Ruble, Iowa: An American Ghost Town

Рет қаралды 7,267

8 ай бұрын

Resting alongside a sleepy highway in Northwest Iowa is Ruble, a ghost town with a story to tell. Join me as I explore the history of this enigmatic place!
Interstate picture - By formulanone from Huntsville, United States - Bird's Eye 75, CC BY-SA 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
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Пікірлер: 57

@user-cr3if1bv7t 8 ай бұрын

Thankyou so much. We lived there from our birth until ten when we moved to LeMars. We are so grateful for experiencing those warm fond memories through this video

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@loannebates3620 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! Have a lot of memories in the ten years Lynell and I lived there with Mom Dad and Larry! Mom was like Gramma Maddie, she put a lot of hours into that store even before she married Dad! She worked for Aunt Helen and that’s how she met Dad!

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the wonderful stories!

@emilyschultz082 8 ай бұрын

it’s so fascinating to see humanity restored in a place that would otherwise appear lifeless

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

Maybe you should take up writing...

@sheilastarr7240 8 ай бұрын

Great Job putting this together! Thank you so much. I married Helen's grandson. ❤

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

Pleased to meet you! Glad you liked it!

@tubbster35 8 ай бұрын

So very kool to see part of my families history so sad to see it in such disrepair 😢

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment

@ronfullerton3162 7 ай бұрын

It is so hard to see the businesses and homes in what were so vibrant of areas before the hands of time and progress started the slow decline and death to these areas. I grew up in very rural southeast Iowa, and remember when Main Streets were full and bustling, especially on the evening of each week that was known as trading night, the one night each week that all the businesses stayed open. What a wonderful night, especially spring through fall when the weather was fit for people to stand around and visit. It is so hard to go back and see them so quiet and still. So many more stories you could do just in Iowa. And then expand our into neighboring states. Unfortunately this story can be replicated over and over. Thanks for the closeup of one such burg!

@ruraladventurer1884 7 ай бұрын

@@ronfullerton3162 I really appreciate you stopping by and sharing your stories, Ron!

@toddallen58 7 ай бұрын

I grew up 1/2 mile south of the store. I along with my parents, sister and twin brother (pictured in newspaper clipping) have MANY great memories. The Lamoureux's were very kind to us. Thank you for producing this video.

@pedrozatravel 8 ай бұрын

Nice job on the video, it is always fun to remember these forgotten moments in time. You also did a great job on the editing.

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

Thank you very much, my new friend.

@robertpeterson8640 Күн бұрын

Wonderful production! Lots of spots like this. I spent my elementary school years in Morse, an unincorporated village near Iowa City. There was a store much like this one still operating in the 60’s by Mr and Mrs Sheets, an older couple. A small bar on the left side and a general store on the right. In the old days they would hold dances on the second floor. Canned goods , cold cuts sliced to order, dairy, bread delivered every day, 2 gas pumps out front, and for us kids soda and candy. They also had stuff like work gloves, and overalls too. I remember buying my mom a bottle of Evening in Paris perfume for her birthday there. Mrs Sheets was amused i’m sure. We moved away in 1967 and Mr. Sheets had a fatal hear attack in the late 60s and that was that. Anyway, splendid job, and please, more videos like this.

@ruraladventurer1884 Күн бұрын

Hi Robert, thank you for the kind words! Do you know if the buildings in Morse are still standing? I would like to visit if they are. Here is a link to my Playlist entitled "NW Iowa Genealogical Society", which I put together for members of that group. It features several documentary-style videos that you might be interested in. Feel free to browse that and share with others! Best wishes! kzfaq.info/sun/PL7mU-q0pK-WCA7t_3Y-OCUdjdo16U6QJi&si=wc6_e1e87lLPrU8m

@robertpeterson8640 Күн бұрын

@@ruraladventurer1884Yes, the building the general store occupied is still there. I haven’t been out there for a couple of years but is seems to have been a private residence for many years. I don’t think there was ever another commercial enterprise in there after the store closed. When we lived there in the 60s there was a pretty nice Catholic church that was no longer in use. Also there were a couple of one story structures that may have been something like an auto repair shop in the old days. Morse is still very much there with a number of houses built on the lots where these other structures were back then. The other commercial enterprise in town back then was a hog buying station. I’m sure all those are gone everywhere as all hogs are bought before they are born these days. We would ride our bikes out there and buy sodas. Now there is a cinder block building that is a “community center.” I think it is a casual sort of bar that you can rent for parties and they probably have town meetings there if it is needed. There are probably more residents there now than when our family lived there. It is close to Iowa City and Solon. Easy commuting to both towns. We left a new, small house in Iowa City that I think cost my dad $13,000 in 1956 and bought a pretty spacious, nice older house for $8,000 in Morse. I think we were there for 6 years.

@offgridroadhouse 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for chronicling such a beautiful story! It is this aspect of America that I will be seeing (and photographing) first-hand when I'm finished converting my school bus into an RV ("Skoolie"). It is very cool that Mary still lives in the home of her ancestors. Such a rich and moving history!

@ruraladventurer1884 2 ай бұрын

Wow! Thanks for the wonderful compliment! Check out my video where I speak to the NW Iowa Genealogical Society for the story behind the video. Let me know when you're out this direction in your magic school bus and I'll show you a few places.

@YashoShasho 8 ай бұрын

This touched my heart deeply. Thank you for creating this video. Love its poetic theme and respecting what time does to all of us. Time does touch the totality of humanity. In a blink of an eye a decade does go by.

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

I appreciate you taking the time to tell me this! Thank you for watching!

