Muscatine Tours Podcast

July 24, 1998 • John Schwandke reported live from Muscatine's sister city in Russia, Kislovodsk.

Dr. Bruce Rigdon addressing an orientation session for participants in the 1984 Iowa Christian Friendship Study Tour of the USSR. 

DeWayne HopkinsDaniel Graham Clark March 22 at 4:58pm Mr. Clark, I would be honored if you would consider being my guest on City Talk next Thursday. How bout it? Like ·  · Unfollow Post · See Friendship Daniel Graham Clark Thursday the 29th? I could. What are we talking about? March 22 at 7:01pm · Like DeWayne Hopkins Yes, Thursday the 29th. We can talk about the trolley, world peace, history, Buster Blocker, past reporters for the Muscatine Journal, open phone line, totally your call. March 22 at 7:07pm · Like Daniel Graham Clark Fun list! Okay...sure. If Buster calls, we'll make that fun, too. I'm honored, Your Honor! March 22 at 11:24pm · Like DeWayne Hopkins ‎8:30 am Thursday morning...see you at the Ranch. March 23 at 6:03am · Like Daniel Graham Clark See you then. March 23 at 7:29am · Like Daniel Graham Clark We're still on for 8:30 tomorrow, right? What shall we talk about? Alexander Clark, trolleys, and Muscatine's special role in world pe

"So, I keep gathering the pieces, and one of these days I think it'll flow out." Dan Clark tells about family history discoveries and says he is writing a book. The readings on this podcast began as two Facebook "notes" which may be read at Underground Railroader Ancestors and Anticipating "a time machine experience".

Robert A. Fiedler II realized he couldn't answer when his 10-year-old daughter asked, "Daddy, why do you do what you do?" He quit his job rather than prepare for nuclear war.

[Distributed via e-mail and Facebook on May 3, 2010] Hey, Neighbors! THIS WEEK (May 4) on Trolleys, Tales & Talk: "THE END OF THE LINE" This will be my last show. That's right, this is the end. It's been a good run since January 2006. The trolley is parked, and I am moving on to other things. For this last show I'll be taking calls and talking about what I plan to do next, including local-history TV. Call during the show at 563-263-8600, or send me e-mail that I might read on the air. ou can hear this last "Trolleys, Tales & Talk" on KWPC AM-860 at 9:05 a.m. THIS TUESDAY ONLY, streamed live via http://voiceofmuscatine.com. Or listen anytime from anywhere in the world at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/ as always. I look forward to future guest appearances on KWPC's Friday morning "Coffee Club," and I'll continue building the online archive. I will add most of the past shows that aren't there already, and I plan to offer new audio material and other information I haven't thought of yet. Did you miss l

"Civil War 150 Years Later" • Dan Clark read William D. Randall's story, "Muscatine's Heroic General," and guests Pam Knott and Lee Miller of the Civil War Memorial Committee told about a fundraising campaign to replace the 1875 monument at the Muscatine County Courthouse. As sesquicentennial observances approach, there's much local and national history to recall and much work to be done. Hear the previous show about the Civil War memorial (March 2 with Sandy Lee and Lee Miller) at http://www.muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=588480 ("Renewing Muscatine's Civil War monument"). See the Facebook album "The Civil War remembered at Muscatine County Courthouse" at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79743&id=802136391&l=dfe417bd5b. FREE PUBLIC PROGRAM THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 7:00-9:00 P.M.: "Recent Research on the Underground Railroad in Eastern Iowa" presented by Douglas W. Jones, Archaeologist, State Historic Preservation Office, State Historical Society of Iowa • Mobilizing Muscatine Excell

Dan Clark and Lee Miller address the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors on April 26, 2010 • Photo: Lee Miller with soldier removed from 1875 monument • Duration 04:36 min

