Ringling Brothers Circus Poster Uncovered in Iowa

A WONDERFUL thing was uncovered here in central Iowa last week.

As the owner of a little building in Vincent Iowa was renovating the building she readied it for new siding. They tore off the old siding and old tar paper and a gem of a historic poster was uncovered. The local historians have pinpointed it's date to be around 1910/1911 when the Ringling Brothers Circus visited the Ft. Dodge area. After the circus left, the poster was covered up and hasn't seen the light of day until last week. Now that it has been found again the colors are as bright as they were the day it was made! The black tar paper did it's job!! The poster isn't in the best of shape, but parts of it could be saved. I have included only a few of many photos I have of it in this blog. I tried to contact the Ringling Brothers Circus but my email was deleted without being read. I have contacted the Smithsonian, but havn't hear back from them.

What a wonderful bit of Americana!!

Comments

Does anybody notice
these blogs I write each week?
I try to make them interesting,
even going back and giving a tweak.
I write my little story
and send it into space.
Then wait and wait for a comment
that never comes---frownie face

Am I the Only One Tired of This?

Am I the only one tired of turning on the TV and hearing about these people entering schools and killing mass numbers of our children?

Am I the only one who fought back anxious tears as I listened to the shots on the video played over and over again on CNN. Shot after shot, with only a second or two between. A semi-automatic gun being used to slaughter our children as they sit at their desks.

Am I the only one who sees the connection between America allowing semi automatic guns to be sold to anyone with a license and these killings?

It's ironic that when you send your child off to the war in the middle east he/she is, at least, issued a flak vest. These children were mowed down as they sat in what they thought was the safety of their college classroom.

It's a funny time of the year. I have such an urge to work outside, but, really, the time to work is later in April and Early in May. I suppose I could go to the corner and cover the ground with paper and mulch to make it a no hassle garden. I guess I could, and I probably will this week, go around the yard with a bag and pick up all the stems left from last fall. Phil cut the grass on Sunday and it looks green and wonderful. I have plans for things we need to do, starting with pulling out old railroad ties, left from some sixties garden, and lay walking stones through the garden. I want to knock down the two brick and cement walls that edge our cement steps. They are falling apart and ugly. I want to wash the outside of the house and the windows, I want to change the entry lamp on the porch, I want to re shingle the roof of both the house and garage, I want a new driveway. I want new windows in my office, den and throughout the upstairs. I want---want---want---want

I think I'll lay with Angie and read my new Amy Tan. Phil has left for two weeks in California and I am living the Bohemian. The things that need done can wait patiently on a list that may take ten years to complete. There is no deadline. All I really need is to feel happy when I come home. Feel happiness when I turn the corner and see our house. As long as it looks clean and nice that's all that matters. So, the washing windows and sides will happen, possibly the knocking down of the wall on each sides of the steps, or maybe even the new lamp, but that's enough for this year.

We have to make time, time to take rides for ice cream. Time to take Angie to the park for a run. Time to just sit and read on the porch, glass of wine in one hand, book in another. Time to wave to a neighbor. Time to watch a baseball game, listen to the sound of the bat, the yells of the fans. Time to smell the green grass, the flowers blooming. Time to feel the breeze on your skin, a velvety caress in the evening light.

Easter

All the hub bub and now it's over!! Starting with cleaning the house and stocking up on groceries, Celia finally came Thursday evening. We picked her up at Ft. Dodge airport, she was already there (1/2 hour early!!!) but her luggage was no where to be seen!! How could they lose a neon green suitcase!!!

After the initial hugs and kisses we headed home where we caught up on news, had a few drinks and rested. Later we headed down to Rustix, the new restaurant in town, where we had a really nice meal. Celia loved her salmon on a plank, Phil had fish, I had chicken, we were all happy with our dinners. Rustix is an unusual place for Humboldt, Iowa. It is modern, hip, sophisticated. The only restaurant like it in probably 50 mile radius!! We are lucky to have it. Sitting next to us was a huge table (about 20 people) who were extremely quiet-----we realized they were all signing. I think they may have come to see Barack Obama, who visited Humboldt earlier in the day.

I was upset I had to miss him, but Celia comes first. His scheduled appearance was at 3 and Celia's was at 4---with a half hour drive to the airport. I didn't want to get into a jam, so I missed him. Judy went and said she shook his hand. She had two pins and a poster!! She said he answered questions and was very personable. The waitress at Rustix's said she didn't think he would ever get elected because his name was too strange!! Hahah

Celia, Phil and I played board games later that evening, I believe I won every game. Friday we took it easy, went to Ft. Dodge to pick up her luggage and to pick up some Easter candy at Target. Celia bought some clothes, I saw a neat tent perfect for Phil's Born Free Reunion---we went to pick up later that same night using Phil's truck since my Saab was a bit too small for the 6 foot long box. More games were played and eggs were painted.

Saturday we celebrated Easter (one day early) since Celia had to leave at 9 the next morning. I cooked most of the day, Celia and Phil set the table and helped with some things I needed done. The dinner turned out great, our smoked ham from the Rutland Locker was really good, my scalloped corn (recipe from the column)turned out suprisingly well, horseradish carrots, a double batch of watergate salad (recipe from column)mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, deviled eggs, and Death By Chocolate (recipe from column)for dessert!! It was, as usual, too much food!! For all the time I spent cooking, we ate it in about 15 minutes!!

More games later and Phil and Celia played some XBox Tony Hawk. I went to bed, dead tired from cooking all day!!

Sunday came, Celia packed and we said our good byes, Phil had to go to church and count money, so I took Celia to the airport. She waved goodbye while I drove away. And that was that, the house was quiet when I got home.

Later on EAster my friend Lois Ann came for dinner, and Judy and Bill too. We had a really nice time talking and eating. We watched Susie,Allison and Joey on the Coplay Cam. Phil and Bill watched the Masters, which was won by a fellow Iowan!!! Later that evening we watched HGTV where Born Free was featured AGAIN!! That twice in one month!!!

Today I took Angie to Algona to get her hair cut. Earlier I had to submit my Cook of the Week Column, I didn't have anyone interviewed from last week, so I wrote it on the dog food scare and gave lots of recipes to make your own. I used Angie's pencil drawing photo as the photo. Hope people like the column!!

So, that was our Easter--How was yours??