Council Bluffs Changing Scene--Among the souvenirs of W.C. Grote, 515 Harrison St., is this 1901 photograph of the Younkerman Seed Company at Broadway and North Second St. Mr. Grote was with the company over 50 years, retiring as manager in 1944.
The Council Bluffs Public Library is unaware of any claim of copyright in the images in the collection. We encourage use of these materials under the fair use clause of the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq). The Council Bluffs Public Library has provided in the catalog records for these materials all known information regarding the photographer or other persons associated with the materials. This information is provided as a service to aid users in determining the appropriate use of an item, but that determination ultimately rests with the user.
Today...The Younkerman Seed Co. is still doing business at the same address, and in somewhat the same building. However, the front and trim were changed many years ago to give it a new look. And modern autos replace the team and wagon at the curbing.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--It was in the summer of 1937 when this picture of the 500 block on Pearl St. was taken by Ben E. Bierer of 621 Bluff St. The drill hall of the Dodge Light Guard Armory was just being constructed. Bierer, who is now retired, operated the garage at left.
Today...the armory looks like this. A new $185,000 administration and supply building being constructed at right will tie in with the drill hall. The section being built by the Iowa National Guard, with federal aid, will be completed in the summer of 1956. C.C. Larsen and Sons of Council Bluffs is the contractor.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--This is Broadway, looking northeast from Fourth St., as it appeared during a celebration of IOOF Lodge in 1868. The lodge was organized about the time Council Bluffs came into being. At the extreme right, on top of the hill, is the old powder house, mentioned frequently in early Council Bluffs history.
Mary Louise Dunshee, 17, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Max S. Dunshee, and John Gretzer, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Gretzer, have the leading rolls in the play "Big-Hearted Herbert," which is being presented in the Abraham Lincoln high school auditorium on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bluffs' Combat Artist Views Mediterranean Invasions
"Self Portrait." Gretzer made this sketch of himself at the wheel of a landing barge. He took part in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Combat artists, like Gretzer, are first of all fighting men. At sea his station was at a 20 mm. gun.
"Beach Party," A beach party from a coast guard-manned combat transport is shown entering an invasion barge. Once ashore, the beach party will set up ship-to-shore communications and help in unloading the barges.
"Mediterranean Port Scene," says Gretzer, is a typical view of an unnamed Mediterranean port where American fighters and transports give up the bulk from their cavernous holds.
"Fire Control," a study of a U.S. coast guardsman on fire control duty aboard ship. The fire control man wears colored glasses to enable him to look into the sun and identify approaching planes.
"Unloading Under Fire." Working in heavy seas, coast guardsmen are shown unloading tins of high test gasoline. Other landing barges await nearby, as operations under fire continue.
"Wounded." Transfer of a wounded man from a landing barge to a coast guard manned transport. It was sketched off Salerno, which Gretzer said was the roughest of invasions, as far as the men were concerned.
"Greeting the Dawn." Coast guardsmen see a new dawn break over the sea. "Dawn always give you a wonderful feeling of relief," says Gretzer, "because it relieves you of the fear of something happening before you see it."
"Off Watch Below Deck," depicts a typical below-deck scene aboard ship. Off duty, these crewmen write home, mend socks and clothing, and catch up on sleep.
"Hoisting the Boats." Coast guardsmen are depicted swinging a ship's boat onto the chocks.
"Line Handling Detail." Tying up at the wharf are these three coast guardsmen. "You have to handle the line smartly or you may find yourself in the 'drinker' or minus a thumb," comments Gretzer.
John Gretzer's Print Shown At Pittsburgh (circa 1938) Gretzer Wins Joslyn Art Contest Award November 29, 1942 Bluffs' Combat Artist Views Mediterranean Invasions January 9, 1944 Picture May Cause Furore July 27, 1945/1946
Today...about the only comparison to the 1868 photo is the general shape of the street. Parking meters take the place of the old hitching posts, along with paving and modern buildings. At left center is the IOOF temple.
Council Bluffs Changing Scene--This is how the old Mynster Springs house east of Big Lake appeared in 1900. Like many of the city's older homes, it was built of brick. Note the heavy window shutters hung from the barn door type track. In the foreground are the implements of the day--the wooden plow, sawbuck and wagon. This photo is from a collection of Mrs. Guy A. Nelson of 602 First Ave.
Today...the house looks like this. It is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Schlott. The lines of the old house have ben changed so much that it bears little resemblance to the original place. In addition to remodeling the house, the Schlotts have landscaped the property.