"Too Much Local History?" • Dan Clark's guest is Kent Sissel, restorer and resident of the Alexander G. Clark House. The Muscatine City Council recently recognized a two-square-block area as the "Alexander Clark Heritage District." They discuss what's next for our latest district as it relates to other local history efforts and as a destination for heritage tourists. They speak about the effort to replace the 1875 Civil War monument at the courthouse and identifying other sites with Civil War significance. They urge a good turnout next week for a presentation on "Recent Research on the Underground Railroad in Eastern Iowa" by Doug Jones, archaeologist with the State Historical Society of Iowa. (Thursday, April 26, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Mobilizing Muscatine Excellence Center, 129 West Second Street—former Marie Lindsay Interiors.) Doug has served as archaeological advisor and historical researcher on the Iowa Freedom Trail project, documenting the people, places, and events associated with Abolitionist and Undergrou

"Crawfordsville Connections" Dan Clark tells of attending the 51st annual meeting of the Washington County Historical Society the previous evening in the little Iowa town that's still bragging it was the birthplace of the national Republican Party in 1854. He continues from last week about the Underground Railroad line from Crawfordsville to Muscatine, and he says he wishes for a Muscatine County Historical Society.

"The traffic...to Muscatine was very heavy," according to O.A. Garretson, along the important Underground Railroad line from Crawfordsville in Washington County. Dan Clark reads several Muscatine references from Garretson's 1924 article which you can read at http://www.garretson.us/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6. Mark your calendar for "Recent Research on the Underground Railroad in Eastern Iowa" which will be presented in Muscatine on Thursday, April 29, by archaeologist Douglas W. Jones of the State Historical Society of Iowa. Doug has served as archaeological advisor and historical researcher on the Iowa Freedom Trail project, documenting the people, places, and events associated with Abolitionist and Underground Railroad activities in Iowa. Historically those activities were better known and documented in Cedar, Johnson, and Clinton counties. However, Doug will present information that is turning up about activities in adjacent counties, including Muscatine County. Doug ha

"Season Without a Trolley?" Dan Clark announces: APRIL 15 WILL BE THE LAST DAY OF TROLLEY-BUS OPERATION FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. "What I've decided is that my little company needs a rebuilding season. I apologize to all who hoped to use the trolley in coming months, but I am optimistic about bringing it back even better—eventually if not this year. Meanwhile, there's definitely demand for fun transportation in Muscatine, so maybe others will step forward with other possibilities." Muscatine Trolley & Tours remains in the local history and tourism business, just without its own charter bus for now. Here are some past shows about the history and evolution of the company: http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=564858 Dec. 29, 2009 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=557547 Dec. 1, 2009 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=388999 Oct. 7, 2008 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=383570 Sept. 23, 2008 http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=

  "Moving Day for the Jayne House" • Dan Clark's guests Susan Jayne and Frank Kelly tell about some of the families who lived at 1402 Mulberry Avenue over the years. Susan's great-grandparents Henry and Ella Jayne built the house 110 years ago. The Kellys were there in the 1980s and 90s when it was still known as "Dr. Miller's house," remembered for the family residing there longest. Susan came from Indiana to join the crowd of watchers as the historic house moves (March 23-24) from its place beside the Muscatine Art Center toward its new address at 1200 Iowa Avenue. See pictures and learn more of the story at "Friends of the Henry Jayne House" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=368359087332. In the Discussion section are links to all the Muscatine Journal stories about saving the house.  

"Muscatine Downtown—Maybe Down But Far From Out" • Dan Clark's guests are Chris Clark and Dawnese Openshaw. Dawnese co-chairs the Downtown Action Alliance http://www.muscatinedowntown.com and tells what's coming up including "It's A Spring Thing Girls Getaway Weekend," March 26-27. Chris tells about the Muscatine Melon Patchers quilt show, March 19-20, and all discuss the challenge of attracting tourists and reviving a historic commercial district.

