Category Archives: Ruins

Davis County Aux. – Vol. 1

Time to start sharing the final collection of auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. The final county I harvested town signs from was Davis County. Teresa went on the final THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trip. There are only 4 incorporated towns in Davis County, so there were stops in other counties. Including the first stop in Pella for the Jaarsma Bakery:


Marion County - Pella
Pella

Marion County - Pella

Marion County - Pella

Marion County - Pella

Marion County - Pella

Marion County - Pella

Marion County - Pella

Marion County - Pella

Marion County - Pella

Wapello County
Near Chillicothe

Wapello County

Wapello County

Wapello County - Ottumwa
Ottumwa

Wapello County - Ottumwa

Wapello County - Ottumwa

Wapello County - Ottumwa

Wapello County - Ottumwa

Davis County - Floris
Floris

Davis County - Floris

Davis County - Floris

Davis County - Floris

Davis County - Floris

Davis County - Floris

Davis County - Drakesville
Drakesville

Davis County - Drakesville

Davis County - Drakesville

Davis County - Drakesville

Davis County - Drakesville

Davis County - Drakesville

Davis County - Drakesville

Davis County - Bloomfield
Bloomfield

Davis County - Bloomfield

Davis County - Bloomfield

Davis County - Bloomfield

There are plenty more pictures left to share from this road trip. Including two sweet general stores!

Des Moines & Louisa County Aux. – Vol. 5

This is the final collection of images I took while harvesting the town signs of Des Moines & Louisa County. I really found Burlington to be photogenic and would like to go back there and spend some time photographing it. Also, and not unrelated, there is a stop on the Tenderloin Trail 2.0 that could be incorporated into any trip of the sort.

Last time we left off on Snake Alley in Burlington:


Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County - Burlington
The less famous but still fascinating Cobblestone Alley.

Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County - Burlington

Des Moines County  -
Illinois

Des Moines County  - Middletown
Middletown – The site of a giant ammunition plant that I had no clue existed.

Des Moines County  -
A resident of Danville was a pen pal of Anne Frank.

Des Moines County

Des Moines County

Des Moines County

Des Moines County

Des Moines County

Louisa County - Cairo
Cairo

Louisa County - Cairo

Louisa County - Cairo

Louisa County

Louisa County - Wyman
Wyman

Washington County - Ainsworth
A meal from the Dairy Mart in Ainsworth.

Marshall County - Quarry

Marshall County - Quarry

Marshall County - Quarry
I want one.

Marshall County - Quarry
Quarry

Marshall County - Quarry

Marshall County - Quarry

I think we need to dive into the history of a couple things. Starting with Snake Alley.

From the Wiki:

The physical limitations and steep elevation of Heritage Hill inspired the construction of Snake Alley in 1894. It was intended to link the downtown business district and the neighborhood shopping area located on North Sixth Street, of which Snake Alley is a one-block section. Three German immigrants conceived and carried out the idea of a winding hillside street, similar to vineyard paths in France and Germany: Charles Starker, an architect and landscape engineer; William Steyh, the city engineer; and George Kriechbaum, a paving contractor. The street was completed in 1898, but was not originally named Snake Alley, as it was considered part of North Sixth Street; some years later, a resident noted that it reminded him of a snake winding its way down the hill, and the name stuck.

The alley originally provided a shortcut from Heritage Hill to the business district. Bricks were laid at an angle to allow horses better footing as they descended. Unfortunately, riding horses back up the alley often resulted in a loss of control at the top; for this reason, even to this day, Snake Alley remains a one-way street, with all traffic heading downhill.

And about that connection with Anne Frank. From the Danville Library website:

Our story goes back to the fall of 1939 when a Danville teacher, Miss Birdie Mathews, initiated a pen pal exchange for her class. Ten year old Juanita Wagner picked a name from a list of pen pals. She chose a girl her own age who lived in Amsterdam. The girl’s name was Anne Frank.
Danville, Iowa is one of two places in the world to view the pen pal letters. These letters are on display at the Danville Museum.

The things you had no clue were in Iowa!!

The next set of auxiliary images will come from a rain day I spent in Dubuque County.

