HUNGRY???!!

Let's go to the Iodine Grill! If we can... I doubt that it still exists. Can anyone from Columbia, South Carolina let me know?

NEWSFLASH!! It still exists although it has been renamed. I attribute it's longevity to iodine repletion in it's early years: Villa Tronco

I  believe that the Iodine Grill was named as such because of the fact that it was located in South Carolina, "the Iodine State", not because of the iodine content of it's offerings. haha! A true iodine grill would offer emphasize seafood, seaweed and produce from iodine-rich soils...

A Lugol's cocktail perhaps?

Another ebay score, a matchbook cover of the "Iodine Grill"
circa 1920s, 1930s:

My new favorite restaurant that no longer exists! The Iodine Grill, Columbia, South Carolina, the Iodine State

           

Hmmm, they specialized in spaghetti? That reminds

me that a carb-heavy diet can result in an increased iodine requirement:

          http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15142639

An Iodine Road Trip

South Carolina Stationery, 1931

       I  LOVE this story! Two young women from South Carolina took it upon themselves to travel cross-country, promoting the high-iodine produce and milk from their home state. In 1929! On their own! What an adventure this must have been!

I have not been able to find anything else on this story. I would love to know if they continued out west... and whether they were able to meet the mayor of New York City... and whether or not they ever needed to use that unloaded gun to fend off suitors.... 

A little background on South Carolina's claim to fame as "The Iodine State":

http://www.scencyclopedia.org/iodine.htm

From the Spartanville, S.C. Journal, 06-11-29

Spartanville, S.C. Journal

Two Charming Girls Spreading Gospel South Carolina Iodine

South Carolina Farm Products are on the boom in New York, due largely to an Iodine campaign conducted by two charming Columbia girls, Misses Gwendolyn Conder and Nena Blackwell.

They are spreading the gospel of South Carolina iodine and selling handsome rosebuds to make expenses as they travel far and wide in their sign plastered motor car. They explained to a New York newspaperman the vegetables and fruit from this area contain more iodine than those from other sections and as results are highly valuable in combatting goiter.

Facts and figures from the South Carolina Natural Resource Commission reinforce all statements the young women make. This pride in what the Palmetto state can produce is one of the incentives behind the travels of the girls through many states, and they are receiving no compensation from any organization, they emphatically told the New York writers. The rosebuds pay as well as pave the way for the two girls. While one drives the car, the other deftly fashions the artificial blossoms which they sell for from 25 cents to $5 each.

They left Columbia with less than $10 June 10, but have never been in need, the girls said.

While eager to go places, see things and meet people, the southern beauties profess to spurn romance for a large placard reads, "not matrimonially inclined". Moreover, they carry a gun with them although it is not loaded. Before striking out for the West they expect to stay in New York for a few days and meet Mayor Jimmy Walker.

"not matrimonially inclined" haha!

All images from my collection

South Carolina~ the Iodine State

South Carolina touted itself as "the Iodine State"from the late 1920s until the mid to late 1930s. from what I have gathered. This was due to the high levels of iodine found in South Carolina produce. Goiter was well known at that time so they began a public relations campaign educating the public on the need for iodine as a goiter preventative in order to sell the produce.

Their license plates read "the iodine state" and "the iodine products state" in various years. I've been looking for one... no luck, yet. I did, however find this lovely first day cover of an air mail first flight. 

There it is in capital letters ~ THE IODINE STATE!!!

Unfortunately high amounts of iodine in produce cannot make up for other habits, practices, or our toxic world. South Carolina ranks # 43 in state rankings of overall health:

South Carolina

I wonder, though, what their health statistics were back in the day...

South Carolina~ "The Iodine State"