Coal in Iowa — Part I: The Bridge

April 17, 2012 by

~ Submitted by Clara Gunderson Hoover

Photo by Richard Thielen (Click on the image to magnify the detail of the bridge and reservoir.)

It all started one November Sunday morning as Hal and I drove from Ames to Omaha after an Iowa State football game.  We were talking so much that we missed the road to Luther.  We enjoy exploring different routes, so as we approached Madrid we decided to continue west on Highway 210 to Woodward.  Shortly after leaving Madrid, we could see a long bridge on tall pillars over the Des Moines River to the southwest.  From a distance, we also saw what appeared to be long metal pieces sticking up from the bridge at irregular intervals.  We had no idea about the purpose of the bridge or, because we’d never been on this road, how long the bridge had been there.  Our brother-in-law Bill Shimon said this was the recently completed High Trestle Trail Bridge that’s part of a paved recreation trail running through Polk, Dallas, Boone and Story counties.
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Photo by Mary Pepper (Click on the photo to magnify the details, including the walkers on the bridge.)

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I was so intrigued by the bridge that I Googled to learn more about it.  Indeed, the half-mile bridge is 130 feet above the wide Des Moines River Valley.  This new bridge opened in April 2011 and is built on top a former Milwaukee Road Railroad/Union Pacific Railroad trestle.  The tall concrete piers had been constructed in the 1970s to support the former trestle, originally built in 1912.  Two artistic features caught my eye.  Those metal pieces are actually 41 large, rectangular steel frames positioned at various angles to represent support cribs in an old coal mine.  At night these frames are outlined in blue light and from the end give one the impression of descending into a coal mine shaft.  In addition, at each entrance to the bridge are two 42-foot towers with black bands embedded to represent coal veins in the Madrid area.  The photos in the Raccoon River Valley Trail site show far more than I can explain.

A few weeks later as I talked with my dentist, who is familiar with Madrid because his mother had grown up in that area, I mentioned the High Trestle Trail Bridge.  He said one of his clients is from Rippey (about 20 miles west of Madrid), and the client’s father had worked in coal mines in the Rippey area.  I was hooked!  That night I e-mailed my dentist a web site for the High Trestle Trail Bridge along with other web sites about coal mining in Iowa.  In my research, I discovered Dorothy Schweider’s book on coal mining in Iowa.  I ordered two copies, kept one for myself and gave the other to my dentist who later told me his client’s father was mentioned in the book.

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Part II and Part III will follow.

If you have memories related to coal, but do not want to comment directly on this blog, you may email them to me (Louise). If you’d like, I can post them anonymously (i.e., not reveal your identity) in the “comment” area. mariongundersonart@gmail.com

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

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Posted in Iowa | 3 Comments »

Should prints be made of “Doll” watercolor?

April 15, 2012 by

This Doll watercolor by Mother (Marion Gunderson) is on short-term loan to me. Before I return it to its owners* in two weeks, I need to determine if prints will be made.

Taking Pre-Orders

Since I don’t have a good read on how well prints will sell, and to help defray printing expenses, I’m taking pre-orders. In a pre-order situation, payments go directly to printing expenses. If no pre-orders, no prints will be made.

IF prints are made, for any purchases of Doll prints beyond the pre-orders, payments will go directly to the Rolfe Public Library [Trust] where Mother worked  for 35 years. So far $4,100 has been given to the library as a result of the prints.

A larger image is at the bottom of this post.

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Deadline for pre-orders:

Sunday, April 22

Pricing** and Approximate Sizes: 

Medium: 10″ W x 13.5″ H = $25

Grand: 16.5″ W x 22″ H = $50

Largest: ~18″ W x ~24″ H = $70

Contact Information for Pre-ordering and/or for Asking Questions:

Louise Gunderson Shimon
515-465-2746
mariongundersonart@gmail.com

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Clicking on the Doll image will enlarge it slightly.

*The owners are Bill and Jackie Hutchinson. Bill was the Rolfe school superintendent while I was in high school. My mom and dad had very high regard for Bill and Jackie.

**Shipping is additional. I oftentimes deliver.

Additional images/prints of watercolors by Mother may be seen at www.mariongundersonart.ecrater.com.

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(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in Marion Gunderson | Leave a Comment »

St. Kitts — Part IX: Miscellaneous

April 13, 2012 by

These photos finish up my reporting on Bill’s and my February trip to the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. If we had the opportunity to return, would we? Yes! The friendly residents of St. Kitts and the island provided entertainment, a variety of activities, beautiful sites, serenity, great food (including seafood) and a sense of safety.

