I, too, have really fond memories of Mother Goose Land and was thrilled to see the shots of the whole area - it brought back a wave of really good memories for me. Here are a few pictures I have from one of our visits in September, 1954 - as you can see from the first picture, I am pretty anxious to get inside - I am way ahead of the pack and my dad seems to be keeping his eye on me (somewhat) as I head in. The shot in front of the schoolhouse is cute...3 typical kids in 1954 - me and my brother and my cousin...I appear to be ready to move on...I never really liked having my picture taken! I also loved Monkey Island. Here is a cute shot of us standing in front of the fence with my back turned to the camera....my mom must have grabbed the camera for that shot - my dad usually had the camera with him. Dee Beckman

Mother Goose Land 1959 The Little Mouse

Special thanks to George Nickolas

Mother Goose Land Goosey Goosey 1959

Special thanks to George Nickolas

Merry Mills at Mother Goose Land 1959

Special thanks to George Nickolas

Three Pigs at Mother Goose Land 1959

Special thanks to George Nickolas

Fejervary Zoo's famous Monkey Island. Special thanks to Bill Young.

I have one GREAT Monkey Island story for you!

Back in 1976, when I was 17 working with other 16 and 17 year olds as summer seasonal zoo help (giving donkey rides, applying band-aids, keeping kids out of the animal pens, etc.) I happened to be the one sitting in the Goose taking ticket money (.35 cents) when a woman ran in and yelled that a monkey was out!! I called for help at the entrance and about 4 of us girls in shorts and t-shirts and sandals, went out to face down the monkey and protect the public! The park was packed that day and dozens of people were around Monkey Island.

On the 3 foot high wall, sat a shivering, wet, scared, hurt, half-electrocuted monkey (he had to swim through the moat, climb the wall, and get over the electric wire that surrounded the enclosure after he had fought with the dominant male Rhesus monkey). We girls got the people away as fast and calmly as we could. The police had been called and arrived in good time, but here comes the good part! The police car pulled up with 2 officers inside. I explained the situation and the officer in the passenger seat pulled out his gun, muttered something about how dangerous they were after I showed him how big monkey teeth were, rolled up his window, and they drove away!!! - I AM NOT EXAGGERATING! - I could NOT believe it! They left a bunch of girls there to deal with the problem! It still flabberghasts me! - The monkey ended up jumping off the wall, running through the park, right under the swings! and disappeared into the trees! Kids were yelling and trying to follow the cute monkey and parents were screaming about wild monkeys on the loose!

Mind you, all this happened in about 10-15 minutes! The zookeepers, park bosses, etc, had not had time to even get there yet! After they all arrived a "monkey hunt" began, but he was nowhere to be found! The crew had stayed out all night and early in the morning, he was found in the empty swimming pool! and caught by 2 of the zookeepers. The monkey ran right under and between the keeper's legs and was caught in a net. He was kept separate, but in good health after that. The monkey, too! ;)

I have dozens of stories of the zoo, not all quite so dramatic and what a great time we had! It shaped our lives. One co-worker went on to be a Love For Animals halfway house in MN. Another went on to be a prominent marine biologist, and I stayed to be a 2 time zookeeper! I have also adopted some of the zoo animals that I raised and have some key memorabelia. Wouldn't trade any of it for the world!

- Kelly Dyer seasonal worker at the zoo in 1976-77
and head zookeeper in 2000 and again in 2007

Show Time Pal from Davenport Junior Theater was a regular attraction at Fejervary. Leone Bredbeck played Show Time Pal, a clown who performed plays in front of children audiences. Special thanks to Bill Young for this terrific color picture of the Show Wagon. Note the drama mask on the side of the wagon. Show Time Pal would arrive on the scene and perform plays in which children in the audience would participate. This would encourage and expose children to acting and some would join Junior Theater. Show Time Pal not only set up at Fejervary but would arrive on the scene in neighborhood streets of Davenport, Iowa as well.

