Another earlier than normal morning began with my crawling out of bed a good hour before normal, which prompted me to get readied for another day at office. In these times, I’m actually glad to be there earlier because I’m able to get settled-in for the day, and still have time to take in all the online news feeds.
Another obituary showed up this morning of a distant relative of mine whose family’s bloodline is on my mother’s side. I only knew him passingly, but I did have several real estate transactions with his parents, as well as his sister whom I’d run into over at the Post Office several months ago, and since she was asking, I had to explain to her that our bloodline connection is between my great-grandfather and his sister, who would be the one questioning me’s, great-grandmother. So to make it easier to understand, I said, “Your great-grandmother’s brother, was my great-grandfather.” The lightbulb finally went on. But the funniest thing about it all, a very many years ago when she was working in a bank, I went up to her one day and said, “My gosh! You look so much like one of my sisters to the point, I’d almost swear we’re related.” Well, I was right after all. Her brother’s picture they posted in his obit, doesn’t show much of any resemblance, but his son who lives here in Mason City, looks more like those from my mother’s side. Isn’t it amazing how looks can not only bleed down, but also go sideways and down?
It’s been exactly one month since that fire started over at the Kirk Apartments, which prompted me to get out at the street-side of my office and take more photos which I’ve now created another slide-show for all of you, so click on tonight’s photo and the show will begin. Just before I went outside with camera in hand early this morning, I received a text photo from a client of that arched doorway, and the message said something like, “Wouldn’t this make a great entrance for a sculpture park like they have in Des Moines?” I immediately sent a text back saying, “Yes indeed!” Well, not five minutes later, that big front-hoe was there pulling it down. What a shame.
I also heard from a colleague that Suzie-Que’s won’t be able to open, and only because that plot of land has been leased to them all these years, and to make matter worse, the water and sewer was being supplied by the Kirk Apartment building. We both agreed that it should be permanently relocated near the bus stop in Central Park. I’m sure they’d get more business at that location, and when thinking about it, I can actually see it fitting right in. Our City could simply lease the land to them after they’ve installed water and sewer hook-ups. I can’t think of a better place for it, other than possibly where that ghost hotel is supposed to go. I’m certain it wouldn’t be a difficult structure to move. Oh, I just thought of another spot. They could move it to that vacant lot the City owns just north of City Hall. Yep! That’s where it should go. I’m sure the City employees would enjoy having it close-by.
After I dropped my abstract off at the offices of Winnebago County Abstract, I spent some time taking photos of their courthouse, and then headed over to a classic ‘Boot Hill’ cemetery where and old branch of my family’s buried. My goodness, I couldn’t believe how I was still able to make the connections with those various names. People easily forget that just because a married woman’s last name isn’t the same surname, doesn’t mean they’re not just as closely related. Just as I mentioned earlier, they tend to forget the maiden names of the mothers. There was one very old tombstone which showed two separate hands coming together, and the inscription simply stating, “We’ll meet again.” In spite of having heard that before, for the strangest reason, I found the visuals of it all, very moving. I did take a photo of it which I’ll share with you in the future. There’s no doubt that couple must’ve been desperately in love with each other.
Of course one of my great-grandfather’s brothers whose family is buried up there, also had a large granite stone erected, which came as no surprise because he was another a very successful farmer who also built and owned a creamery on a nearby parcel of his land. Because there’s been so many years that’ve passed, I’d wager few if any people in and around his farm, knew there was also a creamery nearby. A person would have to go way back into a Hancock County atlas to see where it was. Fortunately the home he built back in the late 1870’s is still standing strong and stately.
After several phone conversations today, I’m going to remain hopeful we’ll have two new listings coming on the market next week, and if both of them are priced accordingly, they should be quickly under contract. I may possibly have a buyer for one of them, so I’m gonna keep my fingers crossed.
I went back out to take more photos of the demolishing of the Kirk Apartments, and wouldn’t you know, I recognized two different people walking off with bricks from it, so it looks like those workers are giving away little ‘keepsakes’ from those monster piles of brick and stone. Where were all those re-purposers when we needed them? No doubt there’s enough limestone and brick to build a church or several grand homes. I don’t even want to go there about all that stamped copper-cladding that’s been hauled off to the dump. Now that was indeed a waste of vintage beauty.
Late this afternoon, I had to run over to Clear Lake on an errand, and while there, I took several photos which I’ll also be sharing. My goodness! Their City government’s been continually active in promoting commerce, and good for them. In spite of it not yet being the official beginning of tourist season over there, the streets and sidewalks were full of cars and people. Every time I’m in and around their downtown, I get really good ‘vibes’, which for me, is a good thing. Unfortunately there’s no middle of the road with me, because those vibes are either good, or bad and no in-between.
Tonight’s One-liner is: I’ve learned you simply can’t control those bad vibes.
