IA IA - Elizabeth Collins, 8, & Lyric Cook, 10, Evansdale, 13 July 2012 - #13

[hollyblue]

Seems like way back in the 30's, it was the lakeshore road. Slowly over the course of the next 7 decades, the surrounding area was developed and it just became irrelevant and forgotten.

Thanks for the links Ollipop. I don't even live there and could get lost in those old maps for hours. Very interesting and a great find. I bet there were parties every week-end off of Maiden on the lake. Toke, toke.

 

[Ollipop]

It probably is sprayed, no matter who owns it.

If the city owns it, then they'll Round-up a couple times a year to keep the poison ivy down. Same thing for a private owner, to avoid fines for allowing noxious weeds.

Well, just judging from the growth, it wasn't Round-Up that was used. That'd wipe it almost clean. There were nettles, etc, so I was wondering if there wasn't some spray just for the noxious weeds.

Also, when the lake was drained last and the jetty built up, gate was enlarged, etc. they cleared a LOT of trees/shrubs/weeds from the lake shore, opening up the view of the lake from the trail almost all the way around (except, again, in creepy corner). There is a problem with a kudzu-type vine beginning to take over at the lake. Several trees have succumbed already, and the vines are evident all over the fences. They climb everything and completely smother whole trees. The city used the empty lake time to clear much of it back, but it didn't take long for it to regain all the ground it had lost to the chainsaw.

 

[otto]

Do fish eat leeches? It just occurred to me that the lake is full of leeches and people fish at Meyers Lake ... do they eat the fish?

 

[Ollipop]

Thanks for the links Ollipop. I don't even live there and could lost in those old maps for hours. Very interesting and a great find. I bet there were parties every week-end off of Maiden on the lake. Toke, toke.

Combining the volumes of work done by a prominent genealogist in my family, and my fascination with local history (wherever I am) has passed a lot of time for me. I love to research the "how's" and "why's" of cities and towns, especially in Iowa. For instance, Evansdale was originally just a rural collection of neighbors with flooding issues. They banded together, and an attorney from a town several miles away, Dale Van Eman, turned in the paperwork for incorporation to a judge named William T. Evans. The name of the town had not been considered, so they just named it when they signed the papers, using their own names, in 1947. Coincidentally (or not, I'm not sure), one of the original owners of the land was named William T. Evans. I haven't discerned if he was the same who later became of District Judge, or if maybe it was one of his descendants.

On a side note to this side note, I'd bet the town of What Cheer, IA has an even more intriguing story.

 

[otto]

Well, just judging from the growth, it wasn't Round-Up that was used. That'd wipe it almost clean. There were nettles, etc, so I was wondering if there wasn't some spray just for the noxious weeds.

Also, when the lake was drained last and the jetty built up, gate was enlarged, etc. they cleared a LOT of trees/shrubs/weeds from the lake shore, opening up the view of the lake from the trail almost all the way around (except, again, in creepy corner). There is a problem with a kudzu-type vine beginning to take over at the lake. Several trees have succumbed already, and the vines are evident all over the fences. They climb everything and completely smother whole trees. The city used the empty lake time to clear much of it back, but it didn't take long for it to regain all the ground it had lost to the chainsaw.

Kudzu is a serious plant that overtakes everything. From following the Karen Swift case in TN, I learned that if the kudzu hadn't been between seasons, her body would never have been found. If there's kudzu and two little girls ... I guess there should be another search Dec/Jan ... is that when it briefly dies off?

 

[hollyblue]

Well, just judging from the growth, it wasn't Round-Up that was used. That'd wipe it almost clean. There were nettles, etc, so I was wondering if there wasn't some spray just for the noxious weeds.

Also, when the lake was drained last and the jetty built up, gate was enlarged, etc. they cleared a LOT of trees/shrubs/weeds from the lake shore, opening up the view of the lake from the trail almost all the way around (except, again, in creepy corner). There is a problem with a kudzu-type vine beginning to take over at the lake. Several trees have succumbed already, and the vines are evident all over the fences. They climb everything and completely smother whole trees. The city used the empty lake time to clear much of it back, but it didn't take long for it to regain all the ground it had lost to the chainsaw.

I was wondering if kudzu had make it's way there yet. I lived in NC and TN for a time and unless you kill the root ball...by cutting it out it just keeps proliferating like wildfire and will take over whole structures.

 

[hollyblue]

Kudzu is a serious plant that overtakes everything. From following the Karen Swift case in TN, I learned that if the kudzu hadn't been between seasons, her body would never have been found. If there's kudzu and two little girls ... I guess there should be another search Dec/Jan ... is that when it briefly dies off?

From first frost to last frost.

 

[CHERIE.T]

Can't scent dogs find a scent through kudzu?

 

[hollyblue]

Combining the volumes of work done by a prominent genealogist in my family, and my fascination with local history (wherever I am) has passed a lot of time for me. I love to research the "how's" and "why's" of cities and towns, especially in Iowa. For instance, Evansdale was originally just a rural collection of neighbors with flooding issues. They banded together, and an attorney from a town several miles away, Dale Van Eman, turned in the paperwork for incorporation to a judge named William T. Evans. The name of the town had not been considered, so they just named it when they signed the papers, using their own names, in 1947. Coincidentally (or not, I'm not sure), one of the original owners of the land was named William T. Evans. I haven't discerned if he was the same who later became of District Judge, or if maybe it was one of his descendants.

