I'll be going with my sister and one of my daughters. Our first stop will be Kansas City, Mo. to see our other sister and her family. They're scattered around the northern part of the state, Sedalia, Warrensburg, Osage Beach. If time allows we may get as far south as Branson. I lived there a couple years after my dad retired and before I came to So Cal to start my life. My dad is buried in Springfield so we may stop for a minute there. Then we'll shoot north to Omaha, Nebraska. My dad has family there that we haven't since the '60s. My sister has stayed in touch but I hardly remember them. Then into Iowa. First stop will be Woodbine. This will be where the trip gets very emotional for me. My aunt and uncle and two cousins are from Woodbine. They are are the only real family I ever knew besides by two sisters. My cousins live in Denver now and I see them as often as I can. My uncle passed away many years ago and my aunt has remarried. I've never met her new husband but have heard only good things about him.
Then for the main reason I'm making the trip. The Farm. Carroll, Iowa. My grandparents (on my moms side of the family) were full blown, died in the wool FARMERS. Yep FARMERS. I can't even begin to tell you of all the great memories I have as a child visiting the farm.
This is a shot of the farm looking roughly west taken in 1970. At the top of the photo is the Raccoon river. It fed three big gravel pits that the county used to stock for my grampa whenever they would stock some of the surrounding lakes. My grandfather ( and his father before him ) would sell gravel from the pits to use for road maintenance. He would make up to $300.00 each summer when the winters damage had to be repaired. I've found county records as far back as 1910 showing the purchases.
This is the main house. It's still standing and occupied. My grandfather and his father built this house sometime in the late 1800's. We're not exactly sure. My great grandfather had two hundred acres that he worked and when my grandfather became of age he acquired another two hundred acres of his own. When his father died he inherited his dads land and continued to work it until he passed in 1970. By the time my grandfather passed away the farm was severely neglected and went back to the state for past taxes. I'm hoping the current residents will humor my old ass with a walk through the house. But if for ANY they're not home I'll let myself in.
Then we're on the road again to Manning , Iowa. My dads dad ran the Great Western Train Depot in Manning for as long as he was alive. It's another place my sister and I have great memories.
I'm not sure when this picture was taken but it's exactly how we remember it.
The station a number of years later and just before it burned to the ground.
From there we'll run back to KC and my sister will come back to L.A. while my daughter and I head up to the PNW for a little time together before returning home.
If any one of you is somewhere along the route I'd love to make a few minutes to say Hi and share a beer.