We’re moving from the cool weather crops to the full summer
season this week with sweet corn coming in by the truckload and the first of
the cantaloupe and field tomatoes. This is my favorite time of year for corn. It
is so tender that I can nibble on it right at the market without cooking. Just
to prove it, try the recipe at the end of the column. I made it for Carol
Parker’s Tuesday segment on KSN this week, using raw corn(the original recipe
called for cooked corn). After we finished the segment, the first four members
of KSN’s crew to come in snarfed it all up. It was very tasty.
Tomorrow’s breakfast benefits Crosslines, our regional food and
clothing pantry. The volunteers cooking and serving it are from Central United
Methodist Church and you know how those Methodists can cook. It’s sure to be
good.
The Granny Chicks will liven up the market with their
toe-tappin’ music tomorrow. Music and meal run from 9 to 11, while the market
is open from 9 to noon on Saturdays.
The streetcar is running tomorrow! Old No. 60 is making the rounds from 9 to
noon since it’s the first Saturday of the month. And, as always, it’s free.
On the remote chance that you do not know the story of Old No. 60,
let me tell you that it was originally part of the Southwest Missouri Electric Railroad
Co. system that served most of the mining towns in our area. It was lovingly
restored by volunteers some 30 years ago.
According to the State Historical Society: “Interurban
transportation in the Tri-State Mining District began in 1889, when A.H. Rogers
organized the Twin City Railway Company, a horse-drawn car line between Webb
City and Carterville. It was absorbed in 1892 by the Southwest Missouri
Electric Railway Company….The railroad was in operation by 1893, linking the
mining camps at Webb City and Joplin. The company continued to expand and at
its height operated almost 100 miles of tracks… The railroad was a profitable
enterprise for a decade, but it declined as the mineral areas in the Tri-State
District began to play out. By 1927 the company was bankrupt and in
receivership.”
The company was headquartered in Webb City because the mayor insisted
on it if the company wanted to use city streets for their tracks. The company
located its office, power house and car barn on Madison Street between Broadway
and Daughtery. The whole West End business district followed. If you drive by
now you can see the power house has become a skating rink and the employee
association’s clubhouse continues now as the Historical Society’s Clubhouse
(thank you, Ron Lankford). Many community and family events are held at the
Clubhouse now – in fact about 100 events per year.
The streetcar left a major imprint on Webb City, not the least
of which is Main Street. Originally what we now call Broadway was Main Street. Mr.
Webb didn’t have high expectations when he platted a two block Main Street for
Webb City. When the streetcar system laid tracks on what we now call Main (and
then called Allen), the businesses re-oriented to the streetcar track, completely
changing how downtown developed. Next time you look at the market mural at Main
and Broadway, notice that the mural is framed by an indention in the brickwork.
That inset was originally an entry from the old Main Street which were bricked
up when the building’s “front” was moved to face the streetcar line.
Don’t forget, the market will be open Tuesday, July 5th.
The free kids meal will be a submarine sandwich with corn on the cob (donated
by Braker Berry Farm) and cherry tomatoes. It’s served from 4:30 to 6:30. The Pommerts
will play and our Market Lady, Carolyn Smith, is sampling white chocolate blackberry
lasagna. Carmine’s will bake pizza to order and Stewart’s Bakery will have a
couple of tasty choices for supper.
On Thursday, the free kids meal is served from 11 to 1 and the
menu is smoked chicken leg, market veggies and a biscuit. Granny Shaffers will
serve their fried catfish and potatoes and Thai wraps. Stewart’s Bakery will
also serve lunch. Market Lady Carolyn Smith will serve samples of Blackberry
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Intriguing!
You never know what surprise you’ll come across at the market, but
friendly vendors, fresh produce and good food and music are a certainty. See
you at the market and have a great Fourth of July!
Fresh
Corn Salsa
This easy, fat-free summer salsa is
great for serving with chips or on top of grilled chicken or fish.
Yield: Makes 6 servings (Serving size: 1/3 cup salsa)
1 cup uncooked tender young
corn kernels (about 2 ears)
1 medium tomato, seeded and
diced
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
(include seeds for more heat)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh
cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime
juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine all ingredients in a medium
bowl, and mix together. Cover and let stand about 15 minutes to allow flavors
to develop.
