Liz Lynch is 100

LYNCH, DUBUQUE

Posted By: J. N. (email)
Date: 3/19/2008 at 14:31:53

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Tuesday, March 18, 2008

A trip into old Dubuque
A day in town was well-spent in those days

By Liz Lynch for The Telegraph Herald

A trip to Dubuque around the year 1917 was an experience to remember. For a day to become a shopping day, the sky had to be clear, with absolutely no signs of rain. Muddy roads would have made the ride impossible. Our two-seated buggy had no protection from rain.

Thirty dozen cases of eggs would be loaded behind the back seat of the buggy. Ten gallons of cream were squeezed in to be taken to the Cream Station.

The egg cases would be dropped off at the grocery store, where the eggs were candled. We would leave a list of groceries we needed, and everything would be ready to pick up when we started our trip back home.

Outside of shopping trips, we were never taken to town unless there was some health-related issues.

The day I was to have my eyes examined, no appointment was made with the doctor. We simply walked right into his office and were served. The doctor put drops in my eyes, used the word "astigmatism" and told us to return in an hour or two for him to finish the test and to be certain the frames were correctly fitted.

Meanwhile, we went shopping at places like Stampfer's, Roshek's and J.C. Penney stores.

At Penney's, I was intrigued by the little box that held the invoice and the shoppers' payment. The clerk would pull a lever, and the box would shoot up to the next floor, where another clerk took the payment, made the right change and sent it back in the same little box.

It was our custom to stop at the ice cream shop. At the counter, there were glass jars, with a great assortment of stick candies. When my mother would buy some lemon sticks of candy, I could hardly wait until we got home to enjoy them.

The sun was usually lowering in the sky as we got to the hill by our house. Trixie, our shepherd dog, jumped around and barked happily to announce our homecoming. We were happy, too, to be home. Sentiments like ours probably helped popularize the saying, "There is no place like home."

Lynch, 100, of the Stone Hill Care Center, writes for the Nostalgia page.

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Tuesday March 18, 2008

Reflections 100 years in the making for Liz Lynch
Nostalgic writer celebrates her 100th birthday

By Megan Gloss TH staff writer

From horses and buggies to hybrids, Liz Lynch has seen an overwhelming world of change pass her by and has lived to commemorate it in her monthly Nostalgia column for TH readers.

The Stone Hill Care Center resident celebrated a quiet 100th birthday March 15.

"I didn't really have big plans," Lynch said. "Turning 100 is big enough. It's really kind of wonderful. I never thought I would live this long, and I'm very happy to have lived the life that I have."

A spirited soul, with an infectious personality, Lynch grew up on a rural Dubuque farm and began tapping into her talent for writing at the age of 10.

She later became a school teacher and taught for 38 years in Dubuque -- 25 of those in a one-room school house. She turned to writing upon her retirement.

"I enjoy writing," Lynch said. "And it's nice to have a piece in the paper."

Lynch's columns have dealt with a look back to local history to childhood memories.

"Everything has changed so much," Lynch said. "The world is very worrisome today. I see this especially coming from a rural farm and family. The strongest tie you have as you get older is your family. Your family is the one thing that always stays the same. You realize how great they are."

Despite the worries of the world, Lynch has no regrets.

"It's been a long and wonderful life," she said. "And if I had it to do all over again I wouldn't change a thing -- not one!"