David and Katherine Braunlich traveled to Perry Saturday from their home in Omaha for a one-day visit. They last passed through Perry in August 2015, and they shared their story then with ThePerryNews.com.
This time they were not alone, having joined a tour from the Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Neb., which sponsored a day trip to central Iowa, with the first stop at the Hotel Pattee in Perry. The group rolled off their tour bus about 9:15 a.m. for a light breakfast and a look around the hotel and downtown Perry.
The Braunlichs’ 2015 visit was part of a mission of friendship for Mary Ann MacDonald McTigue from Mishawaka, Ind. She is the widow of Steve McTigue, formerly of Perry, and the Braunlichs and McTigues were friends for many years.
Katherine was excited in 2015 to take a picture in front of the old McTigue and Sons Hardware building at 1024 Second St. Steve McTigue worked at the hardware store after serving in World War ll, Katherine said.
The building at the southeast corner of Willis Avenue and Second Street now houses the law offices of Spellman, Spellman, Spellman, Spellman, Kealhofer and Spellman.
“I can’t believe this building is still here,” Braunlich said is 2015. “Mary Ann will be so happy.” They also took pictures of the McTigues’ former home at 2109 Otley Ave. and of St. Patrick’s School, which Mary Ann attended.
“Mary Ann recognized all those places,” Braunlich said Saturday, “but her dementia has progressed quite a bit since then. She still has her good days, but much is lost.”
The journey continued, and the 30 Metro College tourists left Perry for a ride to Boone to see the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad. The Braunlichs said they will return again to Perry.
“You never know where people’s paths may cross,” Katherine said. “It’s such a small world once you start asking people about where they’ve lived or gone to school or met.”
I remember the McTigues from the 1950s and 1960s. Mr. and Mrs. Steve McTigue Senior owned the hardware store, and young Steve worked there. Steve Senior lived on the corner of 8th and Lucinda, and Steve Junior lived at the east end of the block on 9th and Lucinda.