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TRANSCRIPT
June 14--16, 2015
Valleys, Bluffs, & Rivers:
Treasures ofNortheast Iowa & Minnesota
Our Mission:
to celebrate the
joys of vintage
vehicle motoring
Road Rules• We provide both emergency roadside assistance and vehicle hauling serv-ices. Disabled vehicles should report their location via cell phone to John.No more than two vehicles should stop to provide roadside assistance.
• If you encounter problems with your vehicle and must stop,pull as far off the roadway as possible. If you do not need as-sistance, please give a “Thumbs Up” signal to passing vehicles,so they know you are “OK”.• We try to avoid the busier highways, but that can’t alwaysbe the case. Always keep sufficient intervals between vehicles so an overtaking vehicle can blend.
• In reality it is the second vehicle that bears the responsibility in passing situations. If you are holding up traffic, please pull over and give faster vehicles the right of way.• Rain, shine or worse… we continue to roll and all vehicles are expected to do the best for themselves under the circumstances. Open top vehicles may need to seek shelter. Individual judgment will be the order for the day.• Get a compass or GPS if you are not always sure of directions.• These route instructions serve as a “guide”only. You are free to deviate andlearn about other parts of theterritory.• We have purposely refrainedfrom relying on mileage or time references in our directions.• Odometers will vary, so any referencesthat do occur must be treated as approximate.
For emergencies call John • 319-431-0520
Winneshiek County HighlightsDecorah Circle Tour with visits to Festina, Ft. Atkinson and Spillville
Decorah is the county seat of Winneshiek County, with a population of 8,127.
Originally settled in 1849, Decorah has become a center for Norwegian-American
culture originating from a high number of Norwegian settlements beginning in
the 1850s. Since 1861 it has been the home of Luther College, affiliated with the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Decorah is also the home of the Vester-
heim Norwegian-American Museum, the largest museum in the country devoted
to one single immigrant group. Until 1972, one of the largest Norwegian language
newspapers in the nation was published in Decorah, the Decorah Posten.
The city was named for Waukon Decorah, a Winnebago leader who was a
U.S. ally during the Black Hawk War of 1832 and whose people were subsequent-
ly forced out of Wisconsin into northeast Iowa. Waukon, immediately east, seat
of Allamakee County, is also named for him. The Day family and other early,
non-native settlers were able to enter and acquire land in Decorah only after the
Winnebago Indians were removed in 1848.
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Sunday, June 14 Day 1
2
Day 1
Decorah to Festina
f� From the Country Inn return to Hwy 9 and turn left
g/jQuickly, turn right onto Short St., then quickly curve left around McDonald’s
g At the T, turn right onto Division St. which becomes Middle Calmar Rd (W38)
f At the T intersection, turn left (east) onto Hwy 52
g Turn right onto B32 at the west edge of Ossian
h Follow B32 to Festina and carefully cross Hwy 150 onto what is now 123rd St.
• In a mile turn left onto Little Church Road to the World’s Smallest Church
Visiting the church does require driving on gravel, but with slow speed and
spacing this should not be a problem. If you wish to go directly to Ft. Atkinson
turn right onto Hwy 150, then left onto Hwy 24 in Calmar.
Chapel of St. Anthony of PaduaThis chapel is known as the “world’s smallest church.” It was built in 1885 and
measures fourteen by twenty feet and seats 8 people. The belfry is forty feet high.
Constructed of stones quarried at Snake Hollow, Joseph Spielman donated $20
toward the bell and Johann Gaertner, then
92 years of age, donated $75 to pay for the
wood in the chapel. Frank Joseph Huber and
his wife, Mary Ann, paid the balance. The
chapel dedication took place in 1886.
On June 27, 1887, Johann Gaertner died,
and on Nov. 23, 1887, Frank Joseph Huber
died. Mary Ann carried along the work of
maintaining the chapel. In 1888 she had the
vestibule added on the Chapel with a belfry
40 feet high.
In 1903, stained glass windows were
installed, donated by Mary Ann Huber. The
church is currently a mission of “Our Lady of Seven Dolors” Church of Festina,
Iowa, and is kept up by the living family members of Johann Gaertner and Frank
Joseph Huber. Each year, on the Sunday closest to June 13, the feast of St. Anthony
of Padua mass is offered on its miniature altar.
