The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

What's In The New Year?

Dess Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

December 27, 2017

I realize now that time flys too fast, and wishing things like, "I wish my birthday would hurry and get here" or "I wish it were Christmas" or "I wish would get skip." were foolish things to wish for.

Now, I just want to slow things down and enjoy each day, whatever might come.

We are about to step into 2018, and another new year of adventures. Although I relish the old memories of yesterday, I am looking forward for what lies next.

I remember so many chanages from paying toll in the sixties to the 1918 era McArthur bridge and always being afraid to drive over that slick steele bridge in the ice or snow.

And I enjoyed the excitement of walking across its replacement at the Grand Opening of the new Great River Bridge.

It was during the flood on October 4, 1993. For a few months, it was the only bridge that was open between the Quad Cities and St. Louis, MO.

I am pleased about the upgrading of the trestle bridge in Media and am looking forward to a story being prepared by Paula Bigger to share with Quill readers.

There are many stories about the Henderson County Covered Bridge near Gladstone and the flood damage, reconstruction, and arson fire afterwards. I enjoyed the many Heritage Trail events held there.

I remember the rodeos at the county 4-H Fair and so many kids, now adults who took part in showing their livestock. Luckily, the fair still continues.

I remember how much my friends and I enjoyed buying french fries and a burger at the Humdinger Drive-In in Stronghurst which Bob Caldwell opened, and now it is gone and a new water tower is under construction there.

So many changes, such as car and implement dealerships moved to bigger towns.

The Stronghurst Park has changed from a park full of trees which made great places to hide behind for kick-the-can and hide and seek until they caught the Dutch Elm Disease and were cut.

There were great games of baseball on the ball diamond, an ice skating rink that was changed into a shelter house and then a tennis court which will soon become a second shelter house, playgrounds have increased, sidewalks have been added, plantings, a water spray park, and a memorial area.

In Oquawka, the streets are paved! A pool and playground are in tack, and Norma Jean the Elephant is no longer alone.

La Harpe has seen their changes too, from busy streets to quiet streets, and now a popular new coffee shop on Main Street opened by Danieta Foster, a new financial building near the school ready to open, and Caseys and Dollar General and the Annex Catering complex have all been added in recent years. There is talk of building a new La Harpe Community Building .

We have all seen the changes to our schools, from several one room school houses to now (in Henderson County) one consolidated school.

But, the computer age is probably the biggest change of late - our smart tvs, smart phones - and smart cars, etc.

I'm not 100, but I do feel as if I've seen 100 years of change, so in 2018, I am not wishing for things to get here faster, but instead, I will savor the moment and look with expectation of... "what's next?"