Thursday, June 23, 2016

THURSDAY DAILY

YES, THAT'S VIRL BANOWETZ.    YES, HE IS STILL IN BUSINESS.
HE TURNS 80 OCTOBER 1ST.
THAT'S A POTATO DIGGER AT LEFT AND A CORN STUBBLE CUTTER (INVENTED BY HIS GRANDFATHER) ON RIGHT.   AT ONE TIME, HE AND KATHY HAD ONE OF THE BIGGEST ANTIQUE PLACES IN THE MIDWEST, SELLING OUT OF TWO BIG BUILDINGS NEAR THE HIGHWAY 61 AND 64 INTERSECTION.
ALSO A STORE IN GALENA FOR A FEW YEARS. 
A COUPLE YEARS AGO THEY SOLD THOSE TWO BUILDINGS BUT KEPT THE
6-ACRE TRACT NORTH OF TOWN WITH ALL THE ORIGINAL BUILDINGS WHERE
THEY GOT STARTED.     THIS IS THE MAIN ONE,  AND THERE ARE 3 OR 4 MORE
FILLED WITH ANTIQUE STUFF, INCLUDING  ONE WITH MAINLY DISHES.  PLUS, THERE  ARE ABOUT A DOZEN DEALERS THAT HAVE ANTIQUES HERE AND HE SELLS FOR THOSE PEOPLE ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS.
HE EVEN DELIVERS.    TONIGHT TAKING A TABLE AND CHAIRS SET TO A
BUYER IN IOWA CITY.     SOMEONE WILL BE WITH HIM ON THE TRIP.
HIS BIG ANNUAL JULY 4TH SALE IS ALREADY UNDERWAY AND WILL LAST
UNTIL JULY 5TH.     WHERE'S KATHY?    SHE'S RUNNING ONE OF THE
NICEST BED AND BREAKFAST PLACES IN THE MIDWEST, "SQUIRES MANOR"
WITH 7 OR 8 UNITS.     WHERE'S SON BEN?   HE AND FAMILY LIVE IN
DES MOINES.        VIRL AND KATHY HAVE DONE MUCH IN GETTING
MAQUOKETA KNOWN AROUND THE COUNTRY.   AS I WAS LEAVING, A COUPLE ON VACATION FROM THE UK DROVE IN.
HIS FAMOUS LAST LINE...."BRING YOUR CHECKBOOK"!
CONTINUED GOOD LUCK YOU TWO....KEEP BRINGING PEOPLE TO MAQUOKETA.

DENNIS VOY
UNTIL TODAY, 2ND LONGEST BUSINESSMAN IN TOWN.
NO LONGER (WITH VIRL GOING AGAIN)  3RD LONGEST.
ROSS RIVER IS 1ST.