Category Archives: Road Trip

Town Sign Project: Howard County

July 12, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

A couple months back I went up to Howard County to harvest their town signs. It was a successful day.

Here are some facts about Howard County:
+ Population is 9,201. Making it the 80th most populous county. Below Emmet County and above Davis County.
+ The largest town and county seat is Cresco.
+ Formed in 1851.
+ Named after Tilghman Ashurt Howard. A layer, politician and diplomat from Indiana. Maybe the most obscure person to have a county named after them in Iowa.
+ Major highways are: US-63, IA-9, and IA-139.
+ Adjacent counties are Winnesheik, Chickasaw, Mitchell, and Floyd.
+ Population peaked in 1900 at 14,512. Population has declined in every census since 1950.

I do love the Howard County Courthouse:

The Howard County Courthouse in Cresco, Iowa.

The Howard County Freedom Rock is located in Cresco, Iowa.

Best I did apparently.

With Howard County completed, here is the Updated Photography 139 Conquest Map:

PURPLE=COMPLETED

79 counties down. 79.8% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Note. Riceville is partially in Howard County, but more in Mitchell County, so I shared that town sign when I shared the town signs of Mitchell County.

Here are the town signs of Howard County:

Cresco, Iowa
“IOWA’S YEAR ROUND PLAY GROUND”
CRESCO
Population: 3,888 (+20)

Elma, Iowa
1886
ELMA
Population: 505 (-41)

Lime Springs, Iowa
LIME SPRINGS
BEST TOWN BY A DAM SITE!
Population: 473 (-32)

Protivin, Iowa (Partially in Chickasaw County)
PROTIVIN
Vitame Vas
(Welcomes You)
INC. 1894
Population: 269 (-14)

Chester, Iowa
Welcome To
CHESTER
I O W A
ESTABLISHED 1858
Population: 139 (+12)

That’s it. There are 5 incorporated towns (mostly) in Howard County.

There isn’t a bad town sign in Howard County, so I’m not going to give out a last place trophy for Howard County.

However, is there a great town sign in Howard County? One of them has to be the best. I really like Chester and Elma. But I have to give the purple ribbon to Lime Springs. Not the first “Best Town by a Dam Site!” I’ve seen (Alden comes to mind), but the font and the picture is great!

Lime Springs – Best in Show – Howard County

There are a few alternate signs in Howard County:

Lime Springs – Alternate

Elma – Alternate

Cresco – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams 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 – 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 – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

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

Best in Show – Emmet 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 – 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 – Warren County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago 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 end up in Chickasaw County.

Andy, Angie, Bill, Brandon, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Jen, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Monica, Road Trip, Sabas, Sara, Suzie, Tamara, Teresa, Vest, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 356 – ROAD TRIP

July 11, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Last week’s theme represented the 26th theme of Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. Thought I would share a few of those statistics that I like so much. Although, I don’t think these are as meaningless as the statistics I share during the milestone posts.

6 Month Statistics

+ 36 different people have submitted at least one photo. (37 if you count Harrison and Beck separately, but are twins really separate people?)
+ The following people have submitted every week so far:
* Micky Augustin
* Shannon Bardole-Foley
* Kio Dettman
* Cathie Morton
* Elizabeth Nordeen
* Andy Sharp
* Bill Wentworth
+ On the other end of the spectrum, the following people have submitted exactly one week:
* Robyn Augustin
* Jodie Cue
* Derrick Gorshe
+ People with submission rates above 90% (but below 100%) are:
* Michelle Haupt – 96%
* Teresa Kahler – 96%
* Tamara Peterson – 96%
* Carla Stensland – 96%
+ There have been 786 photos submitted.
+ There have been 572 combined participants. That is an average of 22 participants a week
+ The most popular theme has been SELF-PORTRAIT with 31 participants. The least popular theme has been ROCK with 16 participants.
+ The theme that snapped the most streaks was ENTERTAINMENT. Snapped 11 streaks.

Now on to the second half of Year 9.

