#I started answering this at 10:30 AM but took several detours
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Hello, op! While I do find your reading of Kabru’s self sacrifice and how little he eats really good, im curious why you consider him the deuteragonist? He is a foil to the protagonist yes, but still a supporting character.
I think its pretty clear Marcille is the second most important character in DM, and her story has much more weight than Kabru’s.
Hello! I've mentioned this on my blog before, but I actually consider Marcille and Kabru to both be deuteragonists to Laios's protagonist. I just wasn't talking about Marcille in that post.
Technically this term is meant to be used in playwriting, and the Greek tradition at that, so I'm playing a little loosey goosey with semantics and my argument would sound different if I were writing an academic paper. But this is tumblr dot edu and I'm trying to get a point across on my little blog, and part of the idea of a deuteragonist is that they support the protagonist. "Secondary main character who has their own importance in the narrative while bolstering the protagonist" works well enough for my purposes.
I think Marcille and Kabru are both playing specific and complementary roles to Laios. Marcille is at his side, facilitating the A plot: namely, "save Falin", which requires Marcille's magic, and then Marcille's method of resurrection ropes Thistle in, so the continuation of "save Falin" necessitates confronting the Dungeon Lord and conquering the dungeon (the B plot).
Kabru only intersects with Laios, but he is tied from the beginning to the B plot- and with dragging basically everyone else into it. Actually, the fact that he brings in this extremely loaded B plot despite only having brief face time with the protagonist should be seen as significant. In a sense, Kabru represents the surface world and all its concerns.
Before I talk about that more, I want to continue with the complementary line of thinking and point out that Kabru and Marcille have very similar background motivations.
Laios wants to save his sister first and foremost, and it's only along the way that he starts to consider what he'd do with the responsibility of Dungeon Lord. Coming to the conclusion that he wants to create a home for disparate peoples to live in harmony has connective tissue to both Kabru and Marcille's desires.
Marcille is the only one in their party who starts out with a greater motivation other than saving Falin (Izutsumi is a special case, but she's ultimately along for the ride), one that she keeps hidden for a long time. Because she is a mage, and because she is driven by a very personal tragedy (my dad died; I am terrified of outliving everyone), she is looking for a miracle to bring the different races closer together.
Kabru comes from a background of personal tragedy as well, but it's also a far greater, more political tragedy than just the death of a parent. It is not a coincidence that Kabru is a brown boy from an exploited region that suffered despite and because of military intervention from a first-world power, nor that he was adopted by a white woman whose coddling/dehumanization of him represents the paternalistic oversight of these world powers.
Thus, Kabru's motivations are both personal and political: if they, the short-lived races, can finally access the secrets of the dungeons, then not only can they have agency in stopping tragedies like Utaya's, but it will also give them a greater power of self-determination.
Marcille and Kabru have both correctly identified and set themselves against a problem that is greater than saving the life of one girl, greater even than sealing this one dungeon.
Despite Marcille's hopes, there is no grand magic solution to this. Only small, slow, backbreaking, ordinary solutions, the kind you labor over in kitchens and bedrooms and throne rooms and meeting houses and hearths and negotiation tables. The kind you run a kingdom with.
There is a reason why Dungeon Meshi ends with Marcille and Kabru on either side of Laios's throne.
Okay: back to Kabru (under the cut).
I've talked about this a little before, but I'll reiterate here: I consider Kabru to be the counterweight to the back half of the story. In a very literal sense too, as he pulls the focus up from the depths to the surface not once, but twice. Dungeon Meshi builds itself on the premise that the traditional "dungeon" must function as an actual ecosystem, and the monsters in it are biological actors in that ecosystem and not merely magical obstacles independent of their environment. The first couple dozen chapters are focused on this. Like regular animals, monsters have needs and instincts and unique behaviors, and they can be killed and consumed as part of a food chain.
And then Kabru comes along and he reminds us that humans are also part of their own special ecosystem, with their own needs and instincts and unique behaviors, and that beyond the biological drive of the literal food chain there are also complex social issues influencing these behaviors (like capitalism). Tansu's visit with the governor introduced us to these ideas, but Kabru is the one who carries them.
The way he and his party break down Laios's party also serves an important function. I think most readers are so busy being shocked that Kabru is "so wrong" about our goofy boy Laios that they don't realize that he isn't actually wrong about anything (he's only missing the context of what drives Laios, which he admits to and is part of the reason why he pursues him). We've gotten only Laios's view of things so far, and Laios is pretty tunnel-visioned. The narrative, through Kabru, is telling the reader this is how our protagonist actually comes across to his community.
We like Laios because we are following his story from his inner circle. We know he's naive and struggles with people but that he has a good heart and is ultimately just a big silly guy who won't harm anybody if he can help it. But we only know that because we're seeing him with his inner circle, in his environment. Outside of the dungeon, Laios is anti-social to the point of rudeness; he misreads situations and misjudges people, he acts in ways that cause friction, and he accidentally aligns himself with people who make his whole enterprise look suspicious: a prominent half-foot community leader, a mysterious foreigner literally surrounded by spies, the disgraced daughter of a criminal who now has to shoulder the burden of her father's reputation, and an elf in a land where there are no elves. And they seem to be very good at what they're doing. Yet this whole time, Laios acts as if he doesn't care about profit or taking the kingdom, the only logical reasons why anyone on the Island would gather up such a party and throw themselves into this death pit day after day.
Yeah of course Kabru finds this suspicious and interesting. Of course people don't know what to make of Laios. This all reiterates the question that Zon the orc already raised: What will you do, Laios, if you defeat the Mad Mage? If you gain control of all of this? Can you be a leader? Laios himself doesn't know yet.
This is all necessary context for our protagonist and the journey he has to go on, and it's fittingly brought up by the most socially adept character, who is so concerned with human ecosystems and the bigger picture of the dungeon. There is a reason why Kabru, as a character, is connected to large webs of people as he moves throughout the narrative: his own party, Toshiro's party, the Canaries, the denizens of the first floor of the dungeon.
Kabru is responsible for bringing Toshiro down to Laios's party. Toshiro is not a big mover and shaker in the story itself, but his confrontation with Laios is a huge part of Laios's character arc. His detour down to the lower levels also allows Izutsumi to escape and join Laios's party later.
We also have this very important moment:
It shows the first inkling- to the audience, to Kabru, and to Laios himself- that Laios is willing to do a painful, necessary thing to protect other people, that he won't just allow them to become collateral for his sister/monsters. That he can listen, and that he can assess a situation beyond his personal feelings. Again, fittingly, big-picture-thinker Kabru is the catalyst for this.
And then, not content to leave him as merely a device for Laios's character growth, the focus slingshots back up to the surface, and we follow Kabru.
The Canaries were going to go into the dungeon soon anyway, and they were always going to stir up the crowd in order to lure Thistle to them. Unless Thistle had given up right then and managed to slip away, the story could have very easily ended here:
Falin, immobilized and surrounded by Canaries, would have certainly been killed, and there would have been no way to ever resurrect her. Thistle would have been neutralized. The dungeon would have been taken by the elves, and anyone they could get their hands on would have been imprisoned at best. And maybe the dungeon would have been managed safely ... or maybe something would have gone wrong, and more lives would have been lost. Remember: the Canaries arrived in Utaya one year before the tragedy.
This is a huge moment that changes Laios's life forever, and he doesn't even know it. Kabru single-handedly keeps the story on course by sabotaging the Canaries, and he does it not just for Laios's sake, but for everyone's sake. For his friends and companions in the dungeon and everyone else outside it. Laios is a part of his motivation, a key player in Kabru's hopes, but Kabru has his own desires, his own agenda. He's trying to change the world. In a way, he succeeds. And while the Canaries might wish it were otherwise, as an entity in the narrative they are always anchored to Kabru's character. The two forces collide because of Kabru. The unsealing of the Winged Lion and Marcille's emergency ascension to Dungeon Lord happen indirectly because of Kabru.
While I have talked so much already that I don't want to give a detailed breakdown of it, I do want to mention Kabru's unique interiority as a character. That is to say: we see the inside of Kabru's head more than anyone else. Every character in the main ensemble gets their own moments of inner monologues or fifteen minutes in the limelight, but for Kabru, it's constant. He's always thinking, talking, narrating. His POV chapters always stand out for how first-person they feel compared to most others.
Notably, the only other character I could compare that to is Marcille, specifically during the dungeon rabbit debacle and her ascension afterward, which is when she really takes center stage as a character.
I hope I've explained my reasoning without becoming too insufferable.
To cap off my thoughts with a nod to my original post, I cannot stress enough how significant it is, thematically, that Kabru's relationship with food is the inverse of Laios's. It isn't just that Laios is the main character in a story about cooking monsters and Kabru happens to be his monster-hating foil. The artistic choice to deny the reader the visual of this character ever enjoying food, and only ever putting it in his mouth in situations where it hurts him, in a manga that gives so much attention to eating and the pleasures of meals, cannot be understated.
