The Cornstalk got its name from its fence. The story is that the owner married a child bride from Nebraska or some such place. To make her feel at home, he had this fence put up, because cast iron cornstalks are an acceptable substitute for endless waves of cornfields stretching off to the horizon. The reality is that he ordered the fence out of a mail-order catalog because it was the most expensive fence and he was an arrogant b@stard who wanted to show off his wealth.