Pleiades Rise Over Iowa

Rising in the east during early evening is an open star cluster called the Pleiades, or Messier 45, in the constellation Taurus. In olden times this bed of blue white young stars (middle top in photo) was often called the Seven Sisters and considered a test of good eyes to resolve the stars. Actually there are far more than seven stars in the cluster - click here. North American nighttime viewers can easily view the Pleiades cluster all winter long - rising just ahead of Orion the hunter. Note the double contrail visible above the roof line. Interesting. Know that.

Scotty, Beam Me to Riverside, Iowa

One of the fictional series, Star Trek's early references is to the birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk. His birthplace will be in 42N's Riverside, Iowa in the year 2228. After obtaining permission from series creator, Gene Roddenberry the city of Riverside initiated an annual festival called Trekfest in the 1980s.

Today you can find a stone marker indicating where James Kirk will be born, a Romulan bar or two (depending on their financial viability) and this object. It is a model of the USS Riverside, NCC 1818 which is present along the main road of the town. Sometimes the series actors show up for Trekfest.  The man himself William Shatner even punked the town with a fake movie gag - all in good natured fun. When traveling here regardless of your mode of transportation be sure to see the Star Trek displays, shops and pubs. Also bring your credits (think Harry Mudd) for the nearby casino action too. Know that.

Grain Bins Hold the 2010 Harvest

As noted earlier in 42N blog posts, the countryside here reflects the grain agriculture nature of the Hawkeye state. In Iowa our mid-continent, mid latitude land is farmed primarily for corn and soybean production. These grains form the basis for livestock feed, fuel, or any number of things that manufacturers produce using these main staples (like starch.)

Small towns and rural crossroads with one or more bins like this scene above are quite common. Bins can represent storage and mixing facilities for livestock food. Feed mixture can be customized for a variety of livestock needs from poultry to cattle. Minerals and other additives can be mixed with corn or soybeans to deliver whatever the livestock producer requires for his/her livestock operation.

Steel bin imagery is often taken for granted because it is repeated so often around the region. These bins however, represent an important link from field to food, energy and material production around the world. Know that.

Discovering the American Pickers in 42N Country

The History's Channel's hit show, American Pickers is based out of 42N's LeClaire, Iowa, just north of Davenport along the Mississippi River. Antique Archaeology featured on the show is located a block off the main street at 115 1/2 Davenport Street with store hours 11am - 4pm Mon-Sat or by appointment. The above two photos are of the business office featured on the show. Its where pickers Mike and Frank interact with Danielle, the organizer.

But where is the white truck that Mike and Frank use to cruise around the country to pick antiques from collectors? On this particular day the show's white truck was in town. LeClaire is not too big - drive around and you'll discover the truck (when in town) parked by a antique gas pump and signs. Which is, of course a sign that you have found an American Picker. Know that.

A Beer and a Smoke in Pioneer Village

Take a stroll to 42N's Pioneer Village in Scott County, Iowa. There in a re-created historic village you'll find all things old, Iowa old that is - mid 1800s to early 1900s.

At the spirits and tobacconists store you will find a display of two cigar Indians. Whether they are of age or are more modern carvings they do give a glimpse into the 19th century marketing of tobacco products - something you don't see much these days.

To round out the experience is a display of old soft drink brands as well as the Blackhawk Beer brand, a beer brewed in nearby Davenport, Iowa during 1944-1953. Wonder how it tasted versus Bud Lite or Miller Lite. Billy will tell us. Know that.

Fall Farmers Market in Tipton Iowa

In Iowa's Cedar County, the town of Tipton is the county seat of government. On Thursdays in October there is a farmers market on the courthouse grounds. Trading begins at 4 pm. This time of year you can buy pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, squash and baked goods. The 42N team bought acorn squash from this vendor.

We bought a bunch of Indian corn for decorations outside. Squirrels have already discovered the cobs and apparently are enjoying de-kernaling the display. 

Our visit to Tipton was a week ago - five days before the Big Blow went through the Midwest. Those 60 mph winds probably blew the yellow leaves off these trees and yard and into the next state to the northeast - that would be Wisconsin. While I took a better photo of this Tipton house, this frame is the only one with a kid on his bike. Looked a little like a Norman Rockwell scene. Know that.

Three Stairs to Grant Wood's Grave

Three roadside steps will take you to the final resting place of American painter, Grant Wood. Here in 42N country Grant, his sister Nan and other family members are buried in nearby Anamosa, Iowa. Grant Wood was a US Army veteran from WWI, hence the military bronze marker and flags that flank his simple headstone.

One Day 2 of the the Big Wind, the lowest barometric storm over the continental US (aside from Tropical storms) the flags snapped with each gust and the fall leaves were no where to be found. Know that.

