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Iowa Great Places reps see Lee County highpoints
By Brennan Umthun/MVM News Network
Representatives for the Iowa Great Places program were in Lee County Tuesday for a countywide tour provided by the Lee County Economic Development Group (LCEDG).
The Great Places initiative provides assistance in identifying funding and services and helping places secure them. The Iowa Legislature appropriated $3 million for the next Great Places to help them “kick-start” their infrastructure initiatives.
The tour of Lee County began in Donnellson with a view and a vision of a possible future site where locally-grown produce would be sold in a grocery store setting.
The Donnellson park has had many upgrades recently, including new playground equipment donated by Pilot Grove Savings Bank, and refurbishing of the old train depot and original baggage cart topping the list. The depot is filled in abundance with old Donnellson area artifacts. The fire station will boast a bronze statue in memory of the late Jerry Schlicher, a well-known Donnellson area man.
The fairgrounds has a new learning center, which is used as a community center and can be rented by the public. It has a full kitchen, banquet room, showers and a patio for outdoor events.
Donnellson City Clerk Jane Krebill presented tourists with an inside look at the new sports complex that features a baseball field, nine-hole disc golf course, enclosed sand box (so children aren't hit by foul balls), memorials and a freshly stocked pond for fishing. The City of Donnellson bought the 30 acres for the complex with one-cent sales tax dollars saved over several years.
Franklin
to West Point
The tour then made its way toward Franklin, established in 1840, where tourists and representatives of Iowa Great Places marveled over the mid-1800s stone homes.
Then the group took a quick jaunt over to West Point, where city representatives boasted of their historical brick buildings from the 1850s, including Iowa's oldest brick church. West Point officials were quite excited over their recent Sweet Corn Festival, where numbers were estimated at 25,000 to 30,000 visitors over four days, according to Vern Meierotto.
“West Point has more bars per capita than any other place in Iowa,” Meierotto added.
West Point also holds claim to the great-grandmother of the legendary Mark Twain, Jane Casey, who is also known as the first Sunday school teacher in West Point. Twain also spent a great deal of time in Keokuk, where his mother lived part of her life.
On to Fort Madison
Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce officials joined the tour in Fort Madison, with insight to possible coming attractions, such as the Amtrak relocation to the Train Museum and the Art Center, and Train Town becoming a reality with the possible Great Places funding.
The marina will undergo a facelift in the future as well. Also in the riverfront area is the riverboat casino, which will be short lived at its current resting place, with plans for a new casino in the works.
From the riverfront, tourists were whisked up to Old Settler's Park.
“Ten years ago this area was a disaster, but thanks to residents around the park area taking on the project, basically by themselves through fund-raisers and memorials of residents, we've seen remarkable improvement”, said Tracy Vance, executive director of the Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce.
Just a short drive down the street takes one past the nationally-registered Lee County Courthouse built in 1841.
Central Park is undergoing rehabilitation of sorts as well. The old gazebo will be redone, with period benches placed throughout the park. The artesian well and pond will soon be functioning again, and in addition, a fountain is proposed for the center of the park.
Another focal point stressed to representatives of Iowa Great Places is the new $2 million plus Fort Madison Public Library.
The Fort Madison part of the tour concluded with a visit to Mayor Steve Ireland.
“We're in one of the greatest places on earth, a resourceful and dynamic little town with history and tourism playing an important factor in growing Fort Madison and Lee County,” Ireland said.
Fort Madison also averages approximately 23,000 to 25,000 visitors to its Tri-State Rodeo every year, with this year being its 60th year as an organization.
Arriving in Montrose
The group continued on to Montrose, home to Cal McVey, the first professional baseball player in Iowa, and the widest part of the upper Mississippi River. Montrose also boasts the new Siemens Plant and Pinnacle Foods, both central to Lee County's development.
Montrose is the beginning point of the Mormon Trail, located at Linger Longer Park. Montrose sees people from all over the world coming to visit its major flyway of migratory fowl and eagles.
Montrose Riverfront Inc. utilized the pre-existing riverfront to beautify the town. Tanks that once held chemicals have been converted to a waterfall and fish tanks. An observation deck that overlooks the Mississippi river was built by money raised from contributions and fund-raisers. Central Lee F.F.A. built planters for the city, with students planting flowers in them throughout Montrose. The riverfront area, which many believe was the site of the old Fort, now has a gazebo and playground.