This little tot seems to be rather unsure of the safety in entering giant Mother Goose. Did you ever pan for gold ... or jog along a dusty western trail, high atop a burro ... or explore the mysterious crevasses of an abandoned mine? These are just a few of the fascinating activities on hand for youngsters at the delightful Children's Zoo in Fejervary Park, Davenport, Iowa. Since its completion in 1954, young enthusiasm for the Zoo has run high. Here, with everything built "small-scale," children are encouraged to let their imaginations and spirits run wild. Much of the credit for the success of the Zoo can be attributed to members of the Davenport Board of Park Commissioners who administer the park and have a definite theory about its operation. They fell that it is essential that children be encouraged to use the facilities freely and "run to their hearts' content." Youngsters cross the Blue Whale; they pet lambs, goats, guinea pigs and burros. They enter an Indian Teepee, ring the school bell and climb in and out of Indian Joe's cave. Anything is possible with these extensive facilities and a lively imagination. At first sight the Zoo looks like a huge picture torn from a child's story book. There are 30 Mother Goose nursery story exhibits, ranging from an oversized Mother Goose at the entrance (children enter and leave the Zoo through her wings) to a familiar Humpty Dumpty perched upon his wall. A new feature to the Zoo is a western trail, constructed in 1959. Lining the trail are fascinating establishments straight from the Old West, such as a jail house, trading post, Boot Hill cemetery, the Living Desert and a volcano. Rating high in popularity are the animals at Fejervary Park. Officials try to obtain young animals for the Zoo, for they have the greatest appeal to children. At the end of the season, animals are either sold, destroyed or returned to farms from which they were borrowed. Very few animals are kept throughout the winter, which eliminates a maintenance problem. Last season 31 different varieties of animals, birds and fish were available for the youngsters' inspection, ranging from playful kittens and the famed "Three Little Pigs" to the not-so-playful buffalo. The House That Jack Built provides an excellent climbing challenge for youngesters visiting Davenport's Children's Zoo. Looks as though this young man conquered the situation with ease, as he emerges from the second-story window. Speaking well for its popularity is the Zoo's attendance record, which ranges from 90,000 to 118,000 visitors during the summer or as many as 2,000 to 3,600 on most Sundays and holidays. To accommodate as many as possible, the Zoo opens as early in May as the weather permits, and remains open unitl the last Sunday in September. Davenport's Children's Zoo was financed entirely from increased revenues outside of taxation. The original cost was $35,000, with the western trail amounting to an additional $10,000. Parking and picnic facilities have also been expanded since 1954. The admission fee of 15 cents per person has remained the same since the Zoo's opening eight years ago. All children under two years of age are admitted free. Annual gross income has amounted to between $12,428 and $18,056, and operating expenses have ranged between $16,839 and $19,212. Among services provided by the Zoo are picnic tables, first aid facilities, ample benches for exhausted parents and a concession area. A particularly worthwhile feature is a public address system, which is used for carrying music and announcements to the crowd. Zoo officials feel that the grounds surfacing, which was planned especially for quick drainage, is one of their most valuable investments. They are able to operate immediately after rains, and can always maintain a neat-looking area. Animals, both ordinary and unusual, are one of the main attractions at Fejervary Park. Above, visitors gather for a closer examination of the parading guanaco, a member of the llama family. On a nice summer afternoon, attendance at the Children's Zoo often exceeds 2,000. Here visitors congregate around a replica of famed London Bridge, near the Zoo's entrance. Park Maintenance December 1961. 1966 - William Young, Fejervary Park Manager with an animal called an Audad, a type of Mountain Goat. Bill Young's daughter's Linda & Gay helping to bring in the baby goats for the "Billy Goats Gruff" pen in Mother Goose Land. Notice the baby fox peeking out of the corner of the cage behind them. Bill Young's son Rick with Izzy the Lizard! Rick Young with Cocoa the Marmaset monkey in Mother Goose Land Special thanks to Bill Young and his family for the behind the scenes vintage pictures of Fejervary Park Zoo and Mother Goose Land! Hand feeding the baby skunk at Fejervary Zoo!