To see the photos in slideshow view, click on one of the thumbnail photos.

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For “St. Kitts — Part I” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part II: Vervet Monkeys” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part III: Lobster” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part IV: Caribelle Batik at Romney Manor” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part V: Mr X’s Shiggidy Shack” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VI: Brimstone Hill Fortress” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VII: The Beach(es)” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VIII: Plant Life” click here.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in St. Kitts, Travel | 5 Comments »

Choosing a Camera Lens: How to Read an MTF Chart

April 12, 2012 by

Trying to figure out which camera lens to purchase (or, if really expensive, put on a hope-for-someday wish list) poses confusion for me.

I know MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) charts are important to consider, but I wasn’t completely understanding what all the lines in them meant. This YouTube video (below) helped me out today. I’m still a little confused, but not as much as before I watched the video.

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At  Canon’s site there is an MTF chart for each Canon lens listed, or at least for most of them. (Canon’s listing of lenses is here.) To navigate to the chart for the lens of interest: 1) get to the Canon page for the particular lens you want to investigate, 2) click on the “Overview” link and 3) scroll down a little ways. There you’ll see the MTF chart for that particular lens.

I assume Nikon and other major lens companies also have charts on their web sites.

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(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in Photography | 3 Comments »

“… and you shake it all about!”

April 7, 2012 by

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To enlarge this spring robin image, click on it once or twice. It’s not completely in focus, but … I like it!

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Rolfe’s Doc Ranney Pitches for Armstrong — in 1932

April 5, 2012 by

Pictured* are Dr. R.B. Ranney and his assistant, Erma (Hopkins) Lund. Dr. Ranney retired from his Rolfe, Iowa, dental practice in 1978. In 1986 he passed away at the age of 72. (Click on photo to enlarge; twice for further enlargement.)

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Today, Major League Baseball’s 2012 opening day, I’m posting about Dr. Ranney (back row, far left in photo below). He was a high school pitcher playing for the 1932 Armstrong, Iowa, high school baseball championship team. He later became the dentist in my hometown of Rolfe, Iowa. Pictured above is Dr. Ranney with Erma (Hopkins) Lund. Off-and-on from approximately 1967 to 1978, Erma was Dr. Ranney’s assistant.

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The caption to this 1932 photo** reads, "Here is the crack Armstrong High school baseball team which climaxed a great season by winning the state prep championship. The members are, back row, left to right: Ranney, E. Lorig, B. Lorig, Erickson, Gagestad, Olson, Coach Estel Thompson. Bottom row, left to right: Horswell, Fitzgibbons, Gaarde, Wilson, Ankrum, Nicoson." (The player with the last name of Nicoson was Mac Nicoson. He was the catcher on the team. He was also a brother to long-time Rolfe resident Sam Nicoson who married Geraldine, "Gerry." Mrs. Nicoson was my first grade teacher.) (Click on photo to enlarge.)

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In 1976 my dad, Deane Gunderson, wrote in his weekly “Bubbles in the Wine” column about Dr. Ranney.

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“Ranney Pitches”

Bubbles in the Wine (column) in the Rolfe Arrow

by Deane Gunderson

First published 36 years ago…May 13, 1976

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Dr. T.D. Jones, 1934.*** (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Dr. R.B. Ranney is one of Rolfe’s best liked citizens and a very highly regarded professional. Russ graduated from dental school and came to Rolfe in 1940. I had looked in the old files of the Arrow for some account of his coming, but didn’t find any. Doc said he rather “snuck” in. That must have been the case. It’s understandable, in a way, because when he first came he worked on a commission basis for Dr. T.D. Jones who was in failing health. Three years later when Ranney bought Jones out, the local residents probably weren’t aware of much of a change. Who cared as long as the dental work was that good?

Doc and Maureen, who are two of our most solid citizens, reared a family of two boys while in Rolfe. They don’t brag much.

But did you know that Doc was the winning pitcher in the 1932 Iowa High School Baseball tournament, pitching hometown Armstrong to the state title with the school’s 23rd consecutive win? That little guy? (120 lbs. then) And who was the victim? North High of Des Moines, the 1931 state champs!

The intensity of the feeling in Armstrong must have begun to build up about May 12, 1932, when the Armstrong Journal headlined, “Baseball Team Will Enter State Tourney,” and continuing, “The Armstrong High School baseball team left this afternoon for the state tournament in Des Moines, having wiped the slate clean at the Spencer tournament last Saturday and Monday.

