STEAM ON OUR CHESTS
Just got the ALBUM today and it is fine. Sure hope you people
will come to our town and stop with us for the night. We could sure
have a nice visit with all this steam on our chests. Art Frase was
here recently. He lives about 75 miles northwest and has 3 very
nice engines. We also met Mr. and Mrs. Blaker at our doings at
Luxemburg where we had a fine time. Got. a kick out of the old Case
at 45 or 50 miles per hour. We sure have crowds at these reunions
and have the best kind of entertainment.
I am wondering how many readers there are now to the ALBUM. Must
have quite a few. I sure like the pictures you carry in it. I am
still shoveling coal for a living and I like it as an old steam man
should stay with steam.
My mother is 83 and still in good health and we have 12
grandchildren so we are pretty busy as you well know. Come see us
when you can.
MYRTLE & GEORGE DeRUYTER, 2638B North 11th Street,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
ZUMBRO VALLEY THRESHERMEN’S ASSN., Inc.
Here is a brief note concerning the Second Annual Reunion of the
Zumbro valley Threshermen’s Association, West Concord,
Minnesota. We never knew a woman who could condense like Mrs.
Trelstad has. (The Editor)
My comments on the show are simple. The show was a huge success
in every way. All the engines pulled good on the brake and the
sawmill was very interesting. The wing feeders on the big
separators were interesting to all because there are very lew left
in this part of the state. And everyone I talked with wants another
show next year. And that is very important.
MRS. MARILYN TRELSTAD, Sec., R. D. 2, West Concord,
Mnnesota.
THE OLD STEAM ENGINE
Sent in by HARRY E. TRUAX, R. D. 1, Hanlin Station, Pa.
It gladdened the hearts of the youngsters as the man in the cab
would acclaim, With a wave, and a blast of the whistle As he
throttled the speed of his train. In its wake, sprang up towns and
great cities, many shops, and the wealth of the farm.
It moved troops, and long trains of equipment, when our nation
was filled with alarm The great power of steam that it symboled,
may soon have passed out of sight, But the memories, so many have
cherished, will always remain, of its might.
A salute to the great locomotive, As it passes the
‘green’ near the bend, Its coming brought gladness, and
riches, Its power paved the way, to the end.
By E. M. Mulcahy
WM. ‘BILLIE’ GRUMBEIN AND WILL BRUCE-
Our thanks to Marcus Leonard, Salina, Kansas, for this
article.
I am attaching notes on Wm. ‘Billie’ Grumbein and Will
Bruce.
Billie Grumbein and I worked as competitors several years and
for the same companies six years, and personally I do not hesitate
to write, I think Billie Grumbein, when at his best, was the best
salesman of threshing machinery in Kansas and probably as good as
any other in the U.S. Billie Grumbein was worthy of a few lines in
the ALBUM.
Will Bruce was a former customer of mine and an exceptionally
good engine man. Theo. A. Holmquist, 69, a former customer of mine,
is to be buried this afternoon.
You will notice, the oldest of the three was 73. Should I hang
around until Saturday, April 23rd, I will be 83 and do not
understand why I have been permitted to be here the last five
years. Many young and worthy men have passed on.
Two letters from readers of the ALBUM were received this morning
Good letters, written by good men, have come from many States and
Canada. Wm. ‘Billie Grumbein, 73, died unexpectedly April 1,
1955 at his home one mile west of Salina. Avery Company employed
him in 1911 as a Block-man on the Gt. Bend Block. No other employee
of that company more full enjoyed the confidence of Avery Company
than ‘Billie’ Grumbein and in 1921 he was appointed Branch
Manager at Salina. ‘Billie’ Grumbein, from about 1914 until
1921, when at his best, was considered the best salesman of
threshing machinery in Kansas.
William ‘Will’ Bruce, 61, of Elmo, Kansas, may have been
a subscriber to the ALBUM. Funeral services for him, were held
yesterday, April 20, at Hope, Kansas. Will Bruce was a fine
man.
