THE LAND — MARCH 4/MARCH 11, 2022
www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
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Waiting for the gas man (and his Slo-Poke suckers) How wonderful it was to be a kid on daily, and would treat us to sticks of gum was big. It was delicious. And we didn’t have to the farm back in the day. whenever we were there waiting for him. share with our siblings—we each had our very own There were a lot of us kids, and I suppose slice of heaven to unwrap and devour. And we could Growing up ten miles from the nearest his expensive gum-buying habit may eat it whenever that truck came, regardless of when town, you didn’t just run into town for have to have been explained to his wife dinner or supper would be. one missing ingredient in a recipe, and on occasion. you sure better be near death if you Looking back now at all those times we greeted needed to see the doctor, with gas at 45 One of our biggest thrills was seeing Mr. Bullington, I wonder if he used those suckers or 50 cents per gallon. the gas truck come into the yard. The more like mail carriers use dog treats — to keep truck was huge (as a child remembers) dogs occupied and away from their ankles. Or Seldom did visitors find themselves in TABLE TALK and it made a lot of racket coming up the maybe he just liked having kids come to greet him. our yard unless they really wanted to be After all, it took a while for the barrels to fill, and By Karen Schwaller lane and driving across our yard toward there — if only because we lived in the gas and fuel barrels. A guy named he was stuck there until they were filled. Nowheresville. Rare was it for a visitor Bob Bullington drove that bucket of bolts to find themselves there by accident … I shudder to think of the stories we must have that kept our farm going. except for the Fuller Brush lady, maybe. told him while he waited. Farm kids in the day were not as afraid to As kids, we learned to entertain ourselves. My I once heard of a teacher who spoke at a kindergarapproach someone they didn’t know; or maybe it brothers wore paths in the yard grass from all the ten round-up meeting and said, “If you don’t believe was because Dad would occasionally stop what he farming they did. How much farming do you have most of what your child tells you about me, I won’t was doing to visit with him while the barrels filled. believe most of what your child tells me about you.” to do with toy tractors and implements to impede The guy must be okay if Dad stopped his work to the growth of grass along the paths they created? She probably heard that line from our gas man visit. Obviously, Mom and Dad didn’t care a lick because first. at least the kids were occupied. They were not douBefore long, we befriended him; and when we saw He probably knew more stories about us than ble-dog daring someone to do something dangerous, the truck coming we would scamper to meet him … Mom’s hairdresser … who never brought her scisweren’t smoking dad’s cigars out back, or setting not necessarily for the stimulating conversation sors and hair dryer to the farm, but who may have the cats on fire. What was not to like about a few that would ensue, but because he had the goods. also been hired on occasion to creatively remove a paths worn in the grass? He had Slo-Poke suckers — those chewy caramel Slo-Poke sucker from someone’s hair. It was kind of a big deal whenever someone did slices of heaven on a stick. And he always had Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land find themselves in our yard. Some of those visitors them. And he would share. from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be were the landlord and landlady, neighbors, the milk For a kid out in Nowhere-Land who didn’t get to reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. v man, the school bus driver, and the grocery truck town a lot, a Slo-Poke sucker was the living end. It guy. Yes, a grocery truck used to navigate the gravel roads in Plymouth County, and it was always fun to see what treasures were inside the truck when he Send your letters to: Editor, The Land, 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN 56001 opened those big blue doors. It was like a wonderland on wheels to us kids. e-mail: editor@thelandonline.com All letters must be signed and accompanied by a phone number (not for publication) to verify authenticity. Our mail carrier would visit at the end of our lane
Letters to the editor are always welcome.
Draayom made two promises if he would survive the storm FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, from pg. 4
state in the union. He didn’t. He stayed in Hospers all his life, dying in in 1937. He ented in the extremely cold, dark night. promised he would build a monument to his faithful dog. He did. Watch lived for another He walked for several more hours before 12 years, dying in 1900. Draayom made a he finally collapsed in a snow bank. He monument from concrete. For many years thought if he took a short nap, he would be the homemade concrete monument could be refreshed and would be able find his way. seen from old Highway 60. It has now been Before long, Watch became impatient with placed outside the Hospers Public Library his master. He barked and whined, tugged which also is home to the Hospers Museum. at his coat sleeve, began jumping in his face, even scratching with his sharp paws. Watch Thanks to the Hospers Museum, the would not leave Draayom alone. Genealogy Department at the Sioux Center Library, Hospers, Iowa Centennial Book, Draayom’s legs were numb. He knew Iowa Gen Web Project and a written account death would come soon. Unable to walk, he Grain elevators lined the railroad track in Hospers, Iowa where Gerrit Draayom followed Watch on his hands and knees. In a was employed as an elevator manager. This may be how it looked when the bliz- by Gerrit Draayom (NWC Commons). short time, he could walk again. Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent zard of 1888 struck. writer, author and speaker. Contact her at To his surprise, he found himself at the (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com. v While he was wandering in the storm, Draayom F.H. Peavey grain bin. This building was in close promised himself he would do several things if he proximity to the depot, where Watch and he survived. First of all, he would move to a warmer returned. The fire still held some warmth.
