West Branch is the birthplace of Herbert Hoover. This 14′ x 20′ cottage was built by Hoover’s father in 1871. Herbert’s father died of “rheumatism of the heart” when he was just six years old and his mother died from typhoid fever and pneumonia when he was ten years of age. Herbert was sent to relatives in Newberg, Oregon where he attended the Friends Pacific Academy. In 1888 the family moved to Salem when Herbert gained knowledge working in the office of his uncle’s Oregon Land Company (and founding the present-day transit service in Salem…just kidding Cindy). Herbert entered the first class of Stanford University and graduated in 1895.
It went through several owners and was repurchased by President Hoover in 1935. If you step to the left, you can see the burial site in the distance.
This is the presidential retreat (outhouse). It was locked for “security” concerns..
This blacksmith shop is located across the street from the Hoover mansion. Jessie, Herbert’s father was a blacksmith by trade and the shop was in operation from 1871 until 1878.
This is the Quaker schoolhouse that originally stood about two blocks away. It was moved intact into the park in 1971. Jason is getting ready to enter the building but hasn’t figured out what it is at this moment.
Once inside, it was obvious what it was and you can see the concern/disappointment on Jason’s face.
Next, we made the almost half mile walk to the gravesite of both Herbert and his wife Lou, on a grassy knoll overlooking the birthplace.
In keeping with the Quaker tradition of simplicity, there were only the names and DOB/DOD information on the markers, no Presidential Seal ar any other insignia or markings.
Continuing the walk, we took the “Prairie Trail” to the Miles farmstead, where young Herbert often visited to play.
Returning to the park, this is our view of the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. Since it was 5:00 at this time, the bell carillon was playing patriotic tunes.
In a garden setting near the library is the statue of Isis. Seeing that on the map, we had to go see what that was. This bronze statue was presented to the Hoovers by the citizens of Belgium in gratitude for his work on their behalf during and after WWI, it stood on the Stanford University campus from 1921 until 1939. Representing the Egyptian goddess of life, it has nothing to do with the present day Isis organization, allaying our immediate concern.
Just past the statue we came to the Friends Meetinghouse. This structure was completed in 1857 and used by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), whom held services of silent mediation inside. There are separate rooms for men and women, divided by a half wall. Above the half wall, there were a series of wooden “drapes” that could be lowered for complete isolation/separation. Adjacent to the women’s area was a “crying” room for the care of infants. This building was also moved about two blocks from where it originally stood to position it within the park.
Cathy (and Jason) in the women’s side of the hall. You can see the half wall with the wooden movable portions, in the up position. These half walls can be raised or lowered using pull cords, very similar to our blinds today. Both the men and women’s sides were mirror images and furnished exactly the same. Each had a section for elders and a wood stove to provide heat.
Walking back, through the park to see the town of West Branch, we came across this horse post. The sidewalks are wooden, the street is gravel and the original homes have been faithfully restored. It was a very quaint, quiet and enjoyable walk. We made it into town just in time to see the Tuesday farmer’s market.
Tomorrow we will spend time going through the library and museum before departing to Booneville for a couple of days to participate in the “Toughest 10K”. We are trying to keep ON the “beaten path” and visit all of the “big, touristy cities”…not really!
We arrived at the Hoover museum just as a busload of children were walking in. Luckily we were able to stay ahead of or behind them but they were very well-behaved as a group. We watched a twenty minute history film of Hoover and were in the theater alone!
At the museum, in the children’s area… it’s Iowa for goodness sake! Look at all the corn equipment with John Deere power!
Jason with the President
Cathy saw this very fitting description of a boy, penned by Herbert Hoover:
After lunch, we went for a bicycle ride in beautiful “downtown” West Branch, along the “Rails to Trail” Hoover Nature Trail.
There were trailside reminders that this was an abandoned railroad right-of-way and Jason had to climb this one:
We also passed signals, signal boxes and many, many abandoned telephone poles, each with multiple crossarms, but alas, no insulators to be found in the proximity.
Here is Jason racing Grandma back to the truck. Each time Jason passed us on the trail, he exclaimed “bam”. He won the race! We covered several miles of trail before succumbing to the insects.
Travelling with the Schinglers 