The one-time hotel once known as Hotel Montrose at First Street and Main dates back to the days when Montrose was a resort town and heavily frequented by tourists.
The 63rd Watermelon Festival begins Thursday in Montrose, where all-you-can eat watermelon still brings in a crowd.
Down the road to Keokuk
Taking the trip down River Road to Keokuk can remind anyone why they live in Lee County.
The coal deposit between Montrose and Keokuk sees nine 100-car trains a day roll through for a load from the black mountain.
Keokuk marked the final destination of the Lee County Great Places tour.
Riders parked atop Rand Park (a local sack lunch hot spot), hypnotized by the view of the roaring Mississippi. Rand Park is home to the popular City of Christmas, and many people view the Fourth of July fireworks shot over the river from here.
The famed statue sculpted in honor of Chief Keokuk stands perched above all at the highest point of Rand Park. The chief was buried there, minus the skull, until the skull was found in a Masonic Lodge in Kansas. It has since been reunited with the skeleton.
The legendary Howard Hughes used to spend his summers in Keokuk at his grandparent's home, who are also buried in the town.
One of the most talked about homes in Keokuk comes equipped with a name, The Grand Anne. This home actually has in its deed that anyone who wishes to build across the street from it must stick to the single story. This ensures that the Grand Anne always will have the “best view” in Keokuk.
Keokuk is home to Rollin' on the River, a festive blues event, and an old steel toll bridge that dates back to the 1870s. This well crafted bridge is still functional and used by locomotives.
The old Grande Theatre, which burnt in the 1920s, was a home-away-from-home to many legendary Vaudeville entertainers, W.C. Fields for example. Many blues/jazz legends frequented this area, much in part because it was the halfway point between St. Louis and Chicago. The theatre has since been reconstructed and is heavily utilized.
Keokuk holds ownership to the first black professional baseball player at any level.
Keokuk National Cemetery, built in 1862, the same year as Arlington National Cemetery, is the final resting place for many of those killed in the Civil War. The dead were shipped up the river. Keokuk also was a “swearing in point” for the Civil War. Soldiers would take their oaths, then they would be “shipped down the river” to war.
The Great Places initiative provides assistance in identifying funding and services and helping places secure them. The Iowa Legislature appropriated $3 million for the next Great Places to help them “kick-start” their infrastructure initiatives.
The tour of Lee County began in Donnellson with a view and a vision of a possible future site where locally-grown produce would be sold in a grocery store setting.
The Donnellson park has had many upgrades recently, including new playground equipment donated by Pilot Grove Savings Bank, and refurbishing of the old train depot and original baggage cart topping the list. The depot is filled in abundance with old Donnellson area artifacts. The fire station will boast a bronze statue in memory of the late Jerry Schlicher, a well-known Donnellson area man.
The fairgrounds has a new learning center, which is used as a community center and can be rented by the public. It has a full kitchen, banquet room, showers and a patio for outdoor events.
Donnellson City Clerk Jane Krebill presented tourists with an inside look at the new sports complex that features a baseball field, nine-hole disc golf course, enclosed sand box (so children aren't hit by foul balls), memorials and a freshly stocked pond for fishing. The City of Donnellson bought the 30 acres for the complex with one-cent sales tax dollars saved over several years.
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to West Point
The tour then made its way toward Franklin, established in 1840, where tourists and representatives of Iowa Great Places marveled over the mid-1800s stone homes.
Then the group took a quick jaunt over to West Point, where city representatives boasted of their historical brick buildings from the 1850s, including Iowa's oldest brick church. West Point officials were quite excited over their recent Sweet Corn Festival, where numbers were estimated at 25,000 to 30,000 visitors over four days, according to Vern Meierotto.
“West Point has more bars per capita than any other place in Iowa,” Meierotto added.
West Point also holds claim to the great-grandmother of the legendary Mark Twain, Jane Casey, who is also known as the first Sunday school teacher in West Point. Twain also spent a great deal of time in Keokuk, where his mother lived part of her life.
On to Fort Madison
Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce officials joined the tour in Fort Madison, with insight to possible coming attractions, such as the Amtrak relocation to the Train Museum and the Art Center, and Train Town becoming a reality with the possible Great Places funding.
