Monroe County Courthouse, built in 1902, Albia, Iowa

On her first trip back to Iowa in 2000, my mom spent a week and a half getting to know her half-brother, Everett, and his family. There were so many wonderful people to meet, and she also had the chance to revisit some familiar places from the years she spent there as a child. Of course, it still wasn’t nearly enough time — which was why she returned the following year. She took all these photos on her first visit.

Sadly, I never got the chance to meet my Uncle Everett, who passed away in August 2005

For a small Midwest town, Albia has a pretty interesting history, and its business district contains many beautiful examples of original 19th century architecture. But back in the 1960s, after a newspaper called Albia “the ugliest town in Iowa” the community decided their main street needed a facelift. Now, the annual Restoration Days event celebrates how Albians came together to make their town a place to be proud of.

Scenes from the Annual Restoration Days parade in August 2000: