Monthly Archives: March 2018

Motown

I found Detroit visually fascinating.

Posted in Detroit | Leave a comment

Unknown

My great-great-great-grandfather was named David Young.  Family history records that he was born in Pennsylvania and moved the family to Iowa, but nowhere was it recorded when he died or where he was buried.  I was able to track his … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew | 2 Comments

Research II

The Maquoketa Library, like Anamosa, had a room dedicated to local history with an extensive collection of books and microfilm of the local newspapers all the way back to their founding.  Unfortunately, the Youngs had already moved westward to Jones … Continue reading

Posted in Maquoketa | 1 Comment

Regulars

I stopped for lunch on Main St. in Maquoketa, the county seat of Jackson County, Iowa.The food was almost cartoonishly “Main St. American”.  The place was packed with locals.  One older woman said to another sitting at a booth, “Fancy … Continue reading

Posted in Maquoketa | Leave a comment

Arkham

In the 1870s, the sprawling Anamosa State Penitentiary was built on the outskirts of town, looking for all intents and purposes like Arkham Asylum.

Posted in Anamosa | Tagged | Leave a comment

Gothic

“American Gothic” is one of the most icon paintings in all of American art. It was painted by Grant Wood who grew up in Anamosa. The Youngs were farmers right here, probably looking a lot like this.

Posted in Anamosa | Leave a comment

Research

Anamos, the county seat of Jones County, Iowa, had a wonderful new library with an extensive genealogical collection.  A very helpful librarian showed me that all the local newspapers had been digitized back to their founding and were available online.  … Continue reading

Posted in Anamosa | 1 Comment

Phobia

A muddy, snowy side road (just to the side of this lovely building) led to the small, squat building of the Scotch Grove historical society.  My Prius inched along toward it, over a hill, until my path was blocked by … Continue reading

Posted in Scotch Grove | Leave a comment

Junction

Center Junction in rural Iowa.  My great-great-grandfather James Young and my great-great-grandmother Amanda Printz are buried here.  But, again, my Prius wasn’t up to the challenge of the roads.

Posted in Center Junction | Leave a comment

Impassable

The Youngs were Ulster Scots (people of Scottish descent who lived in Northern Ireland.)  The moved to the New World before the American Revolution and then, slowly over the years, made their way westward.  One one of the stops along … Continue reading

Posted in Scotch Grove | 1 Comment

Redemption

Driving through the Great Plains, I am constantly thinking about Red Dead Redemption.  I have my old impulse to stop abruptly and gather herbs & flowers.

Posted in Kansas | Leave a comment

Ike

Visited the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas. The grounds include his childhood home which is so tiny it looks like a backyard play house. The collection of weapons reminded me of the Museum of Public Security in Shanghai. How … Continue reading

Posted in Abilene | Tagged | Leave a comment

Texture

I’m pleasantly surprised by how much more texture Kansas seems to have over, say, the landscapes of Nebraska.

Posted in Kansas | Tagged | Leave a comment

Dust

Forced to take a four hour detour into rural Kansas when they shut down the interstate because of a dust storm.  Apocalyptic.

Posted in Kansas | Leave a comment

Eighties

In addition to making some of the freshest, tastiest pizza I’ve ever had, the pizza place in Idaho Falls had this vintage tabletop Ms.Pac-Man/Galaga!

Posted in Idaho Falls | Leave a comment