Art, History, Road Trip, Teresa, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Pocahontas County

August 31, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few weeks back I cruised around Pocahontas County harvesting their town signs. Some of these I harvested on a trip to northwest Iowa with Teresa. The rest I harvested on a solo trip.

Here are some facts about Pocahontas County:

+ Population is 7,078. It is the 93rd most populous county. Behind Ida County and ahead of Wayne County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Pocahontas.
+ Formed in 1851.
+ Named for the Powhatan “Princess” Matoax. Pocahontas was a childhood nickname and she kept her real name hidden from the colonists that held her hostage. The truth of her story is pretty widely misrepresented by Disney… to say the least.
+ Home of a giant (and terrible) statue of Matoax (Pocahontas).
+ Home to a sweet sculpture of the greatest mascot in all the lands, Cy.
+ Home of Palmer’s boys basketball team (now consolidated) that won 103 straight games in the 1980s.
+ Major highways are: IA-3, IA-4, IA-7, IA-10, and IA-15.
+ Adjacent counties are: Palo Alto, Humboldt, Webster, Calhoun, and Buena Vista.
+ Population peaked in 1940 at 16,266.

The Pocahontas County courthouse is similar to the one in Boone.

The Pocahontas County Courthouse located in Pocahontas, Iowa.

The Pocahontas County Freedom Rock is located in Rolfe, Iowa:

The Pocahontas County Freedom Rock is right across the street from a sweet sculpture of Cy, so it probably doesn’t get as much attention as the rest of the Freedom Rocks in Iowa.

With Pocahontas County conquered, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

34 counties completed. 34.3% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Pocahontas County (population from 2020 Census):

Pocahontas
WELCOME TO POCAHONTAS
“THE PRINCESS CITY”
Population: 1,867 (+78)

Laurens, Iowa
LAURENS
Population: 1,264 (+6)

Fonda, Iowa
FONDA
HOME TOWN WITH A HEART
Population: 636 (+5)

Rolfe, Iowa
ESTABLISHED 1863
WELCOME TO Rolfe
Population: 509 (-75)

Gilmore City, Iowa (Humboldt County)
IOWA’S LIMESTONE CAPITAL
GILMORE CITY WELCOMES YOU
Population: 487 (-17)

Palmer, Iowa
PALMER
Population: 138 (-27)

Havelock, Iowa
HAVELOCK
EST. 1881
Population: 130 (-8)

Varina, Iowa
A LITTLE TOWN WITH A BIG HEART
Population: 68 (-3)

Plover, Iowa
PLOVER
EST. 1882
Population: 50 (-27)

I think the town with the worst town sign in Pocahontas County is pretty obvious. It is Fonda. They allegedly used to have a pretty cool town sign, but it is either gone now or in the process of being replaced, cause I combed (with Teresa) pretty much every inch of that town and didn’t find it.

I think it is a two horse race for the best town sign in Pocahontas County. Pocahontas and Rolfe have nice signs, but it really comes down to Plover and Havelock. I’m going to give it to Plover because the backwards “1”s in Havelock’s sign makes me think it is a clue to some kind of New World Order/Masonic Temple conspiracy that might be going down in that town. I actually think Plover’s alternate town sign is even better than their main town sign.

Plover – Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Here are the alternate town signs of Pocahontas County:

Pocahontas – Alternate

Plover – Alternate

Laurens – Alternate

Havelock – Alternate

Varina – Alternate

Something I find interesting about Pocahontas County is that a couple of the towns are references to things in Matoax’s life. Rolfe (assumptions here) is named after John Rolfe the Englishman that Matoax would marry after she was baptized and changed her name to Rebecca. Varina is named after Varina (another assumption) the farm where Matoax and John Rolfe lived. If you are a fan of the musical HAMILTON (and we probably aren’t friends if you aren’t), Laurens is named after Hamilton’s close friend and critic of slavery John Laurens. And Plover is named for a bird. And Fonda is named because the post office in the day was too incompetent to tell the difference between Manson and Marvin.

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hancock County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the dusty trail with THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Cerro Gordo County.

Andy, Cathie, Kio, Micky, Shannon, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 311 – PEOPLE

August 30, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

It doesn’t look like PEOPLE was a very popular theme. I mean, you PEOPLE must think that other PEOPLE suck. Which I guess is the smart bet.

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:

Teresa Kahler

Micky Augustin

Shannon Bardole-Foley

Christopher D. Bennett

Kio Dettman

Cathie Raley

Andy Sharp

Teresa Kahler

But enough dwelling on the past. Time to look to the future. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future! This week’s theme:

‘SCAPE

REMINDER: NEXT MONDAY IS LABOR DAY. WHILE THE BANK MAY TAKE A DAY OFF AND THE SCHOOLS MIGHT TAKE THE DAY OFF AND MOST OF THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE THE DAY OFF AND THE COMPUTER MINE MIGHT TAKE THE DAY OFF… PHOTOGRAPHY 139 DOES NOT TAKE THE DAY OFF. EVERY DAY I’M HUSTLING. PLAN WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO ACCORDINGLY!

