The Search for Grandma Sparkle

by Darlene Miller

  Anyone who wishes to volunteer with the search on Tuesday is encouraged to go the fire station in Attica for instructions. There will be a pancake breakfast for volunteers and neighbors at the fire station, off Highway 5. Anyone with any information about the missing woman and or child, please contact any law enforcement officer.”

  Sarah’s voice was despondent when Tom finished the article as she spoke, “Well, let’s hope that it helps.”

  “Yeah,” Tom answered.

  Sarah continued, “I’ll go to the fire station in Attica tomorrow and see what I can do.”

  Tuesday evening Tom called again.

  “Anything new?”

  Sarah sighed. “I served a lot of pancakes. People talked a lot about how much Grandma had helped them over the years by bringing food, babysitting or helping with the cleaning of their homes when they were sick or moving. It seemed that Grandma was always there to help when they needed it. I walked a few miles but don’t really know anything more than I did when you were here.” . . . She paused. “How was your day?”

  “Well, work was okay. I found out that I need to write a term paper for my Iowa History class. I’ve decided to write about southern Iowa mines since I got the books from your grandmother’s library. Maybe I’ll find out something that will help find them.”

  Sarah replied,“I don’t know how that will help.”

  “I don’t know either but since there were over 500 mines in Marion County alone, the search up and down the irregular land must be terrible.”

  Tom continued, “The mines changed the land all right. There were three different kinds of mines. Drift mines were where they dug into the coal site from the top of the ground. Slope mines dug sideways into the hill before going downward. Shaft mines were mines that were dug vertically down with tunnels connecting them. Mules lived underground in some of the shaft and slope mines. At the large mines, railroads were built to transport the coal and the land was built up or dug down for the train tracks. Then the mine owners had to build roads and housing for the miners. They became little towns with their own school and company store.”

  “That’s a lot of changing the topography of the land.” Sarah said. Then she continued, “But now much of the land has been reclaimed.”

  “Reclaimed? What do you mean?”

  “The state of Iowa paid people to come in and bulldoze the ground. Much of it was put into terraces with grass sown and trees planted. Some of it was developed into wet lands. If you want to see some reclaimed land, you used to be able to go to the Wilcox Wildlife area. Someone even moved one half of a covered bridge there. Then they allowed motor cycles to climb the gob pile hills. You can’t do that today because the state found out that insurance was too costly so they gated the area.” . . .

  “Sarah, how do you know so much about this? I didn’t think that girls paid much attention to this sort of thing.”

  Sarah sighed. “Grandma knew all about the mines. When I had to write essays in grade school, I chose to write about mines. Grandma helped me with this information. She even drove me all over the area to see where they had been. . . But I don’t think all this information will help us find Grandma and Jessica.”

  “I just have a feeling that they may be connected. Remember that your Aunt Mary said that we should think like your grandmother and figure out what she would do. I wish that I could do more but there’s not much that I can do from Ankeny.”

  “I wish you were here but I want you to know that talking to you helps me tremendously.”

  “I’m glad. I like to talk to you too.”

  “Bye now.”

  “Goodbye.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Sarah had just taken a shower and was rubbing lotion on her sun burnt nose when the phone rang. She eagerly ran into her bedroom to see if it was Tom. His calls were a bright spot in an otherwise exhausting day.

  Her eyes lit up for a moment when she recognized his voice.

  “How are you?”

  “Tired.”

  “Any new news? I mean new information.”

  “No. . . .I have a bad sunburn on my face. I walked the corn fields and ditches around North Cedar Creek.”

  “Did you say Cedar River?”

  “No. Cedar River is way east of here. It goes through Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids. Cedar Creek is as big as some rivers though. It’s between Bussey and the school.”

  “Twin Cedars School?”

  “Yes, the North and South Cedar Creeks meet near the school. That’s why it’s called Twin Cedars.”

  “Really?”

  “I read about where the schools were named for trees like Black Oak, Elm Ridge, Maple Grove. I thought that the school was named for cedar trees.”

  Sarah made a sound that was half sigh and half laughter. “I thought that myself when I was young but I never could find the cedar trees.”

  “What did you do today, Tom?”

  “I’m up to the B’s in my study of the mines of southern Iowa.”

  “What coal mine starts with B?”

  “Well, the name of the coal mine was Consolidated but the town was called Buxton. I may even write a sociology paper on it since it was a black town where the blacks and whites were treated as equals in the early 1900’s.”

  “I remember Grandma Sparkle telling me about it. It was built along County Line Road which is between Mahaska and Monroe counties. It’s not too far from Bussey because Marion and Mahaska Counties connect in this area with Monroe Counties a little south of town.”

  Tom continued, “The company built many four room houses on one-fourth acre lots. Ben Buxton, the mine superintendent, planned the community which had almost 5,000 people. Blacks were businessmen as well as miners but about half of the people were white including many Swedes.”

  Sarah said, “I don’t know why there were so many blacks there. They weren’t slaves.”

