Muscatine Tours Podcast

Great River Days 2009 will be July 29-August 2, 2009. Dan Clark's guest is GRD co-chair Kerry Keller. This 51st edition of the "family-friendly and affordable" riverfront celebration promises "the best music entertainment seen in many years." Kerry plays music from headliners LoCash Cowboys http://locashcowboys.com/ and Su DeBaco & Wise Fools http://www.wise-fools.com/. Learn more about the newly reorganized event at http://www.greatriverdays.com/.

Dan Clark chats with Ron Edwin (KWPC producer) about his announced topic "Muscatine's (Gay) Wedding Trolley?" posed by last Friday's Iowa Supreme Court ruling. Dan reads from a New York Times editorial ("Iowa Decency" http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/opinion/05sun3.html?_r=2&ref=opinion ) and asks for listener feedback on the prospect of Muscatine as a wedding destination for gay couples. A solitary caller declares gay marriage "sick" and urges Dan, "Don't promote it." The 1868 civil-rights decision (mentioned as a precedent) desegregated Muscatine schools, and thus all Iowa schools, 86 years ahead of the US Supreme Court. Learn that story at http://alexanderclark.org .

Dan Clark and Shirley Calvert speak with Sheila Chaudoin about her work at Musser Public Library. Sheila specializes in local history including genealogy, oral history and photo archives, and online history resources. See http://www.musserpubliclibrary.org/Reference-Desk/Local-History.aspx and Oscar Grossheim Photo Collection Index at http://iagenweb.org/muscatine/Grossheim/grossheimintro.htm . Hear a previous Sheila-and-Shirley conversation at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=449170 (May 27, 2008).

Dan Clark speaks with Ann Meeker, the new president of Muscatine's Downtown Action Alliance http://www.muscatinedowntown.com/, about what's happening in the historic heart of our town, upcoming events, and the latest plans for the new excursion boat, The Pearl Button. Hear a past show about the paddleboat at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=391849 (Oct. 14, 2008).

Dan Clark discusses "Treasures or Eyesores," the cause of historic preservation in old Muscatine. Visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation page on "Teardowns and McMansions" at http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/teardowns/. Learn more about Muscatine's two historic districts at http://www.musserpubliclibrary.org/Reference-Desk/Local-History/History-of-Buildings-and-Neighborhoods-in-Muscatin.aspx. Join the Friends of Muscatine Historic Preservation on Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/179427?m=d6ff9e99.

March 10 is the anniversary of abolitionist John Brown's last departure from Iowa in 1859, 150 years ago. With a group of armed followers and a dozen freed slaves they had brought across Iowa and hidden in a boxcar at West Liberty, Brown boarded a train for Chicago and then on to Canada. Dan Clark speaks with Lowell Soike, staff historian at the State Historical Society of Iowa and leader of the SHSI project that's erecting historical markers along the route of Brown's last trip and otherwise researching and telling the importance of the Underground Railroad in Iowa history. Learn more at http://gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS/415551840 or http://alexanderclark.org/johnbrownsjourney.pdf (with map). Join the conversation at "Iowa's Underground Railroad" http://iowa-ugrr.blogspot.com/ and "Underground Railroad (West)" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46633975447.

Dan Clark speaks with Doug Jones, staff archaeologist for the State Historical Society of Iowa whose job includes Underground Railroad research. Dan reads another episode in the tale of John Brown's last trip across Iowa exactly 150 years ago, and Doug tells about the project to place markers along the John Brown route. Read a description of the Freedom Trails project at http://gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS/415551840 or http://alexanderclark.org/johnbrownsjourney.pdf (with map). Join the conversation at "Iowa's Underground Railroad" http://iowa-ugrr.blogspot.com/ and "Underground Railroad (West)" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46633975447 .

Dan Clark and Shirley Calvert discuss various happenings as Muscatine's "colored orator of the West" is remembered during Black History Month. We hear the voice of Shirley's father, William D. Randall, recorded in 1949 reading his story, "Jimmy White Finds Freedom: Slavery and Alexander Clark." Clark's 183rd birthday is Feb. 25 (born 1826). He died in 1891 in Monrovia, Liberia, while serving as U.S. ambassador, and his body was returned to Muscatine. Learn more at http://alexanderclark.org.

