Below are some images that were scanned by the Clark contact and fortunately he understands high resolution scanning. That way I could edit and enhance them on my end.
As you'll see, there is a Borkowski connection.
So anyone who might have pictures and/or information about the Clark Auto Salvage business and/or the
Borkowski family - please contact me.
This first image is something I have not seen before - a remembrance document in German. I have scanned many baptismal, wedding, confirmation, etc documents in German but this is the first "in memory of" type document I've seen.
What a wonderful and amazing historical document to add to the Manning Historical Preservation Database I'm constantly working on.
This is what the original document looks like, with
cracks and splotches
then I digitally restored it as seen on top.
Borkowski family
Back: Leona Clark, Ferdinand, Carl Jr., Alfred, Ida Hagedorn
Front: Matilda Frank, Carl Sr., Elizabeth Dorothea (Ketelsen), Elsie Deist
Clark property tax document that references the future Willow Creek park.
We are also trying to see if this Clark family is related to Milo/Dick Clark family.
Lester's and his brother, Shirley's, dad was Matthew Clark who immigrated from Whitwell, England, in about 1871.
Nearly every day I go into town and I will find something amazing and interesting going on - ALL to improve the quality of life and maintain it for the citizens of Manning.
Saturday afternoon I went into town and saw a tall green tower down by the fire station so I went to investigate.
It so happened to be a special fire & rescue practice and drill session that started 8:00 in the morning.
The department at one time in the
not too distant past was down to the upper 20s of a possible full complement of 36. It is now back to 32.
This is a shout out to all young adults in the community to get involved if you are not and especially consider volunteering as a fireman.
I found out that Marc Arp & Robert "Bruno" Ehlers are the "senior" members of the department now - graduates of MHS 1977/1978 respectively.
The Manning Fire Department organized in 1883 and since then, hundreds of men and I believe just one woman have volunteered.
Having lived in the Manning area my whole life I have seen a constant environment of unparalleled volunteerism and community involvement that is in the DNA of the community
that goes back to way before the 1881 founding of Manning to those Pioneers who forged into the unknown Prairie to help build this amazing nation we live in today.
Not everyone in Manning does volunteer but MOST do volunteer in some capacity in this community.
I also see every day on the news about people protesting nearly everything under the sun.
Far be it from me to criticize them but as I reflect over the years living here in Manning and seeing how much time, work, money, effort, and faith it takes to keep this community
going - I wonder if any of these protestors ever volunteer for their fire department, church, community organizations, school, military organization - anything?
Even though some use whistles during their protest, I'll bet none of them have ever volunteered as a referee at a community sporting event...they would turn tail and run if
they ever got booed.
If someone sees a problem or need that requires attention in Manning then they form a group to see if something can be accomplished - BUT they don't form their group
to protest something or complain about something...
Of course it is much harder and less "cool" to actually have to work, spend time and even your own money to accomplish something constructive.
So much for my rambling - but I hope the next time you see a Fireman or any volunteer - that you thank them for what they do for our community.
Now look at the first 3 pictures and then contrast them to the following drill photos by some of our amazing Manning volunteers!
August 11, 2018, Manning Fire & Rescue volunteers training "on belay" in a high elevation rescue drill.
Ryan Renze on the right getting ready to be a "victim."
The red rope is the main line and the blue rope is the backup safety line.
Now the "rescuer" on the left is "on belay."
Now the rescuer has to connect his harness to the rescuee with safety ropes and harness.
The other part of the team working the ropes.
As I was thinking back, I remembered I captured the High Angle Rescue drill by the fire department at AGP.
It was in 2007 and I'm so glad I have the digital database to go back to and grab a few scenes from the past to show everyone again.
This was definitely a more realistic drill than the one held recently. I'm not sure of the exact height but I'm fairly sure the silo is around 100 feet high.
Here are a few scenes I showed on my web page back in 2007.
Robert Barsby, Jr - "look mom, no hands!"
View from the ground
I think this is Travis Sybesma
A different perspective of how high we are in these pictures.