On a side note to this side note, I'd bet the town of What Cheer, IA has an even more intriguing story.

Thank you for sharing that. I may check up on What Cheer. I love history and architecture....old houses and the Carnegie buildings from the depression era. I won a trip to Germany in high school having to study the history of the town, the school and it's sporting accomplishments/stats. Found it fascinating, and since have always sleuthed the history of places I have lived....especially in talking to the older inhabitants. My great grandparents always told stories of the great 1925 tornado that raced through SE MO, So IL and finally ended in SW IN. There's even a film now on the net taken from a plane flying over for miles and showing the devastration.

Thanks again.

 

[GrainneDhu]

Combining the volumes of work done by a prominent genealogist in my family, and my fascination with local history (wherever I am) has passed a lot of time for me. I love to research the "how's" and "why's" of cities and towns, especially in Iowa. For instance, Evansdale was originally just a rural collection of neighbors with flooding issues. They banded together, and an attorney from a town several miles away, Dale Van Eman, turned in the paperwork for incorporation to a judge named William T. Evans. The name of the town had not been considered, so they just named it when they signed the papers, using their own names, in 1947. Coincidentally (or not, I'm not sure), one of the original owners of the land was named William T. Evans. I haven't discerned if he was the same who later became of District Judge, or if maybe it was one of his descendants.

On a side note to this side note, I'd bet the town of What Cheer, IA has an even more intriguing story.

And you can prove you're a real Iowan by pronouncing it "Wah'cheer." People from other places usually pronounce it "What Cheer." I'm intrigued by places where natives pronounce the name one way where almost everyone else pronounces it another way. Like Boise Idaho is often pronounced "BoyZee" when the natives pronounce it "Boy-See."

Or how the natives of Applachia say "appa-lat-cha" with a short a in the middle but other people say "appa-lAsh-a" with a long A in the middle.

Totally off topic but I can't resist. Kalona, Iowa (just southwest of Iowa City) was originally a railroad stop town. A farmer named Myers wanted to name it Myerstown but the post office rejected the name as being obviously for self promotion.

So he suggested the name Kalona, which was accepted. The post office official didn't realise it was the name of Mr Myer's prize bull.

 

[GrainneDhu]

Kudzu is a serious plant that overtakes everything. From following the Karen Swift case in TN, I learned that if the kudzu hadn't been between seasons, her body would never have been found. If there's kudzu and two little girls ... I guess there should be another search Dec/Jan ... is that when it briefly dies off?

So far, kudzu hasn't gotten a foothold in Iowa.

State Entomologist & Bureau Chief of Entomology and Plant Science for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Robin Pruisner says that there was a single kudzu vine discovered in 2005 in southern Iowa that has been discovered so far, despite an extensive monitoring program. It is unknown how it got here but it is in a location where it could be left alone and monitored to see if it would spread to the limited area it was in.

It did not spread but there is increasing evidence from Illinois that kudzu may be self-selecting for cold tolerance and will eventually be a problem in Iowa. It is a huge concern for Iowans because kudzu harbours a plant disease that is fatal to soybeans.

Since Iowa is usually the top soybean producing state in the nation, that is really, really bad news.

I suspect that what Ollipop is seeing is probably bindweed (spear shaped leaves, sort of like morning glory).

 

[superbee]

I go to the University of Iowa so this is very interesting to me. I never knew there was a bomb shelter on campus. I would love to find out what building it's in. I did some searching and someone posted a picture of the Hydraulics Lab building that had a "fallout shelter" sign on it. Could that have been the one you saw? It wouldn't surprise me if there's more than one on campus.

I definitely think there could be a bomb shelter at the Univ. of Northern Iowa. But I find it very unlikely that the girls are being held there.

I am wondering if there are any backyard bomb shelters from the old days in the town or close by? Where the girls could be taken and held. Apparently some bomb shelters back then were quite sturdy cement buildings, under the ground. Just an idea...

I am glad there is interest in scouting out bomb shelters on various campuses. It is an important part of history. I am far away in Canada, but my gr. grandpa was born in Ames, Iowa, so I have a connection to your lovely State.

 

[cindersoot]

Equally, I doubt a perp in a vehicle could go that 1.5 miles and 10 intersections in less than 5 minutes.

While a vehicle is faster than a bicycle over long distances, a bicycle is often faster for short distances in town. Many bicyclists don't strictly obey lights, etc. Hence bicycle messengers in large cities.

So TG's sighting of the bicycles as his estimated time of 12:20 pm is a massive spanner in the works. Or, it is simply inaccurate. Like many another eyewitness, he may have been mistaken in ID'ing the bicycles, mistaken about which day he saw them, etc.

If the girls took the bike trail from LaFayette st. there are no intersections to deal with it cuts straight to where the bikes were found.

