Anyone from Perry Iowa?

[RockyZ]

If you can find people that are friendlier than in Iowa I'll be very surprised. I'm not from Iowa and grew up an hour from Chicago. I have heard all these things about Iowa before. Iowa is going to surprise you if you dare go there. The people are down to earth,educated,strong family values,hard working,under paid for their strong work ethic and they have dishwashers,lights,electric on and on. I met a Iowa woman that moved to Skokie,IL while in her teens to nanny for a family. While being shown the house of her new employer she was show a clothes washer and it was explained to her that you put your dirty closes in there and push these buttons and it washes your clothes. How ironic, It was a Maytag she was showing her. It was made in Iowa. One of the things that I found they think Waterloo and Des Moines are big cities.That is only my perspective. The cost of living is low. As far as how you would be treated if your black I don't know that. I've never heard anyone say anything good or bad. I have only been in northern Iowa mainly in the eastern part. You need to go there and spend time there to see what your experiences are. One last thought if you need a doctor I think you will find it doesn't matter who you are. The health professionals are just that,they are professionals.

[Sheehy]

I grew up outside of Perry, Iowa on a farm near the town of Jamaica. Back in 'those' days, it was a great place. Family oriented, country, a place where everyone kept up their home and yards and tons of family activities. Being from the 'farm', we'd go into 'town' every Friday evening and shop for groceries. I have fond memories of the place. The town back then had a population of about 7000... From what I hear, it still is. What has happened to Perry is the packing plant. It used to be 'the' place to work, but it was sold many years ago and they've hired tons of 'outsiders'. Hundreds of longterm employees lost their jobs to this meat packing giant and thus started the migration of native born out of the city. Which makes sense, if the town hasn't grown, yet thousands of outsiders now work at the plant... which they've got to live somewhere close since they're not getting paid as the old workers were. Unfortunately, with all this, renters have taken over much of the city and landlords are not keeping properties up like they use to. One of the notes here on this forum said that the local hotel closed... that doesn't surprise me... It was the Pattee Hotel. It's been there forever and someone came in and totally revamped the place to be an artistic adventure. It was truly lovely. I even stayed there one night while visiting relatives. So over-all, you could say that Perry has seen better days and it's doubtful that it will ever be the same again. It's more dangerous than 30 years ago, but what neighborhood isn't? I still have family in the area... They seem to love it. I wouldn't go back. Your daughter will be fine if she lives like she's living in a big city... just watching her back.

[laughingpaws]

HI,

My Gram lived in Minburn, IA about 9 miles east? of Perry. Perry is a fine town. I spent some of every summer visiting my Gram and spent tons of time in Perry, including most of a year back in 2000 helping my Gram live at home after she'd had a stroke. I can't say enough good things about it.

I've always found the people incredibly nice, welcoming and friendly. Everyone we knew and met would have given you the shirt off their back if you needed it, no questions asked. The groceries at the Hy Vee were much better than I can get even at the Whole Foods market here in Vienna, VA, a suburb of Washington, DC. Not to mention the prices are MUCH nicer.

My Gram received EXCELLENT medical care both at the nursing home, the hospital and the emergency room when I got panicked. We had several Fantastic public health nurses who came in to help and give me some time off. I couldn't have done it without them.

But it is a small town. New comers have to make an effort to get to know their neighbors, but once the effort is made she will be adopted by all and welcomed with open arms. And when she needs a City fix, Des Moines, and Starbucks, are only a 30 minute drive away.

I've found people in Iowa to be very well educated, open minded, friendly and incredibly generous. I will admit that it freaked me out a bit when the guys at the hardware store knew who I was within moments of arriving in town, having grown up outside of DC this was beyond my normal experience but I got used to it. They even helped me to build an aviary for a crow that I was rehabilitating after it was shot here in Virginia. I mean if farmers can accept a city girl who is providing room, board and medical care for an imported Crow, they'll welcome anyone.

Winters are hard in Iowa, but they are also hard in places like Boston, New York, Chicago and everywhere else up north. But neighbors watch out for neighbors there. You have Nothing to fear.