Drill on the south side of the silo
Looking due west in this view
Robert D. Hansen, age 88, of Manning died Tuesday, August 7, 2018, at the Manning Plaza Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be at 11 AM on Saturday, August 11, 2018, in Trinity Church at the Hausbarn Heritage Park in Manning, with interment in the Manning Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 PM to 8 PM on Friday, August 10, 2018, at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning.
Update on the Hillside Splash project
On May 15, 2018, the city council approved $400,000 in matching funds for the proposed Hillside Splash project.
JEO Consulting has been working on design ideas and a proposal to complete this project in 3 phases.
Phase 1 will begin in 2019-20 with construction beginning in 2020-21, or as soon as funds are raised.
A zero-depth pool with some play features are planned in phase 1, with the slide aspects in phase 2, and a spray pad for phase 3.
Click on the link below to see some very interesting history on how Manning achieves so many amazing things and is now working on another unique project.
Oh the Fun of playing in the Sun (1968)
1909 cartoon about 2 boys nabbing their friends' clothes while "skinny dippin.'"
The Bike Flowers were made with the help of volunteers. Warner Welding cut out the leaves and stems and welded them together.
This was completed with the help of Collin Borkowski who attends Iowa State majoring in Ag Engineering and Chance Gruhn who will be attending
Iowa Lakes Community College in the Fall.
Alan Irlbeck, manager of Irlbeck Collision Center, donated his expertise painting of the Bike Flowers.
Money was donated by Main Street Manning to cover any remaining expenses.
It took lots of time and effort to complete this project that the Main Street Design Committee undertook.
Kristina Lupardus (collected the Bike Rims), Elaine
Irlbeck (enlisted Alan Irlbeck for painting), with the help of Janet McLaughlin, Shirley Hey, and Sandra Hass who worked on this project to make it a reality.
The Bike Flowers adorned 141 as RAGBRAI riders traveled through Manning.
Mention of the STEM program was emphasized by the sign made by PCE.
Marsha Clausen-- Design Committee chairperson.
You'll have to look at all of the links but I snuck in some very old images of Manning in the RAGBRAI feature linked just below.
Not counting the thousands of hours it took me to locate, scan, edit, and digitally store these old historical images over the last
several decades, it took me several extra days to search my database so I could edit them and provide some informaition about each of them to go along with the 300 RAGBRAI photos.
Now as I said, this is not a hit and miss comment I hear but what I have been hearing for several decades and not only by former Manning residents but also many first time visitors.
Below are some pictures that show why people are saying these positive comments and these pictures show the behind the scenes work it takes to maintain the community and also improve upon it...
So many organizations have been hurt by the rural flight and changing rural economy over the decades.
This reunion was held in the Manning VFW hall.
Manning also has an American Legion hall and members but both military groups are aging to a point that in a number of more years, they may not be able to continue on...not
because there is a lack of patriotism but mostly because of the rural flight where many young Manning men and women go into the military service but are not able to return
to their hometown because of lack of job opportunities, so these two organizations continue with their struggle to maintain an active membership.
This is not just these two groups that struggle but church organizations, civic organizations, and all volunteer groups in general have been slowly declining in numbers and ability to help maintain the quality of life here in Manning.
Fortunately over the last 10 years, we have had a mini baby-boom and influx of young couples moving back to Manning...to a point that the last census increased by 50 and the IKM-Manning school enrollment went up this year, after going down each year since the merging of the two school districts.
Many of these young people volunteer but with today's changing society, more effort and volunteerism will have to be provided by these "younger" generations if they want this community to maintain the quality of life it has had and also to continue with the ongoing improvements.
I hope some of the younger generations who are active in Manning now will take the time to go through this progression and stop to realize that many of them were not even born when this project began and that it many times takes years even a decade to take a project through fruition.
My comments are not meant to talk down to the younger generations or preach to them, but that they realize the society we live in today that demands INSTANT results and gratification is not reality when it comes to keeping a community going.
