Story is that a string of shady business folk, Police officers and politicians of Waterloo were being found dead in their homes. At a few of the death scenes there have been found small foot print stains on the carpet floor. Considered to be from a possible intruder. Chemicals from those stains linked to the cedar river that goes through Waterloo IA. The only common trait of the deceased were known through their peers to have an attitude that life was cheap and toilet paper was expensive. Scrooge in the Charles Dickens tale ” A Christmas story had it easier” Convenient for a ghost tale that involves the authorities, that this tale includes a police cover up by internal affairs. Also convenient that no one seems able to list names of those that have been singled out for vengeance for their crimes to the city. These sorts of deaths were said to of been put to the end by the construction of Marks Place at the Riverloop.
yeah my camera sucks! I’m aware the sign is unable to be read clearly here. I never claimed to be the best Paranormal Investigator in Iowa.
Intended as an offering to any possible angry undead ghostly spirits from the Cedar River. It is a small out-door water park funded by the heroes of the city. I’ve asked about how do people know these deaths were performed murders from undead ghostly spirits. I was told that through the uses of Ghost box devices and Ouija boards, You can communicate with dozens of undead-ghostly-spirits about this. Minus ever communicating with a kid named Mark that the location is named after at the cedar river. A shame for this tale considering the source would be nice to go to, If ya can get those communication devices to work. Or… What if a kid named Mark was the only character that others want to think about that could of possibly died in that cedar river. Or that drowned victims of the cedar river have any supernatural command from that area. It is sad that people have died and drowned in the cedar River. Some of the drownings there sound like a accident. Most often while trying to have fun. I recall a tale of a man drowning there while tubing with some friends. The only possible crime upon these people seem to be the lack of entertaining outlets in Waterloo, besides watching TV that are more safer then the Cedar River.
I do not believe in Ghost box devices and Ouija boards being able to communicate with the dead. I have no plans on attending a seance there like others do. The nearby bridges are said to be shelter for the homeless, that might try to interfere with a seance. Why bother looking for Police records if there was a cover-up involved with some shady actions of the police? We have no recent news of the local police being up to some BS. If ya want to give this tale some creed. Maybe the bad ones were weeded out? Would poking around with this to the local businesses be worth my time for peanuts? It is interesting that the city has a tales of Goddesses watching over Waterloo from above, and now spirits watching the city from below. I wont be investigating this. especially with no damn Ghost box or Ouija board. But from investigating the area. I notice that the Pea Green Goddesses are viewable from this area. Watching down. When people thought the gods were pissed off, they often had to make an offering to the gods. I think that is a strange connection to the tale of the undead seeking revenge from the river. I think I’ve found something suspicious in official historical public reports. It is the only connection to this tale of supernatural forces seeking revenge. What are they seeking revenge for? What could these Goddesses be pissed about?
Near the center of the city of Waterloo sits the statues of the Pea Green Goddesses of Waterloo. Interesting they have their backs turned on the Church Row Neighborhood behind them. If crap rolls down hill, It would be from the Church Row Neighborhood. The things that these goddesses represent, you will not find much of behind them. Knowledge, Justice, Education, Agriculture, Commerce, Peace. There is a missing Goddess that vanished in 1957 from the courthouse in Waterloo. Where she is, and what she does as her watchful duty, remains a mystery.
image from http://nelson501.com/ that also has a cool history of these buildings.
here is a public website from Blackhawk County that has a tale of these Goddesses. check this out before continuing this tale. There will be a copy of this source at the bottom of this page. There is some interesting conflicts in its tale. mostly about who these statues are. http://www.co.black-hawk.ia.us/about_courthouse.html
Some interesting notes about these Goddesses is that the one on the right appears to be holding a scepter that most people think it is the symbol of medicine. Known as the Rod of Asclepius. It really is the rod of Caduceus , that represents commerce. Often mistaken for the rod that represents medicine. so much that it is very often that many in the medical field get them confused … or intentionally changed. Read Ayn Rands “Atlas Shrugged” for a philosophical motive of why some in the medical field are really entitled to just doing business, but beyond a reasonable greed, a medical staff may value a vacation for themselves at your expense, by saying you need an organ transplant that you do not need. The Black hawk county government page for the courthouse history claims that one of these Goddesses is Mercury. Problem with that is, Mercury was not a female Goddess. Mercury was a male god and also known as Hermes. His duties included being a guide to the underworld, He was also a protector of Liars and thieves. This could be some wishful thinking that one of the goddesses there is Hermes/ Mercury.
