Day 34 - Yellowstone Trail & US-20 at DennyGibson.com

Day 34: July 9, 2021
From IA to IL
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This is one of the reasons I wanted to stay where I did last night. When I met Historic US Route 20 founder Bryan Farr near the start of this trip, he told me that he had plans to be in Iowa in July. It seemed at least possible that our paths would cross. As I approached Iowa, Bryan let me know that he would be in Independence on the 8th and in Manchester on the 9th. At one point I thought I might reach Independence in time to meet him at the county fair but it soon became apparent that that wasn't going to happen. This morning in Manchester would happen. I got there a little ahead of Bryan and was standing beside the curb taking a picture of the Delaware County courthouse when he arrived and waited for me to clear the space before parking.

A major signing project has just been completed and Bryan's visit is a sort of celebration and thank you. The main event, with state officials, would be in Fort Dodge on Monday, and until then Bryan was participating in photo ops in various towns that had embraced the project. I heard the names of the various county and city officials in the picture but the only one I made note of was Mayor Kramer, the longest serving mayor in Iowa. He's standing next to Bryan. The banner on the ground is a new design that will be used in some future publicity campaigns and the whole gathering was intended to provide some fodder for publicity. As I left, an interview with a local radio station was just beginning.

Bryan identified this place in Dyersville, IA, as a Historic 20 supporter. I stopped in and had a nice chat with Heidi, one of the owners of Savvy Salvage. That's her behind the counter. It bills itself as an antiques and oddities store but it includes US 20 signs, books, shirts, and such in its offerings and Heidi is something of a road fan herself.

Shortly after leaving Dyersville, I went a few miles off route to visit the Field of Dreams movie site for the second time. Even though I parked, I did not stray far from the car so the visit was pretty much like a drive-by. There were a lot more people here today than in 2014 and more buildings, too. A major league game had been planned for the site last year which probably accounts for some of the added structures. It was delayed, of course, by COVID, but another has been scheduled. Current plans call for the White Sox and Yankees to face off here on August 12.

I almost immediately mad another off route excursion. I wanted to know how far away Dubuque was so I tapped the "cities" button on the GPS. Other than the small town I was in, the community of Bankston topped the list. My maternal grandfather was a Bankson which is simply Bankston after some ancestor decided to ditch the 'T'. On a whim, I decided to dash to the town and photograph the limits sign. There was no such sign so I photographed the whole town. In 2010 it had a population of 25. There is a mighty fine church but its name is St. Clement. The north-south road is named Bankston Park Road and there is a sign for it, but the only place the town name appears is on the front of what I believe is its only commercial enterprise.

My interest in Dubuque was centered on the Fenelon Place Elevator. Although it has gone through several incarnations, a cable car of some sort has operated here since 1882. It advertises itself as the "World's Shortest & Steepest Railroad". Things are operated and fares collected at the top. Passengers boarding at the bottom have their responsibilities spelled out for them. I have ridden several cable-driven inclined planes but don't recall ever seeing rollers like the well worn wooden ones here. Maybe I just haven't paid attention. I'm not always the most observant person around. I'll be looking for them from now on.

Sports fans of all sorts often head to the local bar for the big game, but at Paul's Tavern that might mean something slightly different. Here the big game is always on... the wall. My second stop in Dubuque was one recommended by a friend and a good recommendation it was.

I ended my day in Galena, IL, but before I did, I toured the Ulysses S. Grant Home there. This is the house that was given to the Grants by a group of admirers in 1865. Most of the furnishings are original and that includes the green chair at lower right in the third photograph. Grant liked this chair so much that he took it with him to the White House. While the carpet and wall coverings are not original, they were selected to match the originals as closely as possible. I think that means that the Grants truly descended from dizzying heights each morning.

My home for the night was this room at the Grant Hills Motel. This was another recommendation from the fellow who recommended Paul's. I'm starting to trust this guy.

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