This is the home of my dear friends in rural Iowa. In their 90s, and not getting around like they used to, yet they’re always bright with sunny dispositions. In keeping with this, they welcome their mailman with bright and sunny flowers (mailbox off screen to the left).

Comments are welcome.

Link back to Weekly Photo Challenge: On Top

You’re welcome to come visit my Barns! Barns! Barns! photostream in flickr where you can upload your own photos of old barns, farm houses and other related items.

©2013 Cris Coleman All Rights Reserved

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word “monument” traces its origins back to the late thirteenth century, meaning

“a sepulchre,” from Old French monument “grave, tomb, monument,” and directly from Latin monumentum “a monument, memorial structure, statue; votive offering; tomb; memorial record,” literally “something that reminds,” from monere “to remind, warn” (see monitor (n.)). Sense of “structure or edifice to commemorate a notable person, action, or event” first attested c.1600.

The two featured monuments below were crafted by 37-year-old W.G. Sloan, a naturalized citizen, formerly of Canada, for Jonathan and Polly Tuggle. Here is what Cameron, Missouri’s official website says of these monuments:

Many of Sloan’s enduring monuments are notable. The 28-foot tall Tuggle Monuments in Packard Cemetery were manufactured in 1887 by Italian artisans in Vermont, shipped by rail to Cameron, and hauled to the cemetery in a log wagon pulled by a steam engine. Farmer Jonathan Tuggle’s will specified that $10,000 be spent for monuments for himself and his wife, Polly.

I must say that for a town of 9,933 (2010 census), these monuments are quite stupendous. I’ve lived most of my life in large, capital cities and I’ve never come across anything quite like these.

Tuggle must have been quite a farmer to have been able to set aside such a large fund for these monuments in the late 1800s. According to Dave Manual’s inflation calculator, $10,000 in 1887 would be equivalent to $243,902.44 in 2013. I can’t even begin to imagine spending that much money on a monument today. Can you?

Comments are welcome.

Link back to Weekly Photo Challenge: Monument

You’re welcome to come visit my Barns! Barns! Barns! photostream in flickr where you can upload your own photos of old barns, farm houses and other related items.

©2013 Cris Coleman All Reserved Rights

©2013 Cris Coleman All Rights Reserved

©2013 Cris Coleman All Rights Reserved

This monument is located about 6.8 miles southeast of Cameron, Missouri, as the crow flies. It is located in an area once known as Far West and still goes by that name, although there is no longer a town or anything resembling a town.

Far West was once a Mormon community of approximately 4,000 people, according to Wikipedia. It originally covered one square mile, but the plat was extended to include four square miles. It is now all farmland.

Caldwell County, wherein the monument is located, was created specifically for the Mormons to inhabit after they were chased out of Independence County, Missouri, by armed mobs.

The monument rests on the east side of what was intended to be a Mormon temple, but due to unrest in the area against the Mormons, their plans and city had to be abandoned. The original four cornerstones of the proposed temple are still present in the fenced-off area, although they have deteriorated due to weathering. The area is accessible to the public and is maintained by the Mormon Church.

Wiki reported the Mormon Church in May 2012 purchased 6,000 acres of farmland and three historical sights from the Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Comments are welcome.

Link back to Weekly Photo Challenge: Monument

You’re welcome to come visit my Barns! Barns! Barns! photostream in flickr where you can upload your own photos of old barns, farm houses and other related items.

Once my gate stood far aside,
Welcomed friends both far and wide.

That was sweet.

Now it’s closed, no more to share,
No one to play, no one to care.

That is bitter.

And so it is, my friends, no more,
Bittersweet Lodge has closed its door.

Comments are welcome.

Link back to Weekly Photo Challenge: Threshold

You’re welcome to come visit my Barns! Barns! Barns! photostream in flickr where you can upload your own photos of old barns, farm houses and other related items.

©2013 Cris Coleman All Rights Reserved[/caption]