ROAD TRIP. It is one of my favorite things to do, but did it prove to be a popular theme with the masses? You’ll have to keep scrolling to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, July 4, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Beck and Harrison Gorshe – 1 week
+ Sara Lockner – 1 week
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks
+ Mary Green – 2 weeks (2)
+ Angie DeWaard – 4 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 7 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 9 weeks (7)
+ Kim Barker – 13 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 14 weeks (2)
+ Logan Kahler – 16 weeks (2)
+ Teresa Kahler – 24 weeks (2)
+ Tamara Peterson – 24 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 24 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 25 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 26 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 27 weeks (2)
+ Bill Wentworth – 28 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 32 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 33 weeks (2)
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 35 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 38 weeks (6)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

Joe Duff – 15 weeks

Joe Duff

Kio Dettman – 39 weeks

Kio Dettman

Linda Bennett – 10 weeks

Mary Green – 3 weeks

Mary Green

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 36 weeks

Michelle Haupt – 26 weeks

Sabas Hernandez – 1 week

Tamara Peterson – 25 weeks

Bill Wentworth – 29 weeks

Christopher D. Bennett

Micky Augustin – 27 weeks

Andy Sharp – 28 weeks

Kim Barker – 14 weeks

Teresa Kahler – 25 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Sara Lockner – 2 weeks

Sara Lockner

Dawn Krause – 8 weeks

Dawn Krause

Logan Kahler – 17 weeks

Logan Kahler

Elizabeth Nordeen – 34 weeks

Angie DeWaard – 5 weeks

Monica Jennings – 1 week

Suzie Brannen – 1 week

Carla Stensland – 25 weeks

Carla Stensland

Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 3 weeks

Cathie Morton – 33 weeks

Brandon Kahler – 1 week

Mike Vest – 1 week

26 participants! That is a great week! I’m particularly pumped about the first ever submissions by Sabas and Brandon! Hopefully there are more in the future from them! Maybe Sabas can even get Elainie to submit?!?! Who knows? Crazier things have happened.

There was only one streak snapped. That was the one week streak by two man photography team of Beck and Harrison, but to expect toddlers to go on a ROAD TRIP, might have been asking a bit much.

Linda reached the double digit club for streaks! Michelle reached the 6 Month club! Big accomplishments! Congratulations!

Here are the current streaks:

9. Teresa Kahler – 25 weeks
9. Tamara Peterson – 25 weeks
9. Carla Stensland – 25 weeks
8. Michelle Haupt – 26 weeks
7. Micky Augustin – 27 weeks
6. Andy Sharp – 28 weeks
5. Bill Wentworth – 29 weeks
4. Cathie Morton – 33 weeks
3. Elizabeth Nordeen – 34 weeks
2. Shannon Bardole-Foley – 36 weeks
1. Kio Dettman – 39 weeks

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:

WORK!

WORK! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a WORK image? A WORK picture is simply a picture of somebody doing WORK or tools that are used to do WORK or a place where WORK is done. Remember not everybody has to WORK as hard as I do. Some people have slacker jobs where they get to frolic on a mezzanine or play with trains all day. Try not to think how hard I have it at the Computer Mine and maybe think on the physics definition of WORK. The measure of energy transfer that occurs when an object is moved over a distance by an external force.

WARNING: If you are taking a picture at your place of employment, consider what things in your picture your employer would not want the rest of the world to see. You won’t get in trouble with me, but you might with one of your eight bosses.

While considering your possible subjects for your submission, meditate on the following quote:

So I’m sitting in my cubicle today and I realized that ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So it means that every single day you see me, that’s on the worse day of my life.
– OFFICE SPACE

I look forward to seeing your interpretation.

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 your idea of WORK in this place that doesn’t feel like WORK for me next Monday.

Art, Christianity, Road Trip, Ruins, Still Life

Cherokee and O’Brien County Aux – Vol. 3

July 9, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Back in February I cruised around Cherokee and O’Brien County harvesting their town signs. Here is the final collection of auxiliary images from that trip.

Granville

Paullina

Calumet

Sutherland

Primghar – Look closely and you will see how Primghar got its name.

Sheldon

Sanborn

Hartley

The next time we look at some aux, it will be from Osceola County. Some from Lyon County too. It was a trip I stopped short on because I ran into a hail storm.