"Historic Preservation Turns 10" Dan Clark talks about his experience serving on the Muscatine Historic Preservation Commission, created 10 years ago in response to citizens who were asking for the city to take better care of preserving Muscatine's unique collection of historic buildings and neighborhoods. He invites listeners to get involved via Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation http://muscatinepreservation.org/ and tells about the "Heavy Haulers" cable-TV show that might feature the move of the historic Henry Jayne House. Related: "Who's Afraid of the Paint Police?" (September 15, 2009) Dan compares Muscatine's Historic Preservation Commission (educational and advisory only), which he chairs, with other communities' more robust protections for historic properties. http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=526587

"Renewing Muscatine's Civil War monument" Dan Clark's guests are Sandy Lee and Lee Miller. Lee chairs the committee to restore the 1875 Civil War monument on the grounds of the Muscatine County Courthouse; Sandy is local commander of the American Legion and treasurer of the Civil War Memorial Fund. Yesterday, the soldier who has stood watch for 135 years came down from atop his column in the gentle hands and equipment of county workers and Muscatine Power & Water. The plan is to replace the monument and to add names that were left off originally. Lee (pictured) is author of Crocker's Brigade, a 2009 book telling the story of four Iowa infantry regiments combined after the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh. Hear Dan's first show with him at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=426836 (Jan. 27, 2009) and the most recent at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=560428 (Dec. 15, 2009). See photo album "The Civil War remembered at Muscatine County Courthouse" at http://www.facebook.com/alb

"African American life in 19th century Iowa" Dan Clark's guest is David Brodnax, Sr., a leading expert on black life in early Iowa and Muscatine in particular. A law graduate of the University of Iowa with a PhD from Northwestern, David has taught history at Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL) since 2005. More about him at http://www.trnty.edu/faculty/brodnax.html. Last week, David was quoted at length in the Muscatine Journal: http://www.muscatinejournal.com/news/local/article_dafa5f1a-1de4-11df-aeb0-001cc4c002e0.html. And also six years ago: http://www.muscatinejournal.com/news/local/article_8b40551e-7bf4-5d79-8484-9c059e22e967.html. Earlier conversations with David: http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=577985 (Feb. 2, 2010) and http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=585449 (Jan. 2, 2007). Alexander G. Clark Week, Feb. 21-27, honors the legacy of Muscatine's equal-rights pioneer, born Feb. 25, 1826, in Washington, PA. http://alexanderclark.org

  "A Heritage District for Black History and More" Dan Clark's guest is Kent Sissel, restorer and resident of the 1878 Alexander G. Clark House. This week Muscatine City Council will consider Kent's proposal for naming a two-square-block area on both sides of West Third Street as the "Alexander Clark Heritage District." The center of the district would be the intersection of West Third and Chestnut which is the original site of Clark's house. They discuss the process the Historic Preservation Commission went through before recommending approval. Alexander G. Clark Week, Feb. 21-27, honors the legacy of Muscatine's equal-rights pioneer http://alexanderclark.org. Other recent conversations with Kent: "White Folks Talking Black History" (Feb. 3, 2009) http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=429539 and "More on Heritage Tourism and Black History" (Feb. 17, 2009) http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=434366.  

"Something Magical About a Bookstore!" Dan Clark's guests are Sharon and Tom Savage, co-owners of Muscatine Books & More http://muscatinebooks.com—and sponsors of this show "from the git-go." Eight years ago they opened their independent bookstore in the recently restored Silberhorn Building at 124 E. 2nd St. "It just looks like a bookstore you'd find in a movie," Sharon said at the time. "It's in the center of the downtown area where the history lives and they put up flags." Now the store is for sale, as Sharon has announced in a newspaper column: "This store has been a wonderful adventure that my husband and I have enjoyed beyond description. There is something magical about a book store." And then she says: "We would like to sell it to people who have energy and motivation. We need people who have a vision for the future of small downtowns and who want to participate in creating and nurturing the downtown climate of the future." http://www.muscatinejournal.com/news/opinion/columns/article_f0dcb958-0e

"Muscatine's Black History" Did you know Muscatine was Iowa's center of African American life in the 1850s? Dan Clark says there's a lot happening in Muscatine during Black History Month, a time for us all to learn about race relations and equal rights. Then historian David Brodnax calls from Chicago and tells about Muscatine's black population before the Civil War and the far reaching influence of the local A.M.E. Church (African Methodist Episcopal) and members such as the first pastor who was later a congressman, Richard H. Cain, and equal-rights pioneer Alexander G. Clark. David wrote a not-yet-published dissertation, “'Breathing the Freedom's Air': The African American Struggle for Equal Citizenship in Iowa, 1830-1900." Learn more about Clark at http://alexanderclark.org/.