JOHN WAYNE WAS BORN MARION ROBERT MORRISON (LATER CHANGED TO MARION MICHAEL MORRISON) IN WINTERSET IOWA ON MAY 26, 1907. WINTERSET IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DES MOINES, ON THE MIDDLE RIVER. THE AREA IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR ITS BRIDGES, AS PORTRAYED IN THE MOVIE, "BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY".
WINTERSET IS A SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT QUITE BREATHTAKING TO VISIT. I HAD THE PLEASURE IN JULY OF 1994. THIS FIRST PICTURE WAS TAKEN JUST RECENTLY AND DONATED BY KEITH TREU. COMPARED WITH THE PICTURES BELOW, TAKEN IN 1994, THE HOME LOOKS A LITTLE BARE AS THE AREA RECOVERS FROM THIS LAST WINTER.
Taken by Keith Treu-March 1997
The front of the home in 1994
THE HOME IS LOCATED AT 224 SOUTH SECOND STREET.
THE HOME WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN 1981
AND RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL 1907 APPEARANCE.
THE HOME IS LOCATED
ON A CORNER PLOT.
YOU CAN SEE
TO THE RIGHT ANOTHER BUILDING
WHERE MEMORABILIA IS
SHOWN AND SOLD.
THESE SHOTS ARE OTHER ANGLES OF THE FRONT OF THE HOME, AS TAKEN IN 1994.
HERE IS A CLOSER SHOT TO THE RIGHT OF THE FRONT ENTRANCE, AS TAKEN IN 1994. THE HAND CARVED SIGN WAS DONATED TO WINTERSET BY JOHN AND SALLY DWYER OF ROCKPORT, MASS. IN 1979 AND MEASURES 15" BY 43".
THE SIGN HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED. IN ANOTHER PHOTO FROM KEITH TREU, HERE IS THE CURRENT SIGN IN FRONT OF THE HOME. YOU CAN CLICK THE SIGN FOR A FULL SIZE VIEW. CLICK BACK TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE.
THE RIGHT PHOTO IS FROM THE CORNER IN FRONT OF THE HOME LOOKING NORTH TOWARDS WINTERSET. THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS FURTHER NORTH AND SEVERAL BLOCKS OVER. BUT HERE YOU CAN SEE THE BEAUTY OF THE AREA.
THE FREE STANDING GARAGE IS THE RESTORED ORIGINAL BUILDING LOCATED BEHIND THE MAIN HOME. AN ADDED AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FOR THE MAIN HOUSE IS AN OBVIOUS MODERN TOUCH.
