First of all, we wish to apologize and correct an error in the
spelling of a name that appeared in The Golden Roll, May/June issue
of IMA. ORRIN MICHNA passed away last year. We had
incorrectly printed his name as ‘Orrin Machine.’
An error occurred in the July/August issue with the name of
CLAUDE N. HAZELETT who passed away December 26. We incorrectly
spelled his name as ‘Gazelett.” We try very hard to be
accurate, but sometimes it is difficult to read handwriting. If at
all possible, please print names and addresses. Thank you.
MARK ALAN WATSON of Efland, North Carolina, died March 23, 1998.
Mark will be remembered especially for his kindness to others and
willingness to help his friends in any way he could.
He could always be found making shingles with his father,
mother, and wife Millie, using his father’s shingle mill at the
shows. His favorite shows were Silk Hope Ruritan’s Old
Fashioned Farmer’s Day, at Silk Hope, North Carolina; The
Southeastern Old Thresher’s Reunion at Denton, North Carolina;
and Jamestown Lion’s Club Yesteryear in Motion, at Jamestown,
North Carolina.
Mark was delighted with his Frick portable steam engines and
loved to fire them up with his devoted friend, Mark
‘Snuffy’ Osborne. He loved collecting whistles for the
engines. Mark’s brother, Kelly Watson, was instrumental in much
of the engine’s restoration as was their father.
Mark was a graduate of Elon College where he earned his B.A. in
Accounting. He was President of Watson State Mfg., a family
business established by his father in 1965. He was a past Master of
Durham Masonic Lodge #352, a member of Hillsborough Presbyterian
Church and a former member of Yates Baptist Church in Durham.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred Smith Watson; parents, J.A.
and Patty Hodge Watson of Durham; brothers, Tony Watson and wife
Sue of Chapel Hill, and Kelly Watson and wife of Hillsborough;
nieces Patricia and Jennifer Watson, and a nephew, Jim Watson;
father and mother-in-law, Henry and Dorothy Smith of Raleigh; and
sister-in-law, Frances Smith of Apex.
Mark will be missed for his loving smile and that dirty ‘Old
Fashioned Farmer’s Day’ cap; they gave him a new clean one
but he always said it ‘didn’t fit the same!’
Submitted by his wife Millie Watson, 2208 Ira Road, Efland,
North Carolina 27243.
JAMES O. JOHNSON, age 88, died in his sleep March 11, 1998. He
had spent his entire life on the Dane, Wisconsin, farm that had
been in his family since the early 1850s. He took pride in his role
in maintaining continuity of ownership and operation of the
farm.
Jim’s love of steam engines stemmed from childhood memories
of the engine owned and operated by his thresher man father. He
began his personal collection of steam engines with the purchase of
a 20 HP Advance Rumely. Later additions to the collection were a 20
HP Advance, an 18 HP Buffalo-Pitts, a 20 HP Nichols and Shepard and
a 16-48 Rumely. Following each acquisition he spent countless’
hours restoring the engine to prime condition.
Jim became a charter member of the Badger Steam and Gas Engine
Club of Baraboo, Wisconsin in 1964 and served on its board of
directors. He exhibited at least one, usually two, of his engines
at the club’s annual shows in Baraboo, and was often invited to
exhibit at other shows in his vicinity. The many friends he made in
person and through correspondence with fellow steam engine
collectors and enthusiasts were a source of great pleasure to
him.
Jim is survived by two brothers, four sisters, nephews and
nieces.
Submitted by Clarice L. Johnson, 4701 Sheboygan Ave., Apt.
321, Madison, WI 53705.
BRUCE HOGGAN ROGERS, died August 12, 1998 in Salt Lake City,
Utah. He was born January 6, 1940.
Bruce was self-employed at Trans National Transfer and was also
a stockbroker.
Bruce was the best of the best when it came to collecting
‘junk’ anything from old radios, typewriters, antique cars,
tractors, steam and gas engines, books, anything mechanical,
electrical or unusual. His business cards read, ‘an incurable
collector of high-class junque.’
Bruce started the Utah Antique Machinery Association Branch 14
of the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association in Salt Lake
City, back in 1985. He served as president, and on the board of
directors, for many years. He was also past president of the Utah
Beekeepers and the Utah Blue Chip Association. He was active in a
computer club.
Bruce was an organizer, be it an engine show, a club dinner, or
working at the show grounds.
He was an avid traveler and loved sending postcards from
wherever he was. He loved meeting people and had many friends in
the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association.
We will miss you, Bruce, all your antique engine friends.
Submitted by Mark C. Pack, Treasurer, Utah Antique
Machinery, 737 Stratford Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah
84106-1714.
