IT, the election, WILL BE OVER WHEN ITS OVER

     Ron Carlson lives right here in good old Boone Iowa after growing up in Ogden.

     Some time ago, he had organized a listing of bands who performed out of Boone County from 1962-78 and we had made a note of that in the Korner. He remembered.

     These days he's attempting to update that information. He contacted the Kornerman seeking information on a former band member, Fred "Fritz" Westfall. With the help of Fritz longtime friend, Jim Grabau, I was able to pass on information regarding his (Fritz) current location.

     Ron emailed that he moved to Boone in 1975, got married in 1978 and settled in. But then, he ping-ponged to Ogden in '86, back to Boone in '93 and he's been settled on Tama Street ever since.

     He lost his 33-year job in 2009 but started volunteer work at 99.3 FM/1260 AM when the station was located in the Citizens/U.S. Bank building. That station moved to Des Moines in 2015 and Ron is now employed there. From 2010-16 he also did some work at Walmart in Boone.

     Ron says he hasn't played in a band since 1992, mainly due to growing family responsibilities and the lack of time to do so. He has helped a friend out with some recording of music and he likes to do a bit of writing. "I do miss getting together with other musicians. There is something quite pleasing about working together to make music," he explained.

     On a sad note, he indicated he had noticed in the Korner the listing of Brian Cottrell's passing. "He was an old friend and I really appreciate the Korner making note of this sort of thing." 

     Boone's current lack of complete media coverage of area deaths results in this type of situation quite often, which is a sad state of affairs. It only enhances the Korner's attempt to at least, somewhat, rectify that negative.

K-----K

     The Kornerman received some interesting information from Don Nystrom, BHS-56, of Ames this week. 

     Some good historical info regarding the Masons impact in Boone and their initial home at 602 Story Street, which currently houses the Boone County Historical Society.

     It all began locally when a group of Boonesboro residents, who were Masons from various states, banded together and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Iowa to form a Masonic Lodge. That was on June 8, 1855.

     That October, the request was granted and Boonesboro Lodge No. 79 was organized.

     In 1858, the Boonesboro Lodge name was changed to Mount Olive Lodge No. 79

     At that time, the lodge shared a room with the Odd Fellows in the upper floor of the old wooden Boone County Courthouse, which was located at Third and Fremont streets.

     In 1865, the city of Boone was established east of Boonesboro, in 1866 it was incorporated as Montana but by 1871, the name had changed back to Boone. The end result was that by 1892, Boonesboro had become the city of Boone's fifth ward.

     Movement of the lodge followed. Located on the north side of the public square, the lodge was destroyed by fire which resulted in a move to the second floor of a building that housed Mallory's Drug Store on the north corner of the block.

     In December of 1888, Mount Olive consolidated with another Boone lodge, St. Paul Lodge No. 361, and Mount Olive moved to the south side of Eighth Street where the Elks Club has located.

     Brother Frank Champlin passed away in 1905 and left sufficient bank stock to erect a new Temple. The Champlin Memorial Masonic Temple was dedicated on December 27,1907 at 602 Story and the Governor of Iowa, Brother Albert B. Cummins was the dedicatory speaker.

     That temple served as Mount Olive's home for 83 years, 1907-1990. In '90, Mount Olive moved to their present building, a block east of the old temple.

K-----K

     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Larry Koestner, 77, Ogden. Born in Webster City. WCHS and Iowa Central Community College. Army guard vet. Worked at Ames Redi-Mix before a 33 year railroad career. Survivors include his wife, Joyce, two daughters, a brother and a sister.........Marcia Jacobson, 83, Urbandale. Survivors include two sons, including Paul Jacobson of Boone........Lucille Sterner, 97, Boone. Married Morgan Sterner in 1946. Worked at the Evangelical Free Church Home from 1981-92. Eight adult children survive including a son, Morgan, of Ogden. Lucille lived her final 14 years at Westhaven.........John Henry, 65, Boone. Born in Boone County. Raised in Luther and UCHS-74. Married Lynette Bielfelt in 1975 and they were later divorced. He worked  at the DOT for 22 years, at Swan Creek and Fareway. Survivors include his "adoptive" mother, Helen Bielfelt, and a son.

K-----K

     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. Leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments......

kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.