DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Maria Cano Martinez newspaper clippings and interpreter position documentation, 1978-1997 | 1983-05-07 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""The Rios and Martinez families happy in Iowa City"" Page 5

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Maria Cano Martinez newspaper clippings and interpreter position documentation, 1978-1997

1983-05-07 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: ""The Rios and Martinez families happy in Iowa City"" Page 5

Press-Citizen/John Riley
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rios loaded their family into their Plymouth 35 years ago and came to Iowa City.

[...] calls, "200 to 250 boys [roam] the streets of Chicago, two train passenger cars full and overflowing, were brought to the Kalona and Wayland areas each summer to spend two weeks on Mennonite farms, and enjoy some fresh country air. The Rock Island transported the boys free of charge."

Joe made the trip four consecutive summers, and always lived with the Lewis Yoder family, on their farm one mile north of Kalona on Highway 1.

After the fourth summer the Yoders suggested that if he would like to continue to live with them, he could go to Kalona High School and complete hish high school years. While a little apprehensive about starting school again after having been out two years, he decided to try it for a semester and see how things worked out. He liked it, continued, and graduated in June of 1948, and has continued to live in this area.

The Mennoite Churches started the "fresh air" program in 1920, and it still continues, though not on as extensive a basis as [originally].

After Mary Cano graduated from St. Patrick's High School, she attended the University of Iowa for a period, brushing up on her academic Spanish; then went to Brown's Business College and took the secretarial course. She found employment at Mercy Hospital as a secretary and continued there for many [years].

One day at Mercy she received an SOS call from then Chief of Police Ollie White, who said, "Mary, I need your help. Two Cuban couples have just checked in at the Hotel Jefferson and they can't speak a word of English. They have some official looking letters in Spanish but of course, I can't read them. The people have been turned over to me to help them out. I will drive them up to Mercy Hospital and possibly you can translate their papers."

As recalled by Mary, "The couples were prominent Cubans from Havana, and one of the men had a letter from his doctor referring him to Dr. Reuben Flocks at the University Hospital for surgery and special treatment.

"I then proceeded with the group to the University Hospital and served as interpreter both for the Cubans and for Dr. Flocks."

For many years Mrs. Martinez continued to serve as volunteer interpreter to all Hispanics, as well as Mexicans, most frequently at [University] Hospital. Knowing the [colloquium], everyday language spoken by these people, as well as academic Spanish, made her of particularly valuable help.

On occasion in recent years she has been able to revise some manuals written in academic Spanish to a more [colloquial], easily understood style.

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Press-Citizen/John Riley Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rios loaded their family into their Plymouth 35 years ago and came to Iowa City. [...] calls, "200 to 250 boys [roam] the streets of Chicago, two train passenger cars full and overflowing, were brought to the Kalona and Wayland areas each summer to spend two weeks on Mennonite farms, and enjoy some fresh country air. The Rock Island transported the boys free of charge." Joe made the trip four consecutive summers, and always lived with the Lewis Yoder family, on their farm one mile north of Kalona on Highway 1. After the fourth summer the Yoders suggested that if he would like to continue to live with them, he could go to Kalona High School and complete hish high school years. While a little apprehensive about starting school again after having been out two years, he decided to try it for a semester and see how things worked out. He liked it, continued, and graduated in June of 1948, and has continued to live in this area. The Mennoite Churches started the "fresh air" program in 1920, and it still continues, though not on as extensive a basis as [originally]. After Mary Cano graduated from St. Patrick's High School, she attended the University of Iowa for a period, brushing up on her academic Spanish; then went to Brown's Business College and took the secretarial course. She found employment at Mercy Hospital as a secretary and continued there for many [years]. One day at Mercy she received an SOS call from then Chief of Police Ollie White, who said, "Mary, I need your help. Two Cuban couples have just checked in at the Hotel Jefferson and they can't speak a word of English. They have some official looking letters in Spanish but of course, I can't read them. The people have been turned over to me to help them out. I will drive them up to Mercy Hospital and possibly you can translate their papers." As recalled by Mary, "The couples were prominent Cubans from Havana, and one of the men had a letter from his doctor referring him to Dr. Reuben Flocks at the University Hospital for surgery and special treatment. "I then proceeded with the group to the University Hospital and served as interpreter both for the Cubans and for Dr. Flocks." For many years Mrs. Martinez continued to serve as volunteer interpreter to all Hispanics, as well as Mexicans, most frequently at [University] Hospital. Knowing the [colloquium], everyday language spoken by these people, as well as academic Spanish, made her of particularly valuable help. On occasion in recent years she has been able to revise some manuals written in academic Spanish to a more [colloquial], easily understood style.