by Amy Joanning
Every year the year-round Camp staff comes together for one day of fun! In the past we have gone bowling, go-cart racing, played arcade games, attended a group golf lesson, and we always start our Fun Day shooting clay pigeons with a rifle, who wouldn’t?
I get the great honor of planning our Fun Days every year. This year I decided to do something a little different. Over the past few weeks our director David Sherry has challenged us with questions like, how do you as an individual contribute as a volunteer in our community, how does the staff contribute as volunteers in our community, and what do we know about our community? The last question brought me to the decision to have a Boone Field Trip Fun Day!
We started our day at David Sherry’s home with a home cooked breakfast by David himself. Then it was off to do our traditional shooting, only this time we took our aim at the bulls-eye with bow and arrows!
We headed out of the valley with our first stop at the Boone’s very own radio station KWGB. We were interested to hear that over the years the radio station has moved from various locations around town, has had a variety of different owners, and currently is an AM only station.
Every year the year-round Camp staff comes together for one day of fun! In the past we have gone bowling, go-cart racing, played arcade games, attended a group golf lesson, and we always start our Fun Day shooting clay pigeons with a rifle, who wouldn’t?
I get the great honor of planning our Fun Days every year. This year I decided to do something a little different. Over the past few weeks our director David Sherry has challenged us with questions like, how do you as an individual contribute as a volunteer in our community, how does the staff contribute as volunteers in our community, and what do we know about our community? The last question brought me to the decision to have a Boone Field Trip Fun Day!
We started our day at David Sherry’s home with a home cooked breakfast by David himself. Then it was off to do our traditional shooting, only this time we took our aim at the bulls-eye with bow and arrows!
We headed out of the valley with our first stop at the Boone’s very own radio station KWGB. We were interested to hear that over the years the radio station has moved from various locations around town, has had a variety of different owners, and currently is an AM only station.
Thank you to Jim Turbes and the staff for letting us visit. You can count on the YCamp staff to Keep Watching Boone Grow!
Our next visit was at the Ericson Public Library. If you ever have the chance to visit our library it is a must! The residents of Boone started a "free reading room" in 1885. The assets were turned over to the city in 1889 to become a public library. A Boone businessman by the name of Senator C.J. A. Ericson gave the city a building to house the library in 1901.
Many, many years later in 1993 the voters approved a 1 cent local option sales tax to have the building enlarged and remodeled. The original staircase and fireplaces remain. We were surprised to hear that our library has a variety of magazine you may check out, framed prints, cake pans, and a wide array of online options as well as offering e-books December 1st. The children’s department is absolutely amazing. Any child would have a hard time falling in love with books after spending time in the children’s department.
Many, many years later in 1993 the voters approved a 1 cent local option sales tax to have the building enlarged and remodeled. The original staircase and fireplaces remain. We were surprised to hear that our library has a variety of magazine you may check out, framed prints, cake pans, and a wide array of online options as well as offering e-books December 1st. The children’s department is absolutely amazing. Any child would have a hard time falling in love with books after spending time in the children’s department.
A special thanks to Barb Rardin for guiding our tour and teaching us about this great gem in downtown Boone!
After visiting the library we took a drive out to the Kate Shelley High Bridge and later onto the Kate Shelly Railroad Museum. The bridge, originally named the Boone Viaduct, was dedicated to the memory of Kate Shelley in 1926. At it’s inception it is said the Boone Viaduct was the longest railroad bridge, both for single and double track, in the world!
On July 6, 1881 a thunderstorm flooded the Des Moines River washing out the Honey Creek Bridge and derailing a train near Kate Shelley’s house. Kate, who was 15 years old, knew the Midnight Express passenger train was headed towards the washed out bridge and two trainmen were fighting for their lives after their engine plunged into the water. With a lantern in hand Kate raced through the woods, crossed the suspended opened bottom bridge that was over 2 football fields long, to the train depot to warn the oncoming passenger train. Kate Shelley became an overnight success having people visit her from around the world and many articles written about her, one appearing in the New York Times. She was awarded a gold medallion and free train rides for life including departing and arriving at her home!
Between visiting the Kate Shelley High Bridge and Railroad Museum we made a stop at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Birthplace. Mamie was the First Lady of our 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower. She was born in Boone and raised in Cedar Rapids until age 6 when they moved to Colorado. The Victorian Home was moved across the street from its original site and completely restored. Many items of family furniture are in the home including the original master bedroom furniture and Mamie’s very own matching chairs found in the parlor.
The lower level has a museum and library where you will find photographs, newspaper articles, Mamie’s awards and dresses, campaign items, and other memorabilia. The path to the carriage house is lined with Boone bricks. Inside the carriage house you will find a 1949 Chrysler Windsor and 1962 Plymouth Valiant once owned by Mamie.
For our final visit we made our way to the Boone County Historical Society. We were able to view many amazing items including Kate Shelley’s gold medallion and lantern she carried on that stormy night. In the upper level you can view the the 20th century. Starting left to right we were able to explore Boone County from 1900 to 1999. My favorite article came from the 1950’s when girls started wearing pants rather than skirts to school. The boys boycotted by wearing bows in their hair, lipstick, and even a few wore skirts themselves. And I have to say my favorite piece came from the 1970’s, a rake for your shag carpet!
Thank you to Chuck Irwin and your volunteer for guiding us through the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Museum, Kate Shelley Railroad Museum, and the Historical Society.
A Boone Field Trip Fun Day would not be complete with out stopping by the Dutch Oven Bakery for an afternoon treat! Although there are many more sites to see in Boone we got just a taste of what our community is all about. Being a Boone resident my entire life it was fun for me to plan this outing and share some of the history of Boone with my co-workers.
The next time your staff has a Fun Day or if your staff has never had a Fun Day, I recommend learning about your community, you might be surprise at what you find!
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