One More from the Jewel Box Bank in Grinnell, IA

This magnificent, glowing stained glass window in a bank building designed by Louis Sullivan in 1915.

"The Jewel Box Bank" aka Merchants National Bank, in Grinnell, IA

Dates from 1914, designed by Louis Sullivan

A nice "reflection shot", as it turned out..

Reminded me of the classic kitchen table and chairs in the setting of "Bridges of Madison County".

I was in Iowa, after all. On the square in Chariton.

Dusty Romance of the American Small Town Market Square... in Chariton, IA

 There is a pretty park nearby, Red Haw State Park, where we camped for a night. The next morning, we came to town for breakfast. I like to photograph the ghost signs, old buildings, etc. The small grocery is a going concern, with food, snacks, curios, antiques, etc.

 The long view of the ghost sign in the previous post

 Neat, and functioning court house on the square.

 The alley with the stairway of the evocative lion head. A story could surely be crafted around that feature.

A poor photograph of the best building on the square.

Ghost Signs, Details, Trims and Surfaces Found in Kansas and Iowa Towns Last Week

 Lately, I need to do close-ups of the ghost signs as well as full view. Chariton, IA

Patterns on metal stair way in Chariton, IA

 Another painted detail

 Chariton, IA

 As we left Manhattan, KS. Once advertised a local radio station

Table top design in McNally's grocery in Grinnell, IA

Random Photos from The Reunion Weekend...

 Council Bluffs, IA downtown, early Friday morning; they have cute squirrel statues in the park..

 ...and bright blue park benches...

 ...above and below, examples of the inspirations for the statuary....it's hot already so the brown squirrel is flattened against the tree trunk to stay cooler...

 ...butterflies on cone flowers in Omaha, before we went to the IMAX...

 ...painted-lady building in Beatrice, NE.  The downtown appeared more prosperous than I expected, I'm happy to say...

 ...a recent renovation in Beatrice, now looking for a purpose.... sign on one empty storefront said "I'm not empty, I'm full of possibilities"....

 ..."soul swiping", again; couldn't resist the unfortunate looking pair, along with tiny child and another on the way. Sometimes I just can't stop myself from grabbing a shot of human situational dramas in public. Manhattan, KS main business street.  Otherwise, Manhattan is Booming, by all appearances, with the usual economic anchors including K-State, nearby Fort Riley. Good Grief, "Plum Island" is moving here!! (Usually I'm not inclined to be a NIMBY, but I'd have to think about this one......)

 ...seldom or never do we see toads in our area, since the winters are so cold...here's a big fat one in KS.

...the restored livery stable at Old Abilene Town..... That's about it. What will we do next?

Hubsy's 45th HS Reunion...People Live This Long....?

 ...Manhattan, KS HS 1966....but first we had to get there--which is at least half the fun! On a blazing hot morning, a retired pile of rusting old farm equipment displayed near our motel; I-80 is just beyond the tree line; you can't feel the sweaty heat nor hear the roar of the trucks on the road. Little kids loved this exhibit, no surprise....

 (actually, in answer to my rhetorical question, two of Hubsy's classmates passed away this very month! Sad) Who the heck knew that Council Bluffs, IA had such a pretty downtown central square? This statue is one of several at the war memorial--I include it since I can vaguely remember such elderly women as is represented here....perhaps poor, but with dignity and genuine, simple grace, clad in plain worn cloth coat...

 ...never pass up a glorious daylily--that's my policy....

 ...an impressive water feature in the park, sounding refreshing and cool in the muggy hot morning...

....just some nice fresh colors on an old building--looks like a flourishing wine shop in downtown Council Bluffs, shot while Hubsy was filling up the gas tank.   Below, looking back east from Omaha....