Fort AtkinsonFort Atkinson was built to protect the Winnebago during their removal from Wis-
consin. It honors Henry Atkinson, the commanding officer in charge of the effort.
Construction began in May 1840 and was com-
plete by the summer of 1842. The regular army
turned the fort over to Iowa volunteers as the
troops stationed there were needed for the Mex-
ican-American War. After the Winnebago were
removed the post was abandoned in 1849.
In SpillvilleWe will visit St. Wenceslaus Church and the
Bily Clock Museum. Plan to spend 30–45
minutes at each of them. Drivers whose last name begins with A through L will
visit the church first and those with M through Z will start at the Clock Museum,
then switch places.
The Clock Museum is on W14 (Main Street) and the church is 3 blocks
further and a left turn onto Church Street, wrapping around the memorial band-
stand. Church parking is up the driveway just west of the church and clock
museum parking is behind the building off School Street.
Wenceslaus is the oldest Czech Catholic Church in the United States. It
was built with the hard work and generosity of Czech settlers that imigrated to
the area. The original church was completed in 1860. A bell tower was added in
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Day 1
Festina to Ft. Atkinson and Spillville
f After visiting the church, return to 123rd St. and turn left
g At the T intersection with W14 turn right toward Ft. Atkinson
g At Hwy 24 turn right into Ft. Atkinson
�f/gTurn left onto 4th St. (W14), then 2 blocks later turn right onto 10th Ave.
�f/fContinue 2 blocks on 10th, then left onto 145th St. and left again at the Fort
h After visiting Ft. Atkinson, return to 4th St. (aka w14) and continue west
g Continue on W14 when it turns right (north) in about 1½ miles to Spillville
4
1869 and the sanctuary and transept were completed in 1873. The original pipe
organ installed in 1876 still remains and was played by Antonin Dvorak during
his stay in Spillville. William Kuhlman, Luther
College Professor Emeritus will play an organ
demonstration
Antonin DvorakDr. Antonin Dvorak, world-famous musician
and composer, came to spend the summer of
1893 in Spillville, Iowa. Through a resident of
Spillville he had learned of the village, and
with his family he arrived from New York City by railroad early in June. It was
said that the following morning, before many of the townspeo-
ple were astir, Dvorak arose and proceeded to the site of
Riverside Park, along the Turkey River, to commune
with nature and enjoy the sound of birds and feast
his eyes on the beau-
ties of the
region.While in
Spillville, Dvorak
composed the
widely-known
"American Quar-
tette" and found the
inspiration for "Hu-
moresque", which was
written after he left
Spillville..
The Bily BrothersThe history of the Bily (pronounced Bee-Lee)
Brothers, Frank and Joseph, began on the farm where they were born and
raised. Located between Ridgeway and Spillville,Iowa, the farm is where the
Day 1
The Dvorak
Clock, a tribute
from the
Billy Brothers
5
Day 1
Close ups of the American Pioneer History Clock.
two brothers started their carvings. Beginning in 1913, the brothers employed the
idle hours of long winter days and evenings with their skills of woodcarving. Being
farmers and carpenters, they carved only as a hobby while still doing their regular
chores and maintaining a well-kept farm. In 1915 and 1916, they built the Apostle
Clock from which the Twelve Apostles appear on the hour. During the period of
1923-1927, the Bily Brothers added their masterpiece to the collection, The Ameri-
can Pioneer History Clock. A memorial clock to Charles Lindbergh was carved in
1928 commemorating his historic flight. In these beautiful artistically carved
clocks the brothers have used woods from a number of foreign countries as well as
numerous pieces of walnut, butternut,
maple and oaks from North America. The
Bily Brothers moved their collection to
Spillville in 1946. They bequeathed the
clocks to the town of Spillville with an
agreement that they would never be sold
or moved from their present location.
