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Home About Contacts Directions Events Exhibits The Ignitor David Denny Index Around and About June 2007
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David Denny photo by Greg Hayden
Except where noted otherwise, all words and pictures by David Denny. It seems so hard to get going, sometimes—but I guess I should put something down. The flower fields and finishing the Weavers building are on the front burner, back burner, and all others. Bob Morley is heading up the Flower Fields trying to be there when needed, and trying to do a few projects here. Sometimes he even has time to go home for a few minutes!
Myrna Bagge was doing the telephone end, calling drivers and volunteers and juggling schedules, and so-on. Family crisis intervened however, and so she regretfully had to turn the phone calling over to someone else. That someone else was Barbara Watson. Barb will do the calling from her home and not be at the Flower Fields. Well—maybe just for a day, or so? I told you so. Guys, just don’t over do it, again.
Our Weavers building keeps getting closer and closer to the final inspection and occupancy. Handrails are on the handicap ramp. The doors are up. When the back doors are open, you will be able to step out on a concrete patio and the handicap parking is right level with the pad. Still some grading to be done, but the truck came in with a load of concrete. Picture below:
Also the crew from MW Construction they did a job on the pad, and our gang did some more grading, and it looks so much better. It was looking like rain, but it held off, even if Bob Morley and Keith Richards did put old plywood to keep the run off from pitting the new slab. It was unnecessary. No rain! But the wind did blow. It moved those plywood sheets all around.
The wheat is in the ground and is looking good. It needs rain. The days keep on coming around, just same old-sameold. Flower field Bob Morley spends every day there. Joan, John, and Betty are in, working there. Several days, then a break, then return for more. They left saying they would be back later.
The new wagon is ready to take to the flower fields - picture below.
The electric brakes are not operational yet, but coupled with a tractor with good brakes it will be as good as any of the rest of them. They say it pulls perfect, and handles better than most! The first full weekend of April draws near, this is the weekend of the "Bob Morley" work weekend. I hope we get a better turn out than the last one. The biggest project undertaken for quite a while was the complete transfer of all the weaving looms, from the ‘Club’ Building to the new ‘signed off’ weavers building. Pictured below.
A full crew drove, carried, lifted, pushed, pulled, and sweated made the move! Even the looms and things stored on the mezzanine were moved. Hurry now, let's fill that up again! There was a very good showing of helpers this time. Thanks to all who participated.
I have undertaken a small project, huge for me, 'tho. It's one of the steam engines we received when we got the big Aultman Taylor tractor. The engine is apparently complete, with the exception of a flywheel. The plan is to install the large wheel Steam Engine Row received many years ago. It is the correct diameter, but heavier than the original. I have had much help from several interested parties. Getting into the engine workings show rust, abuse, and more rust. It is not hopeless, however, but There will be no quick fix.
Richard Green, Jake Williams, Travis Durst, Eric McConnon, Guy Horton, Larry Thompson, Gary Clare, and others all have given a helping hand. It seems to be a community project now and I sure don’t mind. The help is appreciated. The engine shows years of abuse. It appears the operators did not know the meaning of the term ‘oil all moving parts’.
The B.S.A were in over the weekend, for their Order of the Arrow ceremony and do a work weekend. Among the handy jobs was done by some small limber boys crawling around under the Weavers building, removing all the cut off blocks left under the floor. We were reminded those blocks would become harbors for termites so they should be removed.They were!
Also the ruts in front of the building were filled. Made a lot better driving carts there. I thought I would drop out of sight when I hit them. Saturday we did a ‘Round ‘em up and move ‘em out’ of three of our old trucks. These were stored outside, in valuable space, looking like junk yard residents. A group came up from the Motor Transport Museum, in Campo.
Pictured -- above -- leaving here as a candidate for the ugly load award. Two trucks loaded on a trailer, with the third on top of the first two. Cecil Morton used our "new" Clark forklift to load to the specification of Bill Jelliman, who was doing the hauling. The Chuck Goebel built fork extensions had to be modified by Bob Morley to fit the larger forks of the Clark.
The flower fields are progressing. Bob Morley is predicting two to four more weeks left. The newest wagon is painted, and ready for service. Since next weekend is supposed to be the heaviest ride weekend, Bob is taking it to the flower fields today, April 24, 2007. Second picture from the top -- above -- on Bob Morleys Trailer.
April Showers Bring May — Weeds! We have had the driest season ever, but in the last week or so we have had 1.2 inches of precipitation (By my gauge). You may be assured the weeds will follow. The ruts the Scouts and Dar Jewell filled were washed out again.
Pertaining to Dar Jewell, he is preparing to go to the Hospital to have a torn rotator cup in his shoulder fixed. He may be ‘out of service’ quite a while.
Wednesday, April 25th 7AM Bill Cue and Roy Volk in to do some ‘weed work’. I see them going around with Hudson type sprayers. Weeds look out! It looked like a snow storm hit up around the blacksmith shop. The trees up there drop ‘cotton’ blossoms in great profusion, covering the ground. Picture below.
No we did not have to get the Snowcat running.
