Photo help at Gothic Center thanks to grant

"ELDON — Want your picture taken in the cut-outs at the American Gothic House Center?

If you do and you forget your camera, the center’s staff can help you thanks to a $2,500 grant from the Wapello County Foundation."

American Gothic Photos Available on Site

Eldon— The American Gothic House Center gives thanks for the $2,500 grant received from the Wapello County Foundation. Now visitors can have their pictures taken by a Sony camera and printed immediately on an Epson printer. American Gothic look-alikes can purchase quality 4” x 6” pictures of their memory in front of the house. This new service will add to the center’s bottom line.

Included in the grant are a Sony Cyber-shot camera and a portable PC-free printer by Epson Picture Map Snap, which enables center personnel to take the printing show on the road. They can capture those cute shots of merrymakers in the American Gothic wooden cut-outs.

Also included is Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium software package, which allows the center to manage its website and design its promotional pieces. It’s a technological dream come true for AGHC director, Jessi Strom, with thanks for the continuing support of the Wapello County Foundation.

Of "Intress" - Misty Water-Colored Memories Exhibit

Eldon— Dr. Robert H. Intress MD’s "Misty Water-Colored Memories" exhibit features images of the Rock Island Depot, grain elevator, old railroad bridge, locomotives, Sandy Lane School, brick kiln and brickyard, Exchange Hotel and memories of Eldon Christmas celebrations of the l930's.

Dr. Intress presented the American Gothic House Center with original watercolors drawn from his childhood memories of Eldon. Dr. Intress describes himself as “a very amateur painter,” but his memories are something all native Eldonites can relate to. This trip down memory lane can be celebrated in the media room from the November 30th Opening through January 6, 2008.

Intress’ grandfather Dr. S.H. Sawyers was Eldon’s doctor from 1890 through l950. His parents were Carl and Alice (Sawyers) Intress. Mr. Carl Intress was a Rock Island fireman-engineer for 50 years.

Dr. Intress is a graduate of Eldon High School Class of l938 and earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa in l944. In addition to 41 years of practicing medicine in Amarillo, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico, he volunteered 6 years of service with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He and his wife now reside in Waynesboro, VA.

The Opening of Intress’s Misty Water-Colored Memories Exhibit will be held Friday evening November 30 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the American Gothic House Center. All are welcome.

Oak Savannah Planting at Center

Eldon—Tuesday afternoon Cardinal High School students Danny Luna, Marcus Giltner, Andrea Fults and Curtis Fiedler hustled to plant the first trees of the oak savannah project at the American Gothic House Center. Tuesday evening Quenton Sims, Dakota Wilbanks, Auston Hummell and Lewis Aszman from Ottumwa Cub Scout Pack #11--with Den Leader Teresa Wilbanks, Cub Master Cheryl Carness and parent Robert Aszman--planted one more tree.

Students and cub scouts dug holes, filled in, watered and mulched the newly-planted trees under the direction of Administrator Jessi Strom and volunteers Dennis Donaldson of Ottumwa and Dennis Jeffrey of Eldon.

A grant from Alliant Energy/Trees Forever generated the funds for the oak savannah featuring burr oaks, white oaks and red oaks. Other trees to augment the oaks are basswood, black cherry, red maples, white pine, service berries and burning bushes.

Wapello County Conservation workers Lincoln Utt and Paul Totten transported trees and continued planting with volunteers on Wednesday.