Letter to the Editor: Known for what

To the Editor:

Many towns in Iowa and elsewhere large and small are know for one thing, whether it be a flower (tulip) or a fruit (strawberry) or a prominent landmark, such as a waterfall, cave, overlook, etc. Waukon over the years could have been known for a number of things, such as in the 1960s-1980s as the birthplace for America’s meatcutters.

Many retail and wholesale meat markets and outlets across the country could be found staffed by personnel who originated from or who grew up in the Waukon area. In fact, The Postville Herald newspaper received a prestigious award for its series of investigative journalism articles on the meatcutters of Allamakee County, Iowa.

Another topic which many people used to comment on over the years was the large number of gas or oil stations located throughout the city, often with one on every corner. When checking into this, it was found from 1960 through 2015 - a span of 55 years - that 20 gasoline or petro-selling stations to the public, all with different locations, operated within Waukon or on the close outskirts. Perhaps some old-timers can remember most of them.

Not all stations operated at the same time, but came and went as the location, competition and the fickle driving public dictated. One station sold gas mainly only to its own customers. With gasoline selling for less than $1 per gallon, one could cruise or drag the strip all night and always be in sight of a gas station.

Pertaining to a seasonal event, 50 years ago most families planted a small garden with, at the most, a few pumpkin plants. Pumpkins were not in surplus. In fact, they were in scarce supply. The few that ended up as jack-o’-lanterns were kept up on porches or on steps and often taken in at night. They were much smaller in size then.

As a teenage prank, we would look for pumpkins, especially on Halloween night, to take up the steps on the east side of the JCPenney Department store along Spring Avenue and drop or throw them to the cement below. My, how times have changed.

Pumpkins have greatly increased in size and vastly in numbers. They seem now to be everywhere, and thankfully left there. Maybe Waukon, in the future, could be known as the Pumpkin Capital of Iowa. Hope you had a Happy “Pumpkalloween”.

Jim Magner
Waukon