June 14--16, 2015

Valleys, Bluffs, & Rivers:

Treasures ofNortheast Iowa & Minnesota

Our Mission:

to celebrate the

joys of vintage

vehicle motoring

Road Rules• We provide both emergency roadside assistance and vehicle hauling serv-ices. Disabled vehicles should report their location via cell phone to John.No more than two vehicles should stop to provide roadside assistance.

• If you encounter problems with your vehicle and must stop,pull as far off the roadway as possible. If you do not need as-sistance, please give a “Thumbs Up” signal to passing vehicles,so they know you are “OK”.• We try to avoid the busier highways, but that can’t alwaysbe the case. Always keep sufficient intervals between vehicles so an overtaking vehicle can blend.

• In reality it is the second vehicle that bears the responsibility in passing situations. If you are holding up traffic, please pull over and give faster vehicles the right of way.• Rain, shine or worse… we continue to roll and all vehicles are expected to do the best for themselves under the circumstances. Open top vehicles may need to seek shelter. Individual judgment will be the order for the day.• Get a compass or GPS if you are not always sure of directions.• These route instructions serve as a “guide”only. You are free to deviate andlearn about other parts of theterritory.• We have purposely refrainedfrom relying on mileage or time references in our directions.• Odometers will vary, so any referencesthat do occur must be treated as approximate.

For emergencies call John • 319-431-0520

Winneshiek County HighlightsDecorah Circle Tour with visits to Festina, Ft. Atkinson and Spillville

Decorah is the county seat of Winneshiek County, with a population of 8,127.

Originally settled in 1849, Decorah has become a center for Norwegian-American

culture originating from a high number of Norwegian settlements beginning in

the 1850s. Since 1861 it has been the home of Luther College, affiliated with the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Decorah is also the home of the Vester-

heim Norwegian-American Museum, the largest museum in the country devoted

to one single immigrant group. Until 1972, one of the largest Norwegian language

newspapers in the nation was published in Decorah, the Decorah Posten.

The city was named for Waukon Decorah, a Winnebago leader who was a

U.S. ally during the Black Hawk War of 1832 and whose people were subsequent-

ly forced out of Wisconsin into northeast Iowa. Waukon, immediately east, seat

of Allamakee County, is also named for him. The Day family and other early,

non-native settlers were able to enter and acquire land in Decorah only after the

Winnebago Indians were removed in 1848.

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Sunday, June 14 Day 1

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Day 1

Decorah to Festina

f� From the Country Inn return to Hwy 9 and turn left

g/jQuickly, turn right onto Short St., then quickly curve left around McDonald’s

g At the T, turn right onto Division St. which becomes Middle Calmar Rd (W38)

f At the T intersection, turn left (east) onto Hwy 52

g Turn right onto B32 at the west edge of Ossian

h Follow B32 to Festina and carefully cross Hwy 150 onto what is now 123rd St.

• In a mile turn left onto Little Church Road to the World’s Smallest Church

Visiting the church does require driving on gravel, but with slow speed and

spacing this should not be a problem. If you wish to go directly to Ft. Atkinson

turn right onto Hwy 150, then left onto Hwy 24 in Calmar.

Chapel of St. Anthony of PaduaThis chapel is known as the “world’s smallest church.” It was built in 1885 and

measures fourteen by twenty feet and seats 8 people. The belfry is forty feet high.

Constructed of stones quarried at Snake Hollow, Joseph Spielman donated $20

toward the bell and Johann Gaertner, then

92 years of age, donated $75 to pay for the

wood in the chapel. Frank Joseph Huber and

his wife, Mary Ann, paid the balance. The

chapel dedication took place in 1886.

On June 27, 1887, Johann Gaertner died,

and on Nov. 23, 1887, Frank Joseph Huber

died. Mary Ann carried along the work of

maintaining the chapel. In 1888 she had the

vestibule added on the Chapel with a belfry

40 feet high.

In 1903, stained glass windows were

installed, donated by Mary Ann Huber. The

church is currently a mission of “Our Lady of Seven Dolors” Church of Festina,

Iowa, and is kept up by the living family members of Johann Gaertner and Frank

Joseph Huber. Each year, on the Sunday closest to June 13, the feast of St. Anthony

of Padua mass is offered on its miniature altar.

