Lest We Forget Our Boys of 1861-1865

Many older local cemeteries in northern states are populated with this statue or a variation. Civil War era veterans are often buried close to their local version of this monument. Several of these statues were placed in cemeteries and dedicated in the 1920s or earlier. 

This particular soldier monument rests on a granite base and decorated with four GAR markers and tiny US flags at its corners.

Electric Elk Watches Over Clinton, Iowa

Look up from the street level and discover a world of elevated art.

In this case, a bust of an elk (or deer) has been overlooking a downtown street in Clinton, Iowa for sometime. Its pretty ornate, detailed and grand in scale. But upon closer inspection there is something more.

At the tips of the antlers are remnants of light bulbs. Can you image what this guy looked like all lite up? I bet there are local postcards that would show the electrified stag back in the day. Keep looking up.

Blowing in the Wind

Near Clinton, Iowa is this industrial plant on the southwest side of town. I don't know if it is a power plant or manufacturing facility. At this time of year, grey clouds, stiff winds and leafless trees reinforce winter's grip on the Midwest. Spring comes on March 20. We shall see.

New Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) Locomotive at Penford

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway (CRANDIC) has introduced a new locomotive recently to its fleet. The RELCO built locomotive serves the Linn, Johnson and Benton Counties area for heavy industry customers. This afternoon the 201 locomotive, one of eight new engines, was working at the Penford plant in downtown Cedar Rapids, moving filled cars situated on the new, post 2008 flood bridge.

A Player and Her Coach

March is an exciting time for college basketball. In order to participate in post season tournaments players need to do their part and win games. The University of Northern Iowa Panthers have done a great job this season so far with two games left, both are home on March 6 and March 8.

UNI's Tanya Warren closely watches her team's performance against Missouri State on Valentine's Day 2014.

Ref Watch

Referees don't usually get a share of limelight. If a game is called correctly, refs may be acknowledged. If there is a controversial call then fingers point to the game officials. This ref and her crew called a balanced game recently at a University of Northern Iowa basketball game. While looking mad she actually may be tired as it was near the end of the game when this photo was taken.

A View to Magnetic North

My old compass still shows the way to magnetic north. This 16-point compass displays the four main cardinal points plus the 12 half wind directions. The traditional north symbol, a fleur-de-lis has been stylized from its French origins to something else from Germany. Looks to be pre-WWII. Now you will never be lost.

Wyoming Coal Delivery Via the Union Pacific

The lights came on, the bell started ringing and the gates came down. Traffic stopped at the UP crossing in SE Cedar Rapids to let a fast moving train zip on by. Locomotive 6053 moved pretty quickly from the west pulling several cars filled with coal, that is most likely from the Gillette, Wyoming area mines.

One of the highlights of this fast mover was the cloud of snow that was kicked up by the moving train. The effect produced a small snowstorm in the immediate area as the powder snow settled nearby after the train past.

At the end of the train, where the traditional caboose would have been was an unexpected surprise. A pusher locomotive occupied the last position giving the train a bit more oomph to move that coal. Commonplace? Maybe, but its interesting to see how the nation's infrastructure works on the rails - in the winter - with a load of coal - moving fast.

NOTANOTHERSQUIRRELPHOTO

Seems like it is a long winter. With camera pointed through the back window for photo ideas, this well fed squirrel chomps away on birdseed that he knocked from the feeder above. Its probably the same animal that I photographed a few posts ago. You are seeing this image because it turned out fairly nice and is in focus for being shot through a window.

Snowy Jesus at the Sisters of Mercy

A February 1st snowfall gave much of the region another 2-3" of precipitation. The Jesus statue at the Sisters of Mercy Sacred Heart Convent in Cedar Rapids seems to wear the winter of 2013-14 like a blanket. Perhaps his halo can warm this relentless cycle of polar vortex cold. There's always a snowball's chance.

Industrial Processes at Work

Cloudy, gloomy day? No problem when you have a camera. Following a small snowfall early this morning the skies remained cloudy with signs of clearing to the west. A ride around town for some weather related photo opps produced this industrial scene at the local Dupont plant in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lots of textures, lines and forms combine for good subject matter.

Wintertime Backyard Critters

A visit to my backyard bird feeder this morning brought this colorful female cardinal. The more colorful male was around but never flew close to camera range. A couple of inches of snow fell last night making it difficult for birds and squirrels to find food.

What food the birds do disturb from the feeder, the squirrels make into a meal. This one looks well fed. It should be, after climbing all over the feeders and chowing down seeds all season long. A daily gang of deer also check out the bird feeder. Since deer generally feed during the evening, I haven't been able to get a decent photo of them - yet.

Puebloan Vessels at the University of Iowa

Simple. Elegant. Useful. This pottery exhibit closed a month ago. What you missed was an excellent collection of native pottery from the American Southwest. The pieces were on display at Old Capitol in Iowa City, Iowa. Curated by UI anthropology professor Margaret Beck, the exhibit focused on how communities used different types of vessels in everyday life. The featured pottery is from the ethnographic collections of the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History and Museum of Art.

McMinnville's Depot Bottom Trains

Across the street from Depot Bottom Country Store in McMinnville, Tennessee are a collection of retired and working trains. While the 42N team didn't spend enough time there last October, the site was dripping with sights to see and history to explore.

I have no idea whether this is a working locomotive. Seem like it is still in working order and ready to haul the area's timber and nursery products to wherever needed. I was told that this particular area of town known as Depot Bottom is quite old and once settled, the site always was rail related.

A few feet from the green locomotive is this old caboose. Now I know that cabooses are no longer in service and therefore figure this one is retired. I have not researched the CRW (Caney Fork & Western) logo to figure out the history of the line or this particular caboose, but may do so before the next visit.