July 31, 1999 Richtfest - north end
July 31 - Martin Peter Hansen with Art Rix
Art Rix passed away in 2010 at the age of 101...just think of all the history he lived through here in Manning. Art was also an active volunteer in Manning. Sadly, very few young people today even know of Art. This is why we need to preserve our history and the efforts of the people before us who built this community - otherwise we will fall further into self aggrandisement and take everything for granted.
Tours, weddings, and all kinds of activities occur at the Heritage Park throughout the year.
I only have time to capture just a few of them but think if we
did not have the Hausbarn or park...the church may have not been moved here...other events may not have come to fruition in the community and Manning might now
be on a downward death spiral like so many other small rural communities.
Volunteers do spring cleaning along 141
Many of you are probably aware that RAGBRAI is coming through Manning at the end of this month...again, things don't happen in a vacuum...it takes lots of preparation - even little things like placing bikes in the planters so flowering vines can climb them to make Main Street Manning look beautiful.
I often show the city crew at work...sometimes they are busy with large projects and other times little things that most people don't notice or pay attention to...things that
make the community look nice.
Here you see Justin Mundt and Reese Hansen working on the Main Street bricks. Due to various reasons, some areas of the bricks have settled so the city crew
is pulling up the bricks, adding sand, and then replacing the bricks - this way there are no low spots where people could trip on or sprain an ankle...sometimes it
is the little things like this that make the biggest difference and are usually a lot of hard work.
Replacing old sidewalks
In 2014, it was decided to build a trail system through Manning by raising funds, seeking grants and also state/federal money. Here are a few images of the trail progress this year.
Trail goes under the 141 bridge
Looking north toward 141
Now we'll transition to the new sewer line being installed.
These first pictures were taken by the 141 bridge trail. You can see 2 large concrete pilings which most people
have probably never even noticed and won't know the history behind them.
In 1880, the very first railroad was planned for Manning - the Northwestern (part of the Iowa Southwestern) which traveled from the northeast to southwest through town starting
in 1881.
In late 1881, the Milwaukee RR was built through Manning. It originally traveled through the present day city park and was later moved to its present location in 1915.
In 1903, the Greatwestern also came through Manning, paralleling the Northwestern.
This first picture shows 2 large concrete pilings that once suported the bridge of the 1150 feet viaduct that spanned from West Street, over the Nishnabotna, and up to the present day east edge of the city baseball field.
1914 construction of the new
Milwaukee right-of-way that was moved to north Manning.
Heading north toward Third Street
One thing that John Ohde tries to do is to find uses for things that are obsolete or no longer used. This concrete structure was part of the old water treatment plant and stored water (something like a cistern). So when the new water plant was built it was abandoned. Now they are converting it into a storage facility.
taking soil load tests for the site of the water slide and splash pad.
Replacing the parking lot surface at Zion Lutheran
Gene Steffes - expanding into the cardboard baling business
Three (4.0) 2018 Valedictorians: Payton Sporrer, Shyanne Sporrer, Peyton Gross
More pictures and information coming
So for the next few months things will continue to be slow on my web page updates, but I still am hoping that more Manning connected Veterans and/or their families will come forward with pictures and information - as I still have hundreds of Manning Veterans who I have little if any information.
Here is a picture I recently received. His great-grandniece found my web page last year and after several e-mails I found out that her great-granduncle originally lived in the Manning area before his family moved to South Dakota.
You can find information about him on my WWI Veterans' page.
So many people today have become so self-involved with themselves and their obsession on social media, that I think we need to be constantly reminded about why we have the easy and spoiled lifestyle we live in today.
More pix coming
If anyone has information, please e-mail me and I'll forward the information on to Rose's classmate.
My e-mail is linked in the upper left...
Now some may wonder what a Schuetzen Verein is - a Marksmanship Club or Shooting Association.
Manning originally had a large wooden structure called the Germania Hall, constructed in 1884, it stood just across the street to the east from Casey's General
Store and was built by the Manning Schuetzen Verein.
