RAGBRAI ’10 Ends
RAGBRAI 2010 ended on Saturday. Becky made it back without incident. She was tired and had a combination of tan, burn and sun rash. Casualties included a hole in her tent from mishandling by the transport company and a chip in her bike paint from the bike rack on the return trip. All in all she had a good time, but was pleased to be home.
Century Weekend
This weekend there were a couple of Century Celebrations in our community. Saturday afternoon was the dedication of the Boy Scout Headquarters at the Culver Academies Woodcraft Camp. Easterday Construction Co., Inc. was pleased to have the opportunity to build this new structure.
The Headquarters is a slightly smaller version of the camp’s existing cabins. It is cedar post and beam construction with a shingle roof. The building foundation consists of concrete piers. The original cabin design was such that the units could be moved to new locations as necessary. The project was completed on a tight budget and with an aggressive schedule. Initial discussions about building the cabin began in mid May followed by design, permitting and construction which were completed on Wednesday of last week, July 21, 2010. There are previous entries showing some of the construction and background information here and here.
The ceremony at Culver Academies coincided with a Jamboree being held in Washington, D.C. celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. I learned this weekend that Scouting was started by Lord Baden-Powell, a Lieutenant in the British Army, upon his return from the Boer War in 1908. The Boy Scouts of America was formed by W. D. Boyce in 1910 and that is the anniversary that was celebrated this past weekend. Culver Academies’ legend is that the actual birthplace of the Boy Scouts of America was at the then Culver Military Academy in 1910.
Nearly 100 people attended the ceremony. Julius W. Hegeler II was presented a plaque thanking him for his donation through his charitable arm, the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation, which made the facility possible. Several representatives of Culver Academies as well as local and regional representatives of the Boy Scouts of America spoke.
Also celebrating 1oo years this weekend was the First National Bank of Monterey(FNBM). It took $25,000 in 1910 to establish a National Bank. From those small beginnings in 1910, FNBM has grown to a 280 million dollarbank serving Monterey and the surrounding area through branches in Winamac, Culver and North Judson. Several hundred people helped celebrate at an Open House held at the Monterey School on Sunday afternoon.
Joe DeHaven, President and CEO of the Indiana Bankers Association, was guest speaker and awarded the Board of Directors of FNBM a plaque commemorating the occasion. Bank President Claiborn (Clip) Wamsley spoke relating some of his personal experiences from his 60 years with the bank.
Kelly Field spoke relating some of the bank’s history. Notable highlights included FNBM’s move to insure deposits long before the FDIC was created, FNBM’s issuance of their own currency and FNBM’s collaboration with 5 other small banks to change State Law in 1981 to allow a bank branch to be established in a town where another bank already exists.
Easterday Construction Co., Inc. has had a long history of affiliation with the First National Bank of Monterey. We have expanded the Monterey facility several times including most recently in 2009. We remodeled and expanded the Winamac facility, built the Culver facility and have completed several projects at the North Judson facility. Larry Berger, past president of Easterday Construction, has served on the Bank’s board of directors for more than a decade.
$10 bill issued by The First National Bank of Monterey signed by Charles B. Kietzer, Cashier and V.E. Follmar, President issued 1929
RAGBRAI 2010
Becky is off riding cross Iowa for RAGBRAI again this year. While I don’t understand it, I respect the effort she puts into it. She has ridden nearly 1000 miles in preparation. The ride this year is about 450 miles. There is one day that is a Century Day where they add a loop to make the total day 100 miles. That would add extra miles to the 450. She never decides about doing the Century Loop until she sees how she feels that day and what the weather conditions are. She has ridden it about half the time. (This is her eighth time at RAGBRAI.)
10,000 people are selected by lottery to ride the whole route from west to east across the state. 5,000 additional riders register as day riders for any given day. They estimate an additional 5,000 unregistered riders also participate each day.
Cold showers, Fair food and camping each night… not my thing.
Becky emails me updates on the ride which I send out to those that are interested. If you’re not already on the list and want to be, let me know.
Remnant Trust Update
Demolition underway on the interior.
We are moving ahead with work at The Remnant Trust project in Winona Lake. Demolition is nearly complete and we have begun framing walls. An existing stage, an existing fireplace mock-up and miscellaneous display walls had to be removed. Most of the existing interior was finished in tongue & groove car siding. Let’s just say the original installer believed that if a whole lot of nails were good, even more would be better.
The Remnant Trust Building. Picture from Scearce Rudisel Architects Website.
Because of the type of protection for artifacts required here, special effort is being made for security as well as for Fire Protection and HVAC controls. The existing building previously housed the Billy Sunday Museum. The previous use has presented some challenges, but fortunately the original building construction was recent and most of the construction and existing systems are in good shape.
There have been a few changes as we’ve gotten into the project, but as always, the plans prepared by Scearce Rudisel Architects have provided the necessary guidance. Mary Ellen Rudisel Jordan is always a pragmatic Architect and she works well with us. We both maintain the goal of achieving the best possible project for our mutual client.
Mike Pence Quote
Mike Pence
“If God can live on 10 percent, why can’t government get by on 20?” – Mike Pence
Mike Pence represents Indiana’s 6th Congressional District.
As relayed by Indiana State Representative Phi Hinkle in a forum with the Indiana Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) State Board if Directors Meeting, July 21, 2010.
