STORIES FROM OUR PAST

      Loren Frazier, BHS-58, really enjoyed our recent "reissue" of a story we wrote about Vern Condon, BHS-49. Judging from additional response, many other Korner viewers were equally pleased.
     Loren commented, "maybe stories like that will spark the memory of viewers, who will then submit some of their old stories."
     Loren followed up with one of his memorable experiences.
    He wrote, "I worked for a while for Bill and Les Standard Stations. One of their locations was a half block east and across the street from Vern's location at Fourth and Story. I believe, at the time, Mr. Jackson operated that corner station, as a DX station. Bill and Les also had a Standard station on the southeast corner of Eighth and Greene, just north of the library. One story that sticks in my mind involves a heavy snowstorm that hit Boone one night. My friend and co-worker, Dave Stuckey, and I came into work early the next morning and were tasked with shoveling the drive, by hand in those days. The drive extended from the alley all the way to Marshall Street. If you recall the layout of the station, that drive was probably a bit wider than a two lane street. There was an entrance in from the alley, another entrance from Fourth Street (Highway 30 at the time) and a third entrance from Marshall. There was lots of snow and  when we shoveled it, we had to put it someplace and that ended up being the perimeter of the station drive, along the edge of Fourth Street and on the north and south sides of the drive entrance on Marshall. So, there were tall piles of snow next to the entrance/exits of Fourth and Marshall.We just got done shoveling and one of our friendly Boone policemen pulled in. He informed us that the piles of snow by the exits to the streets were too high and too close to the streets and they obstructed the view of drivers trying to enter busy Fourth and Marshall. We were instructed to take three or four feet of snow off the top of the piles and, in so doing, we had to carry that snow to the parking area on the north side of the drive and the east side of the station building. Lots of work, even for a couple of young guys."
     Loren added, "there may be another reason, besides the obstructed view, that caused the officer to pay us a visit. But, that story, about a scarecrow built out of one gallon Standard Oil cans and hung from a flagpole on top of the Citizens National Bank building the previous Halloween, can wait for another day."
     The Kornerman says, "oh, yeah. Anybody out there remember those shenanigans?"
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     Here's another of those personal stories that the Kornerman wrote about one of Boone's best "givers." I remind you that nothing has been changed from the "original," so it definitely is a bit out of date........in some ways. The story, with a nice accompanying picture of the subject, appeared in the Boone News Republican, 16 years ago, in 2002.
     P.S. As I understand it, "she, our subject" 16 years later, continues to be a constant contributor to her church today.
     MONICA PEARSON'S MUSIC IS PASSION TO EVERYONE'S EARS
     Music, music, music.
     Piano music, organ music, clavinova keyboard music.
     Music at mass, music at funerals, music at weddings, music lessons and family music gatherings.
     To Monica Pearson, that's life, and she wouldn't have it any other way except, "it would be nice to have a weekend sometime."
     However, she hasn't had free weekends in the past and doesn't expect them in the near future, and that's the rest of the story.....commitment.......deep commitment.
     She can remember begging her mother to let her take piano lessons when she was in the second grade."I don't know. Maybe my folks couldn't even afford it at the time, but the nuns gave lessons and probably less expensive than some others would charge. That's how it started," she says.
     "As I was growing up, I was inspired by those who were playing for mass at the time......Paul  Douroumis and Kate Gibbs.....and I wanted to do that," she explains.
     Time passed, and the lessons continued, and when the nuns departed for the summer at the end of her freshmen year, a dream came true. They left her in charge of the music program. That was in the late 1960's, and has much changed since then? Maybe the format a bit. But the devotion of time, the commitment? No way.
     "Prior to 1963, when the church, worldwide, implemented some changes, I played mass every single day" she says. "Since then, it's been weekly, rather than daily, with a children's mass once a week, in addition to the regular services," she adds.
     She doesn't mention the special events, the funerals, the weddings and, of course, the scheduling and the selection of music for all portions of the services, including the choir's offerings.