Fejervary Park's Western Trail Note Mother Goose Land on the right hand side. Compare the buildings with the color picture of MGL near the top of this page. 1959 was a very good year. Sunday May 10th of that year was even better. That was the day that Fejervary Park's Western Trail was opened for the first time after years of planning. Little Buckaroos were now able to pack their guns and ride burros on Rattlesnake Gulch Trail. On this trip they went past Boot Hill Cemetery, the lost mine, the Silver Dollar Saloon, the Wells Fargo office, Calico Hotel and then all the way up to Fort Apache. This western village was built along the top of the bowl of Fejervary's children's zoo. Everything was kids size. "We've built dozens of western buildings and even made a mountain with a smoking volcano. This is the only kid's size western trail in the world; I know there is nothing like it anywhere," Emit Plambeck, Davenport superintendent of parks told The Quad City Times on 5/4/59. The Times gave a great description of the park; Lost Canyon Mine will be a super-thrill for the kids. At the entrance, water splashes into a sluice box full of sand. Buried in the sand will be gold painted stones as replicas of the real thing. Kids will stand up to the box and actually pan for "gold." "No one will go home unless they strike it rich" laughed Plambeck. The mine itself is long and semi-dark. A waterfall is one of the mine features. For the opening, there will be a dozen burros for young buckeroos to ride on the Western Trail. Perhaps more will be purchased later. The rides will be free on a first-come, first-served basis. Because the Western Trail is part of the Children's Zoo proper, one admission price goes for all. "We're still charging 15 cents per person; children under two will be free," said Plambeck. An old-style western sidewalk of wood fronts the Western Trail. Everything is old. All buildings were made of material form old wrecked barns or houses; all have wood shingle roofs. Western lore, like deer horns, lanterns, equipment for the blacksmith shop, etc., have been donated by Quad-City residents. Park workers have built many things for the kids to climb upon. They can shoot out the gun ports of Fort Apache (reached by climbing a ladder) and scamper down the rock chimney of Indian Joe's dugout house. Many other buildings can be entered, like the school house and the assay office. The little old general store even has packages on the shelves and a sack of barley on the floor. Donkey Rides on The Western Trail 1959 Special thanks to George Nickolas The Hanging Tree on The Western Trail 1959 Special thanks to George Nickolas Buffalo Bell(?) School and The Jail House on The Western Trail 1959 Special thanks to George Nickolas Boot Hill on The Western Trail 1959 Special thanks to George Nickolas The Western Trail remnants 1982 Special thanks to George Nickolas

09/01/2008 ... Presenting still shots from Rick Gibson's 8mm film of Fejervary

Hi, I have some footage shot with an 8mm camera. The years as close as I can guess from 1963 and then 1965. Does anyone have more film footage of Fejervary? I'm also looking for a postcard with Mother Goose on it.

I visited Fejervary Park 3 weeks ago and am saddened that all the animals will be relocated. Thanks so much on your efforts on this web page the info on it is PRICELESS.

Thanks, Rick Gibson

Mother Goose herself at the entrance to Fejervary	The quintessential photo op at Fejervary - Wish Upon A Star
London Bridge view to the left	London Bridge view to the right
Sign section of The Cow Jumped Over The Moon	Lighter view of the sign of The Cow Jumped Over The Moon. Notice the children riding the burro ride on the upper bowl in the far distance.
Lower shed section of The Cow Jumped Over The Moon	Signage for The Cow Jumped Over The Moon
Bison	Elk
The House That Jack Built sign	The House That Jack Built
The House That Jack Built	The House That Jack Built
Goosey Gander	Goosey Gander
Goosey Gander	Monkey Island. Monkey standing in water gathers peanuts or perhaps bread thrown from visitors into the moat which surrounded the island and stuffs it in his mouth.
Three monkeys, two on the point and one in the background anticipate peanuts thrown by Fejervary visitors.	Monkey gathering food and eyeing two more items in the water trying to decide whether or not it is worth it to get soaking wet going after them.
Signage for The Three Little Pigs	Straw House
Wooden House	Brick House
Kiddie Ride at Fejervary	Kiddie Ride at Fejervary
Elephant Slide at Fejervary	Elephant Slide at Fejervary
Covered Wagon on The Western Trail	Covered Wagon on The Western Trail

If you have any pictures, slides, film or stories from Fejervary Park, Monkey Island, the Western Trail or Mother Goose Land from the 1950s through the 1970s, please email me!

Click here to return to Captain Ernie's Showboat!

The two grainy images of the Western Trail are copyright the Quad City Times 05/04/1958, all rights reserved and are used here only for reference.

Former Davenport Alderman George Nickolas Presents Fejervary Zoo Circa 1982

Peacocks

Bobcat

Ducks

More ducks!

Assisting birth to Buffalo

Deer

Donkey

The new Monkey Island in the early 1980's. Soon to be Cougar Island.

Fejervary prototype early 1980s

Mother Goose playground remnants

The last remaining remnants of the original Fejervary Zoo animal enclosures

Painting the groundskeeper's quarters.

