This theme issue of "The Goldfinch" focuses on the main streets in Iowa's past. Residential and business patterns are discussed with an analysis of successes and failures. Efforts of young Iowans involved in preservation of a historic town square in their community are described. Activities, fiction selections, and nonfictional accounts of present and past main streets are included. An article on Main Street life describes the sights and sounds of main street long ago with photographs from earlier days. Another article about changes on main street recounts memories of modernization efforts including electrification in cities, livery stables yielding to parking garages, the new architecture resulting with window shopping, and expansion to shopping malls from the local general store. An article on main street festivals chronicles people's unchanging fascination with parades and celebrations on main street. (EH)