That Tape Measure Around his Neck

     Steve Roeder, BHS-64, said he wasn't surprised that John Niemants is opting for retirement via the closing of his People's Clothing store the last day of March. "I was sad to see the news but not really surprised. John is a classmate of mine and I'm sure he's more than ready for retirement," Steve wrote.
    Then, Steve remembered, "Bill Mishlove, a previous owner, was a pretty jolly fellow as I remember. He always had a cigar butt in his mouth and a tape measure around his neck. We went to Peoples for overalls and flannel shirts. For dressier clothes, it was Dad and Lad, Meyer's or J.C. Petersen's. Of course, we also had the chain stores like Penny's, Sears and Wards."
     Steve added, "My first job, other than detasseling corn, was at the Penny's store. I parlayed that experience to get a job at J.C. Petersen's and I thought I had really moved up in the world. I worked there part time for a couple of years while I was in college at ISU. After working one Christmas break, I remember spending everything I made on clothes and still owing them money when I went back to school. Not very good planning on my part, but it worked out well for the store."
     In conclusion, Steve wrote, "Marv (Elverts) and Rusty (Eytcheson) employed quite a few BHS boys through the years and I imagine many of us remember the famous Christmas party they hosted at the store each year. Most of us were underage, at the time, but it didn't matter. If you worked there, you could step right up to the bar at the party. They also had a big bowl of fresh boiled shrimp which was high living for most Boone kids then. Please wish John Niemants well the next time you see him and keep up the good work with the Korner."
     The Kornerman adds.....both Steve's email and the one last edition from Gary Knox brought some cheers and some tears........a reminder of some things the way they "used to be"......right or wrong.
     Got a kick out of remembering Mishlove's tape measure and the talk of the famous Christmas parties, not just at Petersen's but various business places, parties that weren't particularly well advertised but were very well known.
     The Kornerman remembers one of the Petersen originals........a crusty old guy who I, clearly, remember grabbing and checking the back of the neck label of one of the jackets I HAD ON to determine if I had purchased it at some "other" establishment. Can't think of his name right now. Just thought of it, wasn't it Duke? Then too, Fred Schmidt took care of the books. Needless to say, Marv and Rusty were much more "welcoming".......there were always open chairs and good banter. The same was true at Dad and Lad.
K-----K
     In his latest critique of our work, Vern Modeland, BHS-50, argued that the Kornerman was wrong in saying that songwriting could be simple and not complicated.
     Vern wrote, "Au contraire my good Korner Keeper. Good song writing is a complicated art with a lot of science. Pace, rhyming, repeating, lots of stuff it takes to make a good song good. John Hartford made it look easy with "Gentle On My Mind" and Iowa's Meredith Willson, immortalizing his home town (Mason City) in, "The Music Man," or anyone's memorable or easy to remember lyrics. It ain't easy. Wan'na see my stack of forgetable attempts?"
     On another subject regarding a past Korner subject, Vern wrote, "I remember my dad and his brothers used to bring up that theatre (the one across from city hall) in conversation. They called it the Playhouse where there were live stage performances. That was before television and before even good film arrived." He concluded, "Vern, with too much time on his hands after another hospital stay."
     P.S. Loren Frazier, BHS-58, pointed out that in a recent edition, Keith Parkinson, BHS-57, incorrectly stated that the Princess Theatre was on the west side of Story and your Korner host repeated that. No, it was on the east side.
     P.S. 2:  Just like me, I'm sure many out there are wondering about Vern's au contraire. Its French for, "on the contrary." And I, the Kornerman, had to take a google look even though I took French classes from Grace Slosson at BJC who, I'm sure, did an excellent job but with a poor student who has forgotten anything I ever learned in that class.
K-----K
     A "rest of the story" story.
     Its been announced that the Des Moines Register's famous RAGBRAI event's route will come close to Boone this year but not as an overnight site. The closest overnight sites are Jefferson and Ames, also Highway 30 cities.
     This event, fifty some years old now, draws thousands of  bicycle riders from all the various states, as well as countries from afar.
     No more intricate route details have been forthcoming so there is speculation  that the riders could come across the north side of Boone after traversing the famous "twister" hill or could actually follow Highway 30 or could, somehow, involve the Ledges State Park or even the newer but very popular High Trestle Bridge south of town.
     But here's what's interesting. Let's assume that most Chamber of Commerce officials close to the route are anxious for this influx of humanity......and the dollars they will spend.
     But happiness does not prevail in all areas. We've been hearing that, in many communities, the costs incurred for providing such things as needed but additional law enforcement is taxing some budgets.......big time. In one community, the Police Chief was pretty vocal......"we don't want them," he was quoted as saying. That was the Police Chief, not the chamber exec. It has even been suggested that RAGBRAI should be required to pay some of the numerous costs involved. Maybe they do.......not sure about that.
     Anyway, as far as the Kornerman knows, its been one of the first times, a little negativity about the event has come forth. Its a classic case of does the "good" outweigh the "bad."
K-----K
     Four days to go.
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: A real rarity.......we having nothing to report.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/SUPPORT...
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