Muscatine Tours Podcast

Dr. Bruce Rigdon addressing an orientation session for participants in the 1984 Iowa Christian Friendship Study Tour of the USSR. 

DeWayne HopkinsDaniel Graham Clark March 22 at 4:58pm Mr. Clark, I would be honored if you would consider being my guest on City Talk next Thursday. How bout it? Like ·  · Unfollow Post · See Friendship Daniel Graham Clark Thursday the 29th? I could. What are we talking about? March 22 at 7:01pm · Like DeWayne Hopkins Yes, Thursday the 29th. We can talk about the trolley, world peace, history, Buster Blocker, past reporters for the Muscatine Journal, open phone line, totally your call. March 22 at 7:07pm · Like Daniel Graham Clark Fun list! Okay...sure. If Buster calls, we'll make that fun, too. I'm honored, Your Honor! March 22 at 11:24pm · Like DeWayne Hopkins ‎8:30 am Thursday morning...see you at the Ranch. March 23 at 6:03am · Like Daniel Graham Clark See you then. March 23 at 7:29am · Like Daniel Graham Clark We're still on for 8:30 tomorrow, right? What shall we talk about? Alexander Clark, trolleys, and Muscatine's special role in world peace could get us started! (I am no CLAM spokesperson, by the way.) Yesterday at 10:17am · Like DeWayne Hopkins We're shooting from the hip! I truley like not having an agenda on City Talk or The Coffee Club so here we go! Yesterday at 11:47am · Unlike ·  1

"So, I keep gathering the pieces, and one of these days I think it'll flow out." Dan Clark tells about family history discoveries and says he is writing a book. The readings on this podcast began as two Facebook "notes" which may be read at Underground Railroader Ancestors and Anticipating "a time machine experience".

Robert A. Fiedler II realized he couldn't answer when his 10-year-old daughter asked, "Daddy, why do you do what you do?" He quit his job rather than prepare for nuclear war.

[Distributed via e-mail and Facebook on May 3, 2010] Hey, Neighbors! THIS WEEK (May 4) on Trolleys, Tales & Talk: "THE END OF THE LINE" This will be my last show. That's right, this is the end. It's been a good run since January 2006. The trolley is parked, and I am moving on to other things. For this last show I'll be taking calls and talking about what I plan to do next, including local-history TV. Call during the show at 563-263-8600, or send me e-mail that I might read on the air. ou can hear this last "Trolleys, Tales & Talk" on KWPC AM-860 at 9:05 a.m. THIS TUESDAY ONLY, streamed live via http://voiceofmuscatine.com. Or listen anytime from anywhere in the world at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/ as always. I look forward to future guest appearances on KWPC's Friday morning "Coffee Club," and I'll continue building the online archive. I will add most of the past shows that aren't there already, and I plan to offer new audio material and other information I haven't thought of yet. Did you miss last week's show, "Civil War 150 Years Later," with Pam Knott and Lee Miller? Hear the podcast at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=609279. So...thanks for listening, and please keep in touch! Dan Clark Muscatine Trolley & Tours, L.C. http://muscatine-tours.com/ http://www.facebook.com/iowapeacechief [During the show, I spoke about Julia Ward Howe's peace declaration that helped establish Mothers' Day, and I read from an essay by Jone Johnson Lewis, online at http://womenshistory.about.com/od/howejuliaward/a/julia_ward_howe_4_mothers_day.htm. I also spoke with three wonderful callers: 1) My third cousin Willis S. Whittlesey III called from Salt Lake City. He's the genealogist who's probably more responsible than anyone else for getting me into all this. 2) Shirley Calvert, 83-year-old daughter of William D. Randall, was my once-a-month co-host during most of my time on air. Many of our shows relied on "Little Known Stories of Muscatine" her father wrote as radio scripts in the 1940s. 3) John Haskins, leader of Friends of the Old Barn, was my guest more than once and embodies the cause of Historic Preservation I've tried to champion. So long, neighbors! And please stay in touch.]