Art, Black & White, Flowers, History, Road Trip, Street Photography, Travel, WPC - Reminder

Miami Beach – Day 5 – A7II – Dos

July 8, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

This is the final collection of images I’m going to share from my work trip to Miami Beach. It begins with more pictures of the Holocaust Memorial and ends with pictures taken around my hotel. The first image shared here is probably my favorite picture I took on this trip. Probably my last work trip for a bit. One of the most enjoyable work trips I’ve been on to date.

Miami Beach Work Trip - Day 5 - May 2022

Currently my next work trip is to Las Vegas in February. Now I don’t write that in stone, but hopefully it comes off. My one trip to Vegas was a terrible experience that ended in the one and only bad performance review I’ve ever had in my life. But I’ve told that story too many times. Never trust a woman named Nancy. If you learn nothing else from me, learn that. Take that little nugget and tuck it away.

Vegas should have plenty of photographic opportunities. I want to visit the Hoover Dam while I’m there, but the amount of interest I’ve managed to garner from other parties go on this trip hasn’t been promising. Might have to take that trip solo.

+++++++

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

ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

But what is a ROAD TRIP photo? It is simply any picture that is taken during or in preparation for a ROAD TRIP. Or even as the result of a ROAD TRIP. What is the difference between a ROAD TRIP and just running to the store or to work? Doesn’t have to be. A ROAD TRIP is generally thought to be a long-distance journey. But who am I define what you consider to be “long-distance”.

Happy photo harvesting!

Art, Black & White, Christianity, Road Trip

Cherokee and O’Brien County Aux – Vol. 2

July 6, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Back in February I traveled around Cherokee and O’Brien County harvesting their town signs. This is the second collection of auxiliary images from that trip.

Quimby

Cherokee

Aurelia

Larrabee

Marcus

Germantown

Granville

There is one more collection of images from this trip left to share.

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

Town Sign Project: Keokuk County

July 5, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

A couple months back I went down to Keokuk County to harvest their town signs before heading to the Renaissance Faire in Des Moines to watch Evie and her Irish dance troupe. It was a good day.

Here are some facts about Keokuk County:
+ Population is 10,163. Making it the 72nd most populous county in Iowa. Below Winnebago County and above Franklin County.
+ Largest town and county seat is Sigourney.
+ Formed in 1837. Opened for settlement in 1843. Governing structure created in 1844.
+ Named for the Sauk chief Keokuk
+ Has two county fairs. The Keokuk County Fair in What Cheer and the Keokuk County Expo in Sigourney.
+ Major highways are: IA-2, IA-21, IA-22, IA-78, IA-92, and IA-149.
+ Adjacent counties are Poweshiek, Iowa, Washington, Jefferson, Wapello, and Mahaska.
+ Population peaked in 1900 at 24,979.

The Keokuk County Courthouse is fair looking:

The Keokuk County Courthouse in Sigourney, Iowa.

The Keokuk County Freedom Rock is located in What Cheer, Iowa:

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

PURPLE=COMPLETED

78 counties completed. 78.8% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Keokuk County:

Sigourney, Iowa
Sigourney
Population: 2,004 (-55)

Keota, Iowa
KEOTA
Population: 897 (-110)

Hedrick, Iowa
Welcome to HEDRICK
“Where Friends Meet”
Population: 728 (-36)

What Cheer, Iowa
WELCOME TO WHAT CHEER
EST 1865
Population: 607 (-39)

Richland, Iowa
RICHLAND
Population: 542 (-32)

Delta, Iowa
DELTA
HOME OF THE COVERED BRIDGE
Population: 264 (-64)

Keswick, Iowa
Home of the Keswick Agate
KESWICK
Established 1879
Population: 242 (-4)

South English, Iowa
Welcome To South English
Iowa
Est. 1855
Population: 202 (-10)

Ollie, Iowa
OLLIE
EST. 1882
Population: 201 (-14)

Harper, Iowa
HARPER
EST. 1872
Population: 118 (+4)

Martinsburg, Iowa
MARTINSBURG
EST. 1854
Population: 110 (-2)

