Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
By Kim Ingalls
Nestled among the overgrown weeds, behind an old weather-beaten barn on one of Michigan's centennial farms, lay a treasure that only collectors of rusty iron would ever spot - a huge, silver-gray Nagel steam boiler engine that had been long forgotten by its owners and those who ran it.
The engine is an example of why collecting can mean so much, telling not only its own story, but a story of early 20th century America. The history behind this old engine tells of the "greatest generation" and the promise of success that living in America would bring to those who chose to work hard and live frugally. This piece of machinery was purchased by the Michigan Flywheelers Museum of South Haven in the summer of 1999. Because it was such an important part of southwest Michigan, documenting its history has been a project of museum president Pat Ingalls of Bangor who interviewed many of the people whose life stories were inextricably linked to this engine's past.
About 1936, local farmer George Wallace of Lawrence, Mich., set up a box making factory north of Lawrence that was run by a steam traction engine. George also owned the local sawmill so was no stranger to being a businessman.
The factory, which became "George Wallace & Son Fruit Boxes", was a small family-run business that employed several neighbors. It ran during the spring, summer and fall from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day. Workers earned an one hour lunch break. A local store, Root's Grocery, would come out to the factory each day to sell lunch items to the hungry workmen. Lunchtime and quitting time were signaled by the powerful blast of the steam whistle which could be heard all the way into Lawrence. When production was in full swing, approximately 400 boxes could be made in a day. The factory would shut down in November unless there were special orders for wooden boxes.
George was born on October 29, 1879 on the Wallace farm. One of fourteen children, he married Edna Hinckley, also on October 29th but in the year of 1898 at the ripe old age of nineteen. After taking over the farm from his parents, Seymour and Frances, George and Edna produced three children: Neva, Clark and Frances. George kept busy by doing threshing and other custom work in the area. He was involved in community groups - the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodsman - and was often seen driving his Auburn car around town. Former employee Bert Delong of Lawrence (now deceased) worked for Wallace for many years tending the boiler. One of the interesting facts that Delong remembered about his boss was that he only had stubs for fingers on his right hand except for his thumb.
Delong retired from the box factory which was by then managed by George's son, Clark. Among the many duties that Bert had was to keep the boiler's steam pressure in an acceptable range. Firing the boiler meant adding slab wood or sawdust to the fire box. The operator was also responsible for keeping the water level above the boiler tubes and lubricating the steam engine. Bert fondly remembered receiving an impressive Buliva self-winding watch from Clark at his retirement dinner.
Equipment at the business included a head saw, planner, splitting saw, cut-off saw, log peeler, corner saw, basket nailer and staples. The Nagel engine powered a line shaft into the family barn by using an eight-inch flat belt. Flat belts were used to run all the machinery. For small orders, workers would hook up a 15-30 International Harvester tractor instead of the Nagel. The peeler could also be powered by a 85 hp Ford flathead engine. White wood was used to make the fruit boxes while elm was used for crates. The logs were steamed in a concrete tank that received heat from the steam engine exhaust and were then peeled, revealing the virgin wood.
Irwin Guernsey and his wife Eva, of Lawrence, Michigan, remember working at the factory as teenagers. Irwin, now 78, thought he started at the mill in about '35 or '36. They both worked evenings assembling boxes at the Wallace's house. Irwin's brother Warren, also worked at the mill. They chuckle when they tell the story about a chicken that got tangled up in the gang saw while they were working. As the feathers and blood flew all over the place, workers became alarmed when they saw Evelyn (Clark's wife) covered in chicken blood. They thought that she had been hurt. Irwin did lose an eye while working for Wallace. He hired an attorney and sued for damages, but says that the lawyer took most of the money.
Warren, who lives in nearby Bangor, use to help Irwin cut logs for the factory, using a cross saw. They also had an uncle named Frank who was employed there. Warren remembers making $8.10 a day and working 10 hours a day and six days a week. He left in 1941 to join the service.