It was also known as the Manning Opera House.
It burned down in 1925 and was replaced in 1926 by the brick building that was later called the Firemen's Hall.
Many of you may be aware of the "Five Mile House" northwest of Manning, which is still active today as a Schuetzen Verein, but there was also the "Three Mile House" that was 3 miles north of Highway 141 on West Street. It was also a Schuetzen Verein.
North end of Germania hall
Germania Hall marked by the black letter V
Firemen's Hall - note the Schuetzen Hall stonework
The Lawrence Welk band played in this building...
Children's Day King Shoot, Bob Hoffmann left - Phil Knaack shooting
More than ever, we need to get back to more traditional events where people actually interact and communicate in person and as a community.
I know thousands of adults today have very fond memories of Children's day when they were kids. If you live out of town or state, you should consider bringing your kids/grandkids
to enjoy the day and help keep this very important celebration going.
Kinderfest will be held on June 16, 2018, which is also Father's Day weekend.
Monetary assistance is requested and can be sent to the First National Bank, % Elissa (Rutz) Riesburg, PO Box 325, Manning, IA 51455.
These funds will be used to offset
the cost of entertainment, rides, and prizes.
Anyone interested in a booth is asked to contact Maria Muhlbauer 712 269-5396 or mmuhlbauer@outlook.com
They ask that you not use Kinderfest as a primary fundraiser for your
organization or group but donate a percentage of profits back to Kinderfest.
A raffle fundraiser is also used to support Kinderfest so family or child oriented prizes and gift baskets are being sought as donations. Ashley Singsank and Elissa Riesburg are in charge of the raffle this year. 712 655-3557 or elissa@fnbmanning.com
I hope this year they stop throwing out candy from the floats so more kids will walk in the parade and not stand on the sidewalks!!!
They may have to go back to giving free tickets or something to get the kids to participate in the parade.
Follow this link to find out more about the history of Kinderfest and see pictures from many eras of the past.
An observation I made during Orland's funeral was the lack of attendance by business people and Manning citizens in general. I realize many of
them paid their respects at the viewing the day before and the church is relatively small but having attended funerals for 50+ years and knowing Manning history...society has
changed a lot - it was quite common when a businessman passed away years ago that the businesses on Main Street closed down during the funeral and most of the owners
attended the funeral.
Here are just two examples.
Ulysses L. Patton
July 30, 1908
ONE OF OUR OLDEST PIONEER CITIZENS PASSES AWAY LAST SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Was a Member of the City Council for Fifteen Years and on School Board for Nine Years.
Mr. Patton has been in the stock business in Manning for a number of years and
was associated in the business with his son, Dwight, at the time of his death.
As a token of the esteem in which Mr. Patton is held by the business men here
every place of business in the city was closed from 10 to 12 o'clock, during
the time of his funeral and all public work was suspended the entire day.
John Frahm, Prominent Business Man Died Tuesday
Entered Into Rest May 28, 1940 At Home Manning
The spacious funeral home and every,
available place around the premises was occupied by friends during the
services. Every business place in town was closed in his respect during the services.
The deceased leaves many memories and some heritages which will endure through
Manning's history. He was one of the towns leading citizens; a man of pleasing
personality; jovial; kind and honorable. He was a good friend to have and he
had a host of friends. The Chamber of Commerce, Manning, 3-Mile House and
5-Mile House Schuetzen Verein, of which he was a member,
and other organizations always found him a willing worker and liberal giver.
The town and community will feel his departure in losing a faithful helper and
progressive citizen. He was a faithful husband and a kind and loving father in
his home and gave himself unselfishly for the comforts and good of his family.
Another reason why more citizens should have attended the funeral was to honor and show respect to Orland for his military service...a Veteran of the Korean War.
Now these comments are solely my own and not intended to judge/criticize anyone but just as an observation of change over the years.
Visitation Wednesday April 25, 2018 , 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM at Ohde Funeral Home, Manning
Funeral Service Thursday April 26, 2018, 10:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church, Manning
Visitation resumes at church at 9:30 AM.