If your daughter is lacking friends, I'd suggest that she find someway to get involved in the community either through a church or one of the many community activist groups. She just has to take a single step forward for the town to embrace her.

The reticence you heard about with outsiders may be due to the high number of people from German descent in the area. It's not that they don't like you, it's just not in their temperament to be overt in their affections. Most people in Iowa let people be unless they and until they are asked for help or contacted first. At that point they will move heaven and earth to do whatever they can to aid you. Don't take it as unfriendliness, it's just that they are reserved. But once that reserve is breeched, you couldn't ask for better friends and neighbors.

I'm sorry to hear that the Patee Hotel closed down. Going there for lunch on occassion, I remember the David's Salads and Creme Brulee with great fondness, provided me with a oasis. Caregiving is never easy even when it's for one of your favorite people on the planet. That said, I don't think that I could have done it anywhere but in Minburn and Perry, our neighbors, friends and health care workers helped me through it every step of the way.

[Photoguy]

Being born (at the old Kings Daughters Hospital) and raised (til I was 18) in Perry was great! However having been gone from there for many years,I returned two years ago for a funeral and was amazed at the transformation of residents.There are many spanish speaking "citizens" there now and was told by a Police Officer friend that the crime rate is through the roof (for a town that size).Coincidence or not.?
My fond days of being a child and teen....going to Overtons Ice Cream shop,shopping at the Montgomery Ward store, cruising up and down Willis Ave. and the stores being open until 9:00PM on Friday nights are a thing of the past.
Too bad

[gdbacon]

Originally Posted by SD83

I grew up in Perry, Iowa. I don't want to discourage anyone at all, but I don't have a lot of good things to say about it. The town was at one time friendly to outsiders, but I think a lot of that attitude has changed in recent years with a lot of illegal immigrants coming into the town to work at the meat packing plant (the aforementioned IBP). I do not mean to come off as bigoted with that statement, but it did change the town dynamic drastically.

The town does have an extremely diverse make-up for being so small, but some of the minorities are not very friendly at all. This is a generalization as you'll find many friendly folks no matter of their origin, but the illegal/non-English speaking nature has rubbed folks the wrong way.

I only now realize that this topic was created months ago, so this is probably no help to the lady who created it. Hopefully your daughter delivered a beautiful child and is getting along well. Equally hopeful that she and her new child have adjusted to the town, or have moved on to a better place to live.

I will say this much, if Cindy comes back and reads this, it's my honest advice to have your daughter's child not be schooled in the Perry Community School sytem. As bad as my feelings towards the town are, the school is much worse. It is the epitome of what is wrong with the town as a whole.

I think you need to chill out, and it is not just because you have had a bad experience does not mean that her daughter will. if you could ever scare a mother that is worried about her daughter being miles from home i think you just need to stay away from perry it is bad enough that the town has a bad reputation due to all of the other minorities in town i grew up here and am still here and the people all here are great. you have to have the mentality to know that if you treat someone the way you want ot be treated then they will do that in return. but for you to come and unload on a helpless mother that is scared to death for her daughter then that is not right at all

[Ikway]

Originally Posted by Photoguy

Being born (at the old Kings Daughters Hospital) and raised (til I was 18) in Perry was great! However having been gone from there for many years,I returned two years ago for a funeral and was amazed at the transformation of residents.There are many spanish speaking "citizens" there now and was told by a Police Officer friend that the crime rate is through the roof (for a town that size).Coincidence or not.?
My fond days of being a child and teen....going to Overtons Ice Cream shop,shopping at the Montgomery Ward store, cruising up and down Willis Ave. and the stores being open until 9:00PM on Friday nights are a thing of the past.
Too bad

Oh My Goodness! Overtons Ice Cream Shop, I had totally forgotten that until I read your post. I too was born and raised in Perry, Iowa until I was fourteen. Some of my best memories come from there. As with any town, there will always be the good, the bad and the ugly. But I love Perry and go back to visit family that I still have there occasionally.