May 23, 2022, laying out the footings
Junk was buried in this area as seen with this old bed spring that was dug up.
Years ago I was visiting with Lester Wiese who grew up 1 mile east of Manning next to Willow Creek. He told me that when he was a boy and before Willow Creek was straightened, that when it flooded, they couldn't cross over to get into town for a week or more...this is because of the meandering creek with all of its oxbows and the slough grasses that slowed down the flood waters, which would slowly drain away.
Most people won't know this but before Highway 141 (originally Highway 44) was paved in 1941, the road came in to Manning from the west, then you had to turn
north on West Street, then turn east onto Third Street all the way over to East Street, then south back to 141 and head back out east.
What we drive on now through both bottoms between West & East Streets were wetlands, which had to be filled in for the road grade to be built on in 1941.
The bottoms where Rasmussen Lumber and Spiese Fur are located on the west side and Caseys and VanWall (Puck Implement) on the east side.
May 24, 2022
May 24, 2022, footings
May 24, 2022
Looking east
Looking southwest toward the school
May 25, 2022
4 feet deep with 19 tons of concrete as a base footing and the core support above ground.
May 26, 2022