Fort AtkinsonFort Atkinson was built to protect the Winnebago during their removal from Wis-

consin. It honors Henry Atkinson, the commanding officer in charge of the effort.

Construction began in May 1840 and was com-

plete by the summer of 1842. The regular army

turned the fort over to Iowa volunteers as the

troops stationed there were needed for the Mex-

ican-American War. After the Winnebago were

removed the post was abandoned in 1849.

In SpillvilleWe will visit St. Wenceslaus Church and the

Bily Clock Museum. Plan to spend 30–45

minutes at each of them. Drivers whose last name begins with A through L will

visit the church first and those with M through Z will start at the Clock Museum,

then switch places.

The Clock Museum is on W14 (Main Street) and the church is 3 blocks

further and a left turn onto Church Street, wrapping around the memorial band-

stand. Church parking is up the driveway just west of the church and clock

museum parking is behind the building off School Street.

Wenceslaus is the oldest Czech Catholic Church in the United States. It

was built with the hard work and generosity of Czech settlers that imigrated to

the area. The original church was completed in 1860. A bell tower was added in

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Day 1

Festina to Ft. Atkinson and Spillville

f After visiting the church, return to 123rd St. and turn left

g At the T intersection with W14 turn right toward Ft. Atkinson

g At Hwy 24 turn right into Ft. Atkinson

�f/gTurn left onto 4th St. (W14), then 2 blocks later turn right onto 10th Ave.

�f/fContinue 2 blocks on 10th, then left onto 145th St. and left again at the Fort

h After visiting Ft. Atkinson, return to 4th St. (aka w14) and continue west

g Continue on W14 when it turns right (north) in about 1½ miles to Spillville

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1869 and the sanctuary and transept were completed in 1873. The original pipe

organ installed in 1876 still remains and was played by Antonin Dvorak during

his stay in Spillville. William Kuhlman, Luther

College Professor Emeritus will play an organ

demonstration

Antonin DvorakDr. Antonin Dvorak, world-famous musician

and composer, came to spend the summer of

1893 in Spillville, Iowa. Through a resident of

Spillville he had learned of the village, and

with his family he arrived from New York City by railroad early in June. It was

said that the following morning, before many of the townspeo-

ple were astir, Dvorak arose and proceeded to the site of

Riverside Park, along the Turkey River, to commune

with nature and enjoy the sound of birds and feast

his eyes on the beau-

ties of the

region.While in

Spillville, Dvorak

composed the

widely-known

"American Quar-

tette" and found the

inspiration for "Hu-

moresque", which was

written after he left

Spillville..

The Bily BrothersThe history of the Bily (pronounced Bee-Lee)

Brothers, Frank and Joseph, began on the farm where they were born and

raised. Located between Ridgeway and Spillville,Iowa, the farm is where the

Day 1

The Dvorak

Clock, a tribute

from the

Billy Brothers

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Day 1

Close ups of the American Pioneer History Clock.

two brothers started their carvings. Beginning in 1913, the brothers employed the

idle hours of long winter days and evenings with their skills of woodcarving. Being

farmers and carpenters, they carved only as a hobby while still doing their regular

chores and maintaining a well-kept farm. In 1915 and 1916, they built the Apostle

Clock from which the Twelve Apostles appear on the hour. During the period of

1923-1927, the Bily Brothers added their masterpiece to the collection, The Ameri-

can Pioneer History Clock. A memorial clock to Charles Lindbergh was carved in

1928 commemorating his historic flight. In these beautiful artistically carved

clocks the brothers have used woods from a number of foreign countries as well as

numerous pieces of walnut, butternut,

maple and oaks from North America. The

Bily Brothers moved their collection to

Spillville in 1946. They bequeathed the

clocks to the town of Spillville with an

agreement that they would never be sold

or moved from their present location.

Spillville to Decorah Country Inn

From either the church or the Museum return to Main St. heading south

f Turn left onto Bridge St. (aka Hwy B16) a block south of the Bily Museum

f Turn left (north) at the T intersection onto Hwy 52

• Time permitting, turn right to Whistlestop Antiques by the railroad tracks in Calmar

g Turn right onto Hwy 9 to the Country Inn

Directions to Phelps Park- Dinner at Whalen Cabin

f/gFrom the hotel parking area turn left uphill, then a quick right onto Park St.

h Continue several blocks on Park to Whalen Cabin Historic Site parking on the left.