#Dungeon Meshi#Marcille Donato#Kabru#Kabru of Utaya#Dungeon Meshi meta#Dungeon Meshi spoilers#I started answering this at 10:30 AM but took several detours#mostly I was at work. some people shitpost at work. god knows what I'm doing.#I am so fucking sorry I did not mean for it to be this long. I had to EDIT THIS DOWN#paging malewifesband I feel like this does the trick wrt: Kabru's function in the narrative#of course I have more to say about he and Laios specifically (she threatened)#musings with Dea#I think I'll go back and add image descriptions but it's been eight hours and I need dinner!#and also to play FFXIV#dungeonposting#Dea's anonymous friends
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Your OC/My OC Comfort fic thing.
OC given to me by @writingbusinessizzy: Donovan, 15 years old, a street fighter, who goes from place to place to survive. Earns his way by taking on boys–sometimes twice his size–in the battle of the alleys. He doesn’t think he deserves any love and is usually on the verge of ending it all, but he lives on, not willing to lose his life, and much more willing to save it.
OC chosen by me to encounter “Donovan”: Daisy, late twenties, married, well-to-do werewolf. Splits her time between rural New York state and NYC. Tall, brunette and generally kind-hearted, but stubborn, fierce, and not afraid to come to blows when needed. Loves fashion, cooking, hiking, camping, hunting, and hockey.
(I hope you like this Izzy!)
Creature Comforts
Daisy hurried down the crowded streets with her scarf up over her chin, her hat pulled down low, and the paper bags she carried tight to her chest.. She’d never really get used to the bustle of New York city, no matter how much time she spent here. She much preferred smaller cities, and even better was when she could spend her time at the new house in the Catskills. Unfortunately, interviewing potential surrogates meant staying at the townhouse for the week, and since they were in the city anyway… she might as well indulge her foodie side- which was why she was rushing, really. She’d begged and pleaded and name dropped until her favorite restaurant FINALLY agreed to allow her to place an order to go and she wanted to get home before it got cold.
Stupid crowds! If she spilled her roasted red pepper bisque because of getting bumped into, she’d lose it! Biting her lip, she decided to detour through some of the alleys… she just… wouldn’t mention that part to her husband.
The alley was dark- because alley… and night time. So, no shocker there. But her eyes were better equipped for the dark than most and she could pretty much ignore the smell of old urine and older trash. She never could quite figure out why New York alleys DRIPPED so much, though, although to be fair, she did try to avoid thinking too deeply on that. Her sneakers barely made any noise as she navigated the narrow passageway, making a couple of quick turns to get her closer to her destination.
She was just about to rejoin the throng of people on the sidewalk of the main drag when something caught her attention. A noise maybe? Possibly some movement out of the corner of her eye. Whatever it was, she was now curious. Glancing around, she took stock of what was going on around her.
There.
In the little sheltered cubby formed by the wall of warm vents from the 24 hr laundry butting up against the covered loading bay of an out of business bodega. Prime squatting location… warm and dry and out of the way enough to avoid notice, but close enough to crowds to escape into. Well... warm compared to most other options in late fall. She peered into the dark, able to make out a small, huddled shape.
“Hello?” she called, not really expecting an answer. She hiked her big purse up higher on her shoulder and moved closer. “Are you alright?”
The shape moved, but not aggressively. “G’way,” called a voice. Young, by the sound of it.
“I just want to make sure you are okay,” she said evenly. “That’s all.” She got about 10 feet from the kid and stopped. “Hey. I’m Daisy. I’m not going to preach or anything. I just want to make sure you don’t need a doctor or something.”
“I’m fine,” the shape replied.
She made a skeptical noise, “alright, see… you look pretty cold to me… and I am not really going to be buying any reassurance if I can’t even see your face. So… can you at least poke your head out of there? Honestly, I am realllly stubborn, the fastest way to get rid of me is to play along. I’m a pain in the ass like that.”
After a moment, the blanket shifted and a face peeked out. A kid. Well, youngish-looking teen anyway. And he looked more than a little worse for wear. Bruises and scrapes of various severity and ages, a mostly healed black eye. She sighed, nodded and waved. “Hi.”
“I’m fine,” the kid repeated.
“Okay,” she answered, “if you are sure. I mean… if you need medical help… I can claim you are my… nephew, maybe? And come with you to a free clinic. There’s one not far from here.”
“M’fine.” He was clearly getting irritated.
“Sure. But, it’s a pretty cold night, so I’m betting… some hot soup might be nice? I just picked up some food. It’s still hot. It’ll do you more good than me, I suspect.” She held out the bags. She’d just cook. She could always go back to the restaurant another time. This kid definitely needed the hot meal more than she did. “This is… ummm… like a creamy red pepper soup- not spicy, and some chicken rolled up with, like stuffing and wrapped in bacon… and I think there’s mashed potatoes and green beans? I’m not really sure what veggies. You can have it.”
“Why?” The kid was obviously hungry, he was eyeing that bag like a fox watching a henhouse.
She shrugged, “I have a… family member, I guess is the best way to describe them, who was on the streets at your age. I wish more people had shown her some decency.”
“Right. Sure you do.”
“It’s true. She’s not my favorite person in the world.” Understatement. “But, you know… I love people who care about her… and she has her moments. She’s doing better now. This whole thing? Being on the streets. Cold. Hungry. Sleeping rough? It CAN be temporary. But, I’m not an idiot- you aren’t going to trust me to help you get off the streets… You don’t stay alive out here if you are naive. BUT, you might trust me enough to accept some hot food. It’s good stuff. Enough to fill you up for sure. I’m betting you are headed for a growth spurt and could use the fuel- especially on a cold night.”
“It’s not that cold… but… okay, I’ll take the food.” The kid didn’t move, so she moved a few feet closer and set the paper bags on some dry cardboard within his reach and then stepped back. Wanting to help didn’t mean she was willing to put herself in harm’s way. She was tougher than she looked, but she wasn’t reckless.
“Thank-you… ummm… kid?”
“Donovan,” he said as he pulled the bag closer and tore it open where it was stapled.
“Thank-you, Donovan.” She smiled at him and looked around the alley. She’d worked with street kids in her old life, and more recently, she’d heard enough horror stories about Callie’s past that she really didn’t like leaving him in this situation. But… street kids were a proud, wary bunch. On impulse, she pulled her purse off her shoulder and dug through it. She grabbed her wallet and her keys and phone and stuffed them in her pocket. That left- wool-lined leather gloves, pen and notebook, a bottle of water, chapstick, a couple of granola bars, a 30 day metro card, hair brush, and her little first aid kit- just some alcohol wipes, a pair of nitrile gloves, and an assortment of bandages, really. Right. She pulled her hat and scarf off and stuffed them into the bag.
“What are you doing?” asked Donovan as she flipped open the notebook and started scribbling.
“I’m Daisy,” she repeated, “my husband’s name is Nick. I’m giving you our numbers. If you ever need a hand- someone to bail you out, get you to a doctor, ANYTHING. Call us. I mean it. We don’t know any other Donovans. Just say your name and tell us what you need.”
“Are you nuts?” he asked, astonished and more than a little suspicious, “why would you do that?”
“Because,” she sighed again, “this is going to sound weird… but, I’ve been through some crazy shit in my life, and I pulled through because I’m stubborn and spitey. Tell me I CAN’T do something and I’m going to bust my ass to prove that I CAN. Show me a fight I can’t win and I’m walking out the victor. Whatever it takes. I have a sneaking suspicion that you have that same spitey streak. Plus, where I come from, people take care of each other a bit better than they do here.” She dropped the notebook into the purse and offered it up. “Take it- hat scarf, gloves, a few other things you might find helpful- that metro card is unlimited rides for the next 3 ½ weeks… and you can pawn that purse. Should get you enough at least for a hot meal or two and admission to some kind of late night double feature to sleep through.”
“I don’t get why-”
“You don’t have to, Donovan,” she cut him off. “You are a PERSON, so you deserve better than to be cold and hungry. I can’t fix the world, but I can help make you warmer and less hungry tonight. You’re just a kid- a badass, I am sure- but too young for this shit. Eat the food, sell the purse, use the other stuff… and DO NOT forget that there is someone out there rooting for you. Don’t lose that number. Even if you never call. Hang on to it- as a reminder that I’m rooting for you.” She rolled up to standing again and pulled her collar up, stuffing her hands into her too-full pockets and letting out a huff. It wasn’t cold enough to be freezing, but the chill in the air was nothing to ignore and already she could feel the bite of oncoming winter on the breeze.
“I don’t need your pity,” Donovan protested as she started heading back to the street.
She didn’t stop moving, but she turned to face him, walking backwards with her hands still in her pockets. “I don’t pity you. I’m pissed off on your behalf, but I don’t pity you. I just think you’ve got too much fight in you to let this beat you, and I’m throwing my support behind a winner. That’s it, Donovan. I think you are going to be alright, just… don’t give up, and do NOT let this,” she gestured to the alley, “shit... win.”