Peacocks

New plans for Fejervary 1982

Transportation to Fejervary, year unknown. Probably early 1980's.

This picture is an Arctic Fox, I believe. The zoo acquired 2 of them in 1976, and they were beautiful creatures. The pic of Arctic Fox is of the male. The female was even gorgeous-er! She was pure white and had orange-gold eyes! Her name was Amber because of those stunning eyes. I helped raise and tame her as a kit, but the male was very scared and untameable. They were "teen-age" sub-adults when they arrived at the zoo that summer.

- Kelly Dyer, seasonal worker at the zoo in 1976-77
and head zookeeper in 2000 and again in 2007

Deer

Buffalo

Ferret with babies

Baby Monkey - offspring of the original 1927 group

I don't seem to have any pix of MotherhGooseland or Monkey Island, but I have attached one of me and the monkey bars that were right across the park drive from MGL.

Thank you so much for creating the website--hope you add a Facebook page for MGL.

And hey, what about Niabi Zoo?

Thanks again--Amy Peterson Case

George Nickolas presents; Historic Postcards of Fejervary Park from the early 1900's Fejervary 1908 Fejervary 1913 colorized picture from Davenport Library Collections Fejervary Bear Pit 1910 Fejervary Park Elk 1912

Former Davenport Alderman George Nickolas in 1936, age 3, Fejervary Park Zoo. Notice a corner of the original Monkey Island in the background.

FEJERVARY PARK AND ZOO 100 Years of Excitement for the Citizens of Davenport, Iowa by GEORGE T. NICKOLAS PRESIDENT – FEJERVARY ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

The early leaders of Davenport were the key to the cultural evolution of the city. But, it was not until the formation of the Board of Parks Commissioners that we began developing parks for the citizens of Davenport. The Fejervary Zoological Society hopes to give you an idea of what has happened to a 60-acre plot of land in West Davenport that has become Fejervary Park and Zoo.

We start with a Hungarian, a descendant of nobility and a prominent legislator in his country, Nicholas Fejervary. As a leader in the liberal party he was active in the revolution of 1848-49. When this struggle for liberty came to an unsuccessful end, Mr. Fejervary found the political conditions unendurable and decided to emigrate to the United States of America. The United States offered an opportunity in an environment that did not have impediments in the path of entrepreneurial individuals.

Davenport, Iowa is one of these places that called out to people from the heart of Europe to come and put down their roots. Mr. Fejervary liked Davenport because this was the place that reminded him of his birthplace, the beautiful Hungary on the far-famed Danube. In 1853 he constructed a beautiful home on the hillside in what is now Fejervary Park.

Following the death of Nicholas Fejervary his daughter, Miss Celestine Fejervary returned to Budapesth, Hungary. She decided to donate the homestead of her father to the City of Davenport. She wanted him to be remembered by the City in which he lived during the later years of his life and the home he had enjoyed. The donation was of the twenty-one acres that composed the homestead and the house in which he lived with the view of the Mississippi River and the Western Part of Davenport.

The Davenport City Council at a meeting held on December 3, 1902 unanimously accepted the donation to the city made by Miss Celestine Fejervary. That is how the City of Davenport came into the possession of the land and building that stood on the hillside west of Wilkes and East of the railroad tracks between 9th Street on the South and 12th Street on the North side. The Board of Park Commissioners added some additional land that was purchased to enhance the area to become a site for a park that was planned as the jewel of the parks system in Davenport.

The Board of Park Commissioners wanted to develop Fejervary Park into a prime destination for the citizens of Davenport. There was no rush to open the park to the public, but rather they wanted to systematically plan and developed the property. The Commissioners wanted the property to eclipse in popularity all the other parks of the city. They worked with the Tri-City Street Car Company to run a rail spur connecting on Seventh and Marquette with its Northwest Davenport line directly into the park. The Warren Street cars of the Northwest Davenport line made an excellent connection from downtown Davenport.

The Commissioners worked with the Architects of Claussen and Claussen to transform the old Fejervary home into a very attractive pavilion. The city was complemented for not being cheap in the transformation of the Nicholas Fejervary home into the Fejervary Inn.

The Park Commissioners even kept the old prints that were pasted upon the panels and had them preserved with a coat of varnish. The thought was that a thrifty housewife to whom the beauty of the plain panel did not appeal desired to add a touch of color to the room.