David Faldet, Luther CollegeProfessor of English

Professor of English David Faldet’s recent book, Oneota

Flow was chosen as the summer reading for Luther’s first-

year class this fall, so David had the thrill of giving the open-

ing convocation lecture to an audience who had read his book.

In Oneota Flow David folds his local roots and stories into a natu-

ral-cultural history of Decorah’s Upper Iowa River and the Driftless re-

gion of Northeast Iowa.

David’s interests in ecology make him an invaluable link between

Luther’s English department and its Environmental Studies program. A Luther

grad and a Ph.D. from Iowa in nineteenth-century British literature, David

teaches Victorian literature as well as rhetoric.

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William KuhlmanLuther CollegeProfessor Emeritus of Organ and Church Music.

Critics hailed organist William Kuhlman as “a

world-class performer” whose playing “commu-

nicates musical purpose and excitement.” His pas-

sion for his art was reflected in a teaching and

performing career that spanned a broad range of activ-

ities, from concerts with the Philadelphia Brass and solo

recitals in the cathedrals of Trondheim, Rotterdam and Vienna, to publication

in 2002 of his scholarly work in national organ journals. Over forty of his for-

mer Luther organ students went on for graduate degrees at a variety of presti-

gious institutions. Kuhlman was named Emeritus Professor of Music following

his retirement in 2006.

Day 1

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Monday, June 15 Day 2

Three Scenic BywaysMinnesota, Iowa & Great River RoadA circle tour with pit stops in Caledonia, MN & Waukon and lunch in New Albin

Decorah to Caledonia

g From the Country Inn return to Hwy 9 and turn right

g At the intersection, turn right onto Hwy 52 passing Luther College

g In a little over 5 miles turn right onto Cty. Rd.W34 (aka North Winn Rd.)

Seed Savers ExchangeSeed Savers Exchange or SSE is a non-profit

organization and one of the largest non-

governmental seedbanks in the United States.

The mission of SSE is to preserve the world’s

diverse but endangered garden heritage for

future generations by building a network of

people committed to collecting, conserving,

and sharing heirloom seeds and plants, and

educating people about the value of genetic

and cultural diversity.

The SSE was founded by Diane Ott

Whealy and Kent Whealy in 1975, inspired to

protect and preserve heirloom varieties after

Diane was bequeathed the seeds of two heir-

loom plants (a German tomato and a morning glory vine) that her great-grandfather

had brought to the U.S. from Bavaria in 1870. Today, it has more than 13,000 mem-

bers worldwide, passing on more than one million seed samples and distributing

over 20,000 varieties of endangered seeds.

The 890-acre Heritage Farm is called the “most diverse farm in the world”.

More than 25,000 rare fruit, vegetable, and plant varieties are regenerated,

refrigerated and preserved in a central collection. It has its own underground

seed vault held at below-freezing temperatures. A herd of White Park Cattle as

well as 900 apple tree varieties are also maintained on the farm.

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Day 2

Decorah to Caledonia continued

g At the T intersection, turn right onto A-14 to Hesper

f In Hesper, turn left onto Locust Rd.

h Within 3 miles, cross into Minnesota and continue to Mabel

j /k In Mabel, angle left, then angle right onto Maple St. following the Truck Route

g At the T intersection, turn right onto Hwy 44 thru Spring Grove to Caledonia

g Entering Caledonia, turn right onto West Main St. by the Kwik Trip

g In Caledonia, turn right onto Main St. (aka 249) for our morning pit stop.

Caledonia Pitstoph Continue to the downtown traffic light, then turn right onto Kingston St. Find a

place to park and Pine Cone Place on the right is handing out our route guide

stickers. Owner, Polly Heberlein has compiled a shortlist of nearby places where

you can grab a quick snack.

