Category Archives: Art

Art, Automobiles, Black & White, Brandon, Flowers, Football, Iowa State, Naima, Nature, Photo of the Day, Politics, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins, Self-Portrait, Still Life

Fat Mum Slim – September 2022

October 5, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Another month done in the Fat Mum Slim Photo A Day Challenge. I have to confess that I spent some time on the struggle bus this month. I don’t know if I lost some steam or if I just want feeling some of the themes. Being sick for a few days in September didn’t help either. With that being said, I think there is still some good work in there.

Here are the September images:

September 1 – Something I Saw

September 2 – Plastic

September 3 – Paper

September 4 – Somewhere I Went

September 5 – Hobby

September 6 – Green + Blue

September 7 – Before Bed

September 8 – An Emotion

September 9 – Opposites

September 10 – I Can Hear…

September 11 – Paint

September 12 – Symmetry

September 13 – Tasty

September 14 – Odd One Out

September 15 – A Food Shop

September 16 – 12:34

September 17 – Lucky

September 18 – Car Park

September 19 – What’s on TV

September 20 – Texture

September 21 – Nature

September 22 – Tree Trunk

September 23 – Crunchy

September 24 – I Can Smell…

September 25 – Laneway

September 26 – The Moon

September 27 – Open Door

September 28 – My Culture

September 29 – Not My Style

September 30 – Sentimental

As you can tell, the woman who runs this challenge is Australian and there were some terms in there I had to look up, cause I had no clue what a laneway is.

Remember, you can follow on for my daily posts on the dedicated Instagram Account.

@fmsbennett

These are the themes for October:

1. White
2. Black
3. Green
4. Red
5. Orange
6. Blue
7. Yellow
8. Purple
9. Aqua
10. Pink
11. Grey
12. Brown
13. Pop of Colour
14. Stripes
15. Floral
16. One Colour
17. Two Colours
18. Pattern
19. Black and White
20. Rainbow
21. My Fave Colour
22. Matching
23. Natural
24. Dark
25. Light
26. Pastel
27. Bright
28. Gold
29. Fresh
30. Mellow
31. Dots

Some good ones in there. Should be a good month!

Art, Jodie Cue, Road Trip, Teresa, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Henry County

October 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Several weeks back I cruised around Henry County with Teresa harvesting their town signs. It was a good trip as we met up with Jodie and Doug Cue for lunch in Mount Pleasant. The only trip where I met up with somebody who lived in the county where I was harvesting.

Here are some facts about Henry County:
+ Population is 20,387. Making it the 33rd most populous county in Iowa. Below Buchanan County and above Winneshiek County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Mount Pleasant.
+ Formed on December 7, 1836 as part of the Wisconsin Territory and then became part of the Iowa Territory on July 4, 1838.
+ Named for General Henry Dodge.
+ Home of Iowa Wesleyan.
+ Home of the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
+ Major highways are US-34, US-218, US-27, IA-16, and IA-78.
+ Adjacent counties are Washington, Louisa, Des Moines, Van Buren, and Jefferson.
+ Population peaked at 21,463 in 1870.

Henry County has a pretty blah courthouse:

The Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

The Henry County Freedom Rock is located in Winfield, Iowa:

With Henry County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

91 counties completed. 91.9% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Henry County:

Mount Pleasant, Iowa
MT. PLEASANT
Population: 9,274 (+606)

New London, Iowa
Welcome To NEW LONDON
Population: 1,910 (+23)

Winfield, Iowa
Winfield
Est. 1882
Population: 1,033 (-101)

Wayland, Iowa
Wayland
Est. 1880
Population: 964 (-2)

Salem, Iowa
SALEM
FOUNDED 1835
Population: 394 (+11)

Olds, Iowa
WELCOME to Olds
Population: 163 (-66)

Hillsboro, Iowa
HILLSBORO COMMUNITY CENTER
Population: 163 (-17)

Rome, Iowa
Welcome to Rome Chicauqua
Est. 1846
LAND OF THE FREE
BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE
Population: 114 (-3)

Westwood, Iowa
CITY OF WESTWOOD
EST. 1892
Population: 101 (-11)

Mount Union, Iowa – Unincorporated
Mt. Union
Founded 1904

Swedesburg, Iowa – Unincorporated
Welcome to SWEDESBURG
MUSEUM & GIFT SHOP

Henry County has kind of a mediocre collection of town signs. Not terrible, but not outstanding. The worst one is easily Hillsboro as they didn’t have a real town sign at all. Oh Heavenly Hillsboro! Do you a hole in your head or your head in a hole!