     That's right. She directs the choir, too. "I did take some voice lessons in college, but I'm the first to tell you, I'm not a singer. However, we have a dedicated, core group of vocalists, and they put up with me every Wednesday night, and I'm so thankful for that," she proclaims.
     Monica's also appreciative of the help provided by Beth Judge and Monica's sister, Mary Jo Wickman. "She's the singer in the family," she admits.
     Monica and Kevin Pearson were married in 1972, and, no surprise, she played for mass on her wedding day.
     You might think that raising five children would threaten at least some of that musical obligation. "Sometimes it took some adjusting to make everything fit," Monica concedes.
    A son, Kelly, was followed by four daughters......Molly, Annie, Natalie and Melissa. Kelly and Melissa, who is a Boone High School senior, are still in town. Molly is in New York, hoping to eventually develop a career in dance. Annie is a math teacher in eastern Iowa, and Natalie is a sophomore at the University of Northern Iowa.
     Monica does some guitar picking on occasion. Kevin has taken some piano lessons as an adult, and the kids played various instruments at times. "We have a great time, musically, when we all get together," Monica says.
     She likes all kinds of music from country to classic, and despite devoting so much time to musical duties at church, she's not immune to coming home and playing for relaxation or "to get better. I'm not the greatest organ player in the world, and although there are similarities between the piano and organ, I'm always trying to improve, to take that next step forward," she says.
     In this long, successful career, there have been some special moments. "It's always special to be able to play when the bishops are here, and then Colly's ordination was special to me," she relates.
    Colly is longtime friend, Father Craig Collison. The twosome were in school from kindergarten on and graduated from Ryan High School's last class......the class of 1970.
     "We'd team up a lot......he'd sing and I'd play, and then we'd go have a doughnut together. It was a special moment to play for his ordination," she said.
     Monica Pearson wouldn't change a thing. "I've enjoyed what I've done musically, and I still like what I'm doing, but.....?
     There is one regret. "I'm worried about the fact that it seems so hard these days to find people to provide this type of service. Lots of churches are looking for people to step in, but they're hard to find. I know some of our local churches even have to rely on people from other communities to come in."
     In the meantime, that weekend off is probably going to remain on the wish list. "As of now, if I don't do it, there's no music," she concludes.
     The Kornerman says, "I know it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn here but darn it, every one of our citizens has a story.....of some kind, and people are interested in hearing more about their friends and neighbors. Along with good local news and sports, a good feature story about them is the "cherry on  top"............something really LOCAL to look forward too. Unfortunately, there hasn't been that kind of coverage here for quite some time.......and fewer circulation numbers.......indicate that lack of personality stories may be part of the reason."
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     Loren Frazier, BHS-58, informs us of the  death of Louis Irvin, 80, Illinois Veterans Home, formerly of Loraine, IL. Survivors include his wife, Sharon Crumbaugh Irvin, BHS-58.   
     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Delores Jebron, 94, Dayton. Her daughter, Evelyn Bolton, has passed away but Evelyn's husband, John Bolton of Boone is a Boone area survivor.........Minnie Harper, 47, Boone........Guy Johnson Jr., 84, Boone. He married Clarice "Peggy" Mowery and they had five children. Guy worked at Rath Packing for 18 years and Ledges Manor in Boone for 18 years. Boone area survivors include his wife, Clarice, sons, Randy and Richard, and daughter, Cindy Bishop, all of Boone. There are two other daughters surviving including Brenda Davisson of Woodward..........Ron Krause, 60, Fraser. He married Jill Shaw in Boone. He was a truck driver for Madden Trucking, Pacific Provisions and Krause and Sons all of Boone. He also drove for Barr-Nunn of Granger. Boone area survivors include his wife, Jill, sons, Jeremy and Tim, and his brother, Robin Krause, all of Fraser. A daughter and three sisters also survive.
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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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