  “Remember, Buxton was created in the early 1900’s, which was long after slavery,” Tom explained. “Railroads were built across the nation after the Civil War. The trains were driven by coal. That meant a big market for the coal mines. I found a book in the college library called, Buxton A Black Utopia in the Heartland. It says that Consolidated Coal Company had labor disputes and went to the southern states for labor. The blacks were strike breakers.”

  Sarah heard Tom flip the pages of the book. He continued,“Here it says there was another black town with a coal mine called Muchakinock before Buxton.”

  “Yes, that was along Highway 163 on the other side of the road from the county landfill.”

  “Isn’t that on the way to Oskaloosa?”

  “Yes. You are really finding this intriguing, aren’t you? Your voice is higher when you talk about it.”

  “I guess so.” Tom gave an embarrassed laugh. “Didn’t you say that John works in Oskaloosa? Would he travel this way to work?”

  “Yes, but I don’t know where he is living or which way he goes to work?”

  “Do you think we could drive out that way and see what we can see when I come down tomorrow?”

  “Okay. But I don’t know what I’ll do since it depends on information about Grandma and Jessica.”

  Sarah was silent for a moment thinking about her relatives.

  Tom’s voice was soft as he said, “Of course, I understand. I’ll call before I come down tomorrow.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  The ringing of the alarm clock woke Sarah at eight o’clock. She had set it because she wanted to be sure she got the call when Tom called her as promised. She wasn’t sleeping well at night and didn’t awaken easily in the morning. Also, she needed an hour to eat breakfast, put on make-up and get dressed to go on a drive with him.

  At eight fifteen, the phone rang.

  “Good morning Tom. How are you?”

  “I’m fine. I’m even optimistic about finding Grandma and Jessica today. I want to go to Harvey today because it is the mouth of the English Creek and follow the creek to Highway 5, where gran
dma was last seen. She often traveled to Harvey to visit some friends. Their name was Vander-something but I don’t remember what.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you in about an hour.”

  When Tom arrived at Grandma Sparkle’s house, Sarah ran out to meet him before he could exit the car and go to the house.

  “You seem very excited this morning,” Tom commented.

  “I feel excited. My adrenaline is high. I just know we will find Grandma and Jessica!”

  “Well, let’s get started. Point the way.” Tom said.

  “We need to exit Highway 5 at T 17 until we drive to new Highway 92 and then go one mile or so east til you see the road to Harvey.”

  “Was Harvey a coal mining town too?”

  “Yes, in fact there were several small mines here. You can see the reclamation sign over there.” Sarah pointed to a sign on the left side of the road which read: “Morgan AML Reclamation site, funded by the office of surface mining reclamation and enforcement.” A bulldozer was sitting on a terrace, with land that looked like clay in piles around it, but there wasn’t any movement and no people around.

  They soon entered the town of Harvey which had a sign that said that the population was 277. The old two story brick schoolhouse was boarded up. A sign in front of it had all the names of the coal miners who had worked the mines in Harvey. An asterisk by their name indicated that they had died in a mine accident. A railroad track crossed the Des Moines River onto a rather large island. Sarah said, “People used to live on the island but all you can see now is corn and soy beans being farmed there.”

  They drove through town and noted the mowed lawns with flowers planted around the houses. Most houses had large yards with a flourishing garden. Tom also saw some bee hives, multicolored chickens roaming around and even some clothes lines.

  “You don’t see many towns with chickens and gardens around anymore.” Tom commented.

  “No, but this was the way it was when these towns were settled. People were more self sufficient in those days.”

  She continued. “We are passing the house where the most famous person who lived here, Dr. William Henry Harrison Barker, had an arboretum in which he planted all the trees native to Marion County.

  “What kinds of trees?”

  “Oh, you can see some of them. They are honey locust, basswood, bittersweet, black haw and of course, the white sycamore tree. In the yard there was a white sycamore tree with the words “Peace Tree,” written on it. In Lake Red Rock there was a huge sycamore tree where Indians and white men made treaties. That tree is now mostly submerged in the lake. W.H.H. Barker called the species of sycamores, “Peace Trees.” He got a federal resolution passed for all national cemeteries to have a white sycamore tree planted as a symbol of peace after WWI.”

  “Wow.”

  Sarah said, “Let’s go to the old Harvey railroad bridge that goes to an island in the Des Moines River.”

  They drove across the bridge and turned around when they spotted a man walking across it and waving to them. They waved back. When they asked the man, who said his name was Jim, to tell them how to get to English Creek and Highway 5; he told them which gravel roads to take.

  They traveled west and followed English Creek as closely as possible. Tom didn’t always know what road he was on but just followed Sarah’s directions until they were on Oregon Drive where English Creek crossed Highway 5. This was the spot that Grandma’s car was last seen.

  Tom turned toward Sarah. “I can’t stay tonight because I have an Iowa History Class in the morning and then I need to work the lunch hour and the early afternoon shift tomorrow.”

  “Well, I don’t have plans since I don’t know what will happen with the search for Grandma Sparkle. Call me in the morning.”

