by Rachel Mancuso, Junior History Major
Here in Ohio, people seem shocked when I tell them I am taking a class on Storm Lake. I start off by telling them the class is called “Researching Midwestern History,” and then I nod after they say, “That’s about as Midwestern as you can get.” Well, yes. Yes, it is.
So what are these “Midwestern” values that seem to get thrown about? For me, it’s about doing a favor for your neighbor. It’s about saying hi to the guy you saw yesterday that’s new in town, and giving a nod to someone driving by, even if you have never met them.
In one of my other classes this semester, we talked about how Americans have moved away from the “front porch” tradition and have slowly become more enclosed in their own homes. Now, let’s look at Storm Lake. From the other blog posts this semester, we have seen the community routinely reach out to one another and help. During COVID, one resident even went to nearby Lakeside to pass out some food. From interviews that I have conducted, as well as research from others, we have learned that Storm Lakers often have helped refugees.
One of the most significant ways in the recent past has been via the dual language program. When I spoke with Peter Steinfeld, former director of the school board, he said, “The idea that we had…about 5 years ago was to build that program slowly and add a grade each year.” This program has been many years in the making. In fact, it was so popular that parents were requesting more classrooms. The problem was that the SLCD did not have enough qualified teachers to provide for the rising demand. From a podcast with Stacey Cole in 2020, we learn that “the project-based program integrates reading, writing, science, and social studies, and allows students to engage in Spanish instruction 50-percent of the time, and English the other 50-percent. At least half of the students involved are those from Spanish-speaking households.” I would like to pause here to give Stacey Cole and her team props. This program was developed in the midst of COVID-19.
Let’s go back to the idea of “Midwestern.” When you think of a sleepy little small town in the rural Midwest, the typical image is white, with one type of family. Storm Lake obviously breaks this stereotype. Spanish is the first language spoken in the schools. As previous blog posts have discussed, Tyson and IBP before it have been a great pull for immigrants to the area. It has been amazing to learn about how the community grew with these immigrants. In a way, Storm Lake has echoed the history of Chicago. It grew stronger as its social environment changed.
So why did I take a class on Storm Lake? I love the Midwest. I grew up here, and I never want to leave. A class titled “Researching Midwestern History” seemed like fait accompli.
So why did I take a class on Storm Lake? I love the Midwest. I grew up here, and I never want to leave. A class titled “Researching Midwestern History” seemed like fait accompli. When I began to learn about Storm Lake, it reminded me so much of the town where my grandparents live—Othello, Washington. (But that’s another story.) As I cap off the semester with one of the last blog posts, I would like to list some of the things that I have learned throughout the class.
- Art Cullen is not Mark Twain reincarnated.
- When you are a part of a community, you help one another out.
- It is always good to welcome new people into your life.
Also: never underestimate the power of a newspaper in a small town. This has been consistently mentioned in my interviews as well as in other materials in class. If there’s one thing that I have learned, it’s that the Cullen family will always get the story out. Don’t worry—the town will always have a newspaper. Although it is now down to one, the legacy of the Pilot-Tribune lives on in the new Storm Lake Times Pilot. I believe that both papers share a true love of writing and journalism. The power of the pen lives on.
Rachel Mancuso is a junior History major from Cleveland, Ohio with an interest in Midwestern history. She plans on going to law school after college. She is also an intern with the Office of Institutional Relations on campus. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking.
