PELLA IOWA EXPEDITION!

 The first photo opportunity I had, after leaving the Interstate, to drive through the town of Pella, Iowa (known for its Dutch heritage), was this windmill in Brinkhoff Park.  I had visited Pella in the past, but it was not until I started researching its history, that I learned the origin of its name.  Pella was a Biblical "city of refuge" in Jordan, and Pella, Iowa,  was named Pella, by 800 Dutch refugees from the Netherlands, who had left their homeland, in search of religious freedom, to practice Christianity.  The year was 1847, and their leader was the Reverend H.P. Scholte.  Upon the seal of their new town, the early settlers inscribed the words "In Deo Spes Nostra et Refugium", which means, "In God Our Hope and Refuge".  

I felt especially delighted to see so many tulips blooming around the windmill.  They were a lovely two-tone, pink and red variety.  I read on their website (www.cityofpella.com) that each fall, the city of Pella plants 120,000 tulip bulbs, in 75 varieties.  They have a system that will ensure the greatest possible number of tulips are blooming, throughout the months of April and May.  When tulip season is over, other blooming plants can be seen in their place.  

  I kept driving past well-kept lawns in front of tidy houses, until I reached the city center.  There is no mistake that this is the place, because of the 65 foot tall Tulip Tower (Tulp Toren), with the colorful coat of arms of the Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 

The tower (which also has bells at the top)  is located in Central Park, and is the centerpiece of  an amphitheater, sometimes called the "Tulip Bowl", that serves as the hub for activities during the annual Tulip Time, when the Tulip Queen is crowned.  Construction of the tower was helped greatly by the Peter Kuyper family, who was the founder of the modern-day Pella Corporation (www.Pella.com).

The photo below was taken in Central Park, and shows more tulips in the foreground, with yet another windmill structure, in the background.  This Central Park windmill serves as an Information Center for the town.  

The storefronts surrounding the Central Park all have Dutch-themed architecture, such as The Sanctuary coffee shop, shown below:

What a pleasant location to count your blessings, while enjoying a cup of caffein!

 

Some methods of meat curing are closely associated with Dutch culture, and you can get a sample of them at the Ulrich Meat Shop (www.ulrichmeatmarket.com), across the street from the Tulip Tower.  This is where you can purchase the famous Pella Bologna.  

Within the park surrounding the Tulip Tower,  is a very unusual sun dial, and even though I read the directions several times, I could not figure out what time it was, using their system.  It made me glad I had a wrist watch!

 

This little Dutch character photo op in front of the information office windmill, reminds social media followers to tag their photos with a hashtag, that helps publicize the beauty of this place!  #PieterPella

Central Park also had a very appropriate map of the town, with key points of interest numbered with their location.  Find out more at www.VisitPella.com

The corner building across from the square had a very eye-catching architectural feature:

The Pella Museum is very close to Central Park, and also has the typical architecture of The Netherlands canal houses, which means tall, narrow buildings with large windows.  The houses that line the numerous canals of the Netherlands are usually given facades that might be bell shaped, or have stepped gables, designed to hide the diagonal lines of the roof.   

The statue below is entitled "de Schaatsers", which translated, means skaters.  Notice the shoes they are wearing have blades, making them ice skates.  The many canals in the Netherlands make perfect ice skating rinks, when freezing weather sets in.  

The museum has a wonderful gift shop, with this attractive display of wooden tulips.  My sister gave me two of these wooden tulips as a souvenir, after she visited a Dutch-themed location.  And, they do not wilt!

You can also purchase the famous wooden shoes of the Dutch, at the gift shop.  I have an image in my mind of some Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders, my husband and I met at the motorcycle races in Daytona.  The very tough-looking bikers in their black leather jackets, with logos indicating they were from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, were actually wearing wooden shoes!  My husband and I were wearing black leather motorcycle boots, and could not imagine having to adjust to slip-on wooden shoes for riding!  I guess it is all in what one becomes accustomed to!

Since there is a state park in Arkansas with the same name as these mints, my curiosity was aroused as to the connection.  As it turns out, the investors who built the original lodge in the late 1800s,  at the mountain-top location in Arkansas, had Dutch investors.  The name was chosen to honor the young Queen of the Netherlands, named Wilhelmina.  

Blue and white pottery is sometimes called "Delft pottery", and got its name from the 750 year old town in Holland, where the blue porcelain pieces were originally made.  

Next door to the museum, is the 124 feet high, 12 stories tall, Vermeer Windmill. Some people may recognize the name "Venmeer" (www.venmeer.com) as a designer and manufacturer of agricultural and industrial equipment.  The company is headquartered in Pella, and has been a  generous supporter of Pella, Iowa, development and historic preservation.   The Venmeer windmill is a replica of an 1850's mill in Pella.  The upper part of the Venmeer structure was manufactured in the Netherlands, and the cap can turn 360 degrees, to put the blades into the wind.  Each of the two blades is 82 feet in length.  