Des Moines & Louisa County Aux. – Vol. 3

Today is Russell’s birthday, so I need to wish Russell a happy birthday, so happy birthday Russell!


Civil Rights Museum

I’m not sure I’ve seen Russell in person since before the pandemic. That seems like something that should be remedied. Either way, I hope your birthday is filled with all the joy you can handle.

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Time to continue with the auxiliary images from my trip to Des Moines County and Louisa County to harvest their town signs. Last time we left off, we were in Grnadview. After that, I took US-61 down to Wapello.


Louisa County

Louisa County - Wapello
Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Wapello

Louisa County - Toolesboro
Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Toolesboro

Louisa County - Oakville
Oakville

Louisa County

Louisa County

Louisa County

Louisa County - Morning Sun
Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County - Morning Sun

Louisa County

Louisa County

Louisa County

So we should probably discuss some of the history in some of these pictures.

Here is some information on the Toolesboro Mounds:

The Toolesboro site consists of seven burial mounds on a bluff overlooking the Iowa River near where it joins the Mississippi River. The conical mounds were constructed between 200 B.C. and 300 A.D. by a local Hopewell group. They include some of the best-preserved and accessible remnants of Iowa’s Hopewell culture, a Middle Woodland people who hunted, gathered and gardened. At one time, there may have been as many as twelve mounds, but subsequent settlement and excavation have reduced that number to the present seven. As of yet, no village site near the Toolesboro mounds has been located, which is attributed to the shifting path of the Iowa River which has obliterated possible village sites on the flood plain over the last 2,000 years.

Of the seven mounds, only two are visible on the grounds of the Educational Center. The rest are off in the woods, and are separated by a wire fence from the Educational Center. One of the mounds maintained near the center, known as Mound 2, is the largest of the remaining mounds, measuring 100 feet in diameter and eight feet in height. This mound was possibly the largest Hopewell mound in Iowa.

And the Littleton Brothers… well…

The largest loss of life known in the history of all U.S. wars from any immediate family were the six local Littleton Brothers. All six were lost to the Civil War and the story just recently discovered and documented.

Here is some information on the Littleton brothers from the website (http://civil-war-picket.blogspot.com/):

James and Martha Littleton, the boys’ parents, moved to Louisa (Lew-I-zuh) County in about 1840, six years before Iowa became a state. The young Littleton brothers likely helped on a 200-acre farm.

Toolesboro used to be a busy hub, said Wagner, who lives in Illinois City, Ill.

The 1860 census that shows the family was listed as mulatto, which traditionally refers to a person with one white parent and one black parent. There’s debate today on that point.

The Littleton memorial will have a panel saying James came from free slave roots. “Records indicate Louisa County abolitionists had helped the family get settled there.”

But oral history within the Nicewanner family, as descendants of Permelia, states that James actually had Native American roots on one side, said Wagner.

Doug Jones, an archaeologist and Iowa Freedom Trail project manager for the State Historical Society of Iowa, said the little information he has on the Littletons is “quite intriguing.”

“There was a mulatto settlement, and we don’t know much about the settlement.”

Only one of the Littleton brothers, John, had children, and that daughter died before having any of her own. James and Martha Littleton died before the war.

Here’s what is known about each of the brothers’ service records (thanks to the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum for much of the following information):

— George Handy Littleton: George, 33, a cooper, volunteered from service from nearby New Boston, Ill., in March 1862. He is described as having brown eyes and dark hair and complexion. He was with Company B of the 65th Illinois Infantry. Captured by Confederates at Harpers Ferry, W.V., he was later paroled and discharged for disability in Chicago, according to official records, for a disease contracted before service. Woodruff said other material indicates Littleton got sick while in service. “We do not have the exact date or know where we died,” said Woodruff. The Columbus Gazette indicated George died soon after returning home. His grave has not been found.

— John Littleton: Enlisted in August 1862 with Company F of the 19th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He suffered a severe thigh injury during fighting at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, on Dec. 7, 1862. He died in Fayetteville, Ark., of wounds on December 18. It’s possible he may be buried among 800 unmarked graves at Fayetteville National Cemetery.