There are a couple of town signs I like in Henry County. Olds has a solid sign. As does Rome and Westwood. I definitely like Salem’s hard to find town sign. But I’m giving the purple ribbon to Swedesburg.

Swedesburg – Best in Show – Henry County

There was one alternate town sign for Henry County:

Mount Pleasant – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Allamakee County

Best in Show – Appanoose County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Black Hawk County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Bremer County

Best in Show – Buchanan County

Best in Show – Buena Vista County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cedar County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Cherokee County

Best in Show – Chickasaw County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clayton County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

Best in Show – Delaware County

Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County

Best in Show – Emmet County

Best in Show – Fayette County

Best in Show – Floyd County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont 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 Sow – Harrison County

Best in Show – Henry County

Best in Show – Howard County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Iowa County

Best in Show – Jackson County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Johnson County

Best in Show – Jones County

Best in Show – Keokuk County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Lyon County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Mahaska County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Mitchell County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – Muscatine County

Best in Show – O’Brien County

Best in Show – Osceola County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Best in Show – Plymouth County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Sioux County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Wapello County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Washington County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago County

Best in Show – Winneshiek County

Best in Show – Woodbury County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Jefferson County.

Art, Bill, Boone FUMC, Brandon, Derrick, Evie, Flat Earth Joe, Football, Iowa State, Jay, Jesse, Jorge, K.J., Kio, Nader, Naima, Self-Portrait, Self-Portrait Project, Teresa

Selfie Project – September 2022

October 1, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

I knew September was not going to be as busy as August, but looking at these pictures it is hard not to wonder if I ever left my house. Being sick for about 4 or 5 days didn’t help, but really… I’ll try to do better in October.

Here are some of my favorite selfies from THE SELFIE PROJECT in October:

September 1

September 2

September 3

September 4

September 5

September 7

September 8

September 9

September 10

September 11

September 13

September 14

September 15

September 17

September 18

September 19

September 23

September 24

September 25

September 28

September 29

While there can only be one picture to represent every day, thought I would share some of my favorite alternates from September.

SELFIE PROJECT - ALTERNATE - SEPTEMBER 2022

I will try to be more active again in October, but I make no promises. Maybe the slacker lifestyle agrees with me?

Art, Automobiles, Baseball/Softball, Black & White, Christianity, History, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins

Appanoose County Aux – Vol. 1

September 28, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

A few months back I cruised around Appanoose County harvesting their town signs. Found quite a few other things to photograph while I was there. Including, in this collection, a few outhouse pictures. I find the outhouse pictures to be poignant, moving, and funny. But some people might find them disagreeable. But they are not gross. All that being said, you have been warned.

Lovillia

Moravia

I’ve also read that this is a myth. More research might be needed.

There are 100 official Freedom Rocks, but there are a few not quite Freedom Rocks out there too.

Udell – This bank still has better hours and customer service than my bank.

Unionville

Heart shaped!

The picture of the Buxton sign is located in Monroe County. Buxton is a fascinating bit of Iowa history. I meant to visit the Buxton ruins once, but I just didn’t trust the road. Some day soon though.

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Muscatine County

September 27, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few months back I cruised around Muscatine County harvesting their town signs. It was a pretty good trip that concluded with me purchasing the best watermelon I’ve ever had in my life.

Here some facts about Muscatine County:
+ Population is 42,688. Making it the 14th most populous county in Iowa. Below Cerro Gordo and above Marshall.
+ The largest town and county seat is Muscatine.
+ Formed in December of 1836.
+ Possibly named after an island that is named after the Mascouten tribe.
+ Major highways are US-6, US-61, IA-22, IA-38, IA-70, and IA-92.
+ Adjacent counties are: Cedar, Johnson, Louisa, and Scott.
+ Currently at peak population.

Muscatine County has a beautiful courthouse:

The Muscatine County Courthouse located in Muscatine.

