9374 Roosevelt Street Crown Point, Indiana 46307
This picture appears on an old postcard, which was sent with a
penny stamp on May 31,1915 from Germantown, Nebraska. The addressee
is Mr. Forest Steward, Gaston, Oregon. It reads: ‘Dear Forest
‘This is threshing at our place 1913 myself on engine. Chicken
house is center, house marked about where x. Am sure you’re
your grandma still alive? I must write to Jack and Jim as soon as
possible. Well, write again soon. Bye your pal Johnnie. I think
I’ll ride to Denver this summer. I made this with Fred’s
Camera’.
The ‘x’ referred to is way to the image as seen here.
Someone has identified the engine as a Huber, but does anyone
remember Forest or know who Johnnie was?
The J. I. Case Heritage Foundation held the 8th annual Case
Exposition over the weekend of August 5, 6, 7, 1994, in Irricana,
Alberta, Canada. While visiting the Pioneer Acres Plowman &
Threshermen’s Show, Many took the extra time to visit and enjoy
many other sights of this area. One highlight for many was: the
Reynolds-Alberta Museum, a simple museum, south of Edmonton in
Wetaskiwin, and neighboring the S.G. Reynolds Museum, which Stan
Reynolds found in 1955.
In 1923, Stanley George Reynolds was born in Wetaskiwin. Stan
began developing an early interest in machinery while working,
after school and on weekends, in his father’s garage. By the
age of 18, with a fascination of airplanes, he joined the Royal
Canadian Air Force. In 1945, after leaving the R.C.A.F. and
settling down in Wetaskiwin, he established his own auto dealership
at the age of 22. Soon Stan began to accumulate a massive
collection of cars, airplanes, machinery, military artifacts,
Indian artifacts, toys and other items. In 1955, he decided to
share his collection with others, and founded the S.G. Reynolds
Pioneer Museum. In 1974, Stan approached the Alberta Government
with an even bigger dream.
On December 30th, 1981, Stan donated a significant portion of
his collection to the Province of Alberta; this formed the basis of
the Reynolds-Alberta Museum. Soon a committee was appointed to
review Stan’s collection, and by 1985 the selection committee
had completed its task. 860 artifacts were chosen to represent the
transportation, agricultural and industrial heritage of Alberta.
With additional acquisitions and donations from Mr. Reynolds and
other sources, the collection grew to over 1000 pieces.
Restoration, which began in 1982, remains a continuous process.
By June 26, 1988, ground was broken for the main museum
building, which was officially opened on September 12, 1992. A 1913
Corliss steam engine, which was installed before the construction
of the main museum building, now gives welcome at the entrance of
the museum.
Individual items in the museum range from hot air engine pumping
engines, a horse treadmill and horse sweeps, to stationary,
portable, marine and steam traction engines and the list continues
onto marine engines and gas engines, tractors and crawlers;
eventually ending with wind power.
A fine research library and reference center is available for
workers and visitors. Awaiting visitors before they leave is an
invitation to sign a guest’s register, with room to leave
one’s observations and comments.
On September 21,1994, plowing three acres with a 1911 Nichols
and Shepard, 30 HP and a 12 bottom plow was done in about two
hours. Future plans include, eventually, farming of about 60 acres
entirely with vintage machines.
Considerations continue to be debated over which should be the
next major agricultural piece to be restored.