— Kendall Littleton: Also of the 19th Iowa, Kendall was killed in action on Dec. 7, 1862, at Prairie Grove, Ark. His remains were likely later moved to Fayetteville National Cemetery, and are marked as unknown.

— Noah Littleton: Survived the fighting at Prairie Grove but drowned March 1, 1863, in the White River in southern Missouri. His remains were disinterred and he is buried at Springfield (Mo.) National Cemetery. He, too, served in the 19th Iowa.

–Thomas Littleton: A member of the 5th Iowa, suffered a head wound at Iuka, Ms. He was taken prisoner in Chattanooga, Tenn., in November 1863. The private died of chronic diarrhea at Andersonville on June 16, 1864, and is buried at the national cemetery there.

— William Littleton: A corporal with the 8th Iowa, William was wounded at Shiloh in 1862 and died in December 1863 of diarrhea at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. He is buried at the national cemetery there.

There is still plenty more pictures left to share from this trip!

Des Moines & Louisa County Aux. – Vol. 1

Tuesday has traditionally been the day I share images from Rodan139, but frankly I’m currently out of Rodan139 photos to share. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to take some more. My schedule this week with both work and getting free 3-D sculpted Iowa State artwork and hopefully trying some of Scottie D.’s new butcher paper brisket and the Boone County Fair and work party and little kid party and Movie Night is pretty dang full.

Ahhh… the Boone County Fair… this reminds me that I have yet to make an official announcement about Baby Got Rack. Baby Got Rack is taking the year off from competitive barbecue.

I know… I know… it is very sad. However, there is reason for hope. What I’m going to call Baby Got Rack: The Next Generation will be competing at the Boone County Fair’s barbecue competition this year. I thought about going with Baby Got Rack Jr., actually I’m workshopping both. I’ll let you know when I have decided which one I like better.

But back to the Boone County barbecue competition. While Scottie D. won’t be out their slinging ribs and pizza and the loins, his eldest progeny Austin will be entering the youth competition. He had a practice run at the porkloin on Sunday night and Scottie D. says that he nailed it!

My nephew Logan is also competing on Saturday as well. Logan (I don’t think I’m giving away any secrets) is competing in Pork and Turkey. He has practiced with 5 or 6 different recipes for his ribs alone. He also had a practice run on Sunday and while he wasn’t satisfied, I bet they were probably pretty dang delicious.

I’ll be out there at different times of the day helping both parties with anything they need. So while Baby Got Rack won’t be out there slinging that good meat, the next generation will and you should still come out and support them.

Have no fear, even if Baby Got Rack has retired for good, the barbecue community in Boone County is still in good hands.

Also, I will be out there as I am judging the Boone County Fair Photography Contest. It will be a full day!

(Also: Baby Got Rock Founding Father Scottie D. is in charge of the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest this year. It is like we are slowly taking over the world. BGR 4 Life!)

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Since I don’t have any drone pictures to share, I thought I would start sharing auxiliary images I took while harvesting the town signs of Des Moines County and Louisa County. Both counties have some very interesting things in them. Some things I knew about and some things I did not know about.


Iowa County
Iowa County

Iowa County

Louisa County
Louisa County

Louisa County - Cotter
Cotter

Louisa County - Cotter

Louisa County - Cotter

Louisa County - Columbus City
Columbus City

Louisa County - Columbus City

Louisa County - Columbus Junction
Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction
I would love to see a picture of this original bridge.

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction
Love. Ain’t it grand?

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

Louisa County - Columbus Junction

When I complete editing and sharing all of the auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, I will put together an Iowa Bridge Power Rankings. I mean it is pretty obvious what is #1, but there is a pretty stiff battle for #2. The Columbus Junction Swinging Bridge is definitely in the mix for a good ranking!

Lee & Van Buren County Aux. – Vol. 5

Today is Logan’s birthday, so I need to wish him a happy birthday. Happy birthday Logan!


Burgertime: Destination Grille

I hope your birthday is filled with many photo opportunities and barbecue opportunities!

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Today is also Derrick’s birthday. So… happy birthday Derrick!


Day 296 - October 23, 2021

I hope your birthday is filled with as much joy and melt-facing guitar solos as you can handle!

