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Written by Lois Miszner, 07/27/2010

Summer is going fast. By the time this is published we will be in the month of August. School will be starting for some communities and kids will be heading back to college.  It has been a hot and wet summer in parts of our country and there may be places where they need moisture. I guess that is the way of life.

My heart goes out to those who were devastated by heavy rains and caused many little and big streams to get bigger and cause much damage. Let us hope we get back to normal some of these days.

Have you had any of Iowa’s sweet corn to enjoy yet? When we came from Waterloo today I noticed a vender with his vehicle parked on one of the corners of a side road with his big sign displaying “Sweet Corn for sale”.  I understand the Farmer’s Market had some venders selling it Friday night. Now is the time to enjoy its delicacy.

Do you remember when La Porte City had a sweet corn canning factory here in our town? They also canned tomatoes which were raised by local farmers. Many local people were employed for several weeks during the season of sweet corn and tomatoes. I remember my folks had both. The men would pick a load of sweet corn by hand haul it to town in a wagon pulled by a team of horses. Lots of families would benefit in several ways at that time. Before they would get to the factory with their load local residents would hear the wagon coming and would ask for a few ears for their supper. The men folks were always glad to help out, then they would go on to the factory. Many local housewives worked at the factory during the canning time. It helped families get through the winter and school season with their expenses. I know some individuals peeled tomatoes and were paid by certain buckets being filled. As I said people got enough money to buy school clothes, supplies and help with their winter’s fuel bill. It was a blessing to many families in many ways.

That was many years ago. The factory burned down November 1987 and now is La Porte City history. There have been many interesting stories pertaining to the “life” of the La Porte City Canning co.

My La Porte City personalities to remember this week are those individuals who were employed by this factory in the peek of time.  Remember When?

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