@YashoShasho 8 ай бұрын

This was well done. Perfect! Those who have family ties to Ruble are grateful for this video. So much work goes into making good videos. Thank you again for your hard work and creativity!@@ruraladventurer1884

@buckybadger02 28 күн бұрын

As a person from Plymouth County this was amazing. I learned so much from your video. I have passed here thousands of times. Thank you.

@ruraladventurer1884 27 күн бұрын

I appreciate that very much! It's nice to hear from folks like yourself. Feel free to pass the link along to others.

@buckybadger02 27 күн бұрын

@@ruraladventurer1884 I plan on it. Thanks again.

@rhondamerritt1122 3 ай бұрын

So interesting to hear about the history of this little place that I remember from my childhood. My grandfather was the grandson of John C. Ruble, who also had a very interesting life. Thanks for making and sharing this video.

@ruraladventurer1884 3 ай бұрын

Hi Rhonda, I didn't realize what a full life John Ruble lived at the time. I have since learned more about him and am interested in doing a video about him. Would you be interested in contacting me? My email address is in my bio.

@leslieandirishemmingson5591 7 ай бұрын

Iris Hemmingson was thrilled to see this video! Thank you! She has been concerned about saving the buildings for years. This video captures the essence of this small but extremely important part of Plymouth County history. The PCHM needs to have copies of these placed in their archives. Iris is the proud owner of a small crock labeled: Mrs. MM Marbach, Ruble, Iowa

@ruraladventurer1884 7 ай бұрын

I would love to meet her! Thank you for watching and telling me your stories!

@QueenRoseFlower 5 ай бұрын

Maybe, You can help her by reaching out to some Amish Community's that will maybe help restore thebuilding for her ? ?????? That's what Amish people Love to do.

@nexttsar 6 ай бұрын

This was an interesting glimpse of a rural family history. I find it hard to call Ruble an actual ghost town since there wasn't really a town, just a general store and a school, but the store itself is a lovely roadside ruin.

@ruraladventurer1884 6 ай бұрын

At it's peak there were several homes across the street to the west, but whether or not they were officially part of "Ruble" is open for debate. I appreciate you stopping by 😁

@amymeier1239 Ай бұрын

Very interesting, and thank you! I love to see the old handwritings of people. (When asking for a recipe, I ask that it be in that persons own handwriting). I also love to see the towns name, faded. So many memories, stories, love, happiness and sadness. Thank you, again.

@ruraladventurer1884 Ай бұрын

It is I that should be thanking you for watching!

@ClaytonCountyHistoryHound 8 ай бұрын

Nicely put together. Thanks for sharing. Take care ✌️

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

Thank you so very much for stopping by!

@Mission2Transition641 8 ай бұрын

great video. Really enjoyed it. Growing up in Iowa in 70's. Those early photos remind me of the ones my Grandmother had in her photo albums.

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to watch. It means a lot to me!

@tillyg8858 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing.

@ruraladventurer1884 8 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

@don66hotrod94 6 ай бұрын

This is a wonderful video, however, it fills me with sadness for a simpler time, when people worked hard and owned their own small business. They must have special people.

@ruraladventurer1884 6 ай бұрын

I appreciate your compliment, Don. I would give anything to visit those days.

@52ponybike 7 ай бұрын

This was an amazing, well put together presentation! I've driven past Ruble many times and wondered about its past. Now, I know. It's located about 35 miles south of me. I live near Rock Valley in Sioux County. My own town's history is very interesting as are all small towns in every state. Excellent work! I'm a new subscriber.

@ruraladventurer1884 7 ай бұрын

It is wonderful to hear from new friends like yourself! I'm glad you liked the video and feel free to share it with anyone else who might appreciate it! Thank you very much for the sub!

@ruraladventurer1884 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching and sharing your memories!

@52ponybike 7 ай бұрын

@@ruraladventurer1884 I went to your page of videos and saved it in my favorites. I then sent that page to my siblings... we're all old in our 50s to 70s. My mom and 3 sisters used to go to old cemeteries, many unkempt, and did (tracings?) of the writing on headstones. Back in '09, while ATV riding on an eastern Nebraska Native American (Big Elk) reservation near Macy, we took a break on a hillside in the trees. Being curious about everything, I wandered away while they drank beer. I came upon some rocks that didn't look like they belonged there in the black dirt. Turned out they were mid 1800s headstones, about a dozen of them. One was a preacher, so I assumed missionaries sent to bring Christianity to the natives. I searched for hours online to find the history of these white people who probably weren't welcomed with open arms. Nothing, nada. I no longer have the pictures I took as the tens of thousands of pictures I took for 50 years, Polaroids, Instamatic 10, and digital went poof, gone when my 1895 farmhouse burned to the ground two months ago. I think they're still on my Facebook page though, if anyone wants to research as well. Go to my YT channel and PM me. A TON of pics there (on FB) but just a drop in a large bucket. Sigh.

@midwestghosttown 5 ай бұрын

Great work!

@ruraladventurer1884 5 ай бұрын

I appreciate that! 😊 I did one on Capa SD about 9 months ago also.

@midwestghosttown 5 ай бұрын

@@ruraladventurer1884 I'll check it out! You're not too far from me. NW Iowa here...

@user-cr3if1bv7t 7 ай бұрын

I have some good pictures of that place I was there with my wife Lynell we live in Arizona now

@ruraladventurer1884 7 ай бұрын

Hello, my email address is in my profile. Feel free to send them, as I would love to see them. I am also planning a second video featuring interviews with people familiar with Ruble, if you're interested. Thank you so much for watching!