RAGBRAI and Dr. James Van Allen

Den and I are kind of semi-retired, I guess you could say. We do a fair amount of volunteer work both here in Manchester as well as back in my hometown of Mt. Pleasant. By volunteering you get to meet some really nice people and see how things work behind the scenes in events and happening.
When we found out that RAGBRAI was to have it's "next to the last" "over-nighter" in Mt. Pleasant this summer, we figured we could help out and see some of the action as well. So, early on we let some of the organizers know that we would be available.
This year the ride started in Council Bluffs where the riders dipped their rear tires in the Missouri River and then headed east on the assigned route for this years gathering finishing by dipping the front tires in the Mississippi in Burlington. Along the way there was a skillet throwing contest in one town and Brighton turned out offering "whoopie pies". Along the roads for miles and miles there were signs telling about the "great whoopie" in Brighton. You saw folks in some of the wildest outfits, neon-bright colors and to be quite honest some of those folks really should have given all of that spandex a pass. One fellow from Denver made the ride in a Speedo telling everyone that would listen that it made him more aero-dynamic. Check out these sites online http://ragbrai.com/ and http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=RAGBRAI&template=landing as they have some pretty good pictures and stories.
Some of you might remember that they came through Manchester a couple of years ago. That year Den and I worked the beer garden selling tickets. I had heard about RAGBRAI for years but never gotten close enough to witness the event, so we were kind of excited when it went through Manchester and actually, right past our house . (Maybe I should explain here that while I have a bicycle, I would never ride in anything like this as about ten minutes into the peddling my "bum" goes numb and all of the fun goes out of it at that point. So I applaud those who ride and remain on the side lines to do it.) On a whole, I think that the event, as far as Manchester was concerned, went rather well.
If your town is going to play host to one of these events, I would suggest getting all of the information that you can about the expectations and needs of these riders and their support. I can tell you that it is not the event for the tender young "event planner" to cut his teeth on.
While working at the Camper's Store as a volunteer I had the chance to become reacquainted with one of my classmates from let's just say "years ago". She and the rest of the Henry County Heritage Trust are involved in preserving the birth place of James Van Allen (http://www.agu.org/inside/awards/vanallen.html). It is Dr. Van Allen for whom the radiation belts that surround the earth are named. I would love to be learned enough to tell you all of the wondrous things that this man was involved in over his life but let's just let Wikipedia tell you.
* James graduated as valedictorian of his 1931 graduation class from Mt. Pleasant Community High School.
* He went on to college at Iowa Wesleyan College and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1935.
* He then went on to the University of Iowa to achieve his masters in 1936.
* In 1939 Van Allen received his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of Iowa. His doctoral research was on measuring the cross-section of the deuteron-deuteron reaction. Margie what the heck it is that, let's allow the computer to solve that one as well by visiting this site, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deuterium). Needless to say his achievements go on and on from there.
Dr. Van Allen's birthplace has remained a place of interest and holds much of the family memorabilia. However, it is not able to sustain itself on it's own merits to the point of being self sufficient. It was recently sold at auction to Lee Pennibaker who thought to demolish the home for the land value. Wise and good person that she is she rethought the whole thing and now is donating the house to the Henry County Heritage Trust. The home, built in 1862, by George Clinton Van Allen, Dr. Van Allen’s grandfather, making it one of the oldest structures in Mount Pleasant, is to be preserved however not at it's original location. The house is to be "raised" and relocated to the site of the Henry County Historical Museum, who's location is the oldest existing grade school in Mt. Pleasant, Saunders Elementary. They are planning a full foundation for the old house and should move it sometime during the month of August. With restoration to be completed in the month of September. I would expect that this home would not be ready for viewing until after the Old Threshers gathering over labor day. I will keep you posted. It will be one of those Iowa treasures that deserves a visit.



I hope to see you out exploring "Across Iowa and Maybe a Bit Beyond".