Spillville to Decorah Country Inn
From either the church or the Museum return to Main St. heading south
f Turn left onto Bridge St. (aka Hwy B16) a block south of the Bily Museum
f Turn left (north) at the T intersection onto Hwy 52
• Time permitting, turn right to Whistlestop Antiques by the railroad tracks in Calmar
g Turn right onto Hwy 9 to the Country Inn
Directions to Phelps Park- Dinner at Whalen Cabin
f/gFrom the hotel parking area turn left uphill, then a quick right onto Park St.
h Continue several blocks on Park to Whalen Cabin Historic Site parking on the left.
David Faldet, Luther CollegeProfessor of English
Professor of English David Faldet’s recent book, Oneota
Flow was chosen as the summer reading for Luther’s first-
year class this fall, so David had the thrill of giving the open-
ing convocation lecture to an audience who had read his book.
In Oneota Flow David folds his local roots and stories into a natu-
ral-cultural history of Decorah’s Upper Iowa River and the Driftless re-
gion of Northeast Iowa.
David’s interests in ecology make him an invaluable link between
Luther’s English department and its Environmental Studies program. A Luther
grad and a Ph.D. from Iowa in nineteenth-century British literature, David
teaches Victorian literature as well as rhetoric.
6
William KuhlmanLuther CollegeProfessor Emeritus of Organ and Church Music.
Critics hailed organist William Kuhlman as “a
world-class performer” whose playing “commu-
nicates musical purpose and excitement.” His pas-
sion for his art was reflected in a teaching and
performing career that spanned a broad range of activ-
ities, from concerts with the Philadelphia Brass and solo
recitals in the cathedrals of Trondheim, Rotterdam and Vienna, to publication
in 2002 of his scholarly work in national organ journals. Over forty of his for-
mer Luther organ students went on for graduate degrees at a variety of presti-
gious institutions. Kuhlman was named Emeritus Professor of Music following
his retirement in 2006.
Day 1
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Monday, June 15 Day 2
Three Scenic BywaysMinnesota, Iowa & Great River RoadA circle tour with pit stops in Caledonia, MN & Waukon and lunch in New Albin
Decorah to Caledonia
g From the Country Inn return to Hwy 9 and turn right
g At the intersection, turn right onto Hwy 52 passing Luther College
g In a little over 5 miles turn right onto Cty. Rd.W34 (aka North Winn Rd.)
Seed Savers ExchangeSeed Savers Exchange or SSE is a non-profit
organization and one of the largest non-
governmental seedbanks in the United States.
The mission of SSE is to preserve the world’s
diverse but endangered garden heritage for
future generations by building a network of
people committed to collecting, conserving,
and sharing heirloom seeds and plants, and
educating people about the value of genetic
and cultural diversity.
The SSE was founded by Diane Ott
Whealy and Kent Whealy in 1975, inspired to
protect and preserve heirloom varieties after
Diane was bequeathed the seeds of two heir-
loom plants (a German tomato and a morning glory vine) that her great-grandfather
had brought to the U.S. from Bavaria in 1870. Today, it has more than 13,000 mem-
bers worldwide, passing on more than one million seed samples and distributing
over 20,000 varieties of endangered seeds.
The 890-acre Heritage Farm is called the “most diverse farm in the world”.
More than 25,000 rare fruit, vegetable, and plant varieties are regenerated,
refrigerated and preserved in a central collection. It has its own underground
seed vault held at below-freezing temperatures. A herd of White Park Cattle as
well as 900 apple tree varieties are also maintained on the farm.
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Day 2
Decorah to Caledonia continued
g At the T intersection, turn right onto A-14 to Hesper
f In Hesper, turn left onto Locust Rd.
h Within 3 miles, cross into Minnesota and continue to Mabel
j /k In Mabel, angle left, then angle right onto Maple St. following the Truck Route
g At the T intersection, turn right onto Hwy 44 thru Spring Grove to Caledonia
g Entering Caledonia, turn right onto West Main St. by the Kwik Trip
g In Caledonia, turn right onto Main St. (aka 249) for our morning pit stop.
Caledonia Pitstoph Continue to the downtown traffic light, then turn right onto Kingston St. Find a
place to park and Pine Cone Place on the right is handing out our route guide
stickers. Owner, Polly Heberlein has compiled a shortlist of nearby places where
you can grab a quick snack.