The shiny green doors that lead to the interior were closed on the day I visited, and I read that the mill is operated by volunteers, so be sure to call ahead, if you want to schedule a tour for the inside.  

The Vermeer Mill is the tallest working mill in the United States, and is still used for grinding flour.  The photo below shows the sacks of flour and corn meal, with the Vermeer logo, that are available in the gift shop.  

There are numerous lodging facilities available in Pella.  For those who want a water view, check out The Amsterdam Hotel (www.RoyalAmsterdam.com) in the downtown area.  

I also noticed stairs leading up to a second story AIRBNB, across the street from Central Park.

And for those who want to purchase a home in the area, the Century 21 Realty office, is also across the street from Central Park.  

It was the son of Pella Corporation founder, Peter Kuyper, who first envisioned the construction of a canal in downtown Pella, as a nod to the canals of Amsterdam, Holland.  The dream came to fruition and the lovely curving body of water is called MOLENGRACHT Canal.  Molengracht is a Dutch phrase meaning "Mill Canal".  News releases about its construction stated at the time, it was the most ambitious project ever undertaken in the state of Iowa.  

The area includes a working "draw bridge", a hotel, bank, cinema, restaurant, and high-end residential properties.  

Dutch architecture styles, such as these "step roof" designs, and brick exteriors add to the authenticity of the area.  

Not surprisingly, there is a retail Pella Window/Door store along the canal.  The non-profit foundation (KuyperFoundation.org) started by the founder of the Pella Corporation continues the legacy of the founders, through the "desire for service to humanity and God."

This area is filled with retail kiosks during the European-style Christmas market, held annually in Pella, during the holiday season.  

I liked this photo, because it shows not only the canal, but also the Vermeer Windmill, in the background.  

The symmetry of this fountain, encircled by repeating patterns of red brick, and topped by the metal dome, are a a beautiful example of landscape architecture.  

The plaza that connects the canal to the downtown area, is framed by ceramic tiled archways, painted with scenes from the Netherlands countryside.  The tall structure on the left, is the clock tower, called the Klokkenspel.  It provides Old World charm in a musical way with performances held daily at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 9:00 pm daily.

The curving bench in the shape of an "S" if a nod to a traditional bakery item from the Netherlands, called "Dutch letters".  

The clock tower has two sides--one facing Central Park, and one facing the plaza/canal area.  There are several videos of the Klokkenspel performances on You Tube (www.youtube.com) .

It is not surprising to see a bicycle shop in downtown Pella, in light of the famous bicycle ride across Iowa, called the Register's Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (www.RAGBRAI.COM)

The flags represent the state of Iowa, The United States of America, Pella, and The Netherlands.  

One can read the full story of the history of Pella, Iowa, on the Pella Historical Museums website, called www.pellahistorical.org .  The historical data verifies the over-riding influence of Christianity, on the founding of Pella, and its progress afterwards.  The Bible verse most commonly associated with Pella, Iowa, is Matthew 5:14:  "You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

I am lifting up my hands in gratitude, to God, and the founders of Pella, Iowa, for this beautiful city on a hill, that definitely was the light of my life, on the day I visited during Tulip Time---it gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia

HISTORIC HUGUENOT STREET EXPEDITION!

I have to be honest and tell you that I had never heard of Historic Huguenot Street, until I started researching activities to do in conjunction with an automobile trip I was taking to the Hudson River Valley, to attend a week-long Road Scholar ( www.roadscholar.org ) program at Mount Saint Mary's College in Newburgh, New York.  Since I was going to be in the area on the Fourth of July, I googled "Hudson River Valley Fourth of July activities", and Historic Huguenot Street ( www.huguenotstreet.org ) came up, because they were having special, FREE historical demonstrations/re-enactments that day.  Being a frugal traveler, I put it on my list of possible activities for that day. 

I read on the event listing that this National Historic Landmark was located in the town of New Paltz, which I also had never heard of!  (However, after returning from my trip, I re-watched the movie Dirty Dancing---which was written to reflect this Catskill Mountain area of New York---and the town of New Paltz is mentioned as the location to take a resort staff member to the doctor.  Needless to say, I did not catch the reference, the first time I saw the movie, back in the 1980's!)

The first stop for any visitor to Historic Huguenot Street is the DuBois Fort, which serves as the Visitor Center, exhibit area, gift shop, and ticket sales office.  (They also have a second-story restroom with an old-fashioned claw-foot bathtub in it!)