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KT experiment: Ferry trip vs bus ride vs long drive in Dubai – News
The idea is to find out what’s the best optimum transport solution for an office goer who commutes daily from Sharjah to Dubai.
For thousands who live in Sharjah and work in Dubai, how to beat the traffic has long been the biggest conundrum. With the recent launch of the ferry service between the two emirates, negotiating a chock-a-block Ittihad Road every rush hour is no longer the only option to get to and from work. Is it the answer to residents’ traffic woes? Khaleej Times did an experiment on Monday: With Sharjah City Centre as our starting point at 8am, three KT teams ‘raced’ to BurJuman in Dubai. One team hopped aboard the new ferry; one took the bus; and another drove to the finish line.
Ferry – the most scenic journey
It took us just about 10 minutes and Dh15 on a Sharjah taxi to reach the Aquarium station, and another seven to eight minutes to locate the ticketing counter in the newly built station (but that’s a typical first-timer’s syndrome).
A catamaran was ashore and ready to set sail by 8.25am and within five minutes – right on the dot – we were sailing under the UAE’s cool blue skies, comfortably sat in a brand new 100-seater.
Thirty minutes later, we were in Dubai’s Al Ghubaiba marine station, just a long hop from Al Ghubaiba Metro Station. After 10 more minutes, we reached Bur Juman, our final destination.
We were the last to arrive among the three teams that took on three different modes of transport as part of our experiment. But that doesn’t tell you about the 20 minutes we spent taking photos of the marina while we were waiting for the ferry – neither does it say anything about the fascinating sights and sounds we sampled along the way, from the deck and from the comforts of the AC glass cabin.
Travel time: 50 minutes (excluding waiting time) Cost: Dh35 (per person) Reached Burjuman at 9.20am
Pros . Stunning sights that money can’t buy . Fast, efficient and a reliable transport system . Comfortable seating with glass cabin and WiFi on board . Great new way to take a tourist around Dubai and Sharjah
Cons . Price is slightly steep for a daily commuter (Dh15 for Silver Class and Dh25 for Gold) . Poor public transport connectivity with Sharjah’s Aquarium station (feeder bus does not cover key parts of the emirate) . Long waiting time. If you’re not aware of the schedule, you could end up waiting from 30 to 90 minutes
Public transport – a practical choice
At exactly 8am in the morning, we joined other commuters inside the air-conditioned bus stop in front of Sharjah City Centre.
The E303 bus – which would take us directly to the Union Metro Station in Dubai – arrived within 10 minutes and we were off. Schools were closed due to the summer break and we encountered almost no traffic on the roads. However, all that changed when we got closer to Ansar Mall and finally hit the infamous Sharjah-Dubai highway traffic.
The next 15 minutes saw us fighting the slow-moving traffic jam. Things began to look up again as we approached and finally took the dedicated track for RTA buses and taxis. The track helped us avoid the majority of the traffic that was entering Dubai from the main highway. So far, we had clocked in around 25 minutes of travel time on the bus.
Another 15 minutes finally saw us approaching the Union Metro Station. Once inside, we took a small detour to check the balance on our Nol cards and ensure that we were topped up for the return journey.
We then rode the Metro and, less than five minutes later, we stepped out at Burjuman Metro Station and logged in the end of our journey.
Travel time: 45 minutes (excluding waiting time) Cost: Dh18 (per person) Reached Burjuman at 9.10am
Pros . Comfortable journey . Smooth transition between buses and Metro stations . Air-conditioned bus stops . Dedicated RTA road
Cons . Multiple traffic signals . Nol card has to be topped up or you can’t ride the bus
Car – fastest but not energy-efficient
We left our start point at 8.04am and decided to take the E11 or Ittihad Road to Dubai. We took a detour to Business Bay Crossing to save money on one Salik toll.
The total journey took 46 minutes; however, we believe this was the case because schools are closed for the summer and several residents are not in town.
As expected, the traffic began ahead of Ansar Mall. We witnessed two traffic bottlenecks on the Industrial Area Interchange, as well as at Al Nahda Interchange on the Sharjah-Dubai highway.
While most morning commuters looked relaxed during their drive, safety was lax among several drivers as they cut lanes without indication and intimidated motorists who drove slower than the others.
During peak traffic time, even a minor accident can cause long tailbacks for every single commuter on the road. Fortunately, we faced no tailbacks during our journey on Monday and we crossed the peak traffic in 10 minutes.
As much as we enjoyed being the first to the finish line, we couldn’t help but think public transport is the more energy-efficient and affordable option.
Travel time: 45 minutes Cost: Dh24 (Dh4 for Salik; petrol at Dh2.18/litre for a 26km drive on an SUV) Reached Burjuman at 8.50am
Pros . Fastest way to travel . Allows one to leave at time of his or her convenience
Cons . Spent 10 minutes in traffic . Not energy-efficient . Additional cost for parking and vehicle maintenance, etc
The KT Experiment as it happened:
Team A – Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad ready to hop on to the bus
Team B – Dhanusha Gokulan and Rahul Gajjar to drive down
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd to take the ferry
9:36am
Team C have made it exactly 1 hour 22 minutes since we started from Sharjah City Centre at a cost of Dh70 for two people.
Team C have made it exactly 1 hour 22 minutes since we started from Sharjah City Centre at a cost of Dh70 for two people.
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/RxN4hFz8fL
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:32am
Team A arrived at Union Metro Station after a 35 minute journey. The journey from Union Metro station to Burjuman took less than 5 minutes. They both stopped to top up their Nol cards for the return journey. Time for entire journey was 45 minutes.
Team A arrived at Union Metro Station after a 35 minute journey. The journey from Union Metro station to Burjuman took less than 5 minutes. They both stopped to top up their Nol cards for the return journey. Time for entire journey was 45 minutes.
Blog-https://t.co/NkGccpIg6F pic.twitter.com/e2jcImitCf
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:30am
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd to take the ferry, readying for the last leg of the trip to BurJuman from the Al Ghubaiba bus stop, barely 200 metres from the marine station.
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd to take the ferry, readying for the last leg of the trip to BurJuman from the Al Ghubaiba bus stop, barely 200 metres from the marine station.
Join our live https://t.co/NkGccpIg6F pic.twitter.com/ZrLOhrU1Yd
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:20am
Team A – Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad reach the BurJuman Metro station.
Team A – Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad reach the BurJuman Metro station!
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/MkYCrGyPEK
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:10am
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd arrive at the shore in Dubai in just about 30 minutes.
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd arrive at the shore in Dubai in just about 30 minutes!
Join our live blog-link: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/yqxbtyIXid
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:05am
Team B still made it ahead of competition. However, traffic was far more manageable given schools are closed and several residents are off for summer holidays. Under normal circumstances, this journey would’ve taken some more time.
Team B still made it ahead of competition. However, traffic was far more manageable given schools are closed and several residents are off for summer holidays. Under normal circumstances, this journey would’ve taken some more time.
Live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/oIFgS9mGDK
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:01am
Team B: Start Time- 8:04 am, Time at destination: 8:52am. Smooth sailing for most of the drive, with the only exception of bumper to bumper traffic on Al Ittihad Road. If we’d taken the Garoud Bridge, it would’ve saved us a few more minutes.
Blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/0kWFivtoWw
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:57am
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd are nearing Dubai in their 35-minute ferry ride and the sights are absolutely gorgeous.
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd,are nearing Dubai in their 35-minute ferry ride and the sights are absolutely gorgeous.
Video by Juidin Bernarrd/Khaleej Times
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/8ph0QoPhc4
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:55am
Team B: Rahul Rahul Gajjar and I (Dhanusha Gokulan) are a signal away from BurJuman even after we took the longer route via Business Bay Crossing avoiding the Garhoud Bridge Toll Gate. What we saved in money, we gained by enjoying Dubai’s beautiful morning vistas.
Team B: Rahul and I are a signal away from BurJuman even after we took the longer route via Business Bay Crossing avoiding the Garhoud Bridge Toll Gate. What we saved in money, we gained by enjoying Dubai’s beautiful morning vistas.
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/vtMdJSWuLV
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:50am
Team A is nearing Union Metro Station. From here themselves Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad will be taking the metro to Burjuman Metro Station.
Team A is nearing Union Metro Station. From here Rohma and Sajjad will be taking the metro to Burjuman Metro Station.
Join our live blog: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/KzWgoetvDq
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:45am
Team B (travelling by car) have crossed into Dubai now.
Dhanusha, Rahul – Team B (travelling by car) have crossed into Dubai now!
Join our live blog: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/O9hggQzDHb
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:44am
Team C: Bright and sunny on the high sea as we take the ferry from Sharjah to Dubai.
8:38am
It’s been a smooth check-in for Team C and we are ready to set sail in about a minute’s time from now.