Webster, Iowa
Welcome to WEBSTER
Est. 1854
Population: 94 (+6)

Kinross, Iowa
KINROSS
CITY HALL
Population: 80 (-7)
Gibson, Iowa
Gibson, IA
50104
Population: 63 (+2)

Thornburg, Iowa
THORNBURG
BIRTHPLACE OF AUTHOR ROSS SANTEE
EST. 1879
Population: 45 (-22)

Hayesville, Iowa
HAYESVILLE COMMUNITY
Population: 41 (-9)

For having so many towns, Keokuk County is kind of a dud for quality town signs. Worst would have to go to Gibson or Kinross cause they didn’t even have real town signs. Hayesville would be up there as well, but you know how I like the abandoned and distressed.

Who gets the purple ribbon? Who gets best in show? I like the town signs for Webster, Thornburg, South English, Delta, and Keswick. Of those, I’m going to give it to Webster. At least it is colorful.

Webster – Best in Show – Keokuk County

There are a couple alternate town signs in Keokuk County:

Richland – Alternate

Delta – Alternate

Here are the current Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams 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 – 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 – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

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

Best in Show – Emmet 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 – 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 – 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 – Warren County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago 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 open roads of Howard County.

Andy, Angie, Bill, Carla, Cathie, Dawn, Elizabeth, Jen, Joe Duff, Kim, Kio, Linda, Logan, Mary, Michelle, Micky, Movies, Road Trip, Sara, Shannon, Tamara, Teresa, WPC - Submissions

WPC – WEEK 355 – ENTERTAINMENT

July 4, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Last Monday was the halfway point in Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE. The halfway point is a good time to review a few things. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is there a limit to the number of submissions I can have each week?

The short answer is, “no”. Some people think that there is a limit of one submission per person because I only present one submission a week, personally. I have the other 6 days to post my photography. So one is more than enough image from me.

However, the longer answer is, 3 would be a good guide to limit yourself to submit. It isn’t a rule, but much over 3 begins to start to overwhelm the submissions of the others in the community. Also, if you are submitting multiple submissions, think about your submissions. Are they unique? Are they of wholly different subjects? Is each submission saying something unique?

The long answer is, there isn’t a limit, but 3 is a good rule of thumb. If I start to average about 30 participants a week, I will consider putting a limit of 1 per participant, to help manage my workload, but we are a long ways from averaging 30 participants a week.

Can I send you several pictures and have you pick the best one?

No! No! NO! If those words come out of your mouth or your keyboard, I consider that to be a non-submission.

Do you ever question whether somebody’s submission fits the theme?

Meh. Only if I think somebody is clearly confusing this week’s theme with last week or next week’s theme. Otherwise, if the submission makes sense in your head, that is good enough to me. However, I would urge you to not try to fit your favorite subject into the theme. This isn’t a challenge to share a picture every week of your kid or your business or your pet. It is a challenge to take pictures of different things every week. Which isn’t to say subjects can’t be repeated, but you shouldn’t become reliant on the same ones.

Why can’t I submit after 11 AM on Mondays if the post doesn’t publish until 12:01 PM?

I go to lunch at 11 AM. I leave my office. I’m not near a computer. At 11 AM I hit “Schedule” and then I go throw food down my throat. 167 hours is more than enough time to send a submission. Okay, 166 hours and 59 minutes. You got me.

Are there resolution requirements for submissions?

I won’t turn down submissions that are too small. I will probably ask you for a picture of greater resolution if it is really small. The typical 4 x 6 image posted to my website has a resolution of 1280 pixels x 853 pixels. While a 400 x 300 image might look okay on your phone, it looks like trash on a computer monitor. I prefer images that are at least 1000 pixels at their largest point, but don’t ban smaller pictures at this point.

What format should my submission be?

.JPG but .PNG also works.

If I write a description of my image will you include that in your post?

No. Photography is art that should stand on its own.

When will you start accepting suggestions for next year’s THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE themes?

I will accept those the last Monday of October and the first Monday of November. I only accept suggestions in the “Comments” section of the journal entries on those days. Don’t text me or email me them or call me or Snapchat me. Put them in the Comments section of the journal entries on those days. I have my reasons.

