12 Comments
User's avatar
Linda Ford's avatar

Small town stories are always great! Thanks Richard!

Expand full comment
Tom Morrow's avatar

Okay, how do I "log in?" I replied to my Son's note, but it wanted me to log in...I'm just a simple ol' Iowa boy...grew up seven miles from the Missouri line, so you'll have to "Show Me."

Expand full comment
Julie Gammack's avatar

Your comment is posted

Expand full comment
Scott Morrow's avatar

Need to get back there, I think it has been 25 years. Thanks for the great post.

Expand full comment
Barb Mores Johnson's avatar

What a wonderful tribute to Seymour. I used to love visiting my grandmother there in the summer. She had a water pump in the backyard and we would prime and pump away. She had a big garden in the backyard and kept chickens and we kids would feed them and collect eggs. She tried to teach me how to drive stick one year in her old Chevy. We drove down around the Square ..stalling and lurching and laughing. I still have the kewpie doll I won at the Carnival back in 1960 when I was 12. Great little town. Thanks for writing Richard! Barbara Mores Johnson.

Expand full comment
Richard Gilbert's avatar

Thank you, Barb! The Mores name is still revered among old timers in Seymour. Some even believe the only reason your dad gave me a job is because I was from Seymour. Given my almost complete lack of experience and/or ability that was probably true. Have enjoyed reconnecting with Alan, Steve, Michelle and lately Herb. Hope our paths cross yet this summer.

Expand full comment
Chuck Offenburger's avatar

What a warm and insightful column from what was obviously a wonderful visit back in your ol' hometown, Richard. I don't think I ever understood that it was probably the Seymour connection that took you to Harlan to work for the Mores family; Leo Mores was, like you, a Seymour guy, right? I've always liked Seymour, except for one thing. Years ago, I wrote a great new town slogan for the folks there, and they've ignored it ever since: "Seymour? We've seen less!"

Expand full comment
Richard Gilbert's avatar

Thanks, Chuck. The Seymour connection didn’t hurt, but what took me to Harlan was that I needed a job and Leo had one! And, too bad on Seymour for not acknowledging your slogan suggestion. Would have made great tag line for a tourism pitch. Perhaps gotten a grant from the Development Commission and changed history. Who knows, maybe there’d be a casino there now.

Expand full comment
Julie Gammack's avatar

love this!

Expand full comment
Scott Helmers's avatar

A wonderful story. It is likely there is a plethora of Iowa small towns resembling this history.

Expand full comment
Richard Gilbert's avatar

Scott—You’re spot on. For fun Google “Old Settlers Iowa” and see how many towns pop up.

Expand full comment
Bill n DC's avatar

😎 History. A few decades past my U of Iowa days good friends ended up as teachers in Seymour 👍🏽🎉

Expand full comment