‘SCAPE! What a great theme for Year 8 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a ‘SCAPE picture? Do you mean landscape? Don’t worry, I’m about to feed you baby bird.

Yes, a landscape picture could be a ‘SCAPE picture, but a ‘SCAPE picture isn’t necessarily a landscape picture. The theme reveal picture is a picture of a landscape that I took high up in the Loess Hills on Saturday. However it is the apostrophe before the SCAPE that is key here. You don’t have to limit your possibilities to a landscape. There are other types of ‘SCAPEs. There are citySCAPEs. There are also waterSCAPES and skySCAPEs and even inSCAPEs.

And if you don’t know what a landSCAPE is, it is this:

“all the visible features of an area of countryside or land, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal.”

While considering your subject for your ‘SCAPE submission, think on this quote by Ansel Adams:

“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer – and often the supreme disappointment.”
-Ansel Adams

RULES

The picture has to be taken between 12:01 PM today and 11 AM next Monday. This isn’t a curate your photos project. This is a get your butt off the couch (unless you are taking your picture from the couch) and take pictures challenge.

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of ‘SCAPE in this place that is little more than your way of how I see the world’s landscape next Monday.

Animals, Black & White, Photoshop

A Coat Borrowed from James Dean

August 29, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

Back in early May I went down to Jester Park because I had heard reports that some baby bison were wandering around down there. It turned out that they were there, but they never really got near enough to the fence for me to get a decent picture of them. However, I did get plenty of pictures of the elk to make up for it.

Jester Park is definitely one of my favorite parks in central Iowa. The whole area around the buffalo and elk is awesome to visit. If you haven’t been, I’d recommend it strongly.

Black & White, Event, Formal Portrait, Jill, Music, Photoshop

2010-11-15 & 2010-11-18

August 28, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

There was really only one picture in the folder 2010-11-15, so I decided to include 2010-11-18 in this post. The picture in the folder 2010-11-15 is a picture of Jill holding her flute that I took for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE, back then known as the RANDOM WEEKLY PHOTO EXPERIMENT. The pictures in the folder 2010-11-18 are from the 2010 Philanthropy Day.

WEEK 45 - DIAGONAL RULE - CHRISTOPHER D. BENNETT

By adding these pictures to the Photography 139 Gallery, I was able to restore the following historic “An Artist’s Notebook” entries to their original glory:

Philanthropy Day

RWPE #45 – DIAGONAL RULE

Next Saturday’s walk down memory lane will involve the Baiers.

Animals, Art, Candid Portrait, Contests, Evie, Jen, Layla, Mom, State Fair, WPC - Reminder

First Day of the Fair

August 27, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

On the first day of the Iowa State Fair I attended it with Jen, Layla, and Evie. Evie was performing with her Irish Dance Team. We wandered around the Fair for several hours before and after watching Evie perform. Here on some of the pictures from the day:

I also went to the Fair on the last day with Jesse. I will share those pictures in the future.

If you want to take peruse the rest of my Day 1 Iowa State Fair pictures, click on the link below:

Iowa State Fair – 2021

Over 200 images in there right now.

+++++++

This is your reminder that this week’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme is PEOPLE:

PEOPLE

PEOPLE! What a great theme! But what is a PEOPLE photo? Fortunately for you, people infest nearly every corner of this planet, so they are easy to find. All you have to do is find some PEOPLE or remnants or proof that PEOPLE were once there. This group of PEOPLE doesn’t have to have any connection. They don’t have to be friends or family. They just have to be homo sapiens. I suppose Neanderthals would work as well.

Happy photo harvesting!

Flowers, Macro, Mom

Crystal Chandeliers

August 26, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

It is time for another collection of pictures of flowers I took in my Mom’s yard. These pictures were taken on May 6, 2021. Once again, almost exclusively tulips, but one picture of an allium.

Still plenty more flower pictures to share.

Art, Black & White, Christianity, History, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins

Humboldt County Auxiliary Images

August 25, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weekends back I tooled around Humboldt County and harvested their town sign. Here is a collection of some of the auxiliary images I took on this road trip, including some I took as I went back south threw Calhoun County.

Humboldt

Renwick

LuVerne

Livermore

Ottosen

Rutland

Gilmore City

Pioneer

Somers?

Rinard

Lohrville

The next set of auxiliary images to share will mostly come from Calhoun County.

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Hancock County

August 24, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

A few weeks back I cruised around Hancock County harvesting their town signs. It was a very interesting trip as Hancock County has some very nice towns.