Quilting the Countryside!Welcome to the picturesque hills and valleys surrounding Caledonia to enjoy the

barn quilts that adorn the landscape of Houston County, Minnesota. What began as

a creative barn improvement project for a local family has evolved into an ever-

growing series of art displays in the form of barn quilts. The project promotes the

importance of barns, the historical significance of quilting, and the artistic talents

of local residents. In 2008 Caledonia was proclaimed “The Heart of Quilt Country”

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Day 2

Caledonia to New Albin

h Return to Hwy 44 going north out of town toward Hokah

g In Hokah, turn right at the Public Library (look for the flag pole) onto Hwy 18 to

Brownsville

f In Brownsville turn left onto Main St. (aka Hwy 3)

g When Main St. ends, turn right onto Hwy 26, (aka the Great River Road)

h Continue south on Hwy 26 to our lunch stop in New Albin

The Iron PostIn 1849, a Mississippi river steamboat landed at Victory, Wisconsin and unloaded

a cast iron obelisk weighing 600 pounds. Five feet eight inches long, 12”square at

the base and tapering to 7” at the top, the four sides of the post were marked

“Iowa”, “Minnesota,” the date, “1849,” and “Lat. 43 degrees 30.”

The following winter, a band of men hitched a team of oxen to a sled, loaded

the iron post, crossed the frozen river, and with great difficulty carried it to a spot

three miles west of the Mississippi. The post, sent by the government to mark the

boundary line between Iowa and Minnesota, was unloaded by the men just north

by the Minnesota State Legis-

lature. About 60 barns now

grace this countryside with

beautifully painted quilts

whose patterns and colors cel-

ebrate historical American

quilt patterns

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Day 2

of New Albin, IA, then in its early stages of settlement.

It’s an interesting story, but is too much to share here, you can read all the

details here at www.sharylscabin.com/Allamakee/history4/ironpost.htm

View “The Post”To view “The Post” (a small challenge), turn left onto the

gravel drive just after the bridge at the extreme north edge

of town noting the stop sign at the rise adjacent to the

railroad tracks. Cross the tracks angling to the right and

the post is ahead of you on the right.

New Albin Lunch stopPark in the lot to the right in the center of town. All four

restaurants are within a block and each is offering a ‘spe-

cial’ just for us. The 130 year-old Wuennecke’s City Meat Market is on the

northwest corner of the square, a must-visit to sample their sausage and cheese.

• Iron Post Grill — pulled pork with potato salad and side of fruit

• Fred’s East Side Tap — 2 topping pizza (12”) and pitcher of pop

• Buzzard’s — burger & fries basket

• High Chaparall — roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable & bread

or on the lighter side, chicken salad croissant sandwich with fresh salad

New Albin to Waukon

Return to Hwy 26 heading south

g In Lansing, turn right onto Main St. (Hwy 9)

g Turn right onto North 6th St. and continue to the top of Mt. Hosmer

g After taking-in the view, return to Main St., turn right onto Hwy 9

h Continue on Hwy 9 to Waukon

h Continue thru Waukon, remaining on Hwy 9 to the WW Homestead Dairy on the

left at the south edge of town for our afternoon pit stop (look for the building

with the Black Cow portrait on the wall)

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Day 2

Now — For the ViewA spectacular panoramic view of fifty miles of the beautiful Mississippi River

valley rewards visitors who take the sidetrip up the 104-acre Mount Hosmer City

Park, situated on a bluff 450 feet above the town of Lansing. The park is named

for Harriet Hosmer, a sculptress, who won a footrace to the summit of the hill

during a steamboat layover during the 1850s.

Waukon to Decorah Fish Hatchery

g/fTurn right to return to downtown and turn left (west) onto Main St.

(aka Hwy 76 or A52)

h When 76 turns right, continue straight on A52 (aka Old Hwy 9) to Decorah

f Turn left at the stop sign and cross Hwy 9 onto Trout Run Rd.

h Continue on Trout Run Road to the stop sign by the Decorah Fish Hatchery

and Decorah Eagle Cam.

f Parking is along the drive and to the left.

Fish Hatchery to Decorahf Return to Trout Run Rd. turn left and continue until it ends.

g Turn right onto Middle Calmar Rd. toward Decorah

g Just before the Hwy 9 overpass, turn left onto Centrum Dr. to reach Hwy 9 and

left to the Country Inn

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Day 2

The EaglesThe Decorah Eagles are located in a

cottonwood tree across the street from

the Iowa Fish Hatchery. This is the

second nest built by this pair of eagles.