"Civil War 150 Years Later" • Dan Clark read William D. Randall's story, "Muscatine's Heroic General," and guests Pam Knott and Lee Miller of the Civil War Memorial Committee told about a fundraising campaign to replace the 1875 monument at the Muscatine County Courthouse. As sesquicentennial observances approach, there's much local and national history to recall and much work to be done. Hear the previous show about the Civil War memorial (March 2 with Sandy Lee and Lee Miller) at http://www.muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=588480 ("Renewing Muscatine's Civil War monument"). See the Facebook album "The Civil War remembered at Muscatine County Courthouse" at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79743&id=802136391&l=dfe417bd5b. FREE PUBLIC PROGRAM THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 7:00-9:00 P.M.: "Recent Research on the Underground Railroad in Eastern Iowa" presented by Douglas W. Jones, Archaeologist, State Historic Preservation Office, State Historical Society of Iowa • Mobilizing Muscatine Excellence (MME) Center, 129 West Second Street (former Marie Lindsay Interiors) • Doug has served as archaeological advisor and historical researcher on the Iowa Freedom Trail project, documenting the people, places, and events associated with Abolitionist and Underground Railroad activities in Iowa. Historically those activities were better known and documented in Cedar, Johnson, and Clinton counties. However, this week he will tell about activities in adjacent counties, including Muscatine County.

Dan Clark and Lee Miller address the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors on April 26, 2010 • Photo: Lee Miller with soldier removed from 1875 monument • Duration 04:36 min

"Too Much Local History?" • Dan Clark's guest is Kent Sissel, restorer and resident of the Alexander G. Clark House. The Muscatine City Council recently recognized a two-square-block area as the "Alexander Clark Heritage District." They discuss what's next for our latest district as it relates to other local history efforts and as a destination for heritage tourists. They speak about the effort to replace the 1875 Civil War monument at the courthouse and identifying other sites with Civil War significance. They urge a good turnout next week for a presentation on "Recent Research on the Underground Railroad in Eastern Iowa" by Doug Jones, archaeologist with the State Historical Society of Iowa. (Thursday, April 26, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Mobilizing Muscatine Excellence Center, 129 West Second Street—former Marie Lindsay Interiors.) Doug has served as archaeological advisor and historical researcher on the Iowa Freedom Trail project, documenting the people, places, and events associated with Abolitionist and Underground Railroad activities in Iowa. Historically those activities were better known and documented in Cedar, Johnson, and Clinton counties. However, on April 29 he will present information that is turning up about activities in adjacent counties, including Muscatine County. 

"Crawfordsville Connections" Dan Clark tells of attending the 51st annual meeting of the Washington County Historical Society the previous evening in the little Iowa town that's still bragging it was the birthplace of the national Republican Party in 1854. He continues from last week about the Underground Railroad line from Crawfordsville to Muscatine, and he says he wishes for a Muscatine County Historical Society.

"The traffic...to Muscatine was very heavy," according to O.A. Garretson, along the important Underground Railroad line from Crawfordsville in Washington County. Dan Clark reads several Muscatine references from Garretson's 1924 article which you can read at http://www.garretson.us/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6. Mark your calendar for "Recent Research on the Underground Railroad in Eastern Iowa" which will be presented in Muscatine on Thursday, April 29, by archaeologist Douglas W. Jones of the State Historical Society of Iowa. Doug has served as archaeological advisor and historical researcher on the Iowa Freedom Trail project, documenting the people, places, and events associated with Abolitionist and Underground Railroad activities in Iowa. Historically those activities were better known and documented in Cedar, Johnson, and Clinton counties. However, Doug will present information that is turning up about activities in adjacent counties, including Muscatine County. Doug has been on the show twice: http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=555079 (Nov. 24, 2009) and http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=439389 (Mar. 3, 2009).

"Season Without a Trolley?" Dan Clark announces: APRIL 15 WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF TROLLEY-BUS OPERATION FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. "What I've decided is that my little company needs a rebuilding season. I apologize to all who hoped to use the trolley in coming months, but I am optimistic about bringing it back even better—eventually if not this year. Meanwhile, there's definitely demand for fun transportation in Muscatine, so maybe others will step forward with other possibilities." Muscatine Trolley & Tours remains in the local history and tourism business, just without its own charter bus for now. Here are some past shows about the history and evolution of the company: http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=564858 Dec. 29, 2009 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=557547 Dec. 1, 2009 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=388999 Oct. 7, 2008 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=383570 Sept. 23, 2008 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=408792 Apr. 8, 2008 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=447278 Oct. 23, 2007

  "Moving Day for the Jayne House" • Dan Clark's guests Susan Jayne and Frank Kelly tell about some of the families who lived at 1402 Mulberry Avenue over the years. Susan's great-grandparents Henry and Ella Jayne built the house 110 years ago. The Kellys were there in the 1980s and 90s when it was still known as "Dr. Miller's house," remembered for the family residing there longest. Susan came from Indiana to join the crowd of watchers as the historic house moves (March 23-24) from its place beside the Muscatine Art Center toward its new address at 1200 Iowa Avenue. See pictures and learn more of the story at "Friends of the Henry Jayne House" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=368359087332. In the Discussion section are links to all the Muscatine Journal stories about saving the house.  

