Chapter One:
Life Before Fairfield
In this first film of the Fairfield History Series, we explore what happened in the area now known as Jefferson County, Iowa before the settlers arrived. Experience the impact of the great glaciers, the movement of prehistoric beasts and the traditions and language of the native peoples of this land.
Soaring aerials of prairie grasses, snippets of interviews with archaeologists as well as Native American tribal historians all help put together the prehistoric beginnings of this one small town in southeast Iowa.
Producer & Director
Dick DeAngelis
Director of Photography
Jason Strong
Film Editor
Geoff Boothby
Sound Editor
Tim Britton
Behind the Scenes
It was a pleasure to have on screen contributions from Dr. Bob Bakker on whether dinosaurs ever existed in Fairfield.
Jason films a clip of local artifact hunter, Gary, while standing in a ditch.
Eurypterids were six foot long sea scorpions, that lived in Fairfield 450 million years ago when it was underwater and located on the equator.
It was a pleasure to have on screen contributions from Dr. Bob Bakker on whether dinosaurs ever existed in Fairfield.
Take a glimpse behind the scenes of Life Before Fairfield. See some of our favorite moments researching and filming this movie.
Watch State Archaeologist John Doershuk, Ioway tribal historian Lance Foster and film Director Dick DeAngelis discuss some of the in-depth research that was done to prepare to film Life Before Fairfield.
Contributors
Interviewees
Bob Bakker
Jonathan Buffalo
John Doershuk
Preston Duncan
Lance Foster
Chérie Haury-Artz
Kim Hollrah
Marlin Ingalls
Gary Nelson
Cindy Peterson
Homes Semken
Anton Till
Historical Contributors
Lynn Alex
Jonathan Andelson
Joe Artz
Mary Bennett
Dale Essick
Loyal Fulton
Agustin Harless
Steve Hyde
Laurie Lane-Zucker
Gene Luedtke
Trina Roberts
Teresa Rucker
Michael L Scullin
Mark Shafer
Mark Wilkins
Mike Zahs
Carnegie Historical Museum
Fairfield Public Library
Global Recordings
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Living History Farms
Morrison Natural History Museum in CO
State Historical Society of Iowa
U of I Mobile Museum
U of I Museum of Natural History
U of I Office of the State Archaelogist
U of I Old Captiol Museum
Sponsors
Corporate Sponsor
Everybody’s Whole Foods
Fairfield Iowa Convention & Visitors Bureau
Greater Jefferson County Foundation
Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Cafe Paradiso
First National Bank in Fairfield
Libertyville Savings Bank
Pat and Barb McMahon
Adam Steck
Belilove Company of Iowa
Eugene L. Copeland
Gene Greco
Jefferson County Farm Bureau
Pat Kessel
Tom Louden
Dr. Robert L Tree