“They met the Spencer team in the first round and eliminated them 9 to 0. Monday morning they defeated Sanborn 8 to 1, and in the afternoon, played in the finals against Arnold’s Park, winning 6 to 1.

“Ranney pitched the first and last games.”

A week later the town must have been bustling with pride and excitement. Again from the Journal:

“Armstrong High School baseball team came home Saturday night with the State Championship, after having won three straight games in the tournament at Des Moines in Western League Baseball park. A crowd was waiting [for] them near the midnight hour at the Junction and formed a parade, marching up through Main Street led by the high school band. A tired and happy bunch of boys and Coach Thompson piled out of cars to play the game over among the fans who for two days had paced up and down main street anxiously waiting for a telephone call from Des Moines announcing the result of each game.

“Armstrong played their first game Friday afternoon against Moulton and defeated them 6 to 1. Ranney let the Moulton team down with three hits, while Armstrong batters hit 10 safe singles.

“Saturday morning Hamburg was the next to fall, 8 to 2. Horswell allowed five scattered hits, and Armstrong hit safely eight times.

The final game was played against North High, Des Moines, last year’s champions. This team was rated strong, especially their crack pitcher, Jim Iles, who had been played up in news reports. He met his downfall in a slugging match with 14 hits for Armstrong and 13 for North High. Ranney pitched this game and was nicked hard, this making his second full game in two days.

“The Score was tied at 9 in the fifth inning after each team had been ahead by as much as three. It was again tied at 11 in the 6th inning. Ranney allowed but three batters to face him in the seventh inning and Armstrong went to bat in the last half of the inning with a tie score. With one out Wilson walked, Ranney singled, Gaarde was purposely walked and the bases were full. B. Lorig crashed a single through the infield and Armstrong won the tournament.”

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See last year’s opening day post about the Chicago Cubs here.

*From the collection of Erma (Hopkins) Lund.

**From the collection of Richard (Dick) Ranney.

***From the Webb photo collection at the Rolfe Public Library.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in Bubbles In The Wine, Deane Gunderson | 1 Comment »

The Game of Farkel: Strategy, Math and Luck

March 23, 2012 by

Tonight Jackson introduced me to the game of Farkel. He beat me by thousands of points, including rolling a straight good for 1,500 points. While a game of luck, Farkel also includes strategy, at which Jackson is pretty sharp.

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Tonight five-year-old grandson Jackson introduced me to the game of Six-Dice Farkel: The Classic Game of Guts and Luck. Where have I been that I didn’t know about this game?! We had a ball. Jackson practiced strategizing and his math skills while he beat me 10,750 to 6,700. (“Nanna, that means I won by 4,000 points. No, I mean more than 4,000 points.”) I strategized, too, but apparently not as well as Jackson did!

Before starting to play, Jackson and I watched parts of four or five YouTube videos, each explaining the rules of the game. As silly as this YouTube video (below) is, it is the one that best illustrated the rules for us, including in a dialect/accent we understood.

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(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »

St. Kitts — Part VIII: Plant Life

March 20, 2012 by

This view is from the Shiggidy Shack restaurant/fun spot on the Caribbean side of St. Kitts. We were intrigued by the cactus growing out of the top of this rocky formation. (Click on image to enlarge.)

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Three weeks ago I was more excited than I am now about these St. Kitts plant life photos. Some aren’t in the best of focus, and some of the plants can be found in Iowa (at least at Reiman Gardens on the Iowa State campus!). Post them, I will.

Any identification of the plants is a result of conversations with St. Kitts guides/residents. Hopefully everything is accurate. I’m still waiting to learn from someone on Nevis (near St. Kitts) the identification of the cotton-like tree, and also the plant with prickles (or thorns) that can cut skin.

If you want to enlarge any of the photos below, click on a thumbnail. To enlarge more, click on “Permalink.” Sometimes clicking another time will enlarge even further.

I’ve got one St. Kitts post yet to go. It will include miscellaneous photos. Then onward and forward to other topics.

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For “St. Kitts — Part I” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part II: Vervet Monkeys” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part III: Lobster” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part IV: Caribelle Batik at Romney Manor” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part V: Mr X’s Shiggidy Shack” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VI: Brimstone Hill Fortress” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VII: The Beach(es)” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VIII: Plant Life” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part IX: Miscellaneous” click here.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in St. Kitts, Travel | 4 Comments »

St. Kitts — Part VII: The Beach(es)

March 17, 2012 by

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I wanted to do a post about beaches pretty much just so I could show this tractor-on-the-beach photo.