Here are some facts about Hancock County:

+ Population is 10,802 (2019 estimate). Making it the 68th most populous county in Iowa. Behind Louisa County and ahead of Guthrie County.
+ The largest town (entirely in Hancock County) and county seat is Garner.
+ Was established on June 28, 1858.
+ Named after John Hancock, the leader of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution.
+ Home of the World’s Largest Bullhead.
+ Home of a National Hobo Convention.
+ Major highways are: US-18, US-69, and IA-17.
+ Adjacent Counties are: Winnebago, Cerro Gordo, Wright, and Kossuth.
+ Population peaked in 1940 at 15,402.

The Hancock County Courthouse isn’t ugly, but it isn’t much to look at either.

The Hancock County Courthouse located in Garner, Iowa.

The Hancock County Freedom Rock is located in Britt, Iowa:

With Hancock County conquered, this is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

33 counties completed. 33.3% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Hancock County:

Forest City, Iowa – Mostly in Winnebago County
Forest City
Population: 4,151

Garner, Iowa
Welcome to GARNER
EST. 1870
Population: 3,129

Britt, Iowa
BRITT
NATIONAL HOBO CONVENTION
Population: 2,069

Kanawha, Iowa
Welcome To… KANAWHA, IOWA
Celebrating 100 Years and still on track!
Population: 652

Klemme, Iowa
WELCOME TO KLEMME
Population: 507

Corwith, Iowa
CORWITH
Population: 309

Crystal Lake, Iowa
Crystal Lake
Home of the world’s largest bullhead
Population: 250

Woden, Iowa
WELCOME TO WODEN
Population: 229

Goodell, Iowa
LITTLE TOWN
GOODELL
FRIENDLY PEOPLE
Population: 139

Duncan, Iowa – Unincorporated

I would say that Hancock County has a solid but not great set of signs. I don’t think there is a bad sign, but Garner’s is the most boring and corporate, so it get worst town sign in Hancock County.

I like the town signs of Goodell, Britt, and Kanawha. I’m going to give Best in Show for Hancock County to Britt for the picture of the hobo:

Britt – Best in Show – Hancock County

There are a few alternate town signs in Hancock County:

Klemme – Alternate

Kanawha – Alternate

Goodell – Alternate

Forest City – Alternate

Corwith – Alternate

Britt – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Greene County

Best in Show – Grundy County

Best in Show – Guthrie County

Best in Show – Hamilton County

Best in Show – Hancock County

Best in Show – Hardin County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the dusty trail for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Pocahontas County.

Andy, Angie, Becky, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Elizabeth, Jen, Jesse, Kim, Kio, Logan, Michelle, Sara, Shannon, State Fair, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 310 – FRIENDS

August 23, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

I’m pretty sure that this is the most popular theme in the history of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. 30 submissions! Wow! I’m glad to see so many people have people they consider FRIENDS or could at least find a group of somebody else’s FRIENDS to photograph or found something that represented a FRIENDShip to them. Or maybe THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE is hitting new heights in popularity. Maybe every week there will be nearly 30 submissions. A guy can dream, right?

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates. You came to see the submissions:

Kim Barker

Micky Augustin

Amy Peterson

Becky Parmelee

Christopher D. Bennett

Bill Wentworth

Tamara Peterson

Amy Peterson

Angie DeWaard

Shannon Bardole-Foley

Michelle Haupt

Andy Sharp

Sara Lockner

Teresa Kahler

Kio Dettman

Carla Stensland

Kio Dettman

Logan Kahler

Jen Ensley-Gorshe

Cathie Raley

Jesse Howard

Elizabeth Nordeen

Mike Vest

A great week of submissions!

PEOPLE

When you are thinking about the picture you want to make, you can consider this quote and I have no doubt you will make a great PEOPLE photo:

I love mankind… it’s people I can’t stand!!
-Charles M. Schulz

RULES

You can send your images to either bennett@photography139.com OR you may text them to my Pixel 5.

That is all I got, so if the good Lord’s willin’ and the creek don’t rise, we will all be sharing our idea of PEOPLE in this place that is little more than my ineffective people trap next Monday.

Black & White, Contests, Drone, Formal Portrait, Mom, State Fair

2021 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon Personal Results

August 22, 2021 Christopher D. Bennett

By the time this publishes, my entries in this year’s Iowa State Fair Photography Salon should be safely in my possession. It seems like a good time to share what pictures I entered and how they fared.

2021 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon -

Class 45: Planes, Trains & Automobiles – Honorable Mention

Class 22: Black & White People – Selected for Display

Class 17: Plants, Flowers & Trees – Honorable Mention

Class 13: USA Places & Landscapes – Not Selected for Display

I’m not going into the picture of my Mom that I entered, but probably will in a later post. I don’t think she would have liked to have a picture of her entered, but I also know she would have gotten over it pretty quickly.

I’ll just concentrate on the picture that didn’t get in. It was the one that I was most confident would get accepted for display, which meant it was doomed from the beginning. I entered it based mostly on the fact that it was the most commented on picture from the 2021 Photography 139 Calendar. I will never know why it wasn’t accepted for display, but I have a feeling it it because the highlights are overblown. Oh well, I guess it is time to start thinking on the 2022 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon.