Greenfield Aftermath
...and your Monday link
I asked Jay Howe, a retired attorney living in Greenfield, to send me an essay on his experience in the aftermath of a major, destructive tornado that sped swirling through his town, upending the lives of the 2,000 inhabitants. He was out of town when the storm hit, but could easily have been a casualty based on the photo below of what is left of his home. Julie
Greenfield, IA- by Jay Howe
A well-settled fourth-generation Greenfield resident, I am now without a home after this week's horrific tornado took its destructive path from the town's southwest corner, right at my home site, and through mostly residential neighborhoods and on northeasterly to the hospital-healthcare campus.
I have lost irreplaceable items related to my family and community history and legacies. My great-grandfather Dr. J E. Howe settled here in 1875 with his medical/surgical background. He graduated from the Keokuk School of Medicine and Surgery.
Numerous relief and recovery organizations have come to town, with much more initial in-kind assistance than can be consumed. Thanks be to their devotion and energy!
Cash donations are coming to the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation, PO Bx 13. Some donors recommend the foundation emphasize that grants for Rebuild Greenfield will require donors to utilize them in ways that support environmental sustainability outcomes, for both personal and public infrastructure.
This seems a very worthy idea. After all, we know more frequent and more violent weather events are created by we humans who disregard the impact our lifestyles are making on the planet's ecosystem.
Housing has not been plentiful in Greenfield. And the storm can only exacerbate the situation.
For a county-seat city of 2000 population, this place has a high level of commercial and public sector employment offerings. I guess that upwards of 400 commuters have employment here, take their paychecks home, and then spend them away from this trade area range of 10 miles. And their absence, outside of work time, negatively impacts Greenfield commerce, K-12 enrollment, and many aspects of civic life.
Perhaps the tragic tornado will awaken community leadership to effectively address the housing shortfall and limited housing options.
Usually, when folks reside where they're employed, they become stakeholders and take pride.
May Greenfield soon get on its feet to embark on a robust era of "smart growth" . . . . rebuild development that produces a healthy sense of place.
- Jay Howe, retired general practice attorney
Marianne Fons
Our Monday Potluck guest is a new friend and new member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. She’s a dynamo. Marianne Fons lives in Winterset but is probably best known throughout the world for her quiltmaking expertise, magazine, and television show about the topic. The author, entrepreneur, and now committed Madison County volunteer is already wowing readers with her column as a member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Tune in. Tell those you know who love quilting to join us.
Okoboji
Interesting video on Greensburg. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/edu-rebuilding-greensburg/
The town also has the world's biggest hand dug well, which ended up with a brand new museum after the tornado. https://www.bigwell.org/
Greensburg KS recovery after their 2007 tornado should give Greenfield some hope. Worth remembering...which is difficult in immediate aftermath...