 

[superbee]

And you can prove you're a real Iowan by pronouncing it "Wah'cheer." People from other places usually pronounce it "What Cheer." I'm intrigued by places where natives pronounce the name one way where almost everyone else pronounces it another way. Like Boise Idaho is often pronounced "BoyZee" when the natives pronounce it "Boy-See."

Or how the natives of Applachia say "appa-lat-cha" with a short a in the middle but other people say "appa-lAsh-a" with a long A in the middle.

Totally off topic but I can't resist. Kalona, Iowa (just southwest of Iowa City) was originally a railroad stop town. A farmer named Myers wanted to name it Myerstown but the post office rejected the name as being obviously for self promotion.

So he suggested the name Kalona, which was accepted. The post office official didn't realise it was the name of Mr Myer's prize bull.

Great story. Near where I was raised is the city of Kelowna, pronounced the same way as Mr. Myer's prize bull. Kelowna here is a Native word, meaning 'Grizzly Bear'. Maybe Kalona was a bull big as a grizzly bear? Place names are interesting.

 

[MNDad]

Not that I remember, and my kids and I, who were all wearing shorts/sandals, showed no signs of it. I wonder if they spray on all that public land? Or is Maiden Lane even considered public? Can't find MNdad's cool link of land ownership.

http://www2.co.black-hawk.ia.us/website/bhmap/viewer.htm

 

[GGE]

The son of a local realtor was talking to me once about the history of Evansdale (they live right down the street from me, and their property is on the lake). He might be 30 (high estimate), and was telling of the "raging keggers" he used to attend out in the corn fields just north of the lake. I don't know how much he was exaggerating or embellishing, but the point is that someone born in the 80's would still have memory of there being "out of the way" spots around the lake.

BBM - I've been attracted to a cornfield connection in this case since it broke. Can't shake it. I read that people were standing shoulder to shoulder walking through cornfields in the early days of the girls going missing. Has this cornfield/s that you're referring to been thoroughly searched? I understand the corn is now dying due to the drought.. is there a chance that searching those cornfields again now would be a significantly different experience than before? Could you see more now? Are there more somewhat adjacent fields near there?

I just have been obsessing with the cornfield thing for weeks now.. thanks!


ETA: these coordinates here - 42.461393,-92.295489 - that should put hte green arrow on a mowed path that connects the nature trail to what looks like a grassy field behind a cornfield. Anyone know what this is, or why this is? Or what that oval shaped impression on the ground nearby is?

And.. are those cornfields? Looks like it.

Looks pretty clear that somebody for some reason mows down that path from the trail to the field, anyhow.

Thanks!

 

[Jewels53]

Hi everyone! I am new to signing in! My name is Julie, and I am not a creeper! I have been following this case from the beginning and I have read every post. I came here from following the Lisa Irwin case which is very close to where I live.

Anyhoo. I just wonder if the perp had met the girls earlier in the morning and found out they planned on going to Meyers lake. Then he/they took bikes and staged them at the gate and when TG rode by he did see 2 bikes there and later the girls come by and then they are grabbed and the perps bikes are removed and replaced by the the girls bikes against the fence. JMO

I am a slow typer!

I posted this yesterday and I don't think anyone saw it, so I am re-posting.

This is all JMO

 

[Thinkzerz]

Are there any cameras at the fire station/police station on Evans & Gilbert?

Which side of Lake Ave do the C's live on?

I don't think the girls would have continued east on Gilbert to the bike trail if they came down Evans.

Maybe they went down Grand where it is rumored their uncle J lives. But if Mr. C says they come down his street and usually turn around at the end, I believe he is referring to the end of Lake Ave, not Gilbert.

I think they may have gone down River Forest turned left on the next major street and then turned right and headed down Evans. Then they crossed the street and went down Lake and cut through the grassy area off of Arbutus. I think it is an excellent possibility that the perp may have entered the path from the lake side of the gate. Then they either walked them along the lake side of the fence back to Maiden Lane or got in the DPB (aka damn paddle boat or creeper boat) and went to that same spot. If a boat in involved I think they would have had to know him.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

I total feel the same way. Perp is probably from that area. 1 mile radius i bet. JMO

 

[GGE]

I will try to find a link to the first video, or atleast a MSM reference to there being two videos. I was right in the middle of something when I posted the above, sorry to sound so short. I'll try to find it now. There was A LOT of discussion about both of the videos when the second one came out. I'm not sure which thread but you could find it by searching the date of the release of the second video. Some thought the second video was actually the same video and thought the camera was the same. But, the footage was different and was not released at the same time. Media was reporting that there were two videos though some here thought there was one.

Ollipop (verified local) has driven to the building and examined it and stated that there is most definitely only one camera on the back of that group of connected businesses.

There is one video from one camera.

However, IIRC, there are two visible timestamps, one on each bit of footage released.

12:11, and 12:13 I believe.

There has been speculation here at WS that the girls were going around the block on the footage, netting two sightings with two timestamps.

I am not sure if this is what we settled on though.

But DEFINITELY only one camera netted both released video clips.

 

[Gracelin]

Welcome to WS Jewels53!!

All this staging of the bikes stuff seems like a lot of work to me.