As part of the Independence Day festivities, a staff member was giving a demonstration inside the Visitor Center, on how to churn butter, using the kitchen implements available during colonial days. 

On the grounds outside the visitor center, the demonstrations had been set up as promised, and were attracting several visitors, in spite of the fine mist of precipitation that was falling. 

The re-enactors in this area were giving a demonstration of Dutch-oven cooking, with promises of samples to taste, as the day progressed!

A black-smith was getting his hot coals ready for a demonstration on how knives were made by the colonists.

These younger-looking re-enactors look different, not only because of their clothing suitable to the colonial days, but also because they are not staring down at a cell phone, the way their peer in the burgundy shirt is doing!

The powerful-looking stance of this blacksmith, as he hammered away on the hot metal, show one reason the colonists burned lots more calories in their work, than we do in present-day activities.  If we want a new knife, all it takes is a few clicks on the Internet, and one will arrive at our door within hours!

New Paltz has been a college town for 150 years, and is now the location of SUNY/New Paltz ( State University of New York ).  An option of ANY college student who is beyond their freshman year, is to apply for an internship at Historic Huguenot Street.  The internships are part-time work, and the intern has the opportunity to earn college credits for the experience they will gain. 

The 10-acre National Landmark Historic District was built in the 1700's and consists of seven stone houses.  The Bevier House shown in this photo has a unique stone cellar, that was used to house African slaves.  The historical record of slavery in New Paltz begins in 1674, 3 years before its founding, when Louis DuBois purchased two African slaves at public auction held in Kingston, New York.  By 1790, 77 slave holders owned 302 slaves, or 13% of the population. 

There have been four sanctuaries built on Historic Huguenot Street.  French speaking Protestants who settled New Paltz built the first church in 1683, which was a simple log building; it was eventually replaced by a stone church.  Note that the language spoken in the church was French, until 1753.  At that point, due to the influx of Dutch settlers, the language spoken at the church changed to Dutch, which was used until 1800. 

The Adam Hasbrouck  House reflects the defining elements  of Dutch Architecture.  One of these is that the gable ends of the structure face the street, which conserves street frontage.  Another is a jambless fireplace.  (This means the fireplace does not have the side "jambs" or vertical supports, one normally sees in a fireplace).

The Freer House has been continuously occupied for 250 years.  That means someone had done continuous preventive maintenance on this abode for generations!  I salute them!

Notice the wooden shutters on the house are not just "for looks", as they actually open and close as needed, to protect the occupants from adverse weather conditions.  Also, notice the rain barrels positioned on the ends of the house to collect fresh water from the roof run-off. 

The fieldstone used to construct the houses, is often seen in the architecture of homes built in the prevailing style of the low countries of Northern Europe, that the early settlers would have been familiar with. 

  This reconstructed stone church built in 1717, reflected REFORM thinking, with the pulpit in the central location and pews  placed so everyone could see and hear more clearly.  This expressed the concept that each person had a direct relationship with God, rather than one mediated through a church hierarchy.

  The Jean Hasbrouck stone house serves as the headquarters for the Huguenot Historical Society, which was founded in 1894!  I find it amazing that these founding fathers had the foresight to preserve this significant religious heritage of our nation's history over 120 years ago!!  I am very thankful that they took it to heart, and put into action the advise given in the Bible in I Chronicles 6:5-9 that says, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates."

The main topic of the Road Scholar program I was to start later that same week, was on the subject of the Roosevelt family.  Therefore, I was fascinated to learn that the Crispell Church is named after Antoine Crispell, one of 12 founders (patentees) of New Paltz, and a direct ancestor of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  Since he had ancestors from this region full of Dutch Christians, it is more understandable to me why FDR wanted his family's Bible to be used, each time he was sworn in as President of the United States of America.  The Bible was turned to I Corinthians 13, which is the chapter on Love.  However, unless the onlookers were fluent in foreign languages, they could not have read the chapter, because FDR's family Bible was written in the Dutch language, and had been passed down through the generations of his family!  I was thankful to get to see that Bible later in the week, when I visited the FDR library in Hyde Park, New York.

This ancient stone wall serves as a boundary marker for the gravestones that denote the lives of the early settlers of this region of New York State.  As an example of the on-going mission of this National Historic Landmark, they are offering a "Gravestone Preservation Workshop" on September 19-20, of this year.  There is a fee for the workshop, and you can check out their website for more information.  Another example of its mission to help the current generation learn about their religious heritage, is the fact that each college student enrolled at SUNY in New Paltz receive a free, one year membership to the Historic Huguenot Site!  Their student ID cards have an imprint on the back, reminding them to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity for free guided tours, free admission to special events, and member discounts.  I think if these students use that membership, they will learn about their history, and it will give them "MILES OF SMILES", as it did for me!  Tricia