"Muscatine Downtown—Maybe Down But Far From Out" • Dan Clark's guests are Chris Clark and Dawnese Openshaw. Dawnese co-chairs the Downtown Action Alliance http://www.muscatinedowntown.com and tells what's coming up including "It's A Spring Thing Girls Getaway Weekend," March 26-27. Chris tells about the Muscatine Melon Patchers quilt show, March 19-20, and all discuss the challenge of attracting tourists and reviving a historic commercial district.

"Historic Preservation Turns 10" Dan Clark talks about his experience serving on the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission, created 10 years ago in response to citizens who were asking for the city to take better care of preserving Muscatine's unique collection of historic buildings and neighborhoods. He invites listeners to get involved via Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation http://muscatinepreservation.org/ and tells about the "Heavy Haulers" cable-TV show that might feature the move of the historic Henry Jayne House. Related: "Who's Afraid of the Paint Police?" (September 15, 2009) Dan compares Muscatine's Historic Preservation Commission (educational and advisory only), which he chairs, with other communities' more robust protections for historic properties. http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=526587

"Renewing Muscatine's Civil War monument" Dan Clark's guests are Sandy Lee and Lee Miller. Lee chairs the committee to restore the 1875 Civil War monument on the grounds of the Muscatine County Courthouse; Sandy is local commander of the American Legion and treasurer of the Civil War Memorial Fund. Yesterday, the soldier who has stood watch for 135 years came down from atop his column in the gentle hands and equipment of county workers and Muscatine Power & Water. The plan is to replace the monument and to add names that were left off originally. Lee (pictured) is author of Crocker's Brigade, a 2009 book telling the story of four Iowa infantry regiments combined after the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh. Hear Dan's first show with him at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=426836 (Jan. 27, 2009) and the most recent at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=560428 (Dec. 15, 2009). See photo album "The Civil War remembered at Muscatine County Courthouse" at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79743&id=802136391&l=dfe417bd5b.

"African American life in 19th century Iowa" Dan Clark's guest is David Brodnax, Sr., a leading expert on black life in early Iowa and Muscatine in particular. A law graduate of the University of Iowa with a PhD from Northwestern, David has taught history at Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL) since 2005. More about him at http://www.trnty.edu/faculty/brodnax.html. Last week, David was quoted at length in the Muscatine Journal: http://www.muscatinejournal.com/news/local/article_dafa5f1a-1de4-11df-aeb0-001cc4c002e0.html. And also six years ago: http://www.muscatinejournal.com/news/local/article_8b40551e-7bf4-5d79-8484-9c059e22e967.html. Earlier conversations with David: http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=577985 (Feb. 2, 2010) and http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=585449 (Jan. 2, 2007). Alexander G. Clark Week, Feb. 21-27, honors the legacy of Muscatine's equal-rights pioneer, born Feb. 25, 1826, in Washington, PA. http://alexanderclark.org

  "A Heritage District for Black History and More" Dan Clark's guest is Kent Sissel, restorer and resident of the 1878 Alexander G. Clark House. This week Muscatine City Council will consider Kent's proposal for naming a two-square-block area on both sides of West Third Street as the "Alexander Clark Heritage District." The center of the district would be the intersection of West Third and Chestnut which is the original site of Clark's house. They discuss the process the Historic Preservation Commission went through before recommending approval. Alexander G. Clark Week, Feb. 21-27, honors the legacy of Muscatine's equal-rights pioneer http://alexanderclark.org. Other recent conversations with Kent: "White Folks Talking Black History" (Feb. 3, 2009) http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=429539 and "More on Heritage Tourism and Black History" (Feb. 17, 2009) http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=434366.  

"Something Magical About a Bookstore!" Dan Clark's guests are Sharon and Tom Savage, co-owners of Muscatine Books & More http://muscatinebooks.com—and sponsors of this show "from the git-go." Eight years ago they opened their independent bookstore in the recently restored Silberhorn Building at 124 E. 2nd St. "It just looks like a bookstore you'd find in a movie," Sharon said at the time. "It's in the center of the downtown area where the history lives and they put up flags." Now the store is for sale, as Sharon has announced in a newspaper column: "This store has been a wonderful adventure that my husband and I have enjoyed beyond description. There is something magical about a book store." And then she says: "We would like to sell it to people who have energy and motivation. We need people who have a vision for the future of small downtowns and who want to participate in creating and nurturing the downtown climate of the future." http://www.muscatinejournal.com/news/opinion/columns/article_f0dcb958-0e8b-11df-bbbc-001cc4c03286.html The conversation starts from there. (NOTE: The recording starts about 10 minutes into the show. Sorry!)