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Time to share the final collection of images I took while harvesting the town signs of Lee and Van Buren County. All of these pictures were taken in Van Buren County.


Van Buren County - Bentonsport
Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Bentonsport

Van Buren County - Keosauqua
Keosauqua

Van Buren County - Keosauqua

Van Buren County - Keosauqua

Van Buren County - Keosauqua

Van Buren County - Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh

Van Buren County - Cantril
Cantril

Van Buren County - Cantril

Van Buren County - Milton
Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton
For the record… Edmund Burke was evil AutoFocus. And he also never said this.

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton

Van Buren County - Milton
I wonder why steel cut was such a big deal.

Van Buren County - Milton

That burger I had at Misty’s Malt Shop in Keosauqua was fantastic! Easily one of the best burgers I’ve ever had from a restaurant.

Next time we hit the open road for auxiliary images of THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT we will hit up Louisa County and Des Moines County.

Lee & Van Buren County Aux. – Vol. 3

Time for another collection of images I took while harvesting the town signs of Lee County and Van Buren County. This collection begins in Lee County and then ends in Van Buren County.


Lee County  - Montrolse
This reminds me, who wants to hit up Stanhope Watermelon Day with me? July 15!

Lee County  - Keokuk
Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk
I need to go back and get a way better picture of the Keokuk Plant.

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County  - Keokuk
Donnellson

Lee County  - Keokuk

Lee County

Lee County

Van Buren County - Farmington
Farmington

Van Buren County - Farmington

Van Buren County - Farmington

Van Buren County - Farmington

Van Buren County - Farmington

Van Buren County - Farmington
I wish I would have went inside Hel-Mart.

Van Buren County - Farmington

Van Buren County - Farmington

Van Buren County - Bonaparte
Bonaparte

Van Buren County - Bonaparte

Van Buren County - Bonaparte

Van Buren County - Bonaparte

Van Buren County - Bonaparte

I definitely want to go back and spend more time in Keokuk and photograph it better. Also Bonaparte. Actually most of the villages of Van Buren. I wonder if there is an inn in Van Buren County that is haunted with gun hating ghosts…

Bottled Bliss

Maybe you haven’t heard, but there is a new bar in Boone called Bottled Bliss. It is a wine and crafter beer bar. It was started by a friend of mine (really Nate’s friend, but I’ve borrowed her as my friend) named Kelli.

I’m sure many of you are wondering why I’m writing about a bar when I don’t drink. “Sure… sure…” you are thinking, “I’ll listen to you when you endorse a company like Honey Hollow cause you look like somebody that has eaten your fair share of honey in your day. Probably more than your fair share of honey. I’ll even listen to you when you endorse a company like Little White Lye Soap because you come off clean and are clearly one of the best smelling employees at the Computer Mine. Top 5. Maybe even Top 2. Some days, #1. I’ll even give you the benefit of the doubt when you endorse Salon 908, when you clearly don’t have a great head of hair perched atop your Gulliver. But why should I listen to you… a notorious teetotaler about a place to go get a drink?”

Don’t worry. There is an answer to your question. It all started back on May 5. Cinco de Mayo. I had heard a rumor that my favorite The Colorado Grill employee was hanging it up. Calling it a day at The Colorado Grill. So Jesse, Willy, and I saddled up and took Friday Night Supper Club out to The Colorado Grill for Kelli’s last night.

Once we got out there, Kelli told us that she was leaving the Grill to start her own wine bar. (Incidentally, I haven’t been back to The Colorado Grill since.) I was heartbroken because Kelli is a master of customer service and she always keeps my raspberry ice tea topped off AND she always serves it to me in a giant mug. Not like the glass that the paupers get.

To commemorate Kelli’s last day and what I thought would be last raspberry tea I would ever receive from her we took this picture:


Kelli's Last Day

As fate would have it, it wasn’t the last raspberry tea with Kelli in our future. She told me that she would stock raspberry tea for me AND we struck a deal to put some of my photography on the walls of her new business.