One of the mysteries that remains is when was the Inn torn down? We have not been able to find out any information to destruction of this wonderful asset. It was replaced by a log cabin that stood on the hillside above the swimming and wading pool on the south part of the park. If anyone living can tell what might have happened to the Fejervary Inn we would be happy to fill in the hole in this story of the park.

Following the opening of Fejervary Park and its companion zoo, the Fejervary Park experience became a key summertime Davenport activity for citizens. The Fejervary Inn served as a place that many would come to enjoy the view and a picnic lunch. With the advent of World War I many things changed and following the war a lot of changes took place at the park.

In 1925 Monkey Island became a dream and it was thought to be an “impossible” task. Early reports from the Board of Park Commissioners revealed that they anticipated difficulties of construction and maintenance. However, work began just two years later in 1927. On June 16, 1928, 70 Rhesus Macaques were released on Monkey Island and the tradition of Monkey Island at Fejervary Park had begun.

In 1953 plans to convert a part of the zoo into an entertainment concept with animals began. It was called Mother Goose land. It became a very popular place for the parents to bring their children. The entrance was a large cement goose thru which people would enter Mother Goose land. This Goose has become the second landmark of the Fejervary Zoo and over 100,000 people visited Mother Goose Land one year. In 1959 the Western Trails were added with donkey rides, panning for gold, and other themes of the old west. There was even an old wagon, which resembled the wagons that crossed the Great Plains.

In the 1970’s the attendance declined at Mother Goose land and we began to have problems with the original Monkey Island display that housed the animals in a den under the island in the winter. The island became a problem with the US Department of Agriculture and its regulations. Monkey Island was closed in 1978. The Parks and Recreation Department in 1980 was faced with the question of what to do with Monkey Island and Mother Goose land. The City Council’s decision was to reconstruct Monkey Island and that began in 1981. The Island was completely demolished and redeveloped. This time using new techniques of an “artificial rock landscape,” the island displayed a new natural setting for the Rhesus Macaques. The monkeys, once housed under the island, were housed in a new winter quarters’ building that was connected to the island on the east side of Monkey Island.

The other part of the renovation was to make the zoo into a North American Animal Zoo. Departure from Davenport of several manufacturing plants in the 1980’s hit Fejervary’s projects hard. The Fejervary Zoo fell into a period when not much was added to the zoo. Money that was supposed to be used out of the Hotel/Motel Tax was diverted away from the zoo to support the Davenport River Center and its operation. This was to draw people downtown and to area hotels.

In the 1990’s Mayor Gibbs openly discussed the abolition of the Fejervary Zoo that he characterized as a broken down zoo with sick monkeys and a few other small animals. With the addition of new council people in 1994, there was serious discussion to eliminate the cost of the zoo out of a budget that was already stretched thin. It was Alderman at Large John “Jack” Caffery, ad Democrat and newly elected Alderman George Nickolas who joined forces to save the zoo. They introduced a resolution to establish a Zoological Society to help bring life back to Fejervary Zoo.

A general meeting was held of the public to obtain citizens feedback and interest in the idea of the Zoological Society. Over 100 people attended who express the people were unanimous in the need and desire to maintain the Fejervary Zoo. The focus of the Fejervary Zoo was to be a North American Wild and Domestic Animal venue.

Mayor Gibbs wanted the Zoo contracted out to a private operator. The Fejervary Zoological Society opposed that effort, but a contract with D & J Touch of Wild Life was entered into for zoo operation. Over the years this did not prove to be a good arrangement. In 1998 a decision was made to cancel the arrangement with D & J Touch of Wild Life and renovate the zoo into a City of Davenport operation under the Department of Leisure Facilities.

After a little over a year of renovation, the Fejervary Children’s Zoo opened. The zoo was a small operation at minimum cost to the City of Davenport. Monkey Island was changed into Cougar Island. A decision was made to send the monkeys to Texas for rehabilitation and to let them spend their remaining days in Texas.

Conversion to Cougar Island was dramatic to those who remembered Monkey Island, but many accepted the concept of Cougar Island. The Island made an excellent habitat for the four mountain lions. These mountain lions are Beauty, Beast, TAZ and Majanna. Beauty and Beast are older females that came from another zoo, and Taz was a male that had been rehabilitated by Vickie Mulch, and Majanna came from a traveling large cat operation.