Photo by Juidin Bernarrd/Khaleej Times
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/mz8B7BtfM5
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:30am
Team B has officially crossed over into Dubai after crossing the final interchange, Al Nahda, between Sharjah and Dubai. We’ve crossed one Salik Gate- Al Mamzar. Traffic is still bumper to bumper.
#KTExperiment: Ferry trip vs bus ride vs long drive in Dubai Team B has officially crossed over into #Dubai after crossing the final interchange, Al Nahda. Traffic is still bumper to bumper. Join our live blog: (link: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p) pic.twitter.com/bDFhlXDDAl
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:22am
Team B- We’re officially “stuck” in the infamous Sharjah-Dubai morning commute traffic which began a little ahead of Ansar Mall. The vehicles are inching at a snails pace of 10 km per hour. There’s traffic police monitoring the early morning road situation, ensuring road safety.
KT experiment: Ferry trip vs bus ride vs long drive in Dubai Team B- We’re officially “stuck” in the infamous #Sharjah-#Dubai morning commute traffic which began a little ahead of Ansar Mall. Join our live blog: (link: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p) https://t.co/uwlfjl7orZ pic.twitter.com/iUIjzHFW51
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:10am
KT experiment: Ferry trip vs bus ride vs long drive in Dubai Travel by car: KT journalists Dhanusha Gokulan and Rahul Gajjar travelling from Sharjah City Centre to BurJuman. Live blog: (link: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p) https://t.co/uwlfjl7orZ pic.twitter.com/5D0JwOwr9F
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:00am
Travel by car: Dhanusha, Rahul – Team B
KT photojournalist Rahul Gajjar and Dhanusha Gokulan have strapped themselves into thier car. The starting point of our journey is from the bus stand opposite Sharjah City Centre. It’s a hot day, and we’re all set to head out to our final destination – BurJuman in Bur Dubai.
KT experiment: #Ferry trip vs #bus ride vs long drive in #Dubai Join our live blog: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p Video by Juidin Bernarrd/KT pic.twitter.com/pQlzBCZYbD
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:19am
Travel by bus – Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad ready to hop on to the bus
Team A has officially hit the infamous Sharjah-Dubai traffic. Right now we have just passed Ansar Mall which is the first stop if you are coming to Sharjah from Dubai. Commuters are all at ease. Many are taking the time to catch up on social media posts; several are listening to music; and some are resting their eyes.
8:24am
It’s been a smooth check-in for Team C and we are ready to set sail in about a minute’s time from now. 8.30 is the scheduled departure and the captain’s just making an announcement.
8:28am
Team A has crossed into Dubai. Traffic is ever present, but now we are steadily moving. Soon we will be approaching Al Mulla Plaza, which is one of the oldest landmarks in Dubai.
8:35am
Team A has passed Century Mall. Right now we are bracing ourselves for a number of traffic signals. The roads are very much empty with the occasional car or two.
Dubai-Sharjah Ferry ride details
8am – Sharjah City Centre
8.12am – Sharjah Aquarium station via Sharjah Taxi (Dh15)
8.30am – Ferry takes off
9am – arrival in Al Ghubaiba ferry station (Dh15 for silver class; Dh25 for gold class)
9.10am – Al Ghubaiba metro station
9.20am – Burjuman Mall (Dh3)
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From Iowa Nationals to Matchstick Masterpieces
This photo shows the 12 boys from Bayard, Iowa, who found the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” from where the author’s tattered Gladbrook note hailed.
By Mark Hotz
I found myself flipping through my Nationals collection the other week, and I came across a few Iowa notes that reminded me of visits I had made to their towns more than a decade ago. I thought it would be fun to revisit those towns since they were pretty interesting. Let’s go!
Rural Gladbrook, Iowa, in northwestern Tama County – about equidistant from Marshalltown and Waterloo – sits on State Route 96 just north of Union Grove State Park. My interest in Gladbrook was, again, based on a National Bank Note in my collection. So, as the afternoon sun began its downward spiral, I followed the circuitous route of twists and turns into downtown Gladbrook.
Many years ago, at the Memphis International Paper Money Convention, I had the chance to flip through a large collection of Iowa Nationals that was being split up. Although not interested in Iowa notes at the time, I did spy an interesting but rather tattered $10 note of the 1882 Date Back series that hailed from the First National Bank of Gladbrook. This rather decrepit note was accompanied by a yellow certificate indicating that it had been part of the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” a cash hoard discovered by 12 boys in Bayard, Iowa, on June 1, 1965. I am a hopeless case when it comes to interesting history surrounding bank notes, so I inquired as to the price. Rather pleased at the quote of just $20 for the note, I forked over the cash and determined to learn more about this “treasure.”
This tattered Series of 1882 $20 Date Back note issued by the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa, led the author to visit the town and its bank.
I wrote extensively about the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure” in a 2001 Bank Note Reporter article, but to explain briefly, the “treasure” was a cash hoard of coins and notes dug up by 12 boys who were building a clubhouse for their “Space Cadets Club” in Bayard. The boys had been digging in the foundation of a torn-down garage when they discovered the money buried in old fruit jars. The face value of the hoard was just over $11,500, a small fortune in 1965. While this was a classic story right out of Middle America, replete with “golly gees!” and smiling, fresh-faced boys, it turned into a sad commentary on the greed that permeates everything.
As soon as the discovery was disseminated around town, several claimants demanded the money be turned over to them. These included the current landowners, the heirs of the prior landowners, and eventually the American Red Cross. The legal wrangling lasted years; eventually, the treasure was sold at public auction on Nov. 2, 1969. In a court-approved settlement, the 12 boys received 40 percent of the proceeds to split among them. The treasure consisted of many old large size notes and gold coins, so the total realized was just over $17,000. The whole episode soured the boys and their families; one boy dryly commented after finally receiving his share of the treasure four years later, “We should have pocketed it all and not told anybody.”
Here is the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa, as it appears today. The bank was on the first floor of the Masonic Hall.
After learning the details of this rather big event in rural Iowa (the newspaper clippings I received from the local library about the treasure totaled 30 pages!), I decided to visit Gladbrook and see where my note had originated before ending up buried in a glass jar in a vacant lot in the early 1960s.
When I finally rolled in to downtown Gladbrook, I looked around for the obvious bank building. I was rather nonplussed, however, when I spied a very modern looking bank building, complete with drive-thru, sitting on what appeared to be the main corner block. I parked my car and looked around the town. The only really attractive building was a classic Masonic Hall across the street.
After wandering a bit, I returned to find an older gentleman staring intently at my car, seemingly mesmerized by my Maryland license plate. In any event, I engaged him in conversation, inquiring if he was a longtime Gladbrook resident. Upon receiving an affirmative reply, I queried if he knew where the old national bank had been. “It was there, across the street,” he said, motioning at the gorgeous Masonic Hall. “The bank was on the first floor, and the Masonic Hall was upstairs; bank’s been closed for a decade, though.” I was quite pleased, as the Masonic Hall (see photo at left) was truly a beautiful structure.
Here is a Series of 1902 large size note issued by the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
We conversed some more; he seemed pleased to talk to an “Easterner” and enjoyed spinning some tales about old Gladbrook. The town, he told me, had at one time been a rather busy, bustling place. One of the more eccentric local characters, given the moniker “Shaky” by the townsfolk for his rather wobbly, unsteady gait, had a five-foot high wooden chair he used to set up on the Main Street sidewalk; he would perch himself atop it and watch the goings on about town all day long!
The First National Bank of Gladbrook also issued small size notes, including this Series of 1929 $20 note. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Just before I started to leave, the gentleman asked if I might like to visit “Matchstick Marvels,” a small local museum located in the remodeled building in front of which we were standing. Although it was nearly 6 pm and I needed to move on, I was intrigued. “What is Matchstick Marvels?” I asked. “Come in and see,” he replied, “you’ll be surprised.” I agreed, but once we entered, he accosted me for a $2 entrance fee. With a chuckle, I paid up.
One example of the many amazing sculptures fashioned from match sticks at the Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook, Iowa, depicts the U.S. Capitol Building.
Inside, I was stunned; the room was filled with huge models of famous buildings, ships, and planes, each painstakingly created from matchsticks. Each model had a card indicating how many matchsticks had been employed. The magnificent U.S. Capitol (see photo on page 22) measures over 12 feet long and 5 feet high and was created with over 500,000 matchsticks.
All of these creations were carved and put together by Patrick Acton, who has lived in Gladbrook for 25 years. A builder and woodworker since childhood, he has turned his love of woodworking into a rare art form. Many of his fabulous creations have been featured at Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museums. In addition to a matchstick U.S. Capitol, his creations include a 13-foot long battleship U.S.S. Iowa and a 7-foot high space shuttle Columbia. The U.S.S. Iowa model, for example, took 800 hours and 80,000 matchsticks to build. It truly was fascinating…and very weird!
The First National Bank of Farnhamville, Iowa, is now in use as the town library.