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hermes.html
That goddess holding the rod of Caduceus is likely the Goddess known as Iris. Whom is notable for holding the rod of commerce aka Caduceus. If so… she might give reason for a courthouse staff to greatly fear her. Possibly enough to lie about who she is and claim that she is Really the god Mercury, just to comfort those that might become comfortable of abusing an oath. She has a duty of sending liars to the river styx. (the underworld version of Hell that Hades rules over.) Not just any kind of Liars. But those who would commit Perjury. Perjury is a sort of lie that is committed during a court hearing of Justice. Lies in a court room tend to be very bad for business. Also it is an offense to justice.
http://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Iris.html
That takes us to the Goddess Themis. often known as lady justice. Notice in this image she is not holding a scale. Yet her eyes are covered with a blindfold. She might not need that scale with having the eyes of the other goddesses to depend on. The first rule of law is that NO ONE is above the law! Here with the other goddesses, she is not going to play around to weigh things on her scale. This Goddess holds a big ass sword!!! For some reason these statues get called the kneeling goddesses. ummm.. They do not look like they are kneeling. Themis also has the duty of giving people a chance to repent their crimes to the city. Or else she runs them through with that sword of justice. A comparative to Christianity is the repenting before Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved. Spiritually searching that still kinda sounds like some certain doom for those that attempt to be above the law to attempt to even manipulate that. With lady Justice in almost every court house in the US, it is interesting that some secular issues arise when some Christians insist on more of their own religious symbols within the public court house. In America we define freedom of religion to be a strong moral value to Justice. Perhaps that disturbing conflict of beliefs is because no matter how you cut it… Lady justice is going to be blind to what ever religion you are! Might be why more people plead for Jesus in a court room facing a sentence towards redeeming their crimes, then they do in churches. I’ve yet to hear of anyone pleading for Themis to remove her blindfold and scale things in their favor like us humans could be capable of. but if she was able to see any of that, then she can also see where to strike with her sword to the guilty!
http://www.theoi.com/Titan/TitanisThemis.html
The goddesses Ceres aka Demeter, is the Goddess of Harvest, has a interesting note of protecting Tribunes… making them immune to arresting and threats. Tribunes were Roman officers and champions of the people. These Tribunes had the responsibility of helping the community grow. Her sitting next to these other Goddesses, it would be a likely conversation on the immunities for Tribunes in the interest of community growth, on part of protection of the land.
Ceres a.k.a Demeter
http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Demeter.html
Cleo is the Goddess of history. But she has other duties as well then just History. Her main profession is Music , song and dance. Fun stuff that cranky sorts of people dislike. The history part of her duties is as being the Proclaimer with the other muses. Means she will make you famous, Maybe not always in a way that would be enjoyed with glory.
Cleo aka Kleio
I seen that look of rolling of the eyes from a lady before. when I’ve tried to quickly itch my balls. That bit of history never gets forgotten. Still used against me.
http://www.theoi.com/Ouranios/MousaKleio.html
Connecting these goddesses together, might be an unbearable terrifying fear to those that would abuse their position of power over the people of Waterloo. It is the only superstitious connection to the tale of the undead returning for revenge on authority figures. Also remains the mystery of the missing goddess statue. I’m trying to sort out these myths related to the statues, I’m not claiming that statues come to life, or the dead rise from the waters. Nor do I identify myself with Pagan beliefs. if there is truth in the tale of small foot prints like that of a kid. Could it also be that of a small woman? If a hoax, does society really need myths to regulate those in position of authority? The reality of consequences would be frightening enough if there was not so many examples where there are a few people that seem above the law. The devil being left out of the details of the tales of those goddesses, might be an honest mistake, instead of being a clue for a conspiracy of a cover up with links into the supernatural and myth. If the local businesses felt threatened into helping fund Marks Park. That is kinda sad tragedy. In my opinion it is one of the most amazing gestures to the city, and adds onto the coolness of the Riverloop. It gives hope that things do get better and more safer fun can be had.
Skunk
Source as of 2014
http://www.co.black-hawk.ia.us/about_courthouse.html
In 1890, voters approved $150,000 to build the county’s second new courthouse at East Park and Sycamore Streets in Waterloo. Its architectural design was Grant Gothic or French Renaissance. In August 1964, Black Hawk County moved into its third new courthouse (the current courthouse) and eventually the second building was demolished.
Between 1906 and 1908, six bronze goddesses were set atop the new courthouse (due to the natural process of aging, the goddesses were later knicknamed “the pea-green goddesses”). Two were standing and four were kneeling. Names of the kneeling goddesses are Themis, Knowledge of Justice; Clio, Knowledge of Education; Ceres, Goddess of Harvest (symbolic of agriculture) and Mercury, Goddess of Commerce. One standing goddess represented peace with a crown of olive leaves and the other represented industry with a hammer, anvil and wheel. Their names have been long forgotten.
In 1957, the two standing goddesses were retired from atop the courthouse. One fell down and the other was removed. One of the goddesses makes its home atop a building at Upper Iowa University and the fate of the other remains a mystery. The four kneeling goddesses now look out over the Cedar River atop the River Plaza Building at 10 West 4th Street in Waterloo.