The new nest was built in 2013, in an

area quite close to their original nest

that they had used since 2007.

Eagles don't live on their nests.

They use a nest to hatch their eggs and raise their young. The Decorah Eagles

begin working on their nest in the fall, lay their eggs in Feb. or early March, and

the eggs hatch 35-39 days later. The Decorah eagle pair don't occupy the nest

when there are no eggs or eaglets. The adult eagles do stay in the area year round

since it has turned out to be an excellent place for them to find abundant nesting

material and food, no matter what time of year it is. There is no need for them to

migrate. Then, in the fall, they begin their work on the nest again, preparing for

another clutch of offspring.

Decorah Fish HatcherySpecies reared:

Brook Trout Rainbow Trout

The fish hatchery is a production rearing station for growing Shasta strain rain-

bow and St. Croix strain brook trout. Approximately 130,000 catchable size

rainbow and 20,000 catchable brook trout are reared annually. Decorah fish

hatchery personnel are responsible for stocking 15 put-and-take streams in

Winneshiek, Allamakee, Howard, and Mitchell Counties. The hatchery also

stocks five seasonal urban lakes in Mason City, Sioux City, Spencer, Ames and

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Day 2

Directions to McCaffrey's Dolce Vita

From the Country Inn return to Hwy 9

g/gTurn right onto Hwy 9, then right again onto Hwy 52

g/fAfter passing thru the rock opening, turn right onto Twin Springs Rd., then turn immediately left toward Twin Springs Park

h Continue on Twin Springs Rd. to McCaffrey's on the left (a portion is gravel)

Ankeny or Bondurant.

All streams stocked are posted on a calendar that is available

on the Iowa DNR website, although some of the streams are unan-

nounced. Thirteen streams are stocked once a week and two every

other week. Because some streams get too warm during late June,

July and August stressing fish, these streams are not stocked. Stock-

ing is done from April through October. The picturesque limestone of-

fice and residence date back to the 1930s as a project of the Civilian

Conservation Corps. The hatchery consists of 24 cement flow-through

raceways and 3 rubber lined earthen ponds.

Tuesday, June 16Morning Drive for Closing

Lunch in Gunder, Iowa

(approx. 100 miles)

f From the Country Inn return to Hwy 9 and turn left

g In about 4 miles turn right onto W42 by the airport

g/fIn Ossian W42 turns right, then 2 blocks later turns left by the Casey’s

store and Memorial Park onto Jessie St. (slight jog) and go south toward

West Union

g In West Union turn right onto Bradford St. (aka Hwy 18)

f In a few blocks turn left onto Hwy 150 and continue on 150 to Fayette

f/gIn Fayette, just after the bridge, turn left onto Water St. and then one block

after Main St. turn right onto Washington St.

h Continue on Washington to the south end of town

f Turn left, going out of town on C24 (aka Wadena Rd.)

h Continue on C24 until it ends at Hwy C2W (aka Bell Rd. or 112) west of Volga

f/gTurn left onto C2W for a few blocks, then right onto C24

(shortly, look right for the Tractorland ‘open-air’ museum)

f At the T intersection, turn left onto Hwy 13 north toward Elkader (Consider a

stop at the Osborne Outdoor Education Center; it’s well-well worth it)

f Continue about 6 miles, then turn left onto Hwy 56 into Elkader

g/fAfter the bend and just beyond the park, turn right onto Boardman,

then left onto Main Street

h/gContinue to Bridge St., turn right, and cross the Turkey River Stone Bridge

f Turn left onto High St. immediately after the crossing the bridge

k/fHigh bends to the right and at the T intersection turn left onto X16

(aka Gunder Rd.)

h Continue on X16 until it goes right, but continue straight on what’s now B60

(it’s still aka Gunder Rd.) Don’t blink entering Gunder, the Shanti is on the left.

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Day 3 Tuesday, June 16

Notes

S P I L LV I L L E N EW A L B I N C A L E D O N I A

L A N S I N G D E C O R A H G U N D E R

Passport