The First National Bank of Gladbrook received charter #5461 in 1900. Its total issue was $633,000; a dozen large and a dozen small are reported in the Kelly census. It was the only national bank in town. In addition to my tattered note from the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” I have included photos of both large and small notes issued by the bank.
The next day, as I headed west along U.S. 20 across central Iowa, I took a detour south to extremely remote Farnhamville in Calhoun County, about 20 miles southwest of Fort Dodge. Farnhamville seemed sufficiently out of the way for a look. Its bank, the First National Bank of Farnhamville, charter #11907, was organized in 1920 and closed by the receiver in 1933. It had a relatively small issue of $312,000. Currently six large and four small notes are reported.
The First National Bank of Farnhamville, Iowa, issued both large and small size notes, though in small quantities, including this Series of 1902 $10 note. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Here is a small size $20 Series of 1929 note issued by the Farnhamville, Iowa, bank.
It was not all that easy to get to Farnhamville, as it sits about 10 miles south of the highway off a derelict county road. I was expecting to find a really ghostly place but was surprised to find Farnhamville seemingly prosperous in the midst of nothing. I found the old bank, a rather substantial building lovingly maintained as the public library. For once, the library was open, and I went in for a look. Several elderly matrons were working as volunteers, and they eagerly answered my questions about the town. “A fire destroyed much of Farnhamville in 1933,” I was told, “but many old structures survived.” The ladies remembered when the building had been a bank, and one even remembered seeing currency with the Farnhamville name. No, none of them had any for sale. I have included a photo of the bank with my car parked in front, as well as examples of both large and small notes that the bank issued.
Readers may address questions or comments about this article or National Bank Notes in general to Mark Hotz directly by email at [email protected].
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Dublin to Edinburgh
Our flight to Edinburgh was at 9:55 am. The concierge at The Brooks Hotel, a gentleman called Connor O'Connell, had arranged for a cab to pick us up at 7:30 am. Connor was a blustery fellow who made us wait a long time the previous day before answering our questions because he was too busy discussing sports with another person. He then had told us about the camera store on Trinity St, which was much further than the one we found practically around the corner.
We were packed, checked out and ready to go by 7:15 am, so we went to the lobby to wait for the cab. I stepped outside and took a picture to the left and the right of the hotel, because I couldn't believe it was the same place. All the hustle and bustle of the preceding day had disappeared and it looked like a ghost town.
When the taxi arrived, the driver was not a happy man. Apparently the city was hosting a triathlon, which had caused a lot of street closures. He was upset that our man Connor had not told us about the closures and how it was going to delay getting to the airport and that we should have left earlier. He said if we had left at 7 there would have been no problem, but these guys didn't care and they left all the blame on the poor taxi driver. Apparently he had to go 10 km out of his way in order to cross the Liffey (Dublin's river) and would have to have the same detour when he came back. We just quietly listened and let him rant. I was in the front seat and "hmmd" my way through the whole tirade.
In any case, he got us to the airport with plenty of time to go, so we checked in our bags in two stages. First we weighed our bags and scanned the bar code in the piece of paper we had printed from Aer Lingus - that resulted in a gummed paper strip with our name, flight information, and a bunch of bar codes, that we had to fasten around the side handle of the suitcase. Then we had to go a special ticketing line where nobody was waiting and we had to place our bags on the scale there and let the scanner read the tag on the suitcase. Once it read it, it spit out another receipt for our bag and the bag started moving on a conveyor belt. We looked to our right and there was a long line at Aer Lingus, not sure for what exactly, but we were happy to be finished.
Then we had to go up two flights on escalators and enter the security area. We didn't have to take our shoes off, but everything else was the same. Again, it didn't take too long and before long we were searching a Departures board for our flight. We were early enough that there was no gate information yet, and it asked us to look later. We decided to have something to eat/drink. We found a place called the Chocolate Lounge, and knew we hade come to the right place. Sharon and I decided to have hot chocolate and Carol had her usual Diet Cokes. Just so you know, they had 7 different offerings under hot chocolate, including a Chocolate Shot, which was a shot of melted chocolate. Very decadent, but I just had it plain, without whipped cream or anything.
Before we picked the Chocolate Lounge we had seen the menu at another place, and I noticed a "Bacon & Sausage Blaa" on the menu. There was an asterisk next to the it, and I couldn't resist I had to see what it had to say. It said: "In Waterford in 1802, white flour was brought to the city by the French. The French called it blanc, but the Irish pronounced it Blaa..."
They finally posted our gate number at around 8:30 so we started to follow the signs to our gate; they first took us up the escalator for two floors and then we followed a long corridor, then two gate numbers (including ours) split off from the rest, and we went on through a series of door and dog legs finally ending on a set of double doors leading to a staircase. We went down two flights of stairs and finally ended back on the main floor off to the side, and there was our gate with our flight number (and two others) on it. We were there no more than 10 minutes when they started boarding. We had low numbers so we got to go first. As we went through the gate, there was a bus, and finally the penny dropped. We were going to a smaller plane and we were boarding on the tarmac.
Sure enough, after everybody got on in off we drove for a little bit until we reached an Aer Lingus plane on the tarmac. It was an ATR 42, a twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional aircraft, developed and manufactured by France and Italy. The flight was about 3/4 full. Even though the flight was supposed to depart at 9:55, we were actually in the air by 9:40! The flight only lasted for 55 minutes.
When we arrived in Edinburgh, the plane taxied to a location near a door that lead to room that gave us the option of going straight out if we had nothing to declare, so we didn't have to go through customs or security.
We had rented an apartment through AirBnB for a week. We had agreed to give the owner a call when we landed so that she could come and meet us at the apartment and give us the key. Her name was Shauna and she was Canadian, but had fallen in love with Edinburgh (and with her Scottish husband, too, I suspect). We were not supposed to arrive at the apartment before 2 pm, but Shauna suggested that we might want to come and drop our bags off, get the key, and then return at or after 2 pm. It was clear that she was the one doing the cleaning of the apartment. She gave us a quick introduction to things in the house and off we went.
The apartment is in a nice, secure, accessible location. It has 2 bedrooms; one with an ensuite bath, and the other bathroom is in the hall. Carol was very generous as usual and let us have the bedroom with the ensuite bath. It has a garden in the back with a table and chairs, but the weather hasn't exactly tempted us to try it out, plus we're not sure we know how to open the door to the back. Nearby there are lots of restaurants and shops, and just a couple of blocks away there is an American-style supermarket with everything we might ever need. There are also several buses that serve the area and go into the city center.
We then went to the Hop On Hop Off bus to take a tour. There are four major ones and they all depart from Waverly Bridge in the center of town: The Edinburgh (the green bus), the Majestic (the blue bus), the CitySightseeing (the red bus), and 3Bridges. We bought tickets that allowed us to go on all the buses except the 3Bridges, for a period of 48 hours. We were also told that the red bus and the green bus went to many of the same places. We got onto the green bus and stayed for the whole circuit.
We picked that one because it had a live tour guide, and she was very good, she was entertaining and animated and had a good sense of humor as well. She told us that Edinburgh is famous for the 3 "B's," Banking, Brewing, and Books. She also told us that "in wine there is truth, in beer there is wisdom, but in water there is bacteria." She told a lot of interesting facts about the various sites, but while I enjoyed them at the time, you're very lucky because I don't remember many.
There was a sentimental story about Greyfriar's Bobby, a dog and faithful companion, blah,blah, and so they erected a statue to Bobby, in front of the Greyfriar's Inn. The statue of Bobby is blackened, but his nose is shiny because of all the tourists who touch it for good luck. There always seems to be a crowd of tourists in front of Bobby.
Then there's the story of Maggie Dickson (after whom a pub is named) who was sentenced to hang for concealing her pregnancy (she was unmarried we think). However, when they took her coffin for burial, they heard knocking coming from the coffin. It turns out that the hanging hadn't worked and she had not died. They took her to the magistrate to hang her again, but he decided that once was enough. Her family took her in, and although she hadn't died, she had a permanent crook to her neck.
When the tour ended, we came back to the apartment; by then it was 2:15 or so, and Shauna had left. We went in and unpacked and later on went to eat at an Italian restaurant at one end of the block called "Nonna's" (Nonna is grandmother in Italian). Although we did not have a reservation, we got a table provided we left before 7:30 when they needed the table for a reservation. Since it was 6:00 at the time, we felt safe. The food was very good and we probably will go back before we leave.
And so ended our first day in Edinburgh.
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KT experiment: Ferry trip vs bus ride vs long drive in Dubai – News
The idea is to find out what’s the best optimum transport solution for an office goer who commutes daily from Sharjah to Dubai.
For thousands who live in Sharjah and work in Dubai, how to beat the traffic has long been the biggest conundrum. With the recent launch of the ferry service between the two emirates, negotiating a chock-a-block Ittihad Road every rush hour is no longer the only option to get to and from work. Is it the answer to residents’ traffic woes? Khaleej Times did an experiment on Monday: With Sharjah City Centre as our starting point at 8am, three KT teams ‘raced’ to BurJuman in Dubai. One team hopped aboard the new ferry; one took the bus; and another drove to the finish line.