Cougar Island has increased in popularity. The hot summer months are not kind to the cougars that are more suited for cooler weather. In the winter, when the public is not always around, the cougars are very active. Often people park outside the fence and peek at the cougars that might sun themselves on top of the rocks on the island. Sometimes Taz will meow when he sees a familiar face. He has never outgrown his experience with Vickie Mulch’s children and home. Majanna sometimes is led around the zoo with a friendly handler, but everyone remembers that these are wild animals and govern them accordingly.

After the zoo opened and was operating, a push was made to add a children’s garden on the upper level. This provided use of the area south of Money Island. The garden has plants that grow the food that goes into meals. The youth are taken around that garden and explained what the various items being grown are. A butterfly attracting area was developed and it has attracted butterflies that are enjoyed by people coming to the zoo. After the garden had been opened a local model railroad group built a model railroad display. Cars and engines run around those tracks in the summer months.

After the Children’s Zoo had been open a couple of years, Alderman Nickolas asked Mr. Lyle Haackenson, designer of many lighting displays around the Quad-Cities, to consider decorating the Zoo for Christmas. For several years from early December until after Christmas, the handy work of Lyle can be seen nightly at Fejervary. His display has grown to over three city blocks in length. Every year something new is added. In 2004, music was added to the display.

What is on the horizon? The next big project is the building of an educational building where school children can come for educational programs and summer camps. Summer camps have been a big even with many of the area youth. They learn about wild life that live or have lived in the area. They have many chances for hands on experience with fowl, rabbits, goats, calves and other small animals. Summer camps are conducted in cooperation with the Putnam Museum.

Fejervary’s mission is not only for the entertainment of our citizens, but a place where people who have not had an opportunity to interact with domestic animals can come and experience the animal encounter.

Bill Young, Fejervary Groundskeeper Extrodinaire Presents; Fejervary Park Zoo 1915 from the Davenport Parks Department Bear Buffalo Buffalo Drive Comfort Station and Inn Elk Ostriches and Elk Fejervary Park Drive Pheasant Cage Sunken Garden Fejervary Winter Landscape Animals and Fowl in Fejervary Zoo 1915 15 Buffalo 6 Rhesus Monkeys 5 Elk 4 White Face Ring-tail Monkeys 7 Black-tail Deer 1 Pair Ostriches 50 Silver, Golden, Lady Amherst, Ringneck, Japanese, Reeves Pheasants 2 Mountain Lions 2 Brown Bears 2 Black Bears

02/15/2010 ...We lived in Davenport for about 9 years, during my kindergarten year at Madison, then the next 8 years at St Pauls & graduating from St. Pauls in 1963. We lived across Brady from Vanderveer park on Dennison St. before dad got a transfer to Milwaukee. I have MANY fond memories of Davenport and STILL have several friends living there... Ric.. (think he goes by Rod now.. after his dad) VanScoy, his sister Susie and their mom. What great times we had at Fejervary Park!

I live in Kentucky now, retired, and was chatting with a friend I met in a Hearts room. She was from Moline and is NOW living in Denver. I found out that we lived across the river from each other while playing cards one day about 3 years ago and have developed a great friendship but SHE asked me this morning if I lived near Fejervary and I said NO... across from Vanderveer... and she sent me the link to this site. My SISTER searched Ebay a couple of Christmases ago and found a post card of the lagoon at Vanderveer that was framed and she sent it to me for Christmas that year. I have it PROUDLY displayed along with a pennant from the Davenport Angels if you remember.... Billy Martin of the NY Yankee fame played for the Angels back in the 60's. Well, I will DEFINITELY forward this link to my sisters who now live in Virginia and again... THANKS so much for your hard work

- Cliff White (was known as Tommy White in Davenport)

06/25/2010 ... Hello, My mother grew up in the brick house next to Fejervary Park. I have many old photos and will find some to scan and send in. Both of the park and then from Mother Goose Park, as I enjoyed it as a child in the 60's.

My mom was Judy Bearbower. My grandma was Vivian Bearbower who had Bearbower grocery on Locust Street and my uncle Phil still has the Bearbower Barber Shop on Washington Street. My dad used to run the drug store @ 5 Points - and boy do I remember Captain Ernies Showboat! My first tv station visit!

Ruth Durand Bolinger, Creston IA