I grew up reading a book memorializing my great grandmother, Ellen Dale Ives.Born in Vermont, she married Douglas Ives and soon moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. Ives worked his way up through the railroad and became president of the B, CR & N Railway. My great, great grandfather named his private rail car “The Ellendale”, after his beloved wife. Ellen Dale Ives devoted her life to blessing the poor, the sick, the depressed and lonely. Her acts of kindness were so well known in Cedar Rapids that it was said “… the entire city bowed down with grief upon the news of her passing. Thousands felt they lost a personal friend.” My husband and I named our restaurant Ellendale’s to commemorate this rare woman whose life of caring for all human-kind is an inspiration and shall not be forgotten.

Julie and Michael Buhler-Freeman