Interment with Military Honors will follow the funeral at the Manning Cemetery
More information and pictures coming...
Jean is also interested in contacting Duane Griffin and his parents - her host family during her stay at Manning.
In sharing memories with Jean it gave me an idea. I really don't have the extra time but I'm going to see how many pictures I can come up with in my database for the MHS class of 1974...Here are a few samples with more to come in a special feature.
1974 Good Ole Days - Larry Mundt, Mike "Chuck" Foley, Mark "Row" Rowedder, Bill "Twiggy" Johnson
Jean Garner in full view and Gwen Fielweber partial view on right
Keith "Bud" Stribe, Mary Jane Rohe
Ain't they cute???
"Little Leo"
Remember him?
Jean Garner, AFS 1974, left a message on my guestbook.
Her message reminded me that I needed to update my AFS web page with scans of better images for those students.
In 2003, I went to the school library and borrowed the AFS framed portraits so I could scan them. While I knew there would be some fading and deterioration, I never expected how
bad it actually was. Photos that were originally in color were almost black and white or really off-color, so I just scanned them in gray scale.
My goal then, as it is now, is to get original AFS photos from classmates or the host families so I can scan them and replace the database with better images.
The second picture is a scan from one of those billfold size pictures we all shared with our classmates and schoolmates.
It has been in a scrapbook so it hasn't been damaged by natural and artificial lighting.
To see the whole list of foreign exchange students, click on "Long term projects" on the left - then scroll down on the right side to the Manning Foreign Exchange link.
Korean War Veterans continues
For those of you who are occasional visitors to the Manning Exchange - please make sure to click on the "archived articles" section where previous featured stories are kept.
We would like to hear from you, the "1983 Leaders of Tomorrow" who have relatives and chums in your hometown of Manning, Iowa.
Who grew up on a farm south of Manning, has chased tornados, and is now a meteorologist for the National Weather Service?
Click to see the answer in his own words
Note: Your story does not have to be as thorough as found at the link above but at least send us a couple paragraphs to bring us up to date from 1983. Here is the DIRECT link to the 1983 web page.
Parents of the "1983" kids - please encourage your children to send in their updated information and any pix they may want to include.
Sometimes a little nudge by mom or dad will get the ball rolling!
Each 1983 "Leader of Tomorrow" has interesting family history.
Here are the names of the "1983 kids" who we are looking for an update from...
Aaron & Courtney Potthoff, Adam Croghan, Andrew & Amanda & Brandon Puck, Alex & Abbey Ranniger, Allison & Megan Keese, Angela & Heather & Michele Hass, Angie & Alan Irlbeck, Bradley Christensen, Bryan & Nathan Rohe,
Chelsea Souter, Christin Ann Fara, Christopher Wegner, Cole & Ty Henderson, Dale & Vanessa & Derek Hargens, Daniel Wayne Tibben, Daniel & Janelle Stribe, Dawn & Derrick Rohe, Dawn & Michelle Willenborg,
Elizabeth & Jamy Zinke, Ericka & Andrea Ehlers, Gary & Beth & Tim Ferneding, Heather & Jessica & Jimmy Switzer, Jackelyn McKeighan, Jamie Jo Irlbeck, Jeffrey & Joey & Jeremy Irlbeck, Jeffry & Kelli & Jason Lorenzen,
Jeremia Rex Macumber, Jennifer & Jason & Renee Knueven, Jennifer & Jeremy Misselhorn, Jeremy Puck, Jessica Rasmussen, Jill Kienast, Joe Stein, Joseph & Mackenzie Hinners,
Kasie & Andrea & Amy Lorenzen, Kenzie Kae Kerkhoff, Lauren & Shad Bauer, Marte Wanninger, Matthew & Mandi Weitl, Melissa & Angie Pfannkuch, Michael & Amy & Jeremy Kasperbauer, Michael & Michaela Hargens,
Melissa & Michaela Vinke, Michael & Matthew Siepker, Michaela & Crystal Ehlers, Natasha Vonnahme, Ryan & Rachel Pfannkuch, Sabrina Lee, Sarah Kaszinski, Sheri & Trena Bell, Tara Zeman,
Stephen & Ryan & Darren Andersen, Tonya Jo Wurr, Tiffany & Michelle Jahn, Tim & Matt Hugeback, Brian & Katie & Steph Beck, Troy & Robin Wanninger
If you send me some information about yourself, I may also be able to find some pictures of your parents, grandparents, family members that I have in my database (as shown above).