Quilting the Countryside!Welcome to the picturesque hills and valleys surrounding Caledonia to enjoy the
barn quilts that adorn the landscape of Houston County, Minnesota. What began as
a creative barn improvement project for a local family has evolved into an ever-
growing series of art displays in the form of barn quilts. The project promotes the
importance of barns, the historical significance of quilting, and the artistic talents
of local residents. In 2008 Caledonia was proclaimed “The Heart of Quilt Country”
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Day 2
Caledonia to New Albin
h Return to Hwy 44 going north out of town toward Hokah
g In Hokah, turn right at the Public Library (look for the flag pole) onto Hwy 18 to
Brownsville
f In Brownsville turn left onto Main St. (aka Hwy 3)
g When Main St. ends, turn right onto Hwy 26, (aka the Great River Road)
h Continue south on Hwy 26 to our lunch stop in New Albin
The Iron PostIn 1849, a Mississippi river steamboat landed at Victory, Wisconsin and unloaded
a cast iron obelisk weighing 600 pounds. Five feet eight inches long, 12”square at
the base and tapering to 7” at the top, the four sides of the post were marked
“Iowa”, “Minnesota,” the date, “1849,” and “Lat. 43 degrees 30.”
The following winter, a band of men hitched a team of oxen to a sled, loaded
the iron post, crossed the frozen river, and with great difficulty carried it to a spot
three miles west of the Mississippi. The post, sent by the government to mark the
boundary line between Iowa and Minnesota, was unloaded by the men just north
by the Minnesota State Legis-
lature. About 60 barns now
grace this countryside with
beautifully painted quilts
whose patterns and colors cel-
ebrate historical American
quilt patterns
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Day 2
of New Albin, IA, then in its early stages of settlement.
It’s an interesting story, but is too much to share here, you can read all the
details here at www.sharylscabin.com/Allamakee/history4/ironpost.htm
View “The Post”To view “The Post” (a small challenge), turn left onto the
gravel drive just after the bridge at the extreme north edge
of town noting the stop sign at the rise adjacent to the
railroad tracks. Cross the tracks angling to the right and
the post is ahead of you on the right.
New Albin Lunch stopPark in the lot to the right in the center of town. All four
restaurants are within a block and each is offering a ‘spe-
cial’ just for us. The 130 year-old Wuennecke’s City Meat Market is on the
northwest corner of the square, a must-visit to sample their sausage and cheese.
• Iron Post Grill — pulled pork with potato salad and side of fruit
• Fred’s East Side Tap — 2 topping pizza (12”) and pitcher of pop
• Buzzard’s — burger & fries basket
• High Chaparall — roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable & bread
or on the lighter side, chicken salad croissant sandwich with fresh salad
New Albin to Waukon
Return to Hwy 26 heading south
g In Lansing, turn right onto Main St. (Hwy 9)
g Turn right onto North 6th St. and continue to the top of Mt. Hosmer
g After taking-in the view, return to Main St., turn right onto Hwy 9
h Continue on Hwy 9 to Waukon
h Continue thru Waukon, remaining on Hwy 9 to the WW Homestead Dairy on the
left at the south edge of town for our afternoon pit stop (look for the building
with the Black Cow portrait on the wall)
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Day 2
Now — For the ViewA spectacular panoramic view of fifty miles of the beautiful Mississippi River
valley rewards visitors who take the sidetrip up the 104-acre Mount Hosmer City
Park, situated on a bluff 450 feet above the town of Lansing. The park is named
for Harriet Hosmer, a sculptress, who won a footrace to the summit of the hill
during a steamboat layover during the 1850s.
Waukon to Decorah Fish Hatchery
g/fTurn right to return to downtown and turn left (west) onto Main St.
(aka Hwy 76 or A52)
h When 76 turns right, continue straight on A52 (aka Old Hwy 9) to Decorah
f Turn left at the stop sign and cross Hwy 9 onto Trout Run Rd.
h Continue on Trout Run Road to the stop sign by the Decorah Fish Hatchery
and Decorah Eagle Cam.
f Parking is along the drive and to the left.
Fish Hatchery to Decorahf Return to Trout Run Rd. turn left and continue until it ends.
g Turn right onto Middle Calmar Rd. toward Decorah
g Just before the Hwy 9 overpass, turn left onto Centrum Dr. to reach Hwy 9 and
left to the Country Inn
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Day 2
The EaglesThe Decorah Eagles are located in a
cottonwood tree across the street from
the Iowa Fish Hatchery. This is the
second nest built by this pair of eagles.
