Snapshot of History: Place’s
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BY MIKE AVITT
Businesses move and they always have. Place’s moved to this location at 104 N. Fillmore in 1978 and then moved again seventeen years later. Casey’s General Store had been at 300 W. South Street since 1975 before making their first move this year.
But some businesses are still waiting to make their first move. Dari Sweet, formerly called Dairy Sweet, opened in 1956 and hasn’t moved yet. I suspect it may someday as busy as they get on certain lemon-flavored days.
There is a Quonset building behind Rumors Bar & Grill that used to be a business or multiple businesses. Bill’s (Sickels) Garage was located here in 1964. In 1951, a man named Ed Stroeber was located here with a J. I. Case and New Holland dealership. I don’t know if the Quonset was here then.
Some businesses that appear to be in Mount Ayr…..aren’t. Roberts Auto Body is located just outside the city limits. Greg’s neighbor, REC, is in the city limits but the line is drawn between the two businesses. I learned this just recently.
Some businesses are non-profit, such as the Princess Theatre. Some businesses are for-profit, but fail to achieve that status.
Some businesses are mobile. Like Schwann’s or the ice cream truck I see in Afton once in a while.
Some businesses are obsolete like harness shops and pool halls. And skating rinks. I can recall skating in rinks in Mount Ayr, Creston, and Jefferson, Iowa, and Grant City, Missouri.
Some businesses haven’t started yet. But, I’ll wait.
I constantly drive around Ringgold County taking pictures and recording changes. It seems like a slow evolution unless you look back 49 years. I moved to Mount Ayr the first time on August 1, 1970. I have a good memory and I think back to the houses, schools, and business buildings that are gone now. And the people. But, they all made an impression on me and I’m grateful for that.