"Muscatine's Black History" Did you know Muscatine was Iowa's center of African American life in the 1850s? Dan Clark says there's a lot happening in Muscatine during Black History Month, a time for us all to learn about race relations and equal rights. Then historian David Brodnax calls from Chicago and tells about Muscatine's black population before the Civil War and the far reaching influence of the local A.M.E. Church (African Methodist Episcopal) and members such as the first pastor who was later a congressman, Richard H. Cain, and equal-rights pioneer Alexander G. Clark. David wrote a not-yet-published dissertation, “'Breathing the Freedom's Air': The African American Struggle for Equal Citizenship in Iowa, 1830-1900." Learn more about Clark at http://alexanderclark.org/.

"Builders to the World" Dan Clark's guest is Richard H. Stanley, chair emeritus and past president of the Stanley Group which includes the Muscatine-based Stanley Consultants, Inc., a member-owned worldwide provider of engineering, environmental, and construction services. Dick tells about the firm's international work in some 98 countries over the years since it opened an office in Liberia in 1957. http://www.stanleyconsultants.com/about_us_history.php Dick also chairs the board of the Stanley Foundation, a private-operating international-affairs organization that is separate from SCI and its charitable foundation. http://www.stanleyfoundation.org/richard-stanley-bio.cfm Last week SCI announced a $50,000 donation from the Stanley Consultants Charitable Foundation to the International Red Cross for Haiti-earthquake relief.

"It's Time for Ragtime!" The 16th Annual Eagles and Ivories Ragtime Weekend is January 29-30-31. Dan Clark's guests are Chris Clark and Duffy DeFrance representing the Muscatine County Arts Council which co-sponsors the festival along with the Muscatine Art Center. See schedule and program and links to performers' sites at http://www.muscatineartscouncil.org/eagles&Ivories.htm.

Dan Clark called this show "Who's got a better idea for Muscatine (better than tourism)?" [more soon]

Dan Clark asked his next-door neighbor Frank Kelly to take the lead for this first show of Year 5. A former executive of the local community foundation, Frank says Muscatine is "close to greatness" as an award-winning city for many attributes and attractions, e.g., health care and river front and trails and historic preservation. Caller Kent Sissel calls for a "summit" on cultural tourism. Hear past shows with Frank at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=492461 (June 16, 2009 about the Diamond Towns initiative) and http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=395120 (May 13, 2008 about Historic Downtown).

Dan Clark called this show "Isn't it time for a REAL trolley in Muscatine (again)?" We had 'em from the 1880s through the 1920s, unless you count the electric interurban which ran through 1938. What would it take, he asks, to run a real streetcar in Muscatine, maybe between historic Downtown/Riverfront and Southend sports complex? He says the USA's premier heritage-trolley restorer and replica-maker is Gomaco Trolley Co. of Ida Grove, Iowa (http://www.gomacotrolley.com), but their only car in Iowa is at Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant (http://www.oldthreshers.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.midwestElectricRailway). He reads a description of Muscatine's eight streetcars ordered in 1913 and proposes commissioning Gomaco to construct a replica. He also reads from and comments on Facebook discussion with skeptics. He calls this show Part 2 of his "rant" from September 2008 (http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=383570).

Dan Clark reads "First Christmas Tree" by William D. Randall (Little Known Stories of Muscatine, Vol. 4) and then takes a call from Randall's daughter, Shirley Calvert. Guest author Tom Savage says his research has turned up more information about early settlers than was known when the historical marker was placed in the 1960s at the foot of Iowa Avenue ("This granite stone marks the site of the first log cabin...." http://muscatine-tours.com/vanater1.jpg). He tells of the trading post started by Mr. Farnham before the Black Hawk War and mentions other early settlers who will appear in the local-history storybook he and wife Sharon are writing. They own Muscatine Books and More (http://muscatinebooks.com) and have sponsored TTT "from the git-go." Finally, Dan reads an excerpt from a Christmas-tree tale by Steve Hanken, about a pine his parents in Iowa sent him in Vietnam in 1969.