Ferry – the most scenic journey
It took us just about 10 minutes and Dh15 on a Sharjah taxi to reach the Aquarium station, and another seven to eight minutes to locate the ticketing counter in the newly built station (but that’s a typical first-timer’s syndrome).
A catamaran was ashore and ready to set sail by 8.25am and within five minutes – right on the dot – we were sailing under the UAE’s cool blue skies, comfortably sat in a brand new 100-seater.
Thirty minutes later, we were in Dubai’s Al Ghubaiba marine station, just a long hop from Al Ghubaiba Metro Station. After 10 more minutes, we reached Bur Juman, our final destination.
We were the last to arrive among the three teams that took on three different modes of transport as part of our experiment. But that doesn’t tell you about the 20 minutes we spent taking photos of the marina while we were waiting for the ferry – neither does it say anything about the fascinating sights and sounds we sampled along the way, from the deck and from the comforts of the AC glass cabin.
Travel time: 50 minutes (excluding waiting time) Cost: Dh35 (per person) Reached Burjuman at 9.20am
Pros . Stunning sights that money can’t buy . Fast, efficient and a reliable transport system . Comfortable seating with glass cabin and WiFi on board . Great new way to take a tourist around Dubai and Sharjah
Cons . Price is slightly steep for a daily commuter (Dh15 for Silver Class and Dh25 for Gold) . Poor public transport connectivity with Sharjah’s Aquarium station (feeder bus does not cover key parts of the emirate) . Long waiting time. If you’re not aware of the schedule, you could end up waiting from 30 to 90 minutes
Public transport – a practical choice
At exactly 8am in the morning, we joined other commuters inside the air-conditioned bus stop in front of Sharjah City Centre.
The E303 bus – which would take us directly to the Union Metro Station in Dubai – arrived within 10 minutes and we were off. Schools were closed due to the summer break and we encountered almost no traffic on the roads. However, all that changed when we got closer to Ansar Mall and finally hit the infamous Sharjah-Dubai highway traffic.
The next 15 minutes saw us fighting the slow-moving traffic jam. Things began to look up again as we approached and finally took the dedicated track for RTA buses and taxis. The track helped us avoid the majority of the traffic that was entering Dubai from the main highway. So far, we had clocked in around 25 minutes of travel time on the bus.
Another 15 minutes finally saw us approaching the Union Metro Station. Once inside, we took a small detour to check the balance on our Nol cards and ensure that we were topped up for the return journey.
We then rode the Metro and, less than five minutes later, we stepped out at Burjuman Metro Station and logged in the end of our journey.
Travel time: 45 minutes (excluding waiting time) Cost: Dh18 (per person) Reached Burjuman at 9.10am
Pros . Comfortable journey . Smooth transition between buses and Metro stations . Air-conditioned bus stops . Dedicated RTA road
Cons . Multiple traffic signals . Nol card has to be topped up or you can’t ride the bus
Car – fastest but not energy-efficient
We left our start point at 8.04am and decided to take the E11 or Ittihad Road to Dubai. We took a detour to Business Bay Crossing to save money on one Salik toll.
The total journey took 46 minutes; however, we believe this was the case because schools are closed for the summer and several residents are not in town.
As expected, the traffic began ahead of Ansar Mall. We witnessed two traffic bottlenecks on the Industrial Area Interchange, as well as at Al Nahda Interchange on the Sharjah-Dubai highway.
While most morning commuters looked relaxed during their drive, safety was lax among several drivers as they cut lanes without indication and intimidated motorists who drove slower than the others.
During peak traffic time, even a minor accident can cause long tailbacks for every single commuter on the road. Fortunately, we faced no tailbacks during our journey on Monday and we crossed the peak traffic in 10 minutes.
As much as we enjoyed being the first to the finish line, we couldn’t help but think public transport is the more energy-efficient and affordable option.
Travel time: 45 minutes Cost: Dh24 (Dh4 for Salik; petrol at Dh2.18/litre for a 26km drive on an SUV) Reached Burjuman at 8.50am
Pros . Fastest way to travel . Allows one to leave at time of his or her convenience
Cons . Spent 10 minutes in traffic . Not energy-efficient . Additional cost for parking and vehicle maintenance, etc
The KT Experiment as it happened:
Team A – Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad ready to hop on to the bus
Team B – Dhanusha Gokulan and Rahul Gajjar to drive down
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd to take the ferry
9:36am
Team C have made it exactly 1 hour 22 minutes since we started from Sharjah City Centre at a cost of Dh70 for two people.
Team C have made it exactly 1 hour 22 minutes since we started from Sharjah City Centre at a cost of Dh70 for two people.
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/RxN4hFz8fL
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:32am
Team A arrived at Union Metro Station after a 35 minute journey. The journey from Union Metro station to Burjuman took less than 5 minutes. They both stopped to top up their Nol cards for the return journey. Time for entire journey was 45 minutes.
Team A arrived at Union Metro Station after a 35 minute journey. The journey from Union Metro station to Burjuman took less than 5 minutes. They both stopped to top up their Nol cards for the return journey. Time for entire journey was 45 minutes.
Blog-https://t.co/NkGccpIg6F pic.twitter.com/e2jcImitCf
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:30am
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd to take the ferry, readying for the last leg of the trip to BurJuman from the Al Ghubaiba bus stop, barely 200 metres from the marine station.
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd to take the ferry, readying for the last leg of the trip to BurJuman from the Al Ghubaiba bus stop, barely 200 metres from the marine station.
Join our live https://t.co/NkGccpIg6F pic.twitter.com/ZrLOhrU1Yd
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:20am
Team A – Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad reach the BurJuman Metro station.
Team A – Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad reach the BurJuman Metro station!
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/MkYCrGyPEK
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:10am
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd arrive at the shore in Dubai in just about 30 minutes.
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd arrive at the shore in Dubai in just about 30 minutes!
Join our live blog-link: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/yqxbtyIXid
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:05am
Team B still made it ahead of competition. However, traffic was far more manageable given schools are closed and several residents are off for summer holidays. Under normal circumstances, this journey would’ve taken some more time.
Team B still made it ahead of competition. However, traffic was far more manageable given schools are closed and several residents are off for summer holidays. Under normal circumstances, this journey would’ve taken some more time.
Live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/oIFgS9mGDK
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
9:01am
Team B: Start Time- 8:04 am, Time at destination: 8:52am. Smooth sailing for most of the drive, with the only exception of bumper to bumper traffic on Al Ittihad Road. If we’d taken the Garoud Bridge, it would’ve saved us a few more minutes.
Blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/0kWFivtoWw
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:57am
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd are nearing Dubai in their 35-minute ferry ride and the sights are absolutely gorgeous.
Team C – Abhishek Sengupta and Juidin Bernarrd,are nearing Dubai in their 35-minute ferry ride and the sights are absolutely gorgeous.
Video by Juidin Bernarrd/Khaleej Times
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/8ph0QoPhc4
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:55am
Team B: Rahul Rahul Gajjar and I (Dhanusha Gokulan) are a signal away from BurJuman even after we took the longer route via Business Bay Crossing avoiding the Garhoud Bridge Toll Gate. What we saved in money, we gained by enjoying Dubai’s beautiful morning vistas.
Team B: Rahul and I are a signal away from BurJuman even after we took the longer route via Business Bay Crossing avoiding the Garhoud Bridge Toll Gate. What we saved in money, we gained by enjoying Dubai’s beautiful morning vistas.
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/vtMdJSWuLV
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:50am
Team A is nearing Union Metro Station. From here themselves Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad will be taking the metro to Burjuman Metro Station.
Team A is nearing Union Metro Station. From here Rohma and Sajjad will be taking the metro to Burjuman Metro Station.
Join our live blog: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/KzWgoetvDq
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:45am
Team B (travelling by car) have crossed into Dubai now.
Dhanusha, Rahul – Team B (travelling by car) have crossed into Dubai now!
Join our live blog: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/O9hggQzDHb
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:44am
Team C: Bright and sunny on the high sea as we take the ferry from Sharjah to Dubai.
8:38am
It’s been a smooth check-in for Team C and we are ready to set sail in about a minute’s time from now.
Photo by Juidin Bernarrd/Khaleej Times
Join our live blog-https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p pic.twitter.com/mz8B7BtfM5
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:30am
Team B has officially crossed over into Dubai after crossing the final interchange, Al Nahda, between Sharjah and Dubai. We’ve crossed one Salik Gate- Al Mamzar. Traffic is still bumper to bumper.
#KTExperiment: Ferry trip vs bus ride vs long drive in Dubai Team B has officially crossed over into #Dubai after crossing the final interchange, Al Nahda. Traffic is still bumper to bumper. Join our live blog: (link: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p) pic.twitter.com/bDFhlXDDAl
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:22am
Team B- We’re officially “stuck” in the infamous Sharjah-Dubai morning commute traffic which began a little ahead of Ansar Mall. The vehicles are inching at a snails pace of 10 km per hour. There’s traffic police monitoring the early morning road situation, ensuring road safety.
