TTHIS IS A 1955 PHOTO OF ALLEN BODKIN, WHO NOW LIVES IN IBERIA, MISSOURI.
HE SENT IT TO ME, WITH THESE COMMENTS: "THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN AT THE NICKLE NOOK CAFE (IN MAQUOKETA, ON WEST PLATT WHERE COURT HOUSE NOW STANDS) IN 1955. I WAS A DISH WASHER THERE FOR ONE YEAR. I STARTED TWO WEEKS BEFORE I FINISHED 7TH GRADE AND QUIT 2 WEEKS BEFORE GRADUATING
FROM 8TH GRADE. I WORKED FROM 5 - 10 P.M. MONDAY - FRIDAY AND FROM 5 P.M.
SATURDAY NIGHT UNTIL SOMETIMES 3 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. IT WAS MY FIRST REAL JOB AND I WAS PAID 60 CENTS AN HOUR. RALPH GERTANBACK RAN THE CAFE THEN WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS, ONE DAUGHTER WAS NAMED VALENE".
THANK YOU ALLEN FOR SENDING THIS PICTURE AND INFORMATION ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST REMEMBERED CAFE'S OF THE OLD DAYS IN MAQUOKETA. JAKE BICKFORD SAID VALENE WAS IN HIS CLASS, THAT GRADUATED IN 1958. THE PHOTO IS NOT THE BEST. CLICK-ON IT AND IT WILL GET LARGER. AND DON'T FORGET TO LOOK AT THE PHOTO BELOW OF THE LOTTERY WINNERS.
THANKS FOR CHECKING IN AGAIN.
DENNIS VOY