Warm temperatures and dry skies welcomed visitors to Anamosa for the 35th Annual Grant Wood Art Festival on June 10, a stark contrast from last year’s cold and rain.

Hundreds of people came to Anamosa to take in the artwork, see original artwork and spend the day in the town Grant Wood called home.

Over 30 artists and food vendors lined the streets, offering everything from Sno-cones to paintings. A juried art contest was held and the winners included two painters and a potter.

First place was won by Jeanne Rager, a watercolorist, second place went to Mark Benesh, an acrylic painter, and third prize was won by potter, Doug Cole. Prizes were $250, $150 and $100.

Riverside Cemetery was the setting for a cemetery walk, the first of its kind in Anamosa, and offered a glimpse into the lives of Anamosa’s forefathers and famous residents.

The walk was sponsored by the Anamosa Historical Society and gave guests a chance to meet Native American Anamosa, Edmund Booth and of course, Grant Wood. Each character told of his or herself in first person and dressed in period clothing.

A documentary on Wood’s life and artwork created by Strawberry Hill students were featured at the Anamosa Library and Learning Center. The originals included works by Wood and Robert White as well as original photos by John Barry.

Entertainment was offered throughout the day. Musicians gave performances in the gazebo next the Citizens Bank, in Chamber Park and the duo, Shawn and Jesse, strolled along Main Street.
Starlighters Theater Group was also on hand to perform live skits about Grant Wood’s life.

Kids activities included sidewalk chalk drawings and a variety of art projects. Once again children could paint on limestone donated by Weber Stone. Other art stations included bubble painting, paper plate fish and monkeys constructed from pom-poms and pipe cleaners.

A wagon pulled by an antique tractor carried people from Main Street to the library, the Penitentiary Museum and the cemetery walk.

The Grant Wood Art Festival takes place on the second Sunday of June each year.

Anamosa has added a new business to Main Street and its opening corresponded with the weekend of Grant Wood Art Festival. Grounds and Goodies, located at 112 East Main Street, opened the doors on June 8 to give owner Betty Weimer, her daughter Rhonda Butler and employee Sarah Williams a couple of days to get into the swing of things.

“I originally wanted to open before graduation, but the building renovation took longer than we thought,” Weimer explained.

Weimer, who co-owns the bakery/Internet café with her husband Todd, an attorney in town, said that after visiting an Internet café, Todd’s parents, Keith and Becky Weimer, told her Anamosa needed one as well. The business offers free wireless Internet service.

“I used to own the bakery in Tipton and sold that. I was selling real estate and will continue it because this is just a hobby,” stated Weimer. “My mother-in-law, Becky, came up with the name. My in-laws had a lot to do with this, they had a lot of really great ideas.”

Coffee is the “grounds” portion of the name and a variety of drinks named after local attractions, including the Reformatory Raz, Stone City Steamer and the Mosa Monkey are available. In addition to coffee drinks, the café also sells Italian sodas, tea, pop and juice.

“The coffee and candies are the new things for me,” said Weimer, who said the candies would be gradually added to the menu.

The “goodies” at the store include cakes, bread, cookies and pastries. Weimer said she has decided to steer clear of anything fried, though. She also will not offer day old items.

“We aren’t doing anything fried or large bun orders, anything that would cause me to come to work at two in the morning,” she said.

Weimer said she encourages those who need several of the same items to call ahead to order. She also takes orders for cakes, including wedding cakes.

The old building was remodeled by the Weimers, with the help of their family and friends. The couple tried to keep many architectural features of the building and the freight elevator and tin ceiling seem to meld with the modern scene of customers with laptops.

After July 1, Weimer is hoping to serve lunch. She also has plans to place a meeting room in the upstairs of the two-story building. It will seat approximately 20 people when complete.

The hours at Grounds and Goodies are 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The business will be closed on Sunday unless there is a special event in Anamosa. To place an order, call 319-462-2868.

Several customers and new friends were on hand to the help the Grand Opening run smoothly. Irv Rickels gave kids and their parents “hay rides” with his 1937A John Deere tractor through Riverside Cemetery.

B modified Stock cars and drivers were on hand to show off their autos. Will & Joe Anders and Tugboat Barner and Joe Dirks were on-hand to tell folks all about stock car racing.

The name Tapken’s won’t change and store hours are pretty much the same with Don refusing to open up in the morning before the coffee is brewed. Tapken’s hours are Mon-Thurs. 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday 5:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m.-11 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.