Dan Clark called this show "It's Our People on that Monument." His guest is Lee Miller, who is leading an effort by local veterans groups and others to restore the 1875 Civil War monument on the grounds of the Muscatine County Courthouse. They propose to replace the soldier atop the column and the four plaques at the base, and they would add names that were left off originally. Lee is author of Crocker's Brigade, a 2009 book telling the story of four Iowa infantry regiments combined under command of Marcellus M. Crocker after the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh, and he says he is working on his second book. Hear our first show with Lee (Jan. 27, 2009) at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=426836 and another (with host Tom Savage)at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=508792 (July 7, 2009).

Dan Clark called this show "Old Barn 'Acorn Fund' Saves the Day." His guests are John Haskins, founder and president of Friends of the Old Barn, and Judi Holdorf, executive director of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. Two weeks ago the Muscatine County supervisors reversed an earlier vote and approved a request from Friends of the Old Barn to use a nearby "cottage" for a public restroom for programs at their restored barn at the former county farm site. Haskins credited a community foundation "acorn fund" for helping make the winning case and called the decision "democracy in action." The story is told at http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/11/24/news/doc4b0c074310602718088662.txt; the Old Barn fund and others are described at this CFGM page: http://www.muscatinecommunityfoundation.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20060107130217954&tab=2. Hear Dan's first show with John (Jan. 17, 2006) at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=399731 and his Old Barn (Nov. 2008) update with Dave Casstevens and Dave Metz (Nov. 4, 2008) at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=399823.

Dan Clark called this show "No, the Muscatine Trolley is NOT for sale..." but hurried on to say he is getting ready for some changes in the coming year. December concludes eight years of MT&T and four years of TTT. "In the coming year, I will pass the age of 'Old' John Brown when he died December 2, 1859, on the Virginia gallows," Dan said. All year the show has tracked the story of the Brown band's 1859 slave-liberating trek across Iowa and their dramatic departure from Muscatine County. "The more I dig and learn from others who share this interest, the more connections I'm seeing between here and Harpers Ferry," Dan said. "Plus the abolitionists who were active here and all the Iowans who took part in the Civil War that soon followed. Opportunities for so-called heritage tourism are all around us, neighbors." He invited listeners to come out Friday evening for Muscatine's 25th annual Holiday Stroll with a new the parade up Second Street and free trolley rides throughout the evening.

Dan Clark calls this show "What else can we learn about the Underground Railroad around Muscatine?" His guest is Doug Jones, staff archaeologist for the State Historical Society of Iowa whose job includes Underground Railroad research. Doug is visiting the Muscatine area to learn about Alexander G. Clark and other black residents and also their white neighbors who opposed slavery. He gives an update on the project marking the route of John Brown's last trip across Iowa in 1859. Hear Doug's previous show (March 2009) at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=439389. Learn about Alexander G. Clark at http://alexanderclark.org. Photo: November 20, the day Kent Sissel (left) and I (right) helped erect the John Brown Freedom Trail marker at the Springdale Friends Cemetery. Also shown are Doug Jones and Lowell Soike, the main staff on the SHSI project. Photo by Mike Boyle. NOTE: For some reason, only the last five minutes of the show was recorded.

Dan Clark calls this show "Mark Twain Dissenting AND the Diogenes of Diamond Towns." Muscatine brags about the months Mark Twain lived here in 1854. We love his praise of our sunsets, but most don't know his anti-war writings. Dan reads from Twain's "The War-Prayer" in belated recognition of Veterans Day. "When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory—must follow it, cannot help but follow it." Read the full text and view a beautifully done video at http://www.thewarprayer.com/. Dan's guest in the second half is Tom Huber, director of Muscatine-based Diamond Towns of America. He explains the DTA community-building model and invites participation. The newspaper called DTA founder Dick Maeglin a philanthropist, but Dan calls him Diogenes. http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/11/14/news/doc4afe4bf154dbd953140766.txt and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Muscatine-IA/Diamond-Towns-of-America/97774599536

Dan Clark calls this show "Muscatine Memories of the Berlin Wall and Its Fall." His guests are Kristine Conlon and Ingrid Rowe of Muscatine Sister Cities Association. Kristine is a Muscatine native and German-language teacher who led several school trips to Germany. Ingrid is an East German native who fled to the West with her parents when she was 12, shortly before the border closed. She is now a Muscatine resident and US citizen. Fifteen years after the fall of the wall, on December 2, 2004, Muscatine gained a sister city in the former (East) German Democratic Republic. Ludwigslust is the capital of a district between Berlin and Hamburg. Ingrid and Kristine share memories of Germany and tell about plans for a Sister Cities trip there scheduled for May 2010. NOTE: For some reason, only the last five minutes of the show was recorded.