Why do you hate cats?

I don’t hate cats, they go to the bathroom inside and that is disgusting. But I don’t hate cats, eagles have to eat too. Cats make good eagle snacks.

+++++++

As can be expected, the holiday did take a toll on the participants this week. How big of a toll, you’ll have to scroll down to find out.

As of 12:01 PM on Monday, June 27, this was the current list of ACTIVE streaks (ignore the numbers in parentheses):

+ Lori Backous – 1 week
+ Suzie Brannen – 1 week
+ Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 1 week
+ Derrick Gorshe – 1 week
+ Evie Gorshe – 1 week
+ Layla Gorshe – 1 week
+ Mary Green – 1 week (3)
+ Monica Jennings – 1 week
+ Stephanie Kim – 1 week
+ Willy McAlpine – 1 week
+ Becky Parmelee – 2 weeks
+ Mike Vest – 2 weeks
+ Angie DeWaard – 3 weeks
+ Dawn Krause – 6 weeks
+ Linda Bennett – 8 weeks (4)
+ Jesse Howard – 10 weeks
+ Kim Barker – 12 weeks
+ Joe Duff – 13 weeks
+ Logan Kahler – 15 weeks
+ Teresa Kahler – 23 weeks
+ Tamara Peterson – 23 weeks
+ Carla Stensland – 23 weeks
+ Michelle Haupt – 24 weeks
+ Micky Augustin – 25 weeks
+ Andy Sharp – 26 weeks
+ Bill Wentworth – 27 weeks
+ Cathie Morton – 31 weeks
+ Elizabeth Nordeen – 32 weeks
+ Shannon Bardole-Foley – 34 weeks
+ Kio Dettman – 37 weeks (3)

But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk all tommyrot about participation rates or streaks. You came to see the submissions and what streaks continued and what streaks flamed out:

WEEK 355 - ENTERTAINMENT - BECK AND HARRISON GORSHE

Beck and Harrison Gorshe – 1 week

Sara Lockner – 1 week

Jen Ensley-Gorshe – 2 weeks

Mary Green – 2 weeks

Mary Green

Angie DeWaard – 4 weeks

Dawn Krause – 7 weeks

Linda Bennet – 9 weeks

Linda Bennett

Kim Barker – 13 weeks

Joe Duff – 14 weeks

Joe Duff

Logan Kahler – 16 weeks

Logan Kahler

Teresa Kahler – 24 weeks

Teresa Kahler

Tamara Peterson – 24 weeks

Carla Stensland – 24 weeks

Carla Stensland

Michelle Haupt – 25 weeks

Micky Augustin – 26 weeks

Andy Sharp – 27 weeks

Andy Sharp

Bill Wentworth – 28 weeks

Cathie Morton – 32 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen – 33 weeks

Elizabeth Nordeen

Shannon Bardole-Foley – 35 weeks

Kio Dettman – 38 weeks

Kio Dettman

Christopher D. Bennett – 457 weeks

22 participants. Not bad considering the holiday. But obviously, there was a blood bath of streaks that ended. Lori, Suzie, Derrick, Evie, Layla, Monica, Stephanie, and Willy all had 1 week “streak” not make it to two weeks. Vest and Becky had 2 week streaks. Most tragically, Jesse had is 10 week streak hit the ash heap of history.

ROAD TRIP

ROAD TRIP! What a great theme for Year 9 of THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE!

When considering your possible subjects for your ROAD TRIP picture meditate on the following quote:

If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.
– Lewis Carroll

I look forward to your interpretations.

Art, History, Railroad, Road Trip, Ruins

Cherokee and O’Brien County Aux – Vol. 1

June 29, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Back in February I cruised around Cherokee County and O’Brien County harvesting their town signs. This is the first collection of auxiliary images from that trip. Although a good portion of the pictures from this collection were actually taken in Woodbury County.

Correctionville

Washta

Quimby

There are still plenty more images to share from this road trip.

Art, Road Trip, Town Sign Project

TOWN SIGN PROJECT: APPANOOSE COUNTY

June 28, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

A few weeks back after I went down to Pella to photograph some tulips, I went down to Appanoose County to harvest their town signs. It was a good day.

