Thinking back on that sweltering July day, Sharon Whitworth couldnt help but recall a similar scene more than 46 years ago.
A group of friends, family and other volunteers from church were helping Sharon clear out loads of old shelves, merchandise and other odds and ends just a lot of stuff, she said from what had been the home of McGinty-Whitworth, Iolas signature womens clothing store for nearly half a century.
The work began early in the morning to beat the heat a futile effort because the labor stretched throughout the day, then a second, then a third.
Even so, the friends stuck around. Just as they did when Sharon and her husband, Jerry, first came to Iola in 1970 and purchased Trouts Department Store at 101 E Madison Ave.
Having arrived from Arkansas, the Whitworths didnt know a soul. Even so, well-wishers flocked to help the young couple settle in.
Thats what struck me the most about Iola, the friendliness, she said. People brought us food. We were already a part of the community after one week.
Living in a small town theres nothing like it, Sharon said wistfully.
Weve been blessed so much more than we deserved.
MCGINTY-WHITWORTH remained a downtown Iola staple for 46 years, until Jerry closed up shop for good in May 2016.
In so many ways, Jerry showed how to keep a business afloat in an increasingly volatile market, Sharon noted.
Though he opened his doors at a time when mom-and-pop businesses were in their heyday, the scenario changed when retail giants like Walmart appeared only to be followed by Internet-based shopping.
There was never a dull moment, Sharon said with a laugh. Each day was a new adventure. Jerry was always on the cutting edge. He had an eye for what was new, what would sell. Hed go against the grain sometimes, and try something new, think outside the box.
When clothing sales dipped, McGinty-Whitworth introduced gift items and jewelry.
Then there was merchandise celebrating area colleges. For a while, he even sold indoor-outdoor furniture.
We were almost like a general store at times, but without the box of tobacco, Sharon joked.
After the decision was made to close up shop it took only a few weeks to sell the last of the merchandise. The store then sat vacant for a few months until a tenant with a new business venture appeared.
Shannon Roloff figured to have just the vision with WaveFire, a gaming venue in which customers would come in and buy (and play) role-playing board games and other video games on site.
Hed been doing really well at a smaller place, and thats when he came to Jerry and said, Let me have a chance at this, Sharon said.
For Jerry, the timing was perfect.
Jerry, you see, was sick with cancer, and eager to see the building in someone elses hands.
The two sides signed a lease agreement for Roloff to buy the building
WaveFire was an early hit. Passersby on some nights noticed the dearth of activity elsewhere around downtown Iola, but a stream of folks entering WaveFire for an evening of gaming.
But, for whatever reason, the success was short-lived.
After 14 months WaveFire closed its doors in March.
Sharon was heartbroken. They put their hopes and money into their business, just like we did when we were kids.
As part of the lease agreement, Roloff did some changes to the building, adding a first-floor restroom, a shower on the second floor, removing some counters, adding others.
But a lot remained unfinished.
Meanwhile, Jerry, Sharons husband of 53 ½ years, died within days of WaveFires closing. He was 73.
SHARON let the grieving process unfold for a spell before doing anything with the old building.
But as spring turned to summer, she knew all too well that letting the structure sit vacant would only lead to its demise.
In the few short months its been empty, Sharon has noticed a few leaks in its roof that will need repairing.
There are some things in here that need fixed, but there are so many good things, she said, not the least of which is the buildings prime location at the busiest intersection in town.
My heart is heavy when I drive by the store and see the old building deteriorating, when I know it can come to life. It just takes one person with a vision. We can make new stories, new memories, something good.
THE BUILDING has been a part of downtown Iola for 117 years, having been added onto and remodeled a number of times since it was first built in 1901 as a small post office, then a book and stationery store that same year. A business college opened next door, at 103 E. Madison before the two buildings were combined, and then extended from Madison to the alley.
The Ramsay brothers ran a dry goods store there in 1912, where it apparently remained in their hands through 1949. (Records through the Great Depression were scarce, local historian Donna Houser noted.)
From there, it became Trouts before the Whitworths came to town in 1970.
Meanwhile, an upper-level mezzanine was added, as was a full second floor of offices that served homes to myriad doctors, dentists, real estate agents and other professionals.
(One of the rooms still has Dr. Russell Nevitts name emblazoned on a window, concealed to the public because of a metal facade on the buildings east wall. Nevitt was a long-time physician in Iola and Moran for many years.)
But since 1970, the upper floors were dedicated almost entirely to storage, which led to the summer cleanup endeavor.
Sharon noted some of the more memorable finds. A pair of old, tattered nurses uniforms were found in the Nevitt office, as was a small scale, presumably used to weigh babies during their exams.
She also found a few of Jerrys old advertising gimmicks, including a homemade lottery cage from which he drew names of prize winners. Small cards with customers names were still inside the cage. Other items include lead type used for a small sign-making machine and a treasure box he used during another promotion.
Hed send keys around town, but only one would open the box, Sharon said with a laugh.
The items reminded her once again of her husbands eye for promotion.
As one friend told her, Jerry was perhaps the smartest man hed ever met, one whod always like to pretend he wasnt.
He was always coming up with something, she said. One time a salesman came in with a fishing pole with those old Croc shoes hanging from the line. He said, Jerry you need these. that even some cities didnt have them yet.
Jerry bought a batch on the spot.
Sharon thought her husband was nuts.
Who would buy them, she asked.
Turns out lots did, from nurses to housewives with an eye for comfort.
Jerry wasnt afraid to try anything, she said. He had so many ideas and gimmicks. I saved all of them.
WITH THE building nearly clean, and repairs in her sights, Sharon remains optimistic a buyer will be found.
She recruited Jim Stukey, Burlington, to prepare window displays prior to Farm-City Days, just to make it look a little better when everybodys here, and is considering hosting an open house.
Bill Maness, economic development director for Thrive Allen County, also is assisting in her efforts to recruit a new owner.
To me, this is exciting, she said. People want to see this building reopen. It really is a hub of downtown Iola.
Inquiries about purchasing the building can be directed to Maness at Thrive Allen County at 365-8128.