The marina will undergo a facelift in the future as well. Also in the riverfront area is the riverboat casino, which will be short lived at its current resting place, with plans for a new casino in the works.
From the riverfront, tourists were whisked up to Old Settler's Park.
“Ten years ago this area was a disaster, but thanks to residents around the park area taking on the project, basically by themselves through fund-raisers and memorials of residents, we've seen remarkable improvement”, said Tracy Vance, executive director of the Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce.
Just a short drive down the street takes one past the nationally-registered Lee County Courthouse built in 1841.
Central Park is undergoing rehabilitation of sorts as well. The old gazebo will be redone, with period benches placed throughout the park. The artesian well and pond will soon be functioning again, and in addition, a fountain is proposed for the center of the park.
Another focal point stressed to representatives of Iowa Great Places is the new $2 million plus Fort Madison Public Library.
The Fort Madison part of the tour concluded with a visit to Mayor Steve Ireland.
“We're in one of the greatest places on earth, a resourceful and dynamic little town with history and tourism playing an important factor in growing Fort Madison and Lee County,” Ireland said.
Fort Madison also averages approximately 23,000 to 25,000 visitors to its Tri-State Rodeo every year, with this year being its 60th year as an organization.
Arriving in Montrose
The group continued on to Montrose, home to Cal McVey, the first professional baseball player in Iowa, and the widest part of the upper Mississippi River. Montrose also boasts the new Siemens Plant and Pinnacle Foods, both central to Lee County's development.
Montrose is the beginning point of the Mormon Trail, located at Linger Longer Park. Montrose sees people from all over the world coming to visit its major flyway of migratory fowl and eagles.
Montrose Riverfront Inc. utilized the pre-existing riverfront to beautify the town. Tanks that once held chemicals have been converted to a waterfall and fish tanks. An observation deck that overlooks the Mississippi river was built by money raised from contributions and fund-raisers. Central Lee F.F.A. built planters for the city, with students planting flowers in them throughout Montrose. The riverfront area, which many believe was the site of the old Fort, now has a gazebo and playground.
The one-time hotel once known as Hotel Montrose at First Street and Main dates back to the days when Montrose was a resort town and heavily frequented by tourists.
The 63rd Watermelon Festival begins Thursday in Montrose, where all-you-can eat watermelon still brings in a crowd.
Down the road to Keokuk
Taking the trip down River Road to Keokuk can remind anyone why they live in Lee County.
The coal deposit between Montrose and Keokuk sees nine 100-car trains a day roll through for a load from the black mountain.
Keokuk marked the final destination of the Lee County Great Places tour.
Riders parked atop Rand Park (a local sack lunch hot spot), hypnotized by the view of the roaring Mississippi. Rand Park is home to the popular City of Christmas, and many people view the Fourth of July fireworks shot over the river from here.
The famed statue sculpted in honor of Chief Keokuk stands perched above all at the highest point of Rand Park. The chief was buried there, minus the skull, until the skull was found in a Masonic Lodge in Kansas. It has since been reunited with the skeleton.
The legendary Howard Hughes used to spend his summers in Keokuk at his grandparent's home, who are also buried in the town.
One of the most talked about homes in Keokuk comes equipped with a name, The Grand Anne. This home actually has in its deed that anyone who wishes to build across the street from it must stick to the single story. This ensures that the Grand Anne always will have the “best view” in Keokuk.
Keokuk is home to Rollin' on the River, a festive blues event, and an old steel toll bridge that dates back to the 1870s. This well crafted bridge is still functional and used by locomotives.
The old Grande Theatre, which burnt in the 1920s, was a home-away-from-home to many legendary Vaudeville entertainers, W.C. Fields for example. Many blues/jazz legends frequented this area, much in part because it was the halfway point between St. Louis and Chicago. The theatre has since been reconstructed and is heavily utilized.
Keokuk holds ownership to the first black professional baseball player at any level.
Keokuk National Cemetery, built in 1862, the same year as Arlington National Cemetery, is the final resting place for many of those killed in the Civil War. The dead were shipped up the river. Keokuk also was a “swearing in point” for the Civil War. Soldiers would take their oaths, then they would be “shipped down the river” to war.
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