The Muscatine County Freedom Rock is located in Wilton, Iowa:

With Muscatine County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

90 counties completed. 90.9% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Muscatine County:

Muscatine, Iowa
IOWA
MUSCATINE
Pearl of the Mississippi
Population: 23,797 (+911)

West Liberty, Iowa
WEST LIBERTY
Population: 3,858 (+122)

Wilton, Iowa (Partially in Cedar County)
WELCOME TO WILTON
HOME OF THE BEAVERS
Population: 2,924 (+122)

Fruitland, Iowa
Welcome to…
FRUITLAND
“A Growing Community”
Population 703
Population: 963 (-14)

Conesville, Iowa
WELCOME TO CONESVILLE
Population: 352 (-80)

Nichols, Iowa
Welcome to NICHOLS
Small town Big heart
Population: 340 (-34)

Atalissa, Iowa
WELCOME TO
Est. 1856
ATALISSA
Pop 271 & 2 Grumps
Population: 296 (-15)

Stockton, Iowa
WELCOME TO STOCKTON
Population: 176 (-21)

Moscow, Iowa – Unincorporated
MOSCOW
1836 SEQUICENTENNIAL 1986

Montpelier, Iowa – Unincorporated
THE VILLAGE OF MONTPELIER
Welcomes You!
est. May 9, 1881

Muscatine County has a pretty solid collection of town signs. I’m not sure which is the worst. It is either West Liberty or Moscow. I’m going to go with Moscow as being the worst because when you have a town name like Moscow, you really should do something sweet with your sign. But I still give any unincorporated town a bit of respect for having a sign.

I love the Fruitland sign for its artwork. I love the Nichols sign because it has been beautifully abandoned. I love that Atalissa has taken the grump count to Readlyn and upped them by one. I love the beaver artwork on the Wilton town sign. I love how the Stockton town sign is so in your face about how they are polluting and destroying the environment. Deal with it. I have a feeling a few of those are going to make it into the book. The book that I hope to start working on sometime around November. But I’m going to have to give the purple ribbon to Conesville.

Conesville – Best in Show – Muscatine County

There are a few alternate town signs in Muscatine County:

Nichols – Alternate

Fruitland – Alternate

Conesville – Alternate

Wilton – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Allamakee County

Best in Show – Appanoose County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Black Hawk County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Bremer County

Best in Show – Buchanan County

Best in Show – Buena Vista County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cedar County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Cherokee County

Best in Show – Chickasaw County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clayton County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

Best in Show – Delaware County

Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County

Best in Show – Emmet County

Best in Show – Fayette County

Best in Show – Floyd County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont 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 Sow – Harrison County

Best in Show – Howard County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Iowa County

Best in Show – Jackson County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Johnson County

Best in Show – Jones County

Best in Show – Keokuk County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Lyon County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Mahaska County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Mitchell County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – Muscatine County

Best in Show – O’Brien County

Best in Show – Osceola County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Best in Show – Plymouth County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Sioux County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Wapello County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Washington County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago County

Best in Show – Winneshiek County

Best in Show – Woodbury County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit the town signs of Henry County.

Art, History, Road Trip

Johnson County Aux

September 24, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Back in April I made abbreviated cruise around Johnson County harvesting most of their town signs. These are the auxiliary images I took on that trip. A few at the end were taken in Marshall County.

Not just a bad day for Templars and horny camp counselors?

Next to this bridge is a really cool bar/restaurant. Or I have been told.

If you haven’t written you initials and somebody else’s initials on a lock. Placed it on a bridge and thrown the key over the side, have you really ever been in love?

The next time we take to the open road to share auxiliary images from a TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trip, we will visit Appanoose County.

Art, Black & White, Christianity, History, Nature, Road Trip, Ruins, Self-Portrait

Mitchell and Floyd Aux – Vol. 3

September 21, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Time for another collection of images from my road trip to Mitchell and Floyd County back in April. This is the final collection of images from this road trip. A few counties are covered in this collection. Mitchell. Floyd. Franklin. Hamilton. All covered. Well at least there are pictures from all of those counties in this collection.

Osage

Interstate Park

Mitchell

Osage

Colwell

Charles City

Floyd

Rockford

Fossil & Prairie Center

Marble Rock

Roseville

Franklin County

Ellsworth

I really love some of the auxiliary pictures from this collection. If my tentative plan to create a book from the auxiliary images comes to fruition (have to get the THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT book finished first) there is definitely some pictures from this trip that will make the book.