  “Okay.” Both of them were deep in thought so little was spoken for the rest of the trip.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Sarah called her sister Susan on the cell phone. “Hello. Are you still at Michelle’s house?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m at Grandma Sparkle’s house. Dad decided it is okay for me to stay here, at Grandmother’s house overnight since everyone seems to know that Grandmother is missing and the house is empty. He’s afraid that someone will break in an unoccupied house. I leave a lot of lights on so people will know someone is here.”

  There was no response.

  Sarah continued. “I’m coming over to bring you some clothes and food. What do you want?”

  “Shorts.”

  “Okay. I’ll find some shorts, tops and underwear and I’ll be over in a half-hour or so. Bye now.”

  Sarah went to the dresser and got enough of Susan’s clothing that would last a couple of days but Susan’s favorite pair of shorts was in the hamper. She automatically picked up the shorts and threw them in the washer but felt tears coming when she saw some play clothes that belonged to Jessica also in the hamper.

  On the drive over to Michelle’s house she thought about the one word responses from Susan. Susan never talked a lot but had no problem chatting with her sister. It would be best if I’m cheerful and optimistic, Sarah thought.

  Susan opened the door for her sister but was stiff when Sarah gave her a big hug. She accepted the clothing and the fried chicken, which was her favorite food, and woodenly walked to the table in the kitchen in Michelle’s house. She took a few bites of chicken before she said, “I’m not hungry.”

  Sarah watched as her sister moved like a robot to the living room sofa in a near catatonic state. Susan stared out the window.

  “Susan, I received a call from the sheriff’s office.” Susan turned her head and looked at Sarah with a question in her eyes.

  “No, they haven’t found anything but they have received many calls with people wanting to help. One call was from a guy who has traveled from Iowa City to prepare for the National Hot Air Balloon Races. He said he will fly over the county. If you want to go with them, you need to meet them in Indianola at five o’clock.”

  “You go.” Susan said without changing her body language expression.

  “Is there anything I can get you like some more clothes? Remember, I’m staying at Grandma’s house.”

  “No.”

  “Susan, you have to have faith that God will take care of Jessica and Grandma.”

  Susan didn’t answer.

  Sarah stood up and went to the door. Susan looked like a wilted flower as she sat slumped over on the sofa. She stared out the window. Even though Sarah said goodbye, Susan didn’t answer her.

  Before she got to the door of Grandma’s house, her cell phone rang.

  “Hi’, Tom,” she said.

  “You sound so depressed. What is going on?”

  “It’s like I can’t reach Susan. All she does is sit in the living room and stare out the window.”

  Tom said, “I’m off for the rest of the day since the lunch hour business is over and I don’t have to work the afternoon shift after all. I don’t have any more classes today. Do you want me to drive down to see you? We could go for a drive and check things out.”

  “I’m going to change clothes and drive to Indianola. A guy from the balloon festival has promised to fly or float over Marion County to search for Grandma and Jessica when the winds lift about 5 PM. Why don’t you meet me there? Maybe he has room for you too.”

  “That would be just great! . . . You said something about changing clothes?”

  “Yes. I’m wearing shorts but need to change into jeans. I don’t know if it will be cooler up in the air but I think jeans and a shirt and sweatshirt is appropriate. If we dress in layers, we will always be comfortable. I think tennis shoes and socks will be better than flip flops.”

  “Sounds good. Where do I go?”

  “I will meet Bob Van Gilst at the Simpson College Campus. They fly from near there. He told me to look for a red, white and blue balloon. I told Van Gilst that I’ll wear a red shirt and red cap so it will be easier for him to find me in the crowd.”

>   “I hope he has room for me. Bye. See you soon.”

  “Goodbye.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Sarah quickly showered and changed into the red shirt and jeans that she had told both Tom and Van Gilst that she would wear. She thought, It probably won’t be too crowded since the official races wouldn’t start for two days, Of course, many of the balloonists may be practicing landing on the selected areas for the prizes. Some of the hundreds of vendors could be setting up for the nine day event.

  As she drove Hwy. 5 and then Hwy. 92 to Indianola, she remembered coming here as a child. She had seen a few of the colorful balloons floating over their farm. After she told Grandma Sparkle that she wished that she could see more of the balloons, Grandpa and Grandma took her and Susan to Indianola. They wandered around the grounds holding Grandma’s hand. It was almost like going to the fair with all the tents with food and souvenirs. Even though it was exciting, it was hot and noisy too. Grandma had brought a picnic lunch but no outside food or drinks were allowed to be brought onto the grounds. Grandpa grumbled that they just wanted the venders to make big bucks.

  Grandma suggested that they go to the recreation park that was along Hwy. 92 but first they bought cotton candy for the girls. She spread a blanket on the ground and we ate our supper at the park. Then she said that we could play on the swings but had to stay together and always be where she could see us.

  Susan wiped tears from her eyes as she remembered huddling under the blanket with her sister and grandmother when the huge balloons finally rose in the late afternoon breeze. She had dreamed of gently sailing through the air but not under these circumstances.

  As Sarah pulled onto the grounds she looked for the large red, white and blue balloon. She spied it half inflated in the outer corner of the field. As she got closer, she saw Tom’s eyes light up as he recognized her.