KT experiment: Ferry trip vs bus ride vs long drive in Dubai Team B- We’re officially “stuck” in the infamous #Sharjah-#Dubai morning commute traffic which began a little ahead of Ansar Mall. Join our live blog: (link: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p) https://t.co/uwlfjl7orZ pic.twitter.com/iUIjzHFW51
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:10am
KT experiment: Ferry trip vs bus ride vs long drive in Dubai Travel by car: KT journalists Dhanusha Gokulan and Rahul Gajjar travelling from Sharjah City Centre to BurJuman. Live blog: (link: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p) https://t.co/uwlfjl7orZ pic.twitter.com/5D0JwOwr9F
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:00am
Travel by car: Dhanusha, Rahul – Team B
KT photojournalist Rahul Gajjar and Dhanusha Gokulan have strapped themselves into thier car. The starting point of our journey is from the bus stand opposite Sharjah City Centre. It’s a hot day, and we’re all set to head out to our final destination – BurJuman in Bur Dubai.
KT experiment: #Ferry trip vs #bus ride vs long drive in #Dubai Join our live blog: https://t.co/NLDjDPws3p Video by Juidin Bernarrd/KT pic.twitter.com/pQlzBCZYbD
– Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) July 29, 2019
8:19am
Travel by bus – Rohma Sadaqat and M. Sajjad ready to hop on to the bus
Team A has officially hit the infamous Sharjah-Dubai traffic. Right now we have just passed Ansar Mall which is the first stop if you are coming to Sharjah from Dubai. Commuters are all at ease. Many are taking the time to catch up on social media posts; several are listening to music; and some are resting their eyes.
8:24am
It’s been a smooth check-in for Team C and we are ready to set sail in about a minute’s time from now. 8.30 is the scheduled departure and the captain’s just making an announcement.
8:28am
Team A has crossed into Dubai. Traffic is ever present, but now we are steadily moving. Soon we will be approaching Al Mulla Plaza, which is one of the oldest landmarks in Dubai.
8:35am
Team A has passed Century Mall. Right now we are bracing ourselves for a number of traffic signals. The roads are very much empty with the occasional car or two.
Dubai-Sharjah Ferry ride details
8am – Sharjah City Centre
8.12am – Sharjah Aquarium station via Sharjah Taxi (Dh15)
8.30am – Ferry takes off
9am – arrival in Al Ghubaiba ferry station (Dh15 for silver class; Dh25 for gold class)
9.10am – Al Ghubaiba metro station
9.20am – Burjuman Mall (Dh3)
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From Iowa Nationals to Matchstick Masterpieces
This photo shows the 12 boys from Bayard, Iowa, who found the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” from where the author’s tattered Gladbrook note hailed.
By Mark Hotz
I found myself flipping through my Nationals collection the other week, and I came across a few Iowa notes that reminded me of visits I had made to their towns more than a decade ago. I thought it would be fun to revisit those towns since they were pretty interesting. Let’s go!
Rural Gladbrook, Iowa, in northwestern Tama County – about equidistant from Marshalltown and Waterloo – sits on State Route 96 just north of Union Grove State Park. My interest in Gladbrook was, again, based on a National Bank Note in my collection. So, as the afternoon sun began its downward spiral, I followed the circuitous route of twists and turns into downtown Gladbrook.
Many years ago, at the Memphis International Paper Money Convention, I had the chance to flip through a large collection of Iowa Nationals that was being split up. Although not interested in Iowa notes at the time, I did spy an interesting but rather tattered $10 note of the 1882 Date Back series that hailed from the First National Bank of Gladbrook. This rather decrepit note was accompanied by a yellow certificate indicating that it had been part of the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” a cash hoard discovered by 12 boys in Bayard, Iowa, on June 1, 1965. I am a hopeless case when it comes to interesting history surrounding bank notes, so I inquired as to the price. Rather pleased at the quote of just $20 for the note, I forked over the cash and determined to learn more about this ��treasure.”
This tattered Series of 1882 $20 Date Back note issued by the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa, led the author to visit the town and its bank.
I wrote extensively about the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure” in a 2001 Bank Note Reporter article, but to explain briefly, the “treasure” was a cash hoard of coins and notes dug up by 12 boys who were building a clubhouse for their “Space Cadets Club” in Bayard. The boys had been digging in the foundation of a torn-down garage when they discovered the money buried in old fruit jars. The face value of the hoard was just over $11,500, a small fortune in 1965. While this was a classic story right out of Middle America, replete with “golly gees!” and smiling, fresh-faced boys, it turned into a sad commentary on the greed that permeates everything.
As soon as the discovery was disseminated around town, several claimants demanded the money be turned over to them. These included the current landowners, the heirs of the prior landowners, and eventually the American Red Cross. The legal wrangling lasted years; eventually, the treasure was sold at public auction on Nov. 2, 1969. In a court-approved settlement, the 12 boys received 40 percent of the proceeds to split among them. The treasure consisted of many old large size notes and gold coins, so the total realized was just over $17,000. The whole episode soured the boys and their families; one boy dryly commented after finally receiving his share of the treasure four years later, “We should have pocketed it all and not told anybody.”
Here is the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa, as it appears today. The bank was on the first floor of the Masonic Hall.
After learning the details of this rather big event in rural Iowa (the newspaper clippings I received from the local library about the treasure totaled 30 pages!), I decided to visit Gladbrook and see where my note had originated before ending up buried in a glass jar in a vacant lot in the early 1960s.
When I finally rolled in to downtown Gladbrook, I looked around for the obvious bank building. I was rather nonplussed, however, when I spied a very modern looking bank building, complete with drive-thru, sitting on what appeared to be the main corner block. I parked my car and looked around the town. The only really attractive building was a classic Masonic Hall across the street.
After wandering a bit, I returned to find an older gentleman staring intently at my car, seemingly mesmerized by my Maryland license plate. In any event, I engaged him in conversation, inquiring if he was a longtime Gladbrook resident. Upon receiving an affirmative reply, I queried if he knew where the old national bank had been. “It was there, across the street,” he said, motioning at the gorgeous Masonic Hall. “The bank was on the first floor, and the Masonic Hall was upstairs; bank’s been closed for a decade, though.” I was quite pleased, as the Masonic Hall (see photo at left) was truly a beautiful structure.
Here is a Series of 1902 large size note issued by the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
We conversed some more; he seemed pleased to talk to an “Easterner” and enjoyed spinning some tales about old Gladbrook. The town, he told me, had at one time been a rather busy, bustling place. One of the more eccentric local characters, given the moniker “Shaky” by the townsfolk for his rather wobbly, unsteady gait, had a five-foot high wooden chair he used to set up on the Main Street sidewalk; he would perch himself atop it and watch the goings on about town all day long!
The First National Bank of Gladbrook also issued small size notes, including this Series of 1929 $20 note. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Just before I started to leave, the gentleman asked if I might like to visit “Matchstick Marvels,” a small local museum located in the remodeled building in front of which we were standing. Although it was nearly 6 pm and I needed to move on, I was intrigued. “What is Matchstick Marvels?” I asked. “Come in and see,” he replied, “you’ll be surprised.” I agreed, but once we entered, he accosted me for a $2 entrance fee. With a chuckle, I paid up.
One example of the many amazing sculptures fashioned from match sticks at the Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook, Iowa, depicts the U.S. Capitol Building.
Inside, I was stunned; the room was filled with huge models of famous buildings, ships, and planes, each painstakingly created from matchsticks. Each model had a card indicating how many matchsticks had been employed. The magnificent U.S. Capitol (see photo on page 22) measures over 12 feet long and 5 feet high and was created with over 500,000 matchsticks.
All of these creations were carved and put together by Patrick Acton, who has lived in Gladbrook for 25 years. A builder and woodworker since childhood, he has turned his love of woodworking into a rare art form. Many of his fabulous creations have been featured at Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museums. In addition to a matchstick U.S. Capitol, his creations include a 13-foot long battleship U.S.S. Iowa and a 7-foot high space shuttle Columbia. The U.S.S. Iowa model, for example, took 800 hours and 80,000 matchsticks to build. It truly was fascinating…and very weird!
The First National Bank of Farnhamville, Iowa, is now in use as the town library.
The First National Bank of Gladbrook received charter #5461 in 1900. Its total issue was $633,000; a dozen large and a dozen small are reported in the Kelly census. It was the only national bank in town. In addition to my tattered note from the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” I have included photos of both large and small notes issued by the bank.
The next day, as I headed west along U.S. 20 across central Iowa, I took a detour south to extremely remote Farnhamville in Calhoun County, about 20 miles southwest of Fort Dodge. Farnhamville seemed sufficiently out of the way for a look. Its bank, the First National Bank of Farnhamville, charter #11907, was organized in 1920 and closed by the receiver in 1933. It had a relatively small issue of $312,000. Currently six large and four small notes are reported.
