I knew Tom Fretty very well as we talked politics at the feed mill he ran in Kensett, Iowa back in the 1950's
Sadly we were on different political parties.
I remember Tom coming out to the farm and helping roundup Pullets one night and put them in the Chicken house to start laying eggs. He sprained his ankle in the dark and had to live with a sore ankle his whole, life.
Thanks for the flashback! I lived in northern Iowa during a brief stint with a community newspaper not too far from Tom's Wonderland. That is was! And Manly! Where headlines were made when a local man married a woman from nearby Fertile: "Manly Man Marries Fertile Woman." Urban, or in this case rural, myth or not, it makes for a good lesson in journalism and still makes smiles.(FYI: it wasn't my publication.)
A decade ago on a paved road to Lake Panorama in a farmstead front yard was a dark, 15'-tall metal outline of Grant Woods' American Gothic couple. Anyone know its current whereabouts?
I love this story! Fascinating! Thank you for sharing it with us and for reminding us that you truly never do know what is around the next curve.
I just finished sending Tom's Wonderland to 12 friends and relatives and they all will enjoy it.
I knew Tom Fretty very well as we talked politics at the feed mill he ran in Kensett, Iowa back in the 1950's
Sadly we were on different political parties.
I remember Tom coming out to the farm and helping roundup Pullets one night and put them in the Chicken house to start laying eggs. He sprained his ankle in the dark and had to live with a sore ankle his whole, life.
Thanks for the flashback! I lived in northern Iowa during a brief stint with a community newspaper not too far from Tom's Wonderland. That is was! And Manly! Where headlines were made when a local man married a woman from nearby Fertile: "Manly Man Marries Fertile Woman." Urban, or in this case rural, myth or not, it makes for a good lesson in journalism and still makes smiles.(FYI: it wasn't my publication.)
You’ve done it again, Cheryl’
Thanks, Julie!
This was delightful! I had never heard of Tom's Wonderland, despite driving many miles on Highway 9 long ago.
A decade ago on a paved road to Lake Panorama in a farmstead front yard was a dark, 15'-tall metal outline of Grant Woods' American Gothic couple. Anyone know its current whereabouts?