Dan Clark and Kent Sissel discuss heritage tourism and Black History for the second time this month. (See http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=429539 Feb. 3.) Kent is restorer and resident of the 1878 Alexander G. Clark House. Dan reads another episode in the tale of John Brown's last trip across Iowa exactly 150 years ago. Caller Frank Best, Louisa County historian, shares an Underground Railroad story handed down by a local family. Learn more about Alexander Clark at http://alexanderclark.org. Join the conversation at "Iowa's Underground Railroad" http://iowa-ugrr.blogspot.com/ and "Underground Railroad (West)" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46633975447.

Dan Clark and guest Steve Hanken, archaeologist from Cedar Rapids, chat about "Uncovering Iowa's Underground Railroad." Another "White Folks Talking Black History" topic for Black History Month. Join the conversation at "Iowa's Underground Railroad" http://iowa-ugrr.blogspot.com/ and "Underground Railroad (West)" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46633975447.

Dan Clark and guest Kent Sissel, restorer and resident of the 1878 Alexander G. Clark House, discuss Black History Month events including a Feb. 22 observance and other recognitions of Clark's birthday and legacy. Dan describes the show's month-long special emphasis as "White Folks Talking Black History." More on A.G. Clark at http://alexanderclark.org.

Dan Clark's guest Lee Miller is author of Crocker's Brigade, a new book telling the story of four Iowa infantry regiments combined under command of Marcellus M. Crocker after the April 1862 Battle of Shiloh. Many of the men were from the Muscatine area. Dan and Lee are joined by another local Civil War author and previous TTT guest, Jeff Shay. Learn more about Lee Miller and his book at http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2009/01/09/news/doc4967744f5824d970374432.txt .

Dan Clark's guests are Dave Ales and Al Brotherton, talking and playing music to get us in the mood for the 15th annual Eagles and Ivories Ragtime festival coming January 23-24-25. Al leads the local band Mad Creek Mud Cats, and Dave is the festival organizer for the Muscatine County Arts Council http://www.muscatineartscouncil.org/eagles%20&%20Ivories.htm. Hear the previous pre-festival show at http://muscatinetours.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=419741 (Jan. 6).

Dan Clark's guest is Jay Logel who started his 42-year career at Muscatine Power & Water as a power plant maintenance helper and is retiring this month after serving in nine positions, the last 11 years as general manager at Iowa’s largest municipal electric utility http://www.mpw.org/.

Dan Clark's guests Chris Clark and Duffy DeFrance represent Muscatine County Arts Council http://www.muscatineartscouncil.org/ which sponsors the 15th annual Eagles and Ivories Ragtime Weekend coming up January 23-24-25. More about John Brown's last trip across Iowa 150 years ago and an acclaimed puppet show based on that real-life saga, "FREEDOM STAR: Gertie's Journey on the Underground Railroad" http://www.puppetspuppets.com/about/birthday/favorite/favorite.html . Includes music cuts from ragtime artists slated for the 2009 festival.

Dan Clark and Shirley Calvert observe three years of doing this show (already!), and guests Molly Cantrell-Kraig and Laura Liegois talk up a new initiative to Keep Muscatine Beautiful. The fast talk and fun includes comparing Facebook experiences. Contact Molly via http://www.your-storyonline.com and Laura via http://ci.muscatine.ia.us/pw/transfer/index.htm . You may contact Shirley through Dan.

Dan Clark and Shirley Calvert talk about Christmas and family. Dan reads "The First Christmas Tree" by Shirley's father, William D. Randall (Little Known Stories of Muscatine, Vol. 4). Next, Dan speaks with archaeologist Steve Hanken about John Brown's last trip across Iowa 150 years ago. After "liberating" slaves in Missouri (Dec. 20, 1858), Brown led a dramatic Underground Railroad trek to a real train car in West Liberty and on toward freedom. The saga continues over coming weeks as we track Brown's party into southeast Nebraska and across Iowa.

Dan Clark speaks with Paul Rumler, executive director of the Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition ( http://www.qcrail.com ). Callers share memories of train travel and express support for future passenger service.

Dan Clark speaks with Mallory Smith and Kathy Vance about an oral history project that gathered residents' stories of using and enjoying natural areas in and around Louisa County, just south of Muscatine. The interviews will be featured at a new interpretive center and preserved for future study. Learn more at http://www.tri-rivers.org/Reflections.html.

Dan Clark speaks with Frank Best and Connie Street about museums and other history efforts in one of Iowa's first counties, Louisa County, just south of Muscatine. Learn more at http://LouisaCountyHistory.com.