When I was young I lived in another town, the climate was similar to this town, and the cityscape was different in some aspects but similar in others, the City Park was where it is now, there were a couple hotels and a theater across the Street on the Westside of the park, but they are gone now. The courthouse was across the street from the park to the North; it was a majestic structure… kind of looked like a castle. It too is gone now, exists only on postcards if you can find one.
The town I lived in 50 years ago was more user friendly than it is now. I remember walking home more than once when Dick Pierce who was a city policeman with snow white hair, would pull his patrol car up along the curb where I was walking; I was about 13 or 14 years old then and he’d motion me to get in the car; then he’d drive me home. It was like he was a taxi driver. I remember the city buses, I rode them a lot. I lived about 2 blocks from the nearest bus stop where I could board the bus. I remember freezing cold winter nights when I was on the bus going home….and as I stood to approach the door on the bus ready to exit, the bus just kept going, the diver did not stop, he drove that big bus right to my driveway, then opened the door to let me out….it was that kind of town…..
The stores stayed open until 9 pm on Friday nights and the streets would be jammed with shoppers, you couldn’t get a parking spot on the main street. I remember rainy days would fill the town with farmers who couldn’t get into their fields because it was too wet….fortifying the fact that every town in Iowa was a farm town no matter how many people lived in it.
City Hall was at best inconspicuous as was the council that governed the town….you didn’t even know they were there. It sure wasn’t like it is today where the police targeted a local business because the owner couldn’t control what went on outside his establishment within 1,500 feet. This was all done under the guise of a ordinance supposedly “copied” from another city….we don’t even know if it is legal; hopefully it will be tested in court. There has been more insurance “pay-outs” against this city since this current administration took office then in the entire history of this town….since it was settled around 1850…..and it’s not over; there are several suits filed whose turn has not come up yet. There are no trials, no need for courtrooms, the insurance companies just decide on a figure and settle out of court.
It make little difference that the mandate of the police is “to protect and serve” or at least I think part of that or some of it is related to that job description. Police carry guns and clubs, cans of mace and Tasers….why? Is that stuff just for show or is it there to be used in quelling riots? Today the police are setting up slide shows at council meeting running dashboard films trying to tell the council that the bartenders should be doing this job; maybe if the bartenders had guns mace, clubs and Tasers they could do it. Don’t misunderstand me, the police are there taking pictures, but they just don’t want to get out of the patrol car……it’s a different town alright, a lot different…..
Peter Children
Why do you people hide behind Anonymous ? I agree with Mr Children 100%. And respect the fact he is willing to use his name ! As a Greek American I find it hard to read the remark’s about ” GREEK’S ” People have no idea what the Greek and Orthodox People did for the city. Come out of your hole’s and stop being coward’s. You have something to say, then say it with your name ! Respect is found inn TRUTH, and I can’t trust if you wont use your name.
That’s all that NIT is…a Hole…full of shadowy cowards who snipe and attack, with the blessings of the editor, who claims no one will come forward with good information if he requires identity. Yeah bullshit…tell that to the millions of people who comment daily on Yahoo and Facebook stories using their real names. His entire premise is bullshit.
It’s not wise nor safe to use your own name. Even when posting something nice there are nuts out there that can’t be trusted not to stalk you even if you’re posting a nice response. I used my own name once yrs. ago on a controversial topic and someone posted a relatives address. So to protect me and my family I’m not STUPID enough to post my name again.
Pete says…”City Hall was at best inconspicuous as was the council that governed the town….you didn’t even know they were there. It sure wasn’t like it is today where the police targeted a local business because the owner couldn’t control what went on outside his establishment within 1,500 feet.” THAT”S why the city went in the shitter! No input from local council. They all sat on their ass for yrs. while the city rotted around them. Max saw to it that they got a raise to sit on their ass or sleep like Nelson and Marsters used to. This city 50 yrs. ago had drunks and hookers and all sorts of things seedy going on. And those wonderful council…
The police motto is no longer “to protect and to serve”.
