Otterbein, Indiana
On a drizzily April Sunday afternoon and evening 130 members and
guests of the Illiana Steam and Hobby Club met to pop off the
winter’s steam at the Pine Village School which is near the
Illinois line. For the many who had not seen each other all winter,
the meeting was a glad reunion. Everyone was happy to see Jim
Roberts, wife and daughter, of McClean, I11., and Donald Ostermeier
and Elvin Fishburn of Biffalo, I11., near Springfield. After
admiring each other’s hobbies during the afternoon a bountiful
supper was served by the Methodist Church in the school dining
room.
Music was provided by three teen girls. Dr. A. C. Shuman,
Lafayette, amazed everyone with his magic tricks. For those who
cared to stay more steam movies were shown by Lloyd Frazier,
Otterbein.
At the business meeting in the afternoon, the following officers
were elected: President, Leonard Mann, Otterbein; Vice-President,
Carter Dalton, Ambia; Sec.-Treas., Glenn J. Brutus, Pine
Village.
Steam articles exhibited were: a model Nichols & Shepard
engine and model mill engine one-fifth in. scale, by Carter Dalton,
Ambia; in model locomotive will get up to 100 lb. of steam and pull
7 adults by Otto Klutzke, Lafayette; model stationary engine by
Ezra Coats, Templeton; contractor’s blue print for 110 Case
used in 1912 by Glenn Brutus, Pine Village; 5 chime home-made steam
whistle, Rex Johnson, Terre Haute; Cretor pop corn engine and a
model upright, Leonard Mann, Otterbein; model water pump, Charles
Dilden, Dayton, Ind.; 2 model steam engines, Charles Jakes,
Lafayette.
On exhibition featured three models of different types of
covered bridges with photographs and pictures of covered bridges
taken all over the U. S. and Canada by Dr. and Mrs. George Gould,
Lafayette. They also showed an interesting collection of buttons
featuring insects.
Another display was four frames of stamps which had trains on
them, frames of Christmas seals from 1907 to date, trains and
engines on Indiana postcards, and cacheted covers with engines on
them about 1900. Mrs. Rex Johnson, Terre Haute, showed these along
with a rug and a quilt made of ribbons, an afghan, and a beautiful
red shawl made of curtain material with yarn run through it.
Francis Cobb also showed stamps.
Mrs. C. C. Johnson, Attica, showed two cases of dolls made and
dressed in the costumes of other countries and a collection of
miniatures, even to a pair of dressed fleas.
Another attractive exhibit was shown by F. I. Merritt,
Lafayette, whose hobby is raising plants. He had potted pines, and
clumps of flowers surrounding a pool with rocks and goldfish in it.
A model Conestoga wagon drawn by a team of eight carved wooden
horses in a setting of other carvings of animals was done by James
Hooker, Pine Village.
Donald Ostermeier, Buffalo, I11., showed a model of a patented
jump gate which was made by his father in 1909. Mrs. Eva Tullis,
Lafayette, showed map handkerchiefs and oil and water paintings.
All kinds of old Americana were displayed by Elmer Bowman, Oxford,
even to a noodle cutter. Mrs. Laura Minninger, Lafayette, had
braided and hooked rugs and eight frames of buttons sorted as to
political, state seals, ec.
Stuffed toys were shown by Miss Amy Johnson, Attica, and
arrowheads were exhibited by Miss Louella Westring, Attica, and
Mrs. Leonard Mann.
Very ancient phonographs were shown by Ernest Cox and Glen
Roberts, Lafayette. Antique dishes and plates were exhibited by
Mrs. Reed Greenberg, Ambia, Mrs. Margaret Goddard and Mrs.
Josephine Pearce, Pine. Village.
Mrs. Al Trook, Lafayette, showed how pictures of old locomotives
could be used on everything from glasses and cups to scarf’s,
hankies and stationery. Charles Jakes, Lafayette, had a beautiful
exhibit of wood turning made into all kinds of articles and using
woods from all over the world. A collection of iron primitive toys
was shown by Mr. and Mrs. Dale Moore, Crawfordsville. Movies of
model live steam locomotives on their tracks were shown by Al Trook
who has the third longest track in the U.S. located south of
Lafayette, Indiana.
A letter and photographs were received from Fred McPhail in the
hospital at London, Ontario, Canada saying that he was improving
each day. In conclusion, the greetings of this Club go out to the
steam fans all over the States and Canada. It won’t be long
till the first outside meeting when we can all see each other
again.