The new nest was built in 2013, in an
area quite close to their original nest
that they had used since 2007.
Eagles don't live on their nests.
They use a nest to hatch their eggs and raise their young. The Decorah Eagles
begin working on their nest in the fall, lay their eggs in Feb. or early March, and
the eggs hatch 35-39 days later. The Decorah eagle pair don't occupy the nest
when there are no eggs or eaglets. The adult eagles do stay in the area year round
since it has turned out to be an excellent place for them to find abundant nesting
material and food, no matter what time of year it is. There is no need for them to
migrate. Then, in the fall, they begin their work on the nest again, preparing for
another clutch of offspring.
Decorah Fish HatcherySpecies reared:
Brook Trout Rainbow Trout
The fish hatchery is a production rearing station for growing Shasta strain rain-
bow and St. Croix strain brook trout. Approximately 130,000 catchable size
rainbow and 20,000 catchable brook trout are reared annually. Decorah fish
hatchery personnel are responsible for stocking 15 put-and-take streams in
Winneshiek, Allamakee, Howard, and Mitchell Counties. The hatchery also
stocks five seasonal urban lakes in Mason City, Sioux City, Spencer, Ames and
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Day 2
Directions to McCaffrey's Dolce Vita
From the Country Inn return to Hwy 9
g/gTurn right onto Hwy 9, then right again onto Hwy 52
g/fAfter passing thru the rock opening, turn right onto Twin Springs Rd., then turn immediately left toward Twin Springs Park
h Continue on Twin Springs Rd. to McCaffrey's on the left (a portion is gravel)
Ankeny or Bondurant.
All streams stocked are posted on a calendar that is available
on the Iowa DNR website, although some of the streams are unan-
nounced. Thirteen streams are stocked once a week and two every
other week. Because some streams get too warm during late June,
July and August stressing fish, these streams are not stocked. Stock-
ing is done from April through October. The picturesque limestone of-
fice and residence date back to the 1930s as a project of the Civilian
Conservation Corps. The hatchery consists of 24 cement flow-through
raceways and 3 rubber lined earthen ponds.
Tuesday, June 16Morning Drive for Closing
Lunch in Gunder, Iowa
(approx. 100 miles)
f From the Country Inn return to Hwy 9 and turn left
g In about 4 miles turn right onto W42 by the airport
g/fIn Ossian W42 turns right, then 2 blocks later turns left by the Casey’s
store and Memorial Park onto Jessie St. (slight jog) and go south toward
West Union
g In West Union turn right onto Bradford St. (aka Hwy 18)
f In a few blocks turn left onto Hwy 150 and continue on 150 to Fayette
f/gIn Fayette, just after the bridge, turn left onto Water St. and then one block
after Main St. turn right onto Washington St.
h Continue on Washington to the south end of town
f Turn left, going out of town on C24 (aka Wadena Rd.)
h Continue on C24 until it ends at Hwy C2W (aka Bell Rd. or 112) west of Volga
f/gTurn left onto C2W for a few blocks, then right onto C24
(shortly, look right for the Tractorland ‘open-air’ museum)
f At the T intersection, turn left onto Hwy 13 north toward Elkader (Consider a
stop at the Osborne Outdoor Education Center; it’s well-well worth it)
f Continue about 6 miles, then turn left onto Hwy 56 into Elkader
g/fAfter the bend and just beyond the park, turn right onto Boardman,
then left onto Main Street
h/gContinue to Bridge St., turn right, and cross the Turkey River Stone Bridge
f Turn left onto High St. immediately after the crossing the bridge
k/fHigh bends to the right and at the T intersection turn left onto X16
(aka Gunder Rd.)
h Continue on X16 until it goes right, but continue straight on what’s now B60
(it’s still aka Gunder Rd.) Don’t blink entering Gunder, the Shanti is on the left.
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Day 3 Tuesday, June 16
Notes
S P I L LV I L L E N EW A L B I N C A L E D O N I A
L A N S I N G D E C O R A H G U N D E R
Passport