Travel Log: Shenandoah Iowa
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Last Thursday morning (May 10th) my friend Rich and I pulled into the small town of Shenandoah Iowa after spending the night at a motel near Nebraska City, just off the highway (I-29) between St. Joseph Missouri (see previous post) and Omaha Nebraska. At the time I wasn’t sure if we’d spent the night in Iowa or Nebraska — turns out it was Iowa but not by much.
Driving the 2-lane roads to get to Shenandoah we could see flood waters all around us in numerous spots. The road was dirty where water had recently covered the road. One road near the town was still closed due to high water. Later I’d spot a local paper indicating the waters had receeded.
On the edge of town was the customary Wal-Mart store, a Hy-Vee grocery store and a McDonald’s. I didn’t notice but I assume the Wal-Mart was not a “super center” as the grocery store next door would likely not survive. In town, less than a half mile away, I noticed a local store competing quite well with the Wal-Mart. The Dollar store downtown was also doing a good business.
Crossing the train tracks and heading to the town center it was clear this was a rural farm community. See Google Maps.
Above is a good overview of the main drag, Sheridan Ave. The typical building was 2-floors. None were newer buildings although some had received newer facades (unfortunately). The older buildings were nicely detailed, some quite elaborate. The street had received a make-over at some point, I am guessing in the 1990s.
As part of the streetscape the ends of the blocks were “bulbed” with planters. These areas also include frequent benches and bike parking. Yes, they included numerous bike racks along the street. The large paving squares you see along the sidewalk is their Walk of Fame, which includes people from all over Iowa. The most famous locals seem to be the Everly Brothers.
Former St. Louis RAMS Quarterback Kurt Warner has a place on the Walk of Fame.
For those that don’t think ADA access is all that important think again. Even in this small town, population 5,546 as of the 2000 census, I saw two people in a matter of an hour using motorized scooters to get around. The town is very compact (aka dense) with many people walking from adjacent neighborhoods to Sheridan Ave to do their shopping.
I stopped into the Jay Drug Co and thought I stepped back in time. Here as a small town drug store with the pharmacist in the back, all sorts of goods, a card shop and a geniune lunch counter. As a child I’d go with my mom to just such a drug store. All the stools at the counter were full of locals eating and chatting.
City Hall, just off the main drag, was impressive.
The town even had a tattoo studio in the basement of a building that looked to contain a Christian radio station. What a combination!
The old theatre in town is being used as a theatre, how clever. I’m sure it looked more interesting a few decades ago…
The side streets that intersect with Sheridan Ave have not seen as much interest. This is a great building which looks to be partially used. Note the “urban” alley in this small town.
One of the tallest buildings in town, other than grain silos, was this ugly senior home. However ugly, it was near the main street a park and the other residential areas so those living here are still very much a part of the town rather than being isolated.
Above is an example of one of the fine homes located within blocks of the main street, Sheridan Ave. While I’d personally get bored in a small town such as Shenandoah it certainly has a very comfortable feel about it. The town is far more urban in layout than much of the sprawl in the St. Louis area from the last 50 years. To view the rest of my 236 photos of Shenandoah, click here.
