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RICHLAND – Two memorial benches were dedicated in Richland’s Central Park on May 24.

The two benches commemorate Hilda and Raymond Swartzwelter, and Charlie and Emma Widner. They are ancestors of Brad Swartzwelter, who arranged to have the benches installed. Hilda and Raymond are his grandparents on his father’s side, and Charlie and Emma are his great-grandparents on his mother’s side.

Brad grew up in Boulder, Colorado, but he has fond memories of his trips to Richland to spend time with his relatives. He attended Richland’s Homecoming in 2024, and that’s when he began the project of honoring both sides of his family with memorial benches. He said he saw so many benches that honored people who were best friends with his grandparents and great-grandparents, and felt his ancestors should be recognized as well.

“Good grief, my grandparents have got to be out there with them!” he joked.

Charlie Widner ran a successful construction company starting in 1941, and by 1964 had built over 60 homes in towns such as Richland, Sigourney, Fairfield, Wellman, Brighton, Ottumwa, Washington and Ollie. Charlie also built three motels and six businesses, becoming a prominent player in shaping Southeast Iowa’s landscape for half a century.

The memorial benches are on the northeast corner of the square, facing the former Richland Café owned by Raymond and Hilda, and looking toward the north end of town, where the majority of Charlie’s houses were built.

Brad’s mother, Diana Peterson Swartzwelter, was one of five children, and her mother died of a brain aneurysm when Diana was only 5 years old. Emma and Charlie said they would take in all five children and raise them on their farm south of Richland.

“Emma and Charlie rescued these kids,” Brad said. “They were able to grow up in a solid family and community, and it made such a huge difference to all of us who came later.”

Charlie died in 1966, and Brad regrets that he never got to meet him since he was only 2 at the time and living in Colorado. Brad’s first train ride was from Denver to Ottumwa for Charlie’s funeral, and that instilled in him a love of trains that led to a 30-year career as an Amtrak conductor.

Brad’s father was Jay E. Swartzwelter, who grew up in Richland and went to dental school at the University of Iowa before practicing dentistry in Boulder for over 50 years. About 15 years ago, Jay gave the “Welcome Home” speech at Richland’s Homecoming.

One of the family members who spoke at the May 24 bench dedication was Jay’s sister Susan Booth of Fairfield, the youngest of Raymond and Hilda’s five children. She told The Union about how her parents purchased the Richland Café in 1956, around the time when the state was building Highway 78.

“Mom would get up at 4:30 a.m. to make homemade donuts for all the construction people working the road. She’d fix breakfast while Dad got the coffee going,” Susan said. “Construction guys rented rooms from Mom and Dad above the café.”

Susan has vivid memories of helping at the restaurant by peeling potatoes with her brother Mark. Their mother went to beauty school in Ottumwa, and opened her own salon in the back of the restaurant, where she ran a “very good business” until she retired.

Brad said he felt it was important to memorialize both sides of his family for the role they played in shaping the town of Richland.

“For all the kids in my generation, our foundation came from our parents, and their foundation came from these people who gave them the values they needed to thrive,” he said. “Even though we didn’t stay in Richland for the most part, we owe a debt of gratitude to that community. Both families contributed to pay for these benches, and that is our little way of giving back.”