Here is where you come in. You should 100% get your friends together and go down to a night of wine tasting or craft beer tasting at Bottled Bliss. My understanding is that Kelli really knows her wine and craft beers. She spent years honing her knowledge by stocking the craft beers at The Colorado Grill and running a monthly wine club. Also, she pours a mean raspberry tea… which is no easy job.

I’ve already heard a couple of “Yes!”es and a few “Sounds really good. I’ll have to do that”s.

But if I haven’t sold you yet, here is some information from her website (bottledbliss.net):

Monthly Cork Membership:
$35.00 Monthly
1 Glass of wine each weak.
$10.000 off Wine Club admission
20% Off bottles of wine.

There are 2 Wine Clubs.

4th Tuesday of the Month

Think of this wine club as a Wine 101. Become the expert wine lover you’ve always wanted to be. Explore new wines and expand your pallet. There’s no shame in enjoying a fantastic glass of moscato BUT there is more to wine than just one varietal. Enjoy new exciting wine in a welcoming and learning environment with great company and small bites.

This wine club will be hosted by wine distributors and Iowa Wineries.

2nd Tuesday of the Month

This wine club is designed for a mature pallet. Experience wines from around the world, build knowledge about unique wine regions surrounded by fellow wine lovers. Deep reds, dry whites, and full bodied wine can be expected at this wine club. Small bites will be offered to help compliment your wine experience.

This wine club will be hosted by wine distributors to help enhance your wine journey.

Wine Club events are $25 per event.

But I want to know more about Kelli other than she pours a mean raspberry tea. Also from the website:

My name is Kelli Casper and I was born and raised in Boone. My husband and I are raising our two beautiful daughters in Ogden surrounded by all the things that I loved growing up. Most people will recognize me from The Colorado Grill. I was just a month shy of celebrating my 19 years with the Gano’s at The Grill. In 2013, I launched a wine club there to learn more about wine. We dedicated one Tuesday every month trying different distributors and wineries all over the world; it was successful every month for 7 years and then Covid hit. Covid ruined so many good things. I’ve always enjoyed exploring wine and craft beer and The Grill was the perfect place to build my knowledge. My interest became a hobby and then a passion. I love talking “shop” with anyone who wants to listen. A wine bar was always my dream and then one day I decided I was tired of dreaming. And BOOM. Enter Bottled Bliss! We have around thirty chairs to offer anyone wanting place to land. A great craft beer selection and wines from around the country and globe. We offer bottle and glass service and we have prosecco ON TAP! For now, our main focus is beverage services but we are looking forward to building a small kitchen where we can offer small bites in the near future.

We will have a monthly wine club (just like old times) and also a Cork membership (think gym membership) with weekly rewards for your monthly members. I am looking forward to partnering with other businesses in Boone to make downtown great and something to be proud of.

See you soon!
Kelli Casper

If you ever want to get together and you have a wine and I’ll have a raspberry tea, let’s go!

Bottled Bliss is located at:

706 Keeler Street
Boone, Iowa 50036

Current Hours:

Mon Closed
Tues wine club
Wed 5 PM – 9 PM
Thu 5 PM – 9 PM
Fri 5 PM – 10 PM
Sat 2 PM – 10 PM
Sun 2 PM – 6 PM

But… you are probably wondering about the deal I struck with Kelli to display my photography.

Currently there are 5 of my photos displayed there. I went a little crazy on the size, so they are 40×30. They are acrylic prints.

After conferring with Kelli, here are the 5 prints that are up (Click on the link below the images to see more information on each image):



More Info


More Info

Drone Photography
More Info


More Info


More Info

Kelli wanted pictures of local interest that people would recognize. Her favorite is the picture of the Teddy Roosevelt Statue. She claims she knows who has the thumb in their possession, but is sworn to secrecy. You can talk to her about it when you go in for a drink.

There are going to be about 6 more smaller pictures going up and then maybe they will rotate in and out now and again. But This does remind me that I need to swap out pictures at pictures at Salon 908 at some point.

Lee & Van Buren County Aux. – Vol. 2

Time for another collection of images from my road trip to Lee County and Van Buren County to harvest their town signs. All of these pictures are taken in Lee County.


Lee County - West Point
West Point

Lee County - West Point
West Point has a badass window painter.