It’s now “comply or die”.
That’s because criminals today are way more violent and non compliant than in the past. In the past we didn’t have thugs taking drugs that make you act like a mad gorilla. Thugs weren’t killing cops, doing drive by shooting s at babies in houses, running the streets in throngs etc.. Ride with a cop for a wk. in a big city. You’ll change your attitude for sure.
Don’t forget some of the other old time classic businesses like Leon’s Lounge or the Coney Island.
In my opinion, one of the things that might be different about the town of today and yesterday is…..people were involved in “their town” and they VOTED too. Now days, most people won’t get off their ass to do anything and get involved. As a result, take a look around and well… you’ll see the result.
Or the ol Stagecoach when Barlas got busted for having all the stolen cigarettes hidden under the stage and dumped in the river by his helper! LOL! Or Ginny’s where you NEVER called the cops and let Ginny handle the fights. Lets not forget the clothing apparel business owner that sold pounds of pot out of a barrell in the basement. Then there was the College in. Lots of education gotten there. I hear the Red Llama was a real “churchy” place tho. HA!
don’t like it here, move back to that town. amen
I was born and raised here. I’m not going anywhere. I just wish all these drug dealers would leave. But with slumlords landlords, providing them a place to do business, they won’t leave. Hopefully with a new police chief, maybe things will change.
They wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a demand for the drugs. And some of the past drug dealers of the 70’s were known business men. “Pillars of the community. lol
Read the article twice…still can’t see the “don’t like this town” quote you are referring to…
Good post Mr. Children, I too remember the hotel, theater and of course the court house, what a shame. Harry’s sweet shop, Strand, Golden Rule, Band Box, and I was never afraid of the police. All that’s there now is a large money pit.
@Allen-I too remember all those fine old businesses that were in the downtown area. It was a thriving community back then with decent jobs that allowed people to have a decent life. Go downtown now and see what we have. The city has been destroyed by politicians and the Chamber of Commerce.
Yes this town was different. We had good schools without spending hundreds of thousands on administration. The police did their job to protect and serve, now there is no protection. We didn’t have the influx of black drug dealers, and the police do nothing. We didn’t have a mayor that drove drunk to pick up their kids from daycare, again, the police turning a blind eye to our mayor drinking and driving. This used to be a safe city. A fun city. A good place to raise children and a place with good jobs. It’s sad what Mason City has turned into.
Our mayor, council, police, county supervisors..they all should be ashamed of themselves. They have turned our city into what it is today.
Do tell how? The council isn’t in charge of people’s personal life. Do you blame everyone else for everything that goes on in your and other’s personal life? Sounds like you like to blame others and not take any personal responsibility. The easy way out.
I agree 100%.
NO PROTECTION?! Ride with a cop for a week! You obviously know nothing about the street drug trade. It has been going on in MC for yrs.. In the 70’s the big dealers were BUDSINESS men who owned known businesses. Drugs have permeated EVERY city and town in America. You can sit and blame anyone you want to but the real truth is that if people weren’t hooked in drugs there wouldn’t be dealers. If there were no Section8 people couldn’t move state to state and knock up loser chicks to live off. Put the responsibility where it belongs. On the PEOPLE not the council. The council are trying to improve the town and make it not so enticing for trash. But citizens have…
What is the biggest difference in the bouncers at Eleven and the other bars in Mason City?
I’m wondering which specific officers were involved in actually complaining to the city hall about eleven? Why isn’t their names being printed?
So very different Peter as today most people are just trying to get what they believe is owed to them. They sell dope, steal what isn’t locked down and just plain are lazy have no respect to others let alone themselves. My word for them now is LOSERS.
totally agree….you state it so well…..I try to instill in my family the values we grew up with in the 60s thru now…..respect, love, consideration for others, appreciation for what they have.
Amen ! Loved it!