Fairfield Town Square

"Second day noon [Monday, October 7, 1867] Got to Fairfield about 1 o'clock & seeing a great concourse of people in the public square, we inquired the cause and found that they had a political rally & saw one speaking under the stars & stripes. Jane bought a Delaine dress, 30 cts a yd. & Henry bought 6 yds. of muslin for pillow slips at 18 cts a yd & 3 yds of towel crash 15 cts a yd. Came on about 4 miles & camped in a beautiful grove. Came through Glassgo & got me a shaker & Eddie some shoes."

We loved Fairfield, Iowa! The beautiful town square is green and filled with flowers. Historic buildings line the streets. Right in the center is a lovely gazebo. We could certainly imagine someone speaking right there. The Jefferson County Courthouse sits imposingly a block north. As we stood admiring its architecture, a man walked over and introduced himself as County Supervisor Dick Reed! He spent a few minutes telling us the background of the building and its ongoing renovation. (Every Iowan we meet is friendly and helpful.)

It is good to see Fairfield flourishing 143 years later, and to know that we saw the same town square as Grandmother Ann.

Glasgow was another story. All we saw was an old cemetery and one gravel road with a few houses on either side. There must have been a store there in 1867 if Ann bought a shaker and shoes.

Next we are headed for Salem, Iowa. At one time, it was an important Quaker settlement, and many of the Quakers who came to Iowa entered through Salem. We've heard stories about a station on the Underground Railway there. How has Salem fared over the last 143 years? We'll find out!