Lee County - West Point

Lee County - West Point

Lee County - West Point

Lee County - West Point
So I think this is badass. There are scores of towns across Iowa that has their own mini Statue of Liberty. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every single one of them. This is the ONLY one that has a base that is a replica of the base that the actual Statue of Liberty sits on. When I sent a picture of it to a bunch of people I didn’t even get a single response. Not a SINGLE person was impressed by this and this makes me sad. Melancholy even.

Lee County - West Point

Lee County - West Point

Lee County - West Point
I like to hit a bakery on these trips if I can.

Lee County - West Point

Lee County - West Point

Lee County - Fort Madison
Fort Madison

Lee County - Fort Madison

Lee County - Fort Madison
Lee County has 2 courthouses.

Lee County - Fort Madison

Lee County - Denmark
Denmark

Lee County - Denmark

Lee County - Denmark
I bet this place was the bomb in the day!

Lee County - Denmark

Lee County  - Denmark

Lee County - Montrose
Montrose

Lee County - Montrose
If you look closely here you can see a giant white building across the Mississippi River. That is a rebuilt LDS Temple in Nauvoo, Illinois. More on that later.

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Lee County - Montrose

Here is a little history of Nauvoo and the LDS Temple there from the Wiki:

In late 1839, arriving Latter Day Saints bought the small town and in April 1840 it was renamed Nauvoo by Joseph Smith, who led the Latter Day Saints to Nauvoo to escape conflict with the state government in Missouri. The name Nauvoo is derived from the traditional Hebrew language with an anglicized spelling. The word comes from Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful upon the mountains…” By 1844 “Nauvoo’s population had swollen to 12,000, rivaling the size of Chicago” at the time.

After Joseph Smith’s death in 1844, continued violence from surrounding non-LDS members forced most Latter-Day Saints to leave Nauvoo. Most of these followers, led by Brigham Young, emigrated to the Great Salt Lake Valley. In 1849, Icarians moved to the Nauvoo area to implement a utopian socialist commune based on the ideals of French philosopher Étienne Cabet. The colony had nearly 500 members at its peak, but Cabet’s death in 1856 led some members to leave this parent colony.

The Icarians are the same cult that setup shop in Corning, Iowa. The remains of their cult compound still remain today.

More:

The Latter Day Saints made preparations to build a temple soon after establishing their headquarters at Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1839. On April 6, 1841, the temple’s cornerstone was laid under the direction of Joseph Smith, the church founder and president; Sidney Rigdon gave the principal oration. At its base the building was 128 feet (39 m) long and 88 feet (27 m) wide with a clock tower and weather vane reaching to a total height of 165 feet (50 m)—a 60% increase over the dimensions of the Kirtland Temple. Like Kirtland, the Nauvoo Temple contained two assembly halls, one on the first floor and one on the second, called the lower and upper courts. Both had classrooms and offices in the attic. Unlike Kirtland, the Nauvoo Temple had a full basement which housed a baptismal font. Because the Saints had to abandon Nauvoo, the building was not entirely completed. The basement with its font was finished, as were the first floor assembly hall and the attic. When these parts of the building were completed they were used for performing ordinances (basement and attic) or for worship services (first floor assembly hall).

A Sunstone from the original Nauvoo Temple in a case in front of LDS Church’s Visitor Center in Nauvoo
The Nauvoo Temple was designed in the Greek Revival style by architect William Weeks, under the direction of Joseph Smith. Weeks’s design made use of distinctively Latter Day Saint motifs, including sunstones, moonstones, and starstones. It is often mistakenly thought that these stones represent the three degrees of glory in the Latter Day Saint conception of the afterlife, but the stones appear in the wrong order. Instead, Wandle Mace, foreman for the framework of the Nauvoo Temple, has explained that the design of the temple was meant to be “a representation of the Church, the Bride, the Lamb’s wife”.[4] In this regard, Mace references John’s statement in Revelation 12:1 concerning the “woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” This explains why the starstones are at the top of the temple (“crown of twelve stars”), the sunstones in the middle (“clothed with the sun”) and the moonstones at the bottom (“moon under her feet”).

