Perry, Iowa, was a destination town during the 1950s, fun to shop in, and easier to drive to than Des Moines. Grandma Leora, who lived in Guthrie Center in those days, used to enjoy shopping there, too.
Grandma would ride the bus from Guthrie to Panther Corner along Highway 44 in Colfax Township. We waited for the bus in the shade of tall trees along the gravel road across from the Panther store and garage. Here’d come the bus with our precious grandma. Holding her pocketbook and small suitcase, she’d climb down the steps of the bus. We’d help carry her little bag back to the car. Perry is a short drive north from there (now Highway P-58).
After a day of shopping and lunch in a cafe, we’d take her home with us for a few days. Those made for special memories.
These days, there’s only a memorial on that corner, but there are still plenty of people around who have fond memories of bustling Panther Corner.
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A lot of nice little towns and communities just disappeared with the advent of the interstate highway system!
There are so many who remember it, so feedback on the Dallas County History FB page will be fun today.
Yes, I have heard of Panther Corner- thanks for the reminder.
Thank you for compiling these tidbits of history on line. Panther Store and garage were actually in Washington Township. The first home and shop were on the southside of Highway 44 in Colfax Township. Panther was our only town in Washington Twp. It had a post office in the store but I’ve yet to find a postmark. Epesus was a country store on the No 9 Road ( H Ave.) but that was so long ago and few stories remain.
So it did have a post office at one time. I’ve never heard of Epesus, but wonder whether Rod Stanley knows about it. He does programs about the ghost towns of Dallas County.
So Perry was a happening spot back in the day. I hope we can visit Iowa soon and spend some time touring the area.
It sure was then, and is becoming more so these days.
It always amazes me how the fortunes of small towns will wax and wane. I just found out that Sheldon Springs used to be a resort town before the Civil War, with eleven hotels! Now, it’s just a sad little collection of broken down houses and a couple of churches.
Eleven hotels! Will you make it come to life?
The novel will be set in 1968, so the glory days were long gone by then–but I’ll try to work in a legacy of some kind.
Love this on Panther Corner. Never knew it existed. It was gone by time I moved to Central Iowa in ’75. What a structure!
Your story reminded me of picking up my grandmother at the railroad station when she came to visit, and always with a tin of homemade cookies! It was nothing like Panther Corner though 🙂
It’s a win because it stirred up a story! Thank you, Sharon.
It sounds like you loved growing up in rural America. I did too! A small town, Dexter, Maine.
Dexter, Maine! What fun. Growing up on a farm back then makes for some fun stories, especially for our son who grew up in a Des Moines suburb. (My sis still lives on the Dexter farm.)
I have been writing a lot about life in the 40s and beyond on my blog. Sounds like we both have tons of fodder to use for many more blog posts and beyond.
I’ve been at it since about 2015 (I was with Weebly 2 years before Word Press). I’d planned to back off from posting three times a week, but it hasn’t happened yet!
Yeah, I love to post, but time is my enemy!
Joy Neal Kidney: I’d like to connect with you about MYERS & CRAIG families who were early settlers in Panther area, please! Thanks! Nan diniwed@hotmail.com SAT 2/4/2023