717 Cloverdale Waterloo, Iowa 50703
I was lying in bed the other night looking over some old Albums
and thinking to myself I should contribute more to the magazine. As
I was studying some old Advance pictures I was interrupted by the
phone. On the other end was Gary Yaeger, calling from Whitefish,
Montana. We talked for 45 minutes regarding steam engines, our
families and a possible trip out west. Before we hung up Gary said
something that really got me thinking. He said, ‘Tell your dad
I love him and hope to see him soon.’ Now, I didn’t really
think much about it at first but, as the night went on, I began to
think about it quite a bit and decided that this was a pretty cool
thing for one man to say towards another and really speak of their
friendship.
So after putting off any contributions to the magazine for so
long, I was inspired to write about a lifelong friendship that
developed by chance at a steam show.
If I have my facts correct the year was 1959. The Antique Acres
Old Time Power Show was being held at the Cattle Congress grounds
in Waterloo, Iowa. My grandpa Shelby Bellinger, and my dad Dean
Bellinger were showing their 20 horse Minneapolis at the show. It
was at this show that my dad, 16 at the time, became acquainted
with another 16 year old, Gary Yaeger. Gary had traveled to Iowa
from Montana with a friend after reading about the show in the Iron
Men Album. They became fast friends as they were both young and
ambitious and had a natural love towards steam.
The two of them spent the rest of the show getting to know one
another and running steam engines all over the grounds. In addition
to the Minneapolis they spent a lot of time on Justin Hintgen’s
nine horse Case.
I have also heard my dad and Gary talk about a fondness for
Cliff Vaverka’s 16 horse Reeves, but I do not know if they ran
it or not.
Well, the show ended and Gary had made such an impression on my
grandpa that he didn’t want him to leave! In fact my grandpa
made an invitation to adopt Gary. Having a family of his own made
Gary turn down the offer I guess. But addresses were exchanged and
promises to keep in touch. They did keep in touch for a while but
with jobs and families of their own they quit writing and lost
touch.
My dad often spoke of this show and the friend he made from
Montana and wondered what he was doing and if he was still into
steam. As it had been several years since he had heard from him, I
always wondered if I would ever meet this man that my dad and
grandpa spoke so fondly of.
Then one day in the fall of 1990 my dad got a call. On the phone
was a man who said his name was Gary Yaeger and wanted to know if
he remembered him. Dad said, ‘I sure do!’ Well Gary was on
his way home to Montana after picking up his son Mike at a military
base in the Southwest. He was going to be passing through and would
like to know if he could stop for a visit. Dad readily agreed and
was very excited to see his friend for the first time in 30
years.
This was a night I will always remember. I had my wisdom teeth
removed that afternoon so I couldn’t contribute much to the
conversation but I really enjoyed listening to the two of them.
They still had their boyhood love for steam. Only now they can
share it with their kids and grandkids. This seems to add to their
excitement.
Well, Gary had to leave again but the two of them vowed to keep
in touch. They did and Gary even came back for our show in 1992. He
stayed with us in our camper and entertained us at night with his
‘squeeze box’ and songs. I know the highlight of his trip
was running the Smoliks’ 40 HP Reeves.
We all still keep in touch through pictures, letters and calls.
I am happy to say I have gotten a new friend as well through my
dad. Hopefully we can visit Montana soon and it won’t be
another 30 years between visits.
