How do you run at 26.2 mile marathon? One step atta time. How do achieve long-term sobriety if you’re addicted to drugs and/or alcohol? One day atta time. How do you build the U.S. Capitol from matchsticks? One stick atta time.

If you haven’t been to Gladbrook, Iowa north of Marshalltown, to see the Matchstick Marvels Museum, go! Patrick Acton, a retired guidance counselor and Gladbrook resident, has quite a talent. As a matter of fact, I’ve never seen anything like it. He builds exact to-scale replicas of anything from the Notre Dame Cathedral, to a small Gladbrook church, with matchsticks! The Notre Dame Cathedral took him 20 months to build and 300,000 matchsticks! That’s enough sticks to make a beaver jealous.

The Gladbrook church was his first creation. It took him several months and 500 matchsticks. It was a rainy day and he was looking for something to do. He went to the Gladbrook grocery store, bought a box of matchsticks, and cut the phosphorus tips off. With wood glue he carefully assembled his first building. And he was off and running. Perhaps being a guidance counselor was a natural segue from fitting students to fitting wood.

Since then he has become famous and his matchstick sculptures so unbelievably stunning, that he has won art contests, become internationally known and attracted the attention of Ripley’s Believe It or Not. You better believe it! He was able to retire from his counseling job early, and devote his time to making matchstick sculptures for Ripley’s.

However, he wants to keep as many of his creations as he can here in Iowa, and the town of Gladbrook wholeheartedly agrees. They built a city hall, theater and, just for Patrick Acton’s matchstick marvels, a museum! It’s open 1-5 pm, seven days a week, from April 1 through Nov. 30. Fee is $5. Ginnie and I were there on a Monday and it was packed tighter than a church basement potluck, not only with gray hairs like us, but kids who were fascinated by the craftsmanship.

In addition to viewing Acton’s works, there is also a video. He claims to not be a perfectionist, and that he, “Hates perfectionists.” LOL. He also claims to not have the patience of Job. In the video, he sighs, “So many matchsticks, so little time.”

He no longer buys matchsticks that he has to cut the phosphorus tips off of. He buys them in bulk, by the millions, without the tip. They are longer and this allows him to make bigger and better sculptures, if that seems possible.

He also taught himself how to “bend” a straight matchstick to make curved figures. He is 100% self taught.

If you’re on your way to Gladbrook, and you pass through Marshalltown, stop at the Maidrite on 3rd Avenue, next to the RR tracks. It’s one of the four original Maidrites in Iowa. A Maidrite, or loose beef sandwich, is the original fast food.

And yes, they do have ketchup on the counter now. Way back in their beginning, or so the stories go, they didn’t allow ketchup in their cafe because it covered up the taste of their fresh ground beef. They allowed mustard because it enhanced the flavor.

The other story is that Taylor’s did not put ketchup out on the counter because the hobos from the rail yard came in and, having no money, would mix ketchup with water to drink for nourishment.

Whichever story you believe is no matter, and the debate goes on endlessly. Taylor’s Maidrite in Marshalltown does have ketchup on the counter now, and serves one of the finest loose meat sandwichs you’ll find anywhere. Even rivaling the famous Canteen in Ottumwa.

There’s no better way to tour the Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook than with a belly full of Iowa Maidrite!

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Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.