We can use them in your story along with your "1983" picture.
What ever became of the
1983 "Leaders of Tomorrow"
Have some of your "Dreams" come true?
"Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and
shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen."
George Washington, August 7, 1782
Just as a reminder: the Manning History book committee continues to work on a Manning area Veterans' history book
project.
For those of you who are Veterans or have/had Veterans in your family - will you come forward?
The history book committee will do their best to get as many pictures and information about the 1000+ Manning Veterans
but we can't do it all by ourselves.
How many small communities do you know have published 5 history books? The first one was the History of Manning 1898, then the 1981 Manning Centennial book, next the 2006 Manning Quasqui book, and most recently the 2009 Manning School history book. Probably the last book to be published will be the upcoming Manning Veterans' book - unless someone comes forward in the next generation to take over these projects after I'm gone. Will you help with the Veterans' history book project? If you are a Manning connected Veteran or are presently serving and do not submit your military connected pictures and infomation you probably won't be in this once-in-a-life-time Manning Veterans' history book. With a limited number of volunteers we can only do so much on our own but will try to get pictures of as many Veterans as we can. There are over 1000 Manning Veterans so we have a long ways to go before the book can be published.
Manning Veterans are slowly coming forward and below is another example. We hope to eventually get more pictures and information for Mike to put in the book but for now this is what I have to show to you.
One thing that many Veterans and people who are submitting information have not fully understood is that this next
Manning history book is specifically a Veterans' only book. It won't be like the Centennial or Quasqui history books were,
where there is a Veterans' section along with other community aspects. We are aiming for a 2-volume book (around 1090 total pages) which will really be unique!!!
This book will be ALL Veterans' information (and the post auxiliaries) - hence it
won't be a "Name, Rank, and Serial Number" only history but we want a complete history for each Veteran.
For instance - below is Louis Boell's picture and the information
that was published in the Veteran section of the 1982 Aspinwall Centennial history book. It has the basic
information but we are looking for more and I spoke to Louie by phone and he sent more pictures
and information - also for his brothers.
To see what Louis submitted click on the link underneath "Are you a Manning Veteran" shown below.
Note: we also want some family background such as parents and grandparents. All too often you will only see just the Veteran's name with their basic military information but without the family connections it will be difficult for future historians and genealogists to know for sure who this person belongs to.
Please e-mail me about your Veteran questions manningveterans@davidkusel.com
1 Manning citizen served in the War of 1812
48 served in the Civil War
1 served in the Indian War
3 served in the Spanish American War
300+ served during WWI
550+ served during WWII
87+ served in the Korean war era
65+ (more names need to be found) served in the Vietnam era
55+ (many more names need to be found) served from 1975 to present
26 paid the ultimate price with their lives defending the U.S. Flag
We are starting the Manning Veterans' history book project
Don't wait until you see "Deadline" or it WILL be too late!!!
Click to read promos for the Veteran book
If you simply don't want those old family pictures you inherited please don't throw them - send them my way.
A lot of times I can recognize a face or location in those old pix.
One thing to keep in mind while you are looking for pictures - if they are glued in old scrap books please do NOT try to pull them out or cut them out. I can scan the whole page of the scrapbook and crop out the pictures you want to use in the book. If you attempt to forcibly remove the pictures you will probably damage them and when I scan them that damage will probably show up. This means I'll either have to use my graphics program to touch up the damage which can take a lot of time, or if they are badly damaged I just may not even take the time to scan them.