Construction was only half complete at the death of Joseph Smith in 1844. After a succession crisis, Brigham Young was sustained as the church’s leader by the majority of Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo. As mob violence increased during the summer of 1845, he encouraged the Latter Day Saints to complete the temple even as they prepared to abandon the city, so portions of it could be used for Latter Day Saint ordinance, such as baptisms for the dead in the basement font. During the winter of 1845–46, the temple began to be used for additional ordinances, including the Nauvoo-era endowment, sealings in marriage, and adoptions. The Nauvoo Temple was in use for less than three months.

Most of the Latter Day Saints left Nauvoo, beginning in February 1846, but a small crew remained to finish the temple’s first floor, so that it could be formally dedicated. Once the first floor was finished with pulpits and benches, the building was finally dedicated in private services on April 30, 1846, and in public services on 1 May. In September 1846 the remaining Latter Day Saints were driven from the city and vigilantes from the neighboring region, including Carthage, Illinois, entered the near-empty city and vandalized the temple.

Initially the church’s agents tried to lease the structure, first to the Catholic Church, and then to private individuals. When this failed, they attempted to sell the temple, asking up to $200,000, but this effort also met with no success. On March 11, 1848, the LDS Church’s agents sold the building to David T. LeBaron, for $5,000. Finally, the New York Home Missionary Society expressed interest in leasing the building as a school, but around midnight on October 8–9, 1848, the temple was set on fire by an unknown arsonist. Nauvoo’s residents attempted to put out the fire, but the temple was gutted. James J. Strang, leader of the Strangite faction of Latter Day Saints, accused Young’s agents of setting fire to the temple. However, Strang’s charges were never proven. On April 2, 1849, LeBaron sold the damaged temple to Étienne Cabet for $2,000. Cabet, whose followers were called Icarians, hoped to establish Nauvoo as a communistic utopia.[5]

From 1937 to 1962, the LDS Church reacquired and restored the lot on which the temple stood.[8] The church bought the portion that initially housed the temple in an uncontested public auction on February 19, 1937, for $900, after previously being listed and protected by the bank at auction several times because prices were lower than expected.[8] Wilford C. Wood then bought the majority of the remainder of the temple square in 1940, 1941, and 1951 and transferred it to Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.[8] The Corporation bought the remainder of the property with purchases in 1959, 1961 and 1962.[8]

In 1999, church president Gordon B. Hinckley announced the rebuilding of the temple on its original footprint. After two years of construction, on June 27, 2002, the church dedicated the Nauvoo Illinois Temple, whose exterior is a replica of the first temple, but whose interior is laid out like a modern LDS temple.

Anyways, I find it fascinating as I like history, religion, and religious history. Mormon history is also fascinating.

There is even more that happened in Nauvoo with Joseph Smith III and the establishment of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, which is now called The Community of Christ, but this is probably enough history for today.

Lee & Van Buren County Aux. – Vol. 1

Back in August I took the Camry out on the open road to harvest the town signs of Lee County and Van Buren County. It was one of the longest trips I made on THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT. I left my house at 6:41 AM and returned at 8:31 PM. I travelled 522.6 miles in between. It was a pretty great trip.

Here is the first collection of auxiliary images from the trip:


Van Buren County - Selma
Selma – I haven’t been able to figure out what this is. There is no plaque and I can’t find any information on the internet.

Van Buren County - Selma

Van Buren County - Selma

Van Buren County - Selma

Van Buren County - Selma

Van Buren County - Selma

Van Buren County - Selma

Van Buren County - Douds
Douds

Van Buren County - Douds

Van Buren County - Douds

Van Buren County - Douds

Van Buren County - Douds
It is said location is everything in business. I say if they didn’t sell a trash product like lemonade, they would still be in business.

Lee County - Houghton
Houghton

Lee County - Houghton

Lee County - Houghton

Lee County  - Pilot Grove
Pilot Grove

Lee County - Saint Paul
Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - Saint Paul

Lee County - West Point
West Point

Lee County - West Point

Still so many pictures from this trip. Lee County has so many cool towns and Van Buren County has the historic villages that are also interesting.