Dan Clark calls this show "Our Very Own Lincoln-Assassination Story." After killing President Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth eluded federal pursuers and changed his name and lived out more adventures. He ended up in Oklahoma or maybe South America or India. Booth's accomplice Michael O'Laughlen didn't die in prison in 1867 after all, but rather in Muscatine County in 1890, after living where Wild Cat Den State Park is today. Dan says these yarns are part of our local lore, so you'll want to learn about them—and you don't have to believe to enjoy. He reads from the "O'Laughlen" manuscript http://odin.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/neff/PDFs/stevenson_olaughlin.pdf and urges listeners to attend a talk by Gladys Mittman who grew up with the story and has been learning more lately. Details at http://muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/10/31/news/doc4aebcbd126576354383074.txt. More background at http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2007/04/13/news/doc46204bd5585b2975671645.txt.

Dan Clark calls this show "Wedding Destination Muscatine." His guest is Misty Lutz of Hazel Green Bridal and Tux, one of the sponsors of the Wedding Salon Bridal Show that will be at the Muscatine Mall on November 1 http://www.specialelegantevents.com/id83.html. They discuss the bridal show and the wedding business and Muscatine as a place for weddings. Misty says weddings often cost $15,000 to $20,000 these days, but she emphasizes that local businesses work with budgets of all sizes and do their best to help brides make the most of that most special of days. And weddings help pay the trolley bills!

Dan Clark calls this show "Connecting the Dots...to Harpers Ferry and Beyond." He's just back from West Virginia where abolitionist John Brown led raiders into the federal arsenal on October 16, 1859, and helped bring on the Civil War. Dan experienced some of the 150th anniversary observances and took part in an academic symposium at which several sessions were filmed by C-SPAN. At least one program has already been shown, and others may follow http://www.booktv.org/Program/10910/John+Browns+Trial.aspx. News coverage has been vast and is continuing http://www.johnbrownraid.org/pressroom.php. Dan's guest is Kent Sissel, the owner/restorer of the Alexander G. Clark House http://alexanderclark.org. They agree antebellum Muscatine was an abolitionist stronghold and Iowa's main center of African-American population, and they discuss new information about Alexander Clark's family. Urging listeners to learn about Brown's activity in Iowa and Iowans' roles related to Harpers Ferry, Dan recommends "John Brown Among the Quakers" by Irving B. Richmond of Muscatine (1894). Hear last week's Harpers Ferry show at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=537158 and check the TTT archive for other shows on John Brown, Alexander Clark, and the Underground Railroad.

Dan Clark devotes this show to the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry (now West Virginia) on October 16, 1859, in an attempt to end slavery. Dan will take part in a conference there this week http://www.johnbrownharpersferry.com/ and visit a friend, a circuit court judge whose work takes him to the courthouse where the 1859 judge pronounced sentence after a fast trial. Brown and several comrades were executed a few blocks away. In his newspaper column this week, the Hon. John C. Yoder writes of the versions of the story he learned growing up in Kansas and going to school in Iowa. "When I moved to Harpers Ferry 25 years ago, however, I began to hear other sides of the story about John Brown," he writes. "Those other perspectives included a belief that his violence and fanaticism may have actually hindered and embarrassed, rather than helped, those who favored the abolition of slavery at the time." John says he supports a proposal to restore the original courtroom where Brown was tried. This could preserve a heritage "and hopefully bring even more tourism to the area." Here in Muscatine County, as elsewhere across Iowa, we are rediscovering remnants of our Civil War and pre-war history, including sites associated with Brown and fellow abolitionists. The June 23 show is also about this topic: http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=495069. Dan says, "Maybe I'm crazy to be devoting so much attention to Brown and his followers, especially those recruited from this area and others who trained near here before following Brown to Harpers Ferry. Craziness is, after all, a central theme in this all-American story of direct action by citizens impatient for change. Whoever was crazy and however history judges those abolitionists and the slaughter that followed, it is still a very big story here."

Dan Clark's guests are Ann Meeker and Dawnese Openshaw, business owners and leaders of Muscatine's Downtown Action Alliance http://muscatinedowntown.com/. They discuss coming events and promotions and talk about holding onto dreams for a vibrant "heart of the community" in this tough economy. There's even a little singalong with Petula Clark on "Downtown"! "Things'll be great...Downtown"..."Downtown, no finer place for sure..."

