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Tree and Garden Club

The above picture was published in black and white in our November - December 2001 The Ignitor. The caption reads: Chet Rapenport with the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum presents a check for $500.00 to Captain Kevin Magoon, President of the Vista Firefighters Assocation. Looking on is Engineer Richard Tilch, Deputy Chief Tom Day and Fire Chief D.Van Zanen. For the rest of the story please see the bottom of this page. Chet is the honcho for the Tree and Garden Club and a member of our Museum Players.
City of Vista Fire Department   Vista Firefighters Local 4107

Above left: 2001 Greg Hayden picture of our Tree and Garden Club, (left to right - front) Paul Kuns, Keith Richards, Myrna Bagge and Chet Rapenport. Sam Hill in back is no longer active, but usually helps with shows. You can see the tall Sorghum Cane behind them, with Chet "The Pumpkin Man" Rapenport holding one of his nick-name-sakes. Above Right: July 26, 2005 photo by David Denny captioned Farmer Chet weeds. Below left and right: October 13, 2005 David Denny pictures show Tree and Garden Club members, and other Volunteers, cleaning Sorghum Cane prior to squeezing the juice out.

Above left and Right. May 27, 2002 Greg Hayden photos of Myrna Bagge and Paul Kuns repainting our front gate logo.

The pertinent portion of Chet Rapenports article that accompanied the top photo on this page:

I am an ex-Volunteer Fireman from New York and I went to college near Wall Street. So the Disaster of September 11th really hit home to me. Everyone kept saying to me that they would like to do something to help the 9-11 Fund. So I thought we could do a Boot Drive. I got Rod's okay, and I called my buddy, Rich Tilch, at the Vista Fire Department. He's the fireman who drives that beautiful 1954 Kenworth Fire Truck in our parade.



He thought it was a great idea and got approval from his superiors. He told me they raised $39,500 for the 9-11 Fund and their goal was $40,000. So the goal we set for the Museum was $500. We put boots at the Gift Shop   Farmhouse   South of the Border and the Bake Shop. Those locations did a great job and we thank you.

On both Sundays, ( of October 2001 Show ) we took the fire truck through the parade and Carmen Gomez and I carried the boots. It was incredible. Kids and parents were stuffing money in our boots and stopped us on the parade route. Rich parked the fire truck and we were still at the announcers stand. When it was all over we made the $500 and Vista Fire Department went over their goal of $40,000.

Events:   Consignment Auctions   Carlsbad Flower Fields  Changes Log  Civil War Re-enactment  Harvest Fair   Hot Blues Engines Festival  New Donations  School Days   Summergrass San Diego   May 2007 New Front Entry Signs   Vista Christmas Parade   Visitors  Weddings
Exhibits:  Blacksmith Shop    City of Guajome Gulch    Farmhouse   Gas Engine Row  Gas Tractors   Short Track Model Railroad   Steam Engine Row   Steam Tractors   Weavers    Tree and Garden Club   Missouri Sorghum Company   Indian River Grist Mill