This image is of the beach at the St. Kitts Marriott. The photo was taken when Bill and I were beach-lounging one afternoon when Marriott personnel prepared to serve dinner-on-the-beach to hundreds of hotel guests. It was fun people-watching as this tractor, with wagon in tow, came slowly across the beach delivering hundreds of bottles of beverages to the mini-bars set up for the evening’s dinner. Being from the Midwest and having seen tractors out in fields mostly planting, combining or tilling (i.e., agriculture-related work being done), I thought it intriguing that this tractor was on the beach hauling rum, beer and other beverages.

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I imagine the beaches on St. Kitts are much like those at many other tropical destinations. My Lonely Planet* book recommends four beaches on St. Kitts, of which Cockleshell Beach, called an “activities beach,” is one. (The other three are South Friar’s Bay for “activities,” North Friar’s Bay for surfing, and White House Bay for snorkeling.) In the thumbnails below, I’ve included a couple of photos from Cockleshell Beach.

Lonely Planet* says about Cockleshell Beach, “On the southern tip of the island, this is a pretty but busy beach with views across to Nevis and calm waters that are great for splashing. Several bars, restaurants and water-sports concessionaires help create a party vibe from about midday onward. Local women offer massages in the tree shade. If you like it quieter, head to Banana Bay, the next beach to the right.”

We arrived at Cockleshell Beach in the morning before it was busy at all, therefore seeming serene. However, we did see little stands along the beach that we assume came to life later in the day for massages and/or beverages.

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For “St. Kitts — Part I” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part II: Vervet Monkeys” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part III: Lobster” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part IV: Caribelle Batik at Romney Manor” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part V: Mr X’s Shiggidy Shack” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VI: Brimstone Hill Fortress” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VII: The Beach(es)” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part VIII: Plant Life” click here.
For “St. Kitts — Part IX: Miscellaneous” click here.

*Caribbean Islands, Lonely Planet, 2011, p. 682

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in St. Kitts, Travel | 5 Comments »

Norine Reigelsberger — The world is a better place because of you.

March 11, 2012 by

Norine Reigelsberger tossing candy during the Rolfe, Iowa, July 2009 Greater Rolfe Days parade. Joe, her husband, is on the tailgate with her. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

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I still just cannot believe it. Norine Reigelsberger passed away on March 9, 2012. When I was growing up, Norine, her husband Joe, and their sons Greg and Mick lived a short-1/4 mile down the gravel road from my family. In my mind, they’ll be there forever.

Anyone who knew Norine knows that she was always so full of life…and FUN! Along with that fun she certainly worked hard, both physically, creatively and in a community spirit of volunteerism, including so many acts of kindness for her family and friends. I’ll always remember Norine’s laughter, her proactive efforts in maintaining good health, and her willingness to “be there,” including for my mom and dad. Oh, and anything that came out of Norine’s kitchen, was mouth-watering, especially her cinnamon rolls!

The photo immediately below is of the local (to the Rolfe, Iowa, area) Couples Club bridge group. The group was founded in 1947-48; Norine and Joe were members from 1959-60 until the group disbanded in 1989-90. This photo was taken sometime between 1970 and 1975. My mom’s (Marion Gunderson) handwriting on the negative sleeve says “Islea [Graeber, who is in the photo below] has original.”

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Couples Club couples L to R: Ruth* and Lou* Feldman, Berniece and Al* Sedlacek, Islea and Jerry Graeber, Janet and Bob* Dixon, Norine* and Joe Reigelsberger, and Marion* and Deane* Gunderson (my mom and dad). (Click on photo to enlarge.)

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Norine’s mid-laughter smile in this Couples Club photo is how I will always remember her.

Norine’s biography is here. Her visitation is tonight. Her funeral service is tomorrow, Monday, March 12, 2012, at 10:30 AM at Resurrection Catholic Church, Pocahontas, Iowa.

On the following August 20, 1953, newspaper page is the wedding announcement of Joe and Norine. This page, as well as the archives of 101 years of Rolfe newspapers, is available at this searchable database. http://rolfe.advantage-preservation.com

Click twice on this newspaper image to magnify the text.

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*These Couples Club members are deceased as of March 9, 2012.

(Click here to go to Louise Gunderson Shimon’s blog’s home page.)

Posted in Uncategorized | 15 Comments »

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