Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

, r \ I‘ ' J -
became famous overnight when the painting was
reproduced in newspapers throughout the United
States. America began hearing about Grant Wood's art.
and from that time until his death. a short 12 years
later. he had a buyer for anything he painted. Among
his best known paintings were: "Arnold Comes of
Age". "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". "Daughters of
the American Revolution". "Arbor Day". "Birthplace
of Herbert Hoover", "Portrait of Nan" and the local
painting "Stone City".
In 1932 Grant established an independent art colony
at Stone City to teach art. He acquired ten old ice
wagons and used trucks to haul them to that place.
These wagons. colorfully decorated. provided living
quarters for the instructors of the colony. which
included his friend. Marvin Cone. After only two
summers this venture was ended due to financial
problems.
Grant became a lecturer at the University of Iowa in
1934 and taught art there for seven years. His marriage
to Sara Sherman Maxon in 1935 ended in divorce four
years later. For his work and influence in promoting art
in American education. Grant was awarded honorary
degrees by Northwestern University. Wesleyan
University. Lawrence College and the University of
Wisconsin.
Grant Wood died of liver cancer at the University of
Iowa Hospitals. at Iowa City. 10 p.m. February 12.
1942. just two hoursbefore his 5 1st birthday.
Not wanting to be buried near the large. stone.
lion monument in the Wood family lot, his
wishes were carried out and he was buried in the
adjoining Weaver lot in Riverside Cemetery at
Anamosa. The large monument was erected by an
uncle of Grant Wood many years before Grant's death.
Even though it could well be thought that the
monument is a tribute to Grant Wood. he is said to have
detested the thought of being buried near the stone
lion. and preferred to have a small stone mark his
grave. His birth year engraved on this stone, through
inadvertence. shows the year of his birth as 1892.
rather than 1891.
In I973. under the auspices of the Anamosa BPW. a
limestone marker was placed at the entrance of the
Riverside cemetery to commemorate the burial site of
the world famous artist.
Many tributes have since been paid to Iowa's most
famous artist. including a 1983-84 traveling exhibit of
much of his art that had been gathered by the
generosity of Burlington Northem Inc.. the National
Endowment for the Humanities. and the National
Endowment of the Arts. This major exhibit was on
display at museums in New York. Minneapolis. Chicago
and San Francisco.
This exhibit was a fine tribute to this extraordinary
clever and inventive man who painted things as he saw
them. yet when possible. put in a bit of humor. The
people he painted depicted the ones he had known all of
his life. He did not paint out their faults nor did he hold
them up to ridicule.
In I972 Grant's sister. Nan. wrote the following note
to the Paint ‘N Palette Club. which was instrumental in
the restoration of the Antioch school. ‘When Grant was
a young boy. each day as he meandered from his farm
home to school. he observed the wonders around him
— the plowed fields. the growing com. the seasons of
the year. the animals of the fleld. the people and the
little country school he attended. called Antioch.
"These scenes of his childhood made . a lasting
'__
‘fa?
\\
I -
. ~A-
.,'
I’"
1'
Y
~i__ ..
r' .
~-
-~-
Q
< -v
5" z
if.’ I . .‘ .
.
Y
.-'5» . n
-m~._
s \
Birthplace ofArtist Grant Wood and his sister. Nan
Wood Graham. This house burned in I974.
impression on him, and in later years. he immortalized
them in such paintings as YOUNG CORN , FALL
PLOWING. SPRING TURNING. and DINNER FOR
THRESHERS. etc.
"One of the most loved of these paintings is ARBOR
DAY. a painting of a country school he once attended is
now a Memorial to him. and perhaps he does know.
"Many. many thanks to the Paint ‘N Palette Club for
all of their efforts in restoring the school. and the
wonderful thoughts behind these efforts. And many
thanks to the School board who deeded the school to
this Club. and to the many people who yielded their
treasures to furnish the school. and to the people who
donated their time and labor. and their money.
Sincerely.
Nan Wood Graham"
In 1938 Miss Harriet Cunningham. local historian
and teacher. received a letter from Grant Wood. which
was subsequently published in the Eureka‘s Centennial
edition. Grant wrote. "Anamosa has always held a very
warm place in my heart. When I was a youngster, we
lived on a farm three miles southeast of town — a long
enough distance in those days. I remember the great
excitement my brothers and I felt when the family went
into town on Saturday to get supplies.
"As we breasted the final hill before coming into
Anamosa. my older brother always cried. with a
perennial enthusiasm of discovery: ‘I smell town.‘ This
does not mean that Anamosa had noxious odors from
factories or anything like that. it simply meant that my
brother's excitement was so intense. he actually
smelled or fancied he could smell the slight difference
in aroma between the country and town. To us.
Anamosa had all the glamour of New York. Chicago and
Par'is rolled into one. The name. Anamosa. still brings
back some ofthis youthful excitement to me.
"Jones County is a region of uncommon natural
beauty and fine. sturdy people. It has a rich and colorful
history. I am sure that every native of the county is, as I
am. proud to have been bom there, and cannot today go
through the Anamosa and Stone City country without
having awakened memories and affections that extend
back into earliest childhood.
Sincerely,
Grant Wood"
-b-4.
fib
259