Dan Clark's guest is Heather Shoppa, director of Muscatine's Convention and Visitors Bureau http://www.meetmuscatine.com/. It's her job to market our town's attractions, and she tells about two big days for out-of-town visitors arriving via motor coaches: Great River Celebration and Meet Muscatine Day (September 30 and October 21 this year). During such events, the trolley shuttles the visitors from the Riverfront through Downtown. Heather explains that the CVB does not receive hotel/motel tax revenue directly and must request funding from local governments each year.

Dan Clark's topic is "Who's Afraid of the Paint Police?" Dan compares Muscatine's Historic Preservation Commission (educational and advisory only), which he chairs, with other communities' more robust protections for historic properties. And he confesses envy of Dubuque which last month celebrated a huge economic development success based on historic preservation. He reads from Dubuque's ordinance prohibiting "Demolition By Neglect" and imagines something of the sort for Muscatine. Meanwhile, our city struggles to cover the costs of recent landfill expansion, and Dan jests that maybe it's time to help out by demolishing a whole bunch of old stuff. Later this week Muscatine hosts a two-day historic-preservation workshop conducted by state experts http://www.iowahistory.org/about/news/2009/08-26_historic-preservation-workshops-muscatine.html.

Dan Clark's topic is "Celebrating Freedom Seekers" with guest Barb Christensen, director of the Muscatine Art Center http://muscatineartcenter.org/. They discuss a current exhibition of paintings by Joseph Holston, "Color In Freedom: Journey Along the Underground Railroad," and related programs at Musser Public Library http://musserpubliclibrary.org/Quick-Links/Event-Calendar/The-Undergraound-Railroad-in-Iowa.aspx. See a "virtual tour" of the paintings: http://www.umuc.edu/colorinfreedom/virtual_tour/index.shtml.

Dan Clark's topic is "Iowa and Russia: A Half Century of Citizen Diplomacy," starting from memories of Nikita Khrushchev's visit to Iowa in 1959. He tells of welcoming visitors from the former Soviet Union and helping many Iowans with their exchange efforts, having traveled in Russia eight times, 1984-1998, especially Iowa's sister state Stavropol and Muscatine's sister city Kislovodsk. He asks listeners, "What difference has Russia—or the former USSR—made in your life?" and invites calls during Part 2 scheduled for Sept. 22, the actual 50th anniversary of Khrushchev's arrival in Iowa. Links related to the topic: "Khrushchev in Iowa" http://www.creatinggreatplaces.org/khrushchev.aspx; "Dan's Russia Experiences" http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=105312&id=802136391&l=fd3f441222; "Chechen war: We know these folks" http://friendlywork.com/chechen.html; early history of Kislovodsk-Muscatine relations (1996) http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=269536050226.

Dan Clark says, "It's Time for School—Preservation School!" The Muscatine (city) and Louisa (county) preservation commissions will be hosting a lot of history horsepower at a workshop on historic preservation that will be presented in Mucatine Sept. 17-18 by experts from Iowa's State Historic Preservation Office. Everyone is invited, and the first day is free. Details at http://muscatinepreservation.org/preservationworkshop2009sept.pdf. Dan reads and discusses a news story: "Make a deal on the Jayne House: Only caveat - You have to move it later" http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/08/21/news/doc4a8ebca7b59c2579322163.txt and callers respond.

Dan Clark called this show "A Half Hour for Billy Baladeer" in memory of William "Bill" Duval who died last week at age 86. With recorded hymns as background (Bill playing in his "primitive piano" style), Dan reads stories from Bill's life as salesman and musician from the book Bill published about a year ago. Caller Kent Sissel tells about the operetta Bill wrote that was performed in the 1980s and later published on CD, and the show ends with several minutes from that recording, "The Great State of Trinity." Bill was Dan's guest on July 1, 2008, archived at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=374752. Read his obituary at http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/08/14/obituaries/doc4a85532fe07c8171612206.txt.