The next county we will visit for auxiliary images is Johnson County. It will be a smaller collection. This isn’t because Johnson County is full of Hawkeye fans. Truth is I love Iowa City and will one day make a trip to better photograph its campus town area. It is just because it was a weird, strange and abbreviated trip. I might explain later.

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Wapello County

September 20, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

A few months back I cruised around Wapello County harvesting their town signs. It was a good trip.

Here are some facts about Wapello County:
+ Population is 35,256. Making it the 20th most populous county in Iowa. Below Sioux County and above Marion County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Ottumwa.
+ Was formed on February 17, 1843.
+ Named for the Meskwaki Chief Wapello.
+ The “birthplace” of Iowa.
+ Site of the house in the background of Grant Wood’s painting “American Gothic”.
+ Major highways are: US-34, US-63, IA-16, IA-137, IA-149.
+ Adjacent counties are Mahaska, Keokuk, Jefferson, Davis, and Monroe.
+ Population peaked in 1950 at 47,397.

The Wapello Courthouse is kinda cool looking but the statue on the top is next level:

Wapello County Courthouse in Ottumwa, Iowa.

The Wapello County Freedom Rock is located in Ottumwa, Iowa.

With Wapello County conquered, here is the updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=STRONG

89 counties completed. 88.9% of the Cyclone State conquered!

Here are the town signs of Wapello County:

Ottumwa, Iowa
OTTUMWA
CITY OF BRIDGES
Population: 25,529 (+506)

Eddyville, Iowa – Also in Mahaska and Monroe Counties
Home of the Rockets
EDDYVILLE
SINCE 1840
Population: 970 (-54)

Eldon, Iowa
Welcome to ELDON
Home of the American Gothic House
Population: 783 (-144)

Agency, Iowa
Agency
Home of Chief Wapello
Population: 620 (-18)

Blakesburg, Iowa
Welcome To BLAKESBURG
Founded in 1854
Population: 274 (-22)

Kirkville, Iowa
WELCOME TO KIRKVILLE
EST. 1844
Population: 157 (-10)

Chillicothe, Iowa
WELCOME TO Chillicothe
Est. 1881
Population: 76 (-21)

I don’t know that there is really a bad town sign in the bunch. I would say the most disappointing is Eldon. When yo have something so iconic as the American Gothic house in your town, your really need to do better with your town sign.

As for the purple ribbon. Best in Show? I really like the Chillicothe sign, but it has to go to Agency.

Agency – Best in Show – Wapello County

There was only on alternate town sign in Wapello County:

Agency – alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams County

Best in Show – Allamakee County

Best in Show – Appanoose County

Best in Show – Audubon County

Best in Show – Benton County

Best in Show – Black Hawk County

Best in Show – Boone County

Best in Show – Bremer County

Best in Show – Buchanan County

Best in Show – Buena Vista County

Best in Show – Butler County

Best in Show – Calhoun County

Best in Show – Carroll County

Best in Show – Cass County

Best in Show – Cedar County

Best in Show – Cerro Gordo County

Best in Show – Cherokee County

Best in Show – Chickasaw County

Best in Show – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clayton County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

Best in Show – Delaware County

Terril – Best in Show – Dickinson County
Best in Show – Dickinson County

Best in Show – Emmet County

Best in Show – Fayette County

Best in Show – Floyd County

Best in Show – Franklin County

Best in Show – Fremont 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 Sow – Harrison County

Best in Show – Howard County

Best in Show – Humboldt County

Best in Show – Ida County

Best in Show – Iowa County

Best in Show – Jackson County

Best in Show – Jasper County

Best in Show – Johnson County

Best in Show – Jones County

Best in Show – Keokuk County

Best in Show – Kossuth County

Best in Show – Linn County

Best in Show – Lucas County

Best in Show – Lyon County

Best in Show – Madison County

Best in Show – Mahaska County

Best in Show – Marion County

Best in Show – Marshall County

Best in Show – Mills County

Best in Show – Mitchell County

Best in Show – Monona County

Best in Show – Monroe County

Best in Show – Montgomery County

Best in Show – O’Brien County

Best in Show – Osceola County

Best in Show – Page County

Best in Show – Palo Alto County

Best in Show – Plymouth County

Best in Show – Pocahontas County

Best in Show – Polk County

Best in Show – Pottawattamie County

Best in Show – Poweshiek County

Best in Show – Ringgold County

Best in Show – Sac County

Best in Show – Shelby County

Best in Show – Sioux County

Best in Show – Story County

Best in Show – Tama County

Best in Show – Taylor County

Best in Show – Union County

Best in Show – Wapello County

Best in Show – Warren County

Best in Show – Washington County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago County

Best in Show – Winneshiek County

Best in Show – Woodbury County

Best in Show – Worth County

Best in Show – Wright County

The next time we hit the open road for THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Muscatine County.

