A Walk In An Iowa Farm Field
I had two main objectives on a recent road trip out to Iowa and back, first was the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum near Walcott, and then after that a visit to the Surf Ballroom up in Clear Lake.
The truck museum is adjacent to the world’s largest truck stop on Interstate 80, and was very cool, a must see for anyone who loves and appreciates vintage trucks like I do. - But the visit to the Surf Ballroom was an absolutely incredible experience.
The important significance of the Surf Ballroom of course is that it was the last venue Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and “The Big Bopper” (J.P. Richardson) performed at the evening of February 2nd 1959 as part of the “Winter Dance Party” barnstorming tour of the upper Midwest.
Tragically, shortly after that show, in the early morning hours of February 3rd, the small plane that Buddy Holly had chartered to reach the next tour date crashed shortly after taking off from the nearby Mason City Municipal Airport killing all three performers along with Roger Peterson the plane’s pilot.
My three-photo presentation here includes a map of how the first tour dates were laid out, a grueling schedule of consecutive shows while traveling sometimes a very long distance to reach the next evenings performance using inadequate, older buses during an especially bitter cold and snowy winter that year - And the second photo is a poster for the February 2nd Clear Lake, Iowa engagement of the Winter Dance Party.
The Surf Ballroom is quite a place to visit, besides being able see the stage where those three performers stood upon for their last show, the interior of the ballroom has been maintained much the way it appeared in 1959, with row upon row of booths and tables overlooking the original wooden dance floor. – There are also several walls in the lobby and other areas that are covered with various displays including photos taken of Buddy, Ritchie and J.P. performing just hours before they died. – There are also autographed photos of hundreds of other very recognizable musicians and bands who have taken the stage here since this historic ballroom was built way back in the year 1933.
Even though it’s been so many years since that truly tragic event of February 3rd, 1959 that has become known as “The Day The Music Died” – It’s not been forgotten, and both the Surf Ballroom and the nearby crash site are visited every day by faithful fans of music.
The last photo here is one I took at the end of a late afternoon walk out into an Iowa farm field to visit the memorial at the spot where the wreckage of the single-engine Beechcraft plane came to rest after the crash. – A long walk but well-worth the effort to be able to pay respects to four good people who were all taken way too soon. ~~ Jeff Hampton Photographs ©
A Walk In An Iowa Farm Field
I had two main objectives on a recent road trip out to Iowa and back, first was the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum near Walcott, and then after that a visit to the Surf Ballroom up in Clear Lake.
The truck museum is adjacent to the world’s largest truck stop on Interstate 80, and was very cool, a must see for anyone who loves and appreciates vintage trucks like I do. - But the visit to the Surf Ballroom was an absolutely incredible experience.
The important significance of the Surf Ballroom of course is that it was the last venue Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and “The Big Bopper” (J.P. Richardson) performed at the evening of February 2nd 1959 as part of the “Winter Dance Party” barnstorming tour of the upper Midwest.
Tragically, shortly after that show, in the early morning hours of February 3rd, the small plane that Buddy Holly had chartered to reach the next tour date crashed shortly after taking off from the nearby Mason City Municipal Airport killing all three performers along with Roger Peterson the plane’s pilot.
My three-photo presentation here includes a map of how the first tour dates were laid out, a grueling schedule of consecutive shows while traveling sometimes a very long distance to reach the next evenings performance using inadequate, older buses during an especially bitter cold and snowy winter that year - And the second photo is a poster for the February 2nd Clear Lake, Iowa engagement of the Winter Dance Party.
The Surf Ballroom is quite a place to visit, besides being able see the stage where those three performers stood upon for their last show, the interior of the ballroom has been maintained much the way it appeared in 1959, with row upon row of booths and tables overlooking the original wooden dance floor. – There are also several walls in the lobby and other areas that are covered with various displays including photos taken of Buddy, Ritchie and J.P. performing just hours before they died. – There are also autographed photos of hundreds of other very recognizable musicians and bands who have taken the stage here since this historic ballroom was built way back in the year 1933.
Even though it’s been so many years since that truly tragic event of February 3rd, 1959 that has become known as “The Day The Music Died” – It’s not been forgotten, and both the Surf Ballroom and the nearby crash site are visited every day by faithful fans of music.
The last photo here is one I took at the end of a late afternoon walk out into an Iowa farm field to visit the memorial at the spot where the wreckage of the single-engine Beechcraft plane came to rest after the crash. – A long walk but well-worth the effort to be able to pay respects to four good people who were all taken way too soon. ~~ Jeff Hampton Photographs ©