Saturday, April 28th 2007, a major ‘happening’ day at the AGSEM! Rev. Bill Rafnell, joined Roxy Gieroski and Jake Williams in Holy Matrimony. The setting was our stage by the grassy area. Virgil White drove the bride to the altar in Dan Jaques’ 1926 Buick sedan. Pictured below and on front cover
The unrecognizable Steam Team crew was out in force in white shirts and ties. They were driving the 1902 Advance traction Engine usually driven by Jake! At the proper time in the ceremony the melodious tone of the steam whistle sounded. The bride was beautiful in the white gown. Jake dressed in black trousers, white shirt, black vest, tie and black hat was spectacular. Comment was made about seeing him attired this way, his reply was "you'll never see it again, either!" After the ceremony the wedding party and guests retired to our assembly building for the reception. Wow what a day!
Cecil Morton, George Bohn, and Richard Green, started the grand move, the autos and trucks are leaving the Jack Collins (Museum) building, and are going to the recent partially vacated Museum building K (club building). As noted: the Weavers are no longer occupants of our Club Building!
The ‘G&STL’ railroad crew was out doing track work. They have replaced rotten ties and added gravel ballast, and reset the area around the south east curve and headed on north. They are not done yet, but it sure looks better.
We have been having a rash of visitors from out of state, and out of the United States. Several Canadian, one from the UK, one Australian, and a couple from Germany. Also try explaining the purpose and operating procedures of a cream separator to an engineer from Israel, who does not have a perfect command of the English language, as spoken in the US!
Gary Clare, and Larry Thompson, with assistance from Cecil Morton, Ernie Walker, Dar Jewell, and maybe others have cleaned off the concreted bay in the Ashbeck shop building. Our builder Patrick Meyer is to start on the machine shop, soon.
MW construction crew is working on the new kitchen in our assembly building. They have the material to wall it in and make it right. It will be one that will pass health department and safety codes. We’re gonna be ‘uptown’ soon! We will be able to rent the area to groups as ‘complete with kitchen’, legally. Also our ‘potlucks’ cooked in style!
Friday, Keith Richards digs his crop of beets. The plan is to spend tomorrow cooking and pickling beets. Good luck, I am not a beet lover. No matter what you do to them, they are still a beet.
Bud and Barbara Watson came down for a few days. They took a day at the flower fields to give Bob Morley a day off. They had a good run, but Bud’s illness flared up again. He had to make a visit to the hospital, and the next day they went home. I say “Be careful there Bud, you know not to over-do”!
Larry Thompson emptied his hauling trailer, went to the lumberyard and hauled the material for the machine shop partition. Tomorrow they start to work on it.
A framed lockable enclosure for those precision lathes, mills, surface grinder, large 'cut off saw' and other machine shop equipment, for use by professional machinists. For the time being the old shop stays where it is.
Saturday May 5 arrives and so does a small flurry of activity here. The Steam Traction Team was in to do Boiler washes. Jake Williams hauled the Advance over to the ditch, where he gave Eric McConnon pointers in how to prepare an engine for Boiler inspection. Scott Higgins worked on his Russell and Dean Alling put the wheels back on his Minneapolis. Bill Rozokat, the boiler inspector will be here in two weeks, so they have to have everything ready. The beet crew is busy all right.
Virgil White and Bob Morley undertook a huge project. In order to accommodate a projected greater number of displayers at our June Show the big Clark engine was consolidated in a tighter area around the base. Our Museum President Jeanette Stevens has invited several other organizations to show with us, with a strong emphasis on engines.
Our own members have been gravitating towards tractors so strongly, that many are calling us “that tractor Museum”. Needless to say us Engine guys and gals, both gas and steam, would be delighted to see a big showing of ‘chuggers’ for the festivities! Back to the business at hand.
The Clark was moved by the Clark!
Saturday afternoon Virgil cranked up the Euclid ‘A’ frame hoist, drove it down to the SER storage area, and with the help of Dean Alling and Jake Williams lifted ‘my’ Erie city steam engine from it’s secluded spot, placing it on a concrete block closer to the fire pit. It will be a lot easier for me to work on, there. Yes Virginia that sucker (the Euclid) runs! I am beginning to believe in global warming, for it has turned HOT.
I don’t care what a couple from New Mexico says, it’s hot! Tuesday still hot, so is Wednesday. The partition is framed and standing on the concrete, designating the machine shop north wall. It is almost inspirational to watch a professional work. Get on with it, Patrick.
Cecil Morton is in the Midwest for a month. I hope he stays out of the way of those twisters they are having. Dar Jewell is still waiting for word from about 3 or 4 different doctors concerning his surgery. When is it? Thursday is a day for visitors, or so it seems. I show 3 groups around. I am not sure whether they had stopped at the gift shop and paid admission, or not. I am about done with this and I am ready to get it spruced up to give to Greg, tomorrow. THE END!
Above April 08, 2007, as part of Bob Morley Work Weekend, planting new sign poles at our front entrance. Left to right: Richard Green, Rudy Dremely, Bob Morley, Keith Richards and Sharon Martin. Below, also as part of BMWW, moving our Museum Weavers from our Club House to our new Weavers Loom Barn. This is a view of the west side of the building.
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