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Written by Lois Miszner, 03/03/2010

Guess what? It is Sunday afternoon and the last day of February. The sun is shining and temperature in Ardie’s car registered 34 degrees. There were places that the road was a little messy from the snow melting but I don’t think those twenty foot snow banks diminished that much. Everybody tells me to wait, that it is going to get warmer and the snow will all be gone.

My friend Judy brought me a map of Big Creek and Spring Creek townships of Black Hawk County. It is dated 1910. Folks, that is one hundred years ago. There are a lot of names familiar to me; those who owned land and still has the original name attached to it. I imagine a lot of the farms listed are direct descendants of today’s occupants. I found these names: Clark, Vaughn, Kober, Foss, Anton, Cooper, Husman, Hager, Pauls, just to name a few. The first names may be different but you can see these people know a good place to live and stay. It is interesting to know Iowa history and the counties which made up this great state. I’m enjoying the maps very much.

I’m not too familiar with Eagle Road but have remembered some of the folks living there. Where Larry Anton now lives was at one time owned by a Chas. Hummel. It was also known as Locust Grove Farm. Going on west is the August Stahnke farm. And I think I’m right that there was a small acreage on the west side where some people by the name of Harvey lived. I believe they were the parents of famous Lyle Harvey or "Joe Doakes" as I knew him. I’m told they raised asparagus on this acreage. If I remember right, the Albert Palmer family lived on the north side of the road in the beginning of the next mile and farther west were the Mullen and Gill families. That is about as far as I can recall. I will stand corrected if I am not correct. Again, thanks to the people who have helped me with these trips. I may not have always had the right person in the right spot, but it will jar your memory and make us more aware of our community. I’m going to try and so some of the crossroads in weeks to come.

I talked to LeAnn from the Museum and she informed me that the theme for this year’s program is "Growing Up." If you have a story to tell about your growing up days in our community, please give it to her at the Museum (342-3619). I’m sure she would love to hear about it and bring back memories to you and other people involved.

My La Porte City personality to remember this week is Percy Haven who had an Ice House and delivered ice to the various businesses in our town. Do you remember when?

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