The First National Bank of Farnhamville, Iowa, issued both large and small size notes, though in small quantities, including this Series of 1902 $10 note. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Here is a small size $20 Series of 1929 note issued by the Farnhamville, Iowa, bank.
It was not all that easy to get to Farnhamville, as it sits about 10 miles south of the highway off a derelict county road. I was expecting to find a really ghostly place but was surprised to find Farnhamville seemingly prosperous in the midst of nothing. I found the old bank, a rather substantial building lovingly maintained as the public library. For once, the library was open, and I went in for a look. Several elderly matrons were working as volunteers, and they eagerly answered my questions about the town. “A fire destroyed much of Farnhamville in 1933,” I was told, “but many old structures survived.” The ladies remembered when the building had been a bank, and one even remembered seeing currency with the Farnhamville name. No, none of them had any for sale. I have included a photo of the bank with my car parked in front, as well as examples of both large and small notes that the bank issued.
Readers may address questions or comments about this article or National Bank Notes in general to Mark Hotz directly by email at [email protected].
This article was originally printed in Bank Note Reporter. >> Subscribe today.
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From Iowa Nationals to Matchstick Masterpieces
This photo shows the 12 boys from Bayard, Iowa, who found the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” from where the author’s tattered Gladbrook note hailed.
By Mark Hotz
I found myself flipping through my Nationals collection the other week, and I came across a few Iowa notes that reminded me of visits I had made to their towns more than a decade ago. I thought it would be fun to revisit those towns since they were pretty interesting. Let’s go!
Rural Gladbrook, Iowa, in northwestern Tama County – about equidistant from Marshalltown and Waterloo – sits on State Route 96 just north of Union Grove State Park. My interest in Gladbrook was, again, based on a National Bank Note in my collection. So, as the afternoon sun began its downward spiral, I followed the circuitous route of twists and turns into downtown Gladbrook.
Many years ago, at the Memphis International Paper Money Convention, I had the chance to flip through a large collection of Iowa Nationals that was being split up. Although not interested in Iowa notes at the time, I did spy an interesting but rather tattered $10 note of the 1882 Date Back series that hailed from the First National Bank of Gladbrook. This rather decrepit note was accompanied by a yellow certificate indicating that it had been part of the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” a cash hoard discovered by 12 boys in Bayard, Iowa, on June 1, 1965. I am a hopeless case when it comes to interesting history surrounding bank notes, so I inquired as to the price. Rather pleased at the quote of just $20 for the note, I forked over the cash and determined to learn more about this “treasure.”
This tattered Series of 1882 $20 Date Back note issued by the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa, led the author to visit the town and its bank.
I wrote extensively about the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure” in a 2001 Bank Note Reporter article, but to explain briefly, the “treasure” was a cash hoard of coins and notes dug up by 12 boys who were building a clubhouse for their “Space Cadets Club” in Bayard. The boys had been digging in the foundation of a torn-down garage when they discovered the money buried in old fruit jars. The face value of the hoard was just over $11,500, a small fortune in 1965. While this was a classic story right out of Middle America, replete with “golly gees!” and smiling, fresh-faced boys, it turned into a sad commentary on the greed that permeates everything.
As soon as the discovery was disseminated around town, several claimants demanded the money be turned over to them. These included the current landowners, the heirs of the prior landowners, and eventually the American Red Cross. The legal wrangling lasted years; eventually, the treasure was sold at public auction on Nov. 2, 1969. In a court-approved settlement, the 12 boys received 40 percent of the proceeds to split among them. The treasure consisted of many old large size notes and gold coins, so the total realized was just over $17,000. The whole episode soured the boys and their families; one boy dryly commented after finally receiving his share of the treasure four years later, “We should have pocketed it all and not told anybody.”
Here is the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa, as it appears today. The bank was on the first floor of the Masonic Hall.
After learning the details of this rather big event in rural Iowa (the newspaper clippings I received from the local library about the treasure totaled 30 pages!), I decided to visit Gladbrook and see where my note had originated before ending up buried in a glass jar in a vacant lot in the early 1960s.
When I finally rolled in to downtown Gladbrook, I looked around for the obvious bank building. I was rather nonplussed, however, when I spied a very modern looking bank building, complete with drive-thru, sitting on what appeared to be the main corner block. I parked my car and looked around the town. The only really attractive building was a classic Masonic Hall across the street.
After wandering a bit, I returned to find an older gentleman staring intently at my car, seemingly mesmerized by my Maryland license plate. In any event, I engaged him in conversation, inquiring if he was a longtime Gladbrook resident. Upon receiving an affirmative reply, I queried if he knew where the old national bank had been. “It was there, across the street,” he said, motioning at the gorgeous Masonic Hall. “The bank was on the first floor, and the Masonic Hall was upstairs; bank’s been closed for a decade, though.” I was quite pleased, as the Masonic Hall (see photo at left) was truly a beautiful structure.
Here is a Series of 1902 large size note issued by the First National Bank of Gladbrook, Iowa. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
We conversed some more; he seemed pleased to talk to an “Easterner” and enjoyed spinning some tales about old Gladbrook. The town, he told me, had at one time been a rather busy, bustling place. One of the more eccentric local characters, given the moniker “Shaky” by the townsfolk for his rather wobbly, unsteady gait, had a five-foot high wooden chair he used to set up on the Main Street sidewalk; he would perch himself atop it and watch the goings on about town all day long!
The First National Bank of Gladbrook also issued small size notes, including this Series of 1929 $20 note. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Just before I started to leave, the gentleman asked if I might like to visit “Matchstick Marvels,” a small local museum located in the remodeled building in front of which we were standing. Although it was nearly 6 pm and I needed to move on, I was intrigued. “What is Matchstick Marvels?” I asked. “Come in and see,” he replied, “you’ll be surprised.” I agreed, but once we entered, he accosted me for a $2 entrance fee. With a chuckle, I paid up.
One example of the many amazing sculptures fashioned from match sticks at the Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook, Iowa, depicts the U.S. Capitol Building.
Inside, I was stunned; the room was filled with huge models of famous buildings, ships, and planes, each painstakingly created from matchsticks. Each model had a card indicating how many matchsticks had been employed. The magnificent U.S. Capitol (see photo on page 22) measures over 12 feet long and 5 feet high and was created with over 500,000 matchsticks.
All of these creations were carved and put together by Patrick Acton, who has lived in Gladbrook for 25 years. A builder and woodworker since childhood, he has turned his love of woodworking into a rare art form. Many of his fabulous creations have been featured at Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museums. In addition to a matchstick U.S. Capitol, his creations include a 13-foot long battleship U.S.S. Iowa and a 7-foot high space shuttle Columbia. The U.S.S. Iowa model, for example, took 800 hours and 80,000 matchsticks to build. It truly was fascinating…and very weird!
The First National Bank of Farnhamville, Iowa, is now in use as the town library.
The First National Bank of Gladbrook received charter #5461 in 1900. Its total issue was $633,000; a dozen large and a dozen small are reported in the Kelly census. It was the only national bank in town. In addition to my tattered note from the “Boys’ Hidden Treasure,” I have included photos of both large and small notes issued by the bank.
The next day, as I headed west along U.S. 20 across central Iowa, I took a detour south to extremely remote Farnhamville in Calhoun County, about 20 miles southwest of Fort Dodge. Farnhamville seemed sufficiently out of the way for a look. Its bank, the First National Bank of Farnhamville, charter #11907, was organized in 1920 and closed by the receiver in 1933. It had a relatively small issue of $312,000. Currently six large and four small notes are reported.
The First National Bank of Farnhamville, Iowa, issued both large and small size notes, though in small quantities, including this Series of 1902 $10 note. (Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions)
Here is a small size $20 Series of 1929 note issued by the Farnhamville, Iowa, bank.
It was not all that easy to get to Farnhamville, as it sits about 10 miles south of the highway off a derelict county road. I was expecting to find a really ghostly place but was surprised to find Farnhamville seemingly prosperous in the midst of nothing. I found the old bank, a rather substantial building lovingly maintained as the public library. For once, the library was open, and I went in for a look. Several elderly matrons were working as volunteers, and they eagerly answered my questions about the town. “A fire destroyed much of Farnhamville in 1933,” I was told, “but many old structures survived.” The ladies remembered when the building had been a bank, and one even remembered seeing currency with the Farnhamville name. No, none of them had any for sale. I have included a photo of the bank with my car parked in front, as well as examples of both large and small notes that the bank issued.
Readers may address questions or comments about this article or National Bank Notes in general to Mark Hotz directly by email at [email protected].
This article was originally printed in Bank Note Reporter. >> Subscribe today.
If you like what you’ve read here, we invite you to visit our online bookstore to learn more about Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money.
Learn more >>>
NumismaticNews.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.
The post From Iowa Nationals to Matchstick Masterpieces appeared first on Numismatic News.
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