A demolition reprieve is running out for the 110-year-old Henry Jayne house acquired last fall by the Muscatine Art Center. The center's trustees say they need the land at 1402 Mulberry Ave. for "future expansion" and insist that letting the house remain at its historic location is out of the question. However, after objections by the city's Historic Preservation Commission and the nonprofit Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation, they voted in February to allow the commission 180 days to find a way to remove the house for preservation elsewhere. Several hundred people have gone on record expressing opposition to demolition since then, and commission volunteers have used the time to study and document the home's historic significance. Now only a few days remain, but nobody has stepped forward with the dollars needed to save the house. The Art Center building and grounds committee has decided to proceed with "general bid letting" for removal by any buyer who might come forward (probably during September). If there's no buyer, demolition could come next. Official action is on the agenda for the next trustees meeting on August 20. BACKGROUND: Architectural conservator's report: http://muscatinepreservation.org/1402mulberry/JayneHouseReport.pdf • Henry Jayne biography: http://iagenweb.org/muscatine/biographies1911/jayne.htm • "Save 1402 Mulberry" created by a former owner: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/300153 • Jayne House in THIS PLACE MATTERS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/preservationnation/3426185127 • Photos and more: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51187&id=802136391&l=f8b48710f0 • Muscatine Historic Preservation ordinance: http://muscatinepreservation.org/mhpc-ordinance.pdf.

Dan Clark and guest Kent Sissel, resident restorer of the Alexander G. Clark House, discuss steps involved in gaining recognition for the area surrounding the West Third Street residence of Muscatine's famous 19th century citizen. Muscatine has two "national" historic districts, but the Clark district would be locally designated. Learn about Clark at http://alexanderclark.org/ and local districts at http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/workingonthepast/index.htm.

Back from a two-week "family history and US history" vacation in the eastern US, host Dan Clark chats with producer Ron Edwin, catching up on local happenings and weaving together his travel report with praise for the "heritage tourism" that can be enjoyed right here at Muscatine.

Guest host Tom Savage, co-owner of Muscatine Books and More, speaks with Duffy DeFrance, "renaissance woman" storyteller and director of the Muscatine Literacy Coalition. The retired children’s librarian was recently recognized by the Bi-State Literacy Council with an exemplary service award. Duffy tells of the 56-year history of the Muscatine Masquers Community Theatre, focusing on founder and longtime leader Virginia Schauland. She promotes an upcoming Masquers dinner-theater show, and she and Tom discuss local performing arts and artists along with caller Shirley Calvert. Tom reads from J.P. Walton's address at an 1891 Old Settlers Reunion in which the local historian describes amazing changes in communication and transportation he'd witnessed. And Tom tells about the history storybook he and wife Sharon Savage are writing.

Guest host Tom Savage, co-owner of Muscatine Books and More, speaks with local Civil War authors Lee Miller (Crocker's Brigade) and Jeff Shay (book in progress). Dan Clark is on vacation.

Dan Clark and guest Ann Meeker talk about the third annual "PatriArt" events June 27-July 4, organized by the Muscatine Cultural Alliance. Discussing concerts and July 4 parade and more, they chat mostly about trolley rides, horse-drawn carriage rides, and the first-ever Pearl Button paddlewheel boat cruises http://thepearlbuttonpaddlewheel.com/special-events.html. See the complete PatriArt schedule at http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/06/29/news/doc4a44db74c101b777429326.txt.

Sermon by J. Glen Widmer at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland, Iowa • Sunday, June 28, 2009 "Several weeks ago, one of the elders said, 'Maybe we should have some stories told over the pulpit.' And I said, 'Well, I've got some stories. I think I can do that.' And so this morning I want to talk a little bit about God's faithfulness in my spiritual pilgrimage."

Dan Clark talks on "Historic Markers and Rest Area Tourism" after he attended the June 19-20 "Underground Railroad in Iowa 2009 Symposium" http://muscatine-tours.com/cedar-county/UGRR-Iowa2009Symposium.pdf. It was a moving feast, from the Hoover museum at West Branch to an old Cedar County cemetery to the Wilton Rest Area on I-80. Just before the conference, several took part in erecting a John Brown Freedom Trail marker here in Muscatine County at the historic West Liberty depot. See some of Dan's photos at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=87201&id=802136391&l=cda347e39b along with John C. Yoder's comment on holding court last week in the room where Brown was sentenced for treason in 1859.

Dan Clark's guest is Frank Kelly, retired from the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine http://www.muscatinecommunityfoundation.org/. Now he is serving on the Muscatine County Extension Council http://www.extension.iastate.edu/muscatine/ and helping start a consulting company called Diamond Towns of America http://www.diamondtownsofamerica.com. Frank says we have diamonds beneath our feet, right here in the Pearl City. As the former resident restorer of the historic Henry Jayne House, he is campaigning to save it from demolition http://www.facebook.com/frankanddiane. His previous TTT show is at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=395120.