Ronna and I had the pleasure of attending our first truck
camper rally, which was held in Amana Iowa on August 1st through the
4th. We had a total of 21 rigs attend, some from as far away as California
and Florida. Although there was more people and activities than I’m used to, I
have to say we had a great time meeting fellow truck campers and making new
friends. Pot luck dinners were held on Friday and Saturday evening and a
communal breakfast on Sunday morning. Saturday afternoon was an “open house”, with
everyone opening the doors of their campers to others for inspection. We
managed to view most of the rigs and had many people show a great interest in
my camper and truck. Saturday night also featured a raffle. Each attendee was
asked to bring a gift representing their home state and gifts were donated by
various sponsors as well. Ronna won twice and I once but I don’t think anyone
walked away empty handed.
The Amana Colonies consist of seven small villages in
western Iowa settled in 1856 by a group of mostly Germans, calling themselves
The Ebenezer Society or the Community of True Inspiration. Ending in 1932, it was one of the longest surviving
communal living environments. It’s also home to the Amana Corporation who
invented the Radar Range, now better known as a microwave.
On Friday morning we did a driving / walking tour of the Amana
Colonies. Guided by a Lanny, a native and historian from the Amana Heritage
Society, we made stops at the Heritage Society building in Amana for a short
film documenting the history of the
colonies, the last remaining communal
kitchen museum located in Middle Amana, the still operating General Store in High
Amana and the Amana Community Church Museum in Homestead.
The last stop was a tour of the Millstream Brewing Company
in Amana, where Ronna and I broke away from the group and headed for Cedar Rock
House near Quasqueton Iowa, about an hour’s drive from Amana.
Cedar Rock house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Iowa
businessman Lowell Walter and his wife Agnes in 1948. It’s a prime example of
Wright’s “Usonian” style and unique because not only was the house a Wright
design, but the furnishings, dishes, carpets, draperies and accessories were designed or picked out by
Wright himself. He even decided the
furniture / accessory arrangement in the house. On some of his visits to the
house after its completion Wright would relocate furniture and knick knacks to
their original position after Agnes had re-arranged them.
In August 1981, when Lowell passes away, the house was left
to the Iowa Conservation Commission with all the furnishings intact; in fact
there are still some of Agnes’s dresses in the closet. The house has been fully
restored and the boat house, also designed by Wright, is undergoing renovation.
The guided one hour tour allows access to the entire house and maids quarters. You can even sit in one of the Wright designed living room chairs.
Right now I’m at Rock Cut State Park, just north of Rockford
IL. Leaving here on the 14th and headed back to Kettle Moraine State
Forest for a week. Leaving for Glacier, Yellowstone and the Tetons in less than
3 weeks so planning is taking up much of my time.
Hope this update finds everyone in good health.
2 comments:
Good stuff Dave! We especially enjoy learning history standing in those unique spots and imagining living there during that time period. I read somewhere that after a few years of living on the road, you probably amass enough knowledge to earn degrees in history, geology, botany, etc. It's a great life! We really look forward to hearing about your trip out west. Take care, Mud-on-the-Tires
great write up. we hope to make this rally next year.
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