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Nothing mediocre about Mediapolis (Mepo)

Drive down Main Street of Mediapolis and there’s nothing mediocre about this little Iowa town, population 2,118. The street is lined with flowers–petunias, impatiens, Boston ferns, Wandering Jew, etc.– hanging from light poles and lining sidewalks. Beautiful! But the main attraction in downtown Mepo, besides the Des Moines County Freedom Rock, is a farm-implement display of petunias. In front of Hawkeye Pedershaab Mfg. is a farm wagon full of petunias, dumping flowers into a farm elevator, that is appearing to transport the flowers up and into a huge basket. The display is mainly due to the labor and love of one downtown business man, Herschel Smuck, owner of Main Street Tire. This man loves flowers.

About 15 years ago, Herschel started putting flowers outside of his business just to soften up the appearance, and make it a little more attractive for people to walk into, especially women. Then, six-or-seven years ago, the city repaved Main Street, including the sidewalks. Herschel started hanging potted flowers from the light poles. He added a little bit every year. When he realized he had more flowers than he needed for the light poles, he made planters that would sit on the sidewalks. It’s gotten bigger and bigger every year and is quite attractive. Some businesses put out flowers that Herschel cares for. Hershel is a Lion’s Club member and the Lions help out.

Across the street from Herschel’s business is a parking lot in front of Hawkeye Pedershaab Mfg. Herschel thought, “Something needs to go there.” He talked to one of his farmer friends who puts on a threshers’ show every fall, and has a lot of old equipment sitting around. Hershel asked if he had an old wagon and elevator he would be willing to part with. “You betcha, Herschel.”

Herschel moved the wagon and elevator across the street, after discussing it with Hawkeye Pedershaab. They were all in favor and would pay for the flowers. Herschel filled the wagon and elevator full of potting soil and petunias, and made a little flower-fall going into a big basket. The effect is quite charming.

So, before Herschel opens his business every morning, you’ll see him on an ATV with a big water tank in the back end, watering the flowers along Main Street. Herschel gets his water from the city that has a fast-fill spigot. He adds fertilizer to the water, but he won’t tell anyone what it is. It’s a secret. It takes two fills of the tank to do all the watering, and takes Herschel about an hour, sometimes an hour-and-a-half. It’s just something he enjoys doing.

Across the street from Herschel’s farm-flower display is Mepo’s City Hall. The Des Moines County Freedom Rock is in front of City Hall. People drive to Mepo to see the Freedom Rock. They take pictures of it, then turn around and say, “Look at that!” and take a picture of the farm-flower display. Only in Mepo. It’s like going to Pella to see the tulips, only these flowers, with proper care, last all season.

Herschel gets his flowers from the high school greenhouse. He supplies the pots, and the students raise the flowers. The Mediapolis Savings Bank and Mediapolis Telephone Company help Herschel out. One out-of-town housebound lady had her daughter bring her to Mepo just to see the flowers. Herschel loves hearing that.

How did Mediapolis get its name? Media means “middle” and polis means “village.” Middlevillage. Mediapolis is halfway between Wapello and Burlington. But Mediapolis is not mediocre by any means. Quite colorful, actually.

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Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com or visit his website at www.empty-nest-words-photos-and-frames.com.

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