she had made an error in that edition of the "Return of the Bumble Bee." She had reported that Larry Sovereign had passed away and that is not true. It was his brother, Richard Sovereign, that passed away.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. We, of course, do not answer if we don't recognize, via ID, who is calling. To email your stories/memories/comments/support.........
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.