Franklin County

Wikipedia

Notes

Hampton has the only symmetrical double square in the state. Jack Bailey, born in Hampton in 1907, was host of the daytime game show "Queen for a Day" from 1945 to 1964, first on radio and then on TV.

One of twenty-four Franklin counties,

It was named after Ben, of course.

I-35, it goes right through here,

All the way to Duluth at the source.

Downtown, in the city of Hampton,

There's a most curious double square.

The courthouse on one, and a park 'cross the street.

In Iowa, that's exceedingly rare.

The fairgrounds are on the west side of town,

And there's a state park to the northwest.

Beed's Lake, it is called. A creek there was dammed.

You can fish there or hike or just rest.

There's an old movie theater in Hampton.

It's been there since Nineteen thirteen.

And Mister Jack Bailey, the old game-show host.

Every day, he honored a queen.