Gloomy Day in October

Gray skies and slight wind greeted the 42N team in Independence, Iowa. The five story Wapsipinicon Feed Mill built in the mid-1800s has been flooded and repaired many times near downtown Indy. New to the area is this warning sign meant to inform those who would swim around the dam. Know that.

No Digging Here

Apparently digging is prohibited at this cemetery. Must be full. Know that.

Buy a Past at a Norway Iowa Auction

Recent items at last weekend's auction in Norway, Iowa. The home owner in her 80s lived there all her life. It was her parent's home too and she inherited all their things. Veneer off a tube radio peels away.

The auction set up boys took all the furniture outside for people to bid on. This cabinet went for $200.

A cap gun with its original box.

A Butternut (?) coffee can with US space program illustrations from Mercury to Apollo on it. Sold for over $25.

What time is it? Radio tube buying time of course.

Camera in its original box.

Buy a set of Iowa oak chairs - cheap! These went for under $25. There was much more at the auction. We bought several things for resale and the Dan Patch print - see the post here. Know that.

He is Somebody's Somebody

Sometimes at household auctions you find things that make you pause. In this case at a Norway, Iowa sale last weekend there was this old photo of a somebody. No information on the photo's front or back as to who this person was and no one in the auction crowd knew either. Besides having a bad hair day, this guy was somebody to someone at one time. I'm sure the cost of the photo sitting was high at the time and the elaborate frame indicated that this was something cherished by a family. But as generations change and the stories become lost to time, eventually the identity of this person fads.

In today's digital photography world we too face this same issue. Outside of identifying the subject and date in the file name, there is not much else to positively identify our subjects. Preserve your digital images with file tags or other means. Otherwise in a hundred years someone looking at a digital copy of your Uncle Ed will not have a clue as to who that is in the image. Know that.

Pig on a Stick - Lamb on a Stick

42N country's rural areas are made up of grain farming (corn and soybeans) and livestock production - no surprise for many in the breadbasket of America. Many county fairgrounds have dedicated areas for 4H related livestock shows during the summer.

On this day the 42N crew stopped at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Vinton, Iowa. Seen in two buildings are these wooden animals on a stick with numbers. Odd. What they represent are pens for either lambs or pigs with an identification for bedding and judging. Still the thought of a pig or lamb on a stick is much like the Iowa State Fair's claim to have many forms of food available on a stick.

On a side note: while most of the 42N area farmland is nearly harvested (soybean and corn harvesting), a single stalk of green corn in the silking stage grows near the pig building. Protected by the building and a west facing direction, the corn plant probably will continue to grow for a few more weeks before the overnight frost gets colder and stays longer. A sign of the fall. Know that.

Calm Crunching Along the Cedar River

Twight on the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Across the now calm river (not the out of control flood of 2008 river) is the iconic cityscape. Quaker Oats manufactures among other things Capt'n Crunch cereal from corn and oats at this plant. During the flood of 2008, boat houses dislodged from nearby Ellis Park floated downriver to be caught by this bridge which was being reinforced by parked railroad cars. Flood video here and here.

Last evening (two and 1/2 years later) the river was almost completely calm and within its banks - invoking the thought - what flood? Oh its impact is still being dealt with by the city's residents and government. But on this night at this location the river is calm. Know that.

Fastest Stallions in the World - Dan Patch, George Gano and Minor Heir

Music composer, Meredith Wilson, once enshrined the fastest horse in the world at the time in the musical, The Music Man. Trotter Dan Patch who shattered the two minute mile is featured in the song - Ya Got Trouble. See video here:

"And the next thing you know your son is playin'
For money in a pinchback suit
And listenin' to some big out-o'-town jasper
Hearin' him tell about horserace gamblin'
Not a wholesome trottin' race, no
But a race where they set down right on the horse
Like to see some stuck up jockey boy settin' on Dan Patch?
Make your blood boil, well I should say..."

Lyrics and Music composed by Meredith Wilson, (C) MPL Communications.

At an auction in Norway, Iowa where nothing but antiques poured out the small home's door, a framed, dusty print of three horses emerged and was purchased by the 42N team. The print, Fastest Stallions in the World, from the M.W. Savage Art Department featured (left to right) Dan Patch 1:55, George Gano 2:02 and Minor Heir 1:58.5. Marion Willis Savage owned Dan Patch and built an empire around the horse. Today the city of Savage, Minnesota, where M. W. Savage built an expansive training facility, celebrates the great horse with Dan Patch Days held annually in mid-June.

The current movie, Secretariat, features the triple crown winner. In his day, Dan Patch was also widely known and later remembered in advertising wares like this print (above), watches, paper weights and many other things - another example of mass marketing in the early days. These items remain highly collectible even 94 years after Dan Patch's death in 1916. Know that.