Art, Christianity, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins

Mitchell and Floyd Aux – Vol. 2

September 17, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Time for another collection of images from my road trip to Mitchell and Floyd County back in April. Most of the pictures were taken in Mitchell County.

Saint Ansgar

Mona

Toeterville

Stacyville

Meyer

McIntire

Riceville

New Haven

Osage

I really liked Osage. It is a town I would like to explore again in the future. It goes on the list! One more collection from this road trip to go!

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

Mitchell and Floyd Aux – Vol. 1

September 14, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Way back in April, I cruised around Mitchell and Floyd County harvesting their town signs. The weather and the lighting was great for photography and I took as much advantage of it as I could. There will be three collections of auxiliary images from this road trip.

Here is the first collection:

Carpenter

Otranto

Fort Severson

Saint Ansgar

Fort Severson. This is a fascinating bit of history to me. For starters, it isn’t a fort. It is a barn. A cool barn. But not a fort.

Here is what the inscription says on the historical marker outside of the barn:

Built in 1867 by Nils Severson on his land with help of neighbor’s using limestone and mortar of lime & sand from Deer Creek. Severson’s design was a typical fort with small openings for rifles and larger openings for gatling guns. The Spirit Lake Massacre and uprising at New Ulm Minnesota prompted the building of forts across North Iowa. This is the only one left standing. Although Indians never came there were some scares. Settlers would come from as far as ten miles to stay here. The building was later used as a stage coach stop on a route between Northwood and St. Ansgar on the Kansas City, Rochester Minnesota stage line. As many as 20 people would sleep on the top floor, meals were served on the first floor. Immigrants would stay while looking for land to settle on. It became a farm building in the 1870’s after the railroad came through. Restored in 1972 by local people as a United States bicentennial project. Use of fort & site donated by David & Judy Goplerud. Placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in July 1976.

Seems straight forward. They were scared of the indigenous people in the area. They built a fort. Where they had gatling guns. This is the inscription that is on the historical marker. However, the Mitchell County Historical County calls BS on this marker. According to their website:

Actually, it’s just a barn but where’s the fun in that? It’s long been called Fort Severson by Mitchell and Worth County residents. Actually, the term “Fort” was a common designation on the American frontier for larger secure structures built by early pioneers. These included some churches, a remote farm house or other safe place to stay when needed. People often found themselves away from more populated areas on the prairie and needed good shelter. Sadly, it never actually acted as a “fort” for protection.

But that takes away nothing from the structure itself. Solidly and skillfully constructed of local limestone and timber from surrounding woodlands, it has survived since the mid 1850s.

The website goes on:

Rumors of the structure being used for Indian protection and being a stagecoach stop have made for good stories over the years. Many will say the small openings were for defense of the “Fort” during anticipated attacks but that was not the case- No rifles or Gatling guns (as one account speculates) ever extended through those openings. The Spirit Lake Massacre in 1857 and the New Ulm Massacre in 1862 were over long before the “Fort” was built and the Indians that passed through the area, scouting along Deer Creek, were not a threat but were known to approach the settlers’ homes seeking food. These framed openings were in fact for ventilation of the barn. Not near as exciting as the rumors. The stage line to Northwood did pass by the Seversons. Tradition said that the “Fort” was used as a stop with the wagon teams staying below and the passengers stayed above on the loft space. Again, another good story. There was no chimney or heating source in the “Fort” and this was not a regular stage stop but weary travelers were likely accommodated in a nearby frame structure, now long gone, that was the actual inn and only the teams would have been sheltered in the Nels Severson Barn.

I assume the historical society is correct, but makes me wonder why the historical marker is so completely inaccurate.