Tidbits: Midwestern States

From the American Profile Magazine.

Things to see on your ride around he Midwest.


ILLINOIS-- Ottawa (pop. 18,768) erected a statue in September to the "radium Girls" women who worked at the now defunct Radium Dial and Luminous Processes during the 1920s and 1930s. Many of the women who painted the glow-in-the-dark watch dials with radium-laced paint died of radium poisoning. I told you this job would kill me.


INDIANA-- Pioneer boot maker Herman Joseph Justin was born in 1859 in Lafayette (pop.67,140) and moved to Texas in the 1870s where he repaired and made cowboy boots. In 1910, his company, H.J. Justin & Sons boots was in Nacona, Texas and selling boots in 26 states and three other countries for $11 a pair. Boot-Scootin' Boogie.


IOWA-- Kinnick Stadium at the University of Iowa in Iowa City (pop. 67,862) is named after 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick, who died at age 24 during a flight training mission as a reservist with the Naval Air Corps Reserve.. During his collegiate career, Kinnick had 1,674 yards rushing, 18 interceptions and an average of 39,9 yards per punt.

His likeness is on the coin that is tossed at the start of every Big Ten football game. An all-around sort of guy.

Something to See. --RoadDog