Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

In May I931 he started working at the Anamosa
Men's Reformatory as a guard. By I939 he had worked
his way up to the position of assistant deputy warden.
One of the fringe benefits was a house and utilities paid
by the state.
I remember moving day. Germany had just invaded
Poland. I didn't understand what it was all about. but I
could tell by the older folks grim expression that it was
‘bad business‘.
The next four years flew by. We lived almost in the
country in a comfortable house that met all of the needs
of a family of six. We had a huge yard. where my
brothers and their friends could play football. baseball.
basketball. pole vault and high jump.
By then. World War II had cast its shadow on all of
our lives. Upon graduation in I943. my older brother.
Ernie. enlisted in the Marine Corps. The personal worry
of having a young son in the service. plus extra long
hours at the reformatory. took its toll on both parents.
I remember the night I rode with Dad to see a busload
of soldiers off. They were leaving from the American
Legion Hall. I think Dad was the Legion Commander at
the time. I thought he just wanted me to ride along for
the fun of it. But. on the way into town he gave me a
lecture about helping Mother more. because of her
exhaustion and worry. It really made an impression on
me. because he rarely disciplined us. When he did. he
only had to do it once.
By the spring of I944. the deputy warden had
resigned due to ill health and the Board of Control
offered the job to Dad.
He accepted with reluctance. but he preferred to stay
in the house we lived in. The Board had other ideas. In
May we moved into the big. stone house on the top of
the hill next to the reformatory.
My main complaint about that house was the
location. A guard made nightly rounds. checking
things out. Whenever I parked in front of the house with
a boy friend. the guard shined his large flashlight in the
car. When I finally complained to Dad he said. "He's
just following my orders."
When Warden Davis died in I953. my dad was
offered the position. He told them he preferred to
remain in his present job. He cited his lack of formal
education as one of the reasons. The Board of Control
convinced him that they had proof of his ability over
the past 20 years.
So again the folks moved — this time. to the big
apartment over the front offices in the reformatory. The
lack of privacy was quite a contrast to their two
previous homes. By that time. two of the children were
married, and two were in college.
I don't think he would have moved there if he had a
family of young children.
He was glad. years later. when a private residence
was built for the warden. even though it was after he
retired.
My dad's first pay as warden was $390 a month.
A few years ago a young man was telling Dad that he
was starting his first job at S 10.000 a year. Dad replied.
“I got $9.750 on my first job." The young man was
quite impressed. until Dad added. "That's what I got for
the first I0 years of my firstjob."
Dad retired as warden in May 1964. exactly 33 years
from the day he started as a guard at the reformatory.
All of their married life Dad had been the
breadwinner and Mother. the housewife. When
Mother's health began to fail. Dad took over many of
the household chores. This was quite an
accomplishment for a man who had never even dried
dishes. My brothers and I were truly impressed. and he
was pleased that he was able to take care of her in their
home until her death in 198 1.
Although he has some health problems. Dad's
positive attitude and tremendous sense of humor are
seeing him through.
Mail Carrier and “Rags”
Frank Brady had company on route
"It is common knowledge that a mail carrier's worst
occupational hazard. aside from heat. cold.
precipitation and people who want to stop and chat. is
any member of the canine species who seem to think
that it is part of their natural heritage to harass mail
can-iers.
“Witness the fact that in addition to being harassed
and threatened. over 6.000 U.S. mail carriers were
bitten last year.
"Be that as it may. Rags. a two-year-old part Beagle.
owned by the Harry Gorius' of Anamosa. chose to
ignore precedent and took a strong liking to Francis
"Frank" Brady. Anamosa‘s popular mail carrier. Frank
has been bitten several times by various canines and
does not believe the old saw about dog being man's best
friend.
"Frank doesn't remember the exact day he
discovered he had a mascot; only that about I8 months
ago he was being accompanied by a strange dog. who
neither harassed nor threatened.
“Rags took his newly-discovered duties quite
seriously. Since that time. city ordinance permitting.
written by Bertha Finn
(published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette in March 1968)
302
he waits on the corner three houses away from the
Gorius residence on East First Street for his chosen
carrier.
"Frank leaves the post office at 9 a.m. and arrives at
Rags‘ corner between ll and 11:15 a.m. Rags goes out
the back door and sits on the front porch a few minutes
before taking his position on the corner.
“After warmly greeting Frank. he continues the route
with him until 12:30 p.m. when Frank stops at home
for lunch. More often than not. Rags gets a bite to eat
from Mrs. Brady. Promptly at I p.m. Rags begins
whining on the front porch. -
“Frank leaves by the back door and calls to Rags.
Mrs. Brady explains that Rags jumps at Frank and
plays for a minute or so. before settling down to the
business of escorting Frank orr the afternoon route —
until 3 p.m. —when they arrive\at the post office. Rags.
confident that the day's work is done. begins the threefourths
mile trek home.
“Thus. the routine of carrier and mascot — routine
even on the days Frank has the afternoons off. At I
p.m.. as usual. Rags whines at the door until Frank