Here are some facts about Appanoose County:
+ Population is 12,462, making it the 60th most populous county in Iowa. Below Wright County and above Union County.
+ Largest town and county seat is Centerville.
+ Formed on February 17, 1843.
+ Named for the Meskwaki Chief.
+ Home of Lake Rathbun.
+ Major highways are: IA-2, IA-5, and IA-202.
+ Adjacent counties are: Monroe, Wapello, Lucas, Davis, and Wayne.
+ Population peaked in 1920 at 30,535.

The Appanoose County courthouse is beautiful:

The Appanoose County Courthouse in Centerville, Iowa.

The Appanoose County Freedom Rock is located in Centerville:

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

PURPLE=COMPLETED

77 counties conquered. 77.8% of the Cyclone State conquered.

Here are the town signs of Appanoose County:

Centerville, Iowa
CENTERVILLE
Population: 5,412 (-116)

Moravia, Iowa
MORAVIA
SINCE 1851
Population: 636 (-29)

Moulton, Iowa
MOULTON
SINCE 1869
Population: 607 (+2)

Mystic, Iowa
MYSTIC
Population: 322 (-103)

Cincinnati, Iowa
Cincinnati
Iowa
Population: 290 (-67)

Exline, Iowa
EXLINE
THE LITTLE TOWN WITH A BIG HEART
Population: 160 (No Change)

Unionville, Iowa
UNIONVILLE
IOWA
EST. 1843
Population: 75 (-27)

Numa, Iowa
NUMA COMMUNITY CENTER
Population: 68 (-24)

Plano, Iowa
PLANO
SINCE 1879
Population: 59 (-11)

Rathbun, Iowa
WELCOME TO THE CITY OF RATHBUN
ESTABLISHED 1892
GATEWAY TO RATHBUN LAKE
Population: 43 (-46)

Udell, Iowa
UDELL IOWA
Population: 28 (-19)

First, I’m pretty startled by the population drops over just 10 years in Appanoose County. I get it, nobody wants to live close to Missouri. It is an absolutely horrible place. But I thought Lake Rathbun would be enough of an economic generator to help the towns in the area and Centerville is a pretty nice town, from what I’ve seen. I guess last person left in Appanoose County, turn off the lights.

However, I have a theory why Appanoose County has lost over half its population in the last 100 years. It is the fact that so many of the towns have the terrible (what I call, because that is where I first saw their infestation) Highway 34 signs. They are a scourge of southern Iowa. Three towns have them and spoiler, Centerville also had one. All three of those towns tie for the worst town sign in Appanoose County.

Who gets the purple ribbon though? I like Cincinnati’s sign. I like Exline’s sign. I also like Unionville’s (suck it confederacy and confederacy fanboys*), but it really is a two horse race between Centerville and Rathbun. I’m giving the nod to Centerville.

Centerville – Best in Show – Appanoose County

Centerville had a few alternate signs:

Puke

Centerville – Alternate

Here is the current list of Best in Shows:

Best in Show – Adair County

Best in Show – Adams 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 – 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 – Clarke County

Best in Show – Clay County

Best in Show – Clinton County

Best in Show – Crawford County

Best in Show – Dallas County

Best in Show – Decatur County

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

Best in Show – Emmet 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 – 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 – Jones 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 – Warren County

Best in Show – Wayne County

Best in Show – Webster County

Best in Show – Winnebago 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 Keokuk County.

* Also known as racists.

Black & White, Christianity, History, Road Trip

Jackson County Aux – Volume 2

June 25, 2022 Christopher D. Bennett

Back in late January I made a trip out to Jackson County to harvest the balance of their town signs. Here is the second collection of the auxiliary images I took on that trip:

Saint Donatus

La Motte

Zwingle

Cedar Rapids

Most of the pictures were taken in Saint Donatus. I did not walk the Way of the Cross there to the chapel because it was closed. It is on my list of things to do in the future. I have quite the list of places I want to visit again after I complete THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT.

The next time we hit the open road to look at auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, we will visit Cherokee and O’Brien counties.