THE
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911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360
Volume 21, Number 22 Thursday, June 9, 2005
Choo Choo Choose a Caboose in North Judson
by Paula McHugh
The caboose has just about disappeared from the American landscape—just as the steam locomotive has. Hesston has kept the steam train alive. And members of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson have done the same with cabooses and other relics of train history. Those of us over the age of 30 can remember that last car on a long, straight string of boxcars that we watched, and maybe counted, as we sat at a crossing waiting to get to the other side of the gates. The caboose, as someone artfully put it, was “the exclamation point at the end of the train.” One of this writer’s ambitions—modest as it is—has been to ride inside a caboose. And, as Hank Williams put it, to “stick your head right out the window and feel that (southern) breeze.” This quest comes from years of sitting at crossings before autos had air-conditioners in places like Hammond, and Griffith, and even Chesterton back in the days when anyone caught in a long line of automobiles looked forward to seeing that last car click along the steel rails. The wait at the crossing gate gave some of us time to let loose our imaginations, wondering what it might be like traveling across this big country of ours in one of those classic rolling red cars. Ride the Crumb Box Or, usually red. Different cabooses were painted brown, yellow, green, and even red, white and blue dur- ing the 1976 Bicentennial. Different lines differentiated their companies that way. In railroad lingo, the last car on the track had a number of different names: crumb box, dog house, hut, crummery, cabin car, palace and a few others. It’s the place where the brakeman sat— up in the cupola—to keep an eye on the track. It was his job to check for smoke on the rails (indicat- ing a need for lubrication) and to spot other trouble, such as car derailments up in front of him . Another model of caboose had a bay window and just one level instead of a cupola. Short-run cabooses were used for transfers only; those cabooses had no cupolas or bay windows. Much of the technical stuff is best left to rail fans, Everyone should take a ride in a little red caboose at least once. At North Judson, when you buy your ticket, it’s good all day. Caboose Continued on Page 2 THE Page 2 June 9, 2005
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Caboose Continued from Page 1 who are able to rattle off stacks of information and terms totally foreign to this writer. The members of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum (HVRM) are eager to share what they know. A core group of about 40 spend a lot of their time at their depot and train yard in North Judson, painting, cleaning, fixing, and planning. Craig Rohrer, a member who moved to North Judson from Downers Grove, showed us around the indoor museum and gift shop. They’ve rebuilt track on the old Erie right-of-way so that visitors can enjoy a mile-and-a-half trip in a Inside the Depot and Shop caboose car, and on special days, such as North When we arrived at the HVRM at 507 Mulberry Judson’s annual Mint Festival (Father’s Day Weekend, Street in North Judson, we were greeted at the depot June 18 & 19) rides on the Hoosier Valley Motor Car by Craig Rohrer, a former Downers Grove resident. will be offered. Those who might want to immerse them- Craig showed us around the gift shop, which had selves in learning to actually drive the train can originally been the storage area where crates of reserve a spot as Guest Engineer. Those 18 and older chicks and other commodities would be waiting to be will be given 30 minutes of supervised diesel locomotive loaded onto boxcars. On the other side of the depot— operating experience on either a 4-axle or 6-axle. If the original waiting area—old photographs of the a caboose ride is not your thing, and if the Guest town’s early railroad history lined the walls. A display Conductor program is more than you’re looking for, case full dinnerware from the Ambassador sat in then you might want to opt for a locomotive cab ride one corner, and other display cases showed off other instead. Except for Mint Festival Weekend, the rides relics from bygone days. are scheduled Saturdays only. The depot opens at 9 Caboose Continued on Page 4 am, and the rides begin at 11 am.
The North Judson depot houses an indoor display of historical railroad The massive #2789 steam engine formerly sat in a Peru park before it items, and its gift shop is stocked with clothing, toys, came to North Judson in 1988. antiques and much more. THE June 9, 2005 Page 3
Open ‘til 6 p.m. Evenings
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Caboose Continued from Page 2 Sandwiched between the gift shop and museum, the dispatcher’s office displayed tools long since replaced by modern technology. We got to operate the signal switch and were introduced to three young rail fans: 5-year old Cory, his big brother and conductor-for-the- day, Kyle, and Kyle’s friend, William.
5 year old Cory is a very young rail fan here today with his brother, Kyle.
With arm out the window and finger on the camera’s shutter, our caboose cupola view showed no trouble up the line. At one time, some 125 trains passed through North Judson, among them the Pennsey, New York Central, C & O, Erie, and Monon. Today, visitors line up at the depot on Saturdays (in season) for a short ramble down the member-installed tracks. Kyle collected tickets from a crowd of 25 among us. Two cabooses were ready for us, and Kyle made sure that this writer could sit high up in the cupola in the last car. Member and “brake- man” Fred Boyer let us know that the high perch reserved for us meant keeping an eye out for any “trou- William and ble” up ahead. And member Les Beckman joined us, Kyle, two local providing more information about the HVRM and its youth, help at efforts to restore the rolling stock and more in the non- the museum on Saturdays. profit club’s collection. Surprisingly—or not—only a handful of the 260 HVRM members have actual rail- road backgrounds, we were told.
Since our caboose trip was still 30 minutes away, Kyle, a local second-grader, offered to show us around the shop, where the #2789 Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive was being restored. The 230-ton iron horse dwarfed us both. One of the engine’s claims to fame was its assignment of pulling a section of the Friendship Train through West Virginia in 1947. The steam engine formerly sat in a Peru park before it came to North Judson in 1988. Kyle’s job was to make sure everyone boarded the train on time for its short journey, but he had time Brakeman Fred Boyer let us know that the high perch reserved for us to show me a few other things before our departure, meant keeping an eye out for any “trouble” up ahead. such as the pieces of a 100-foot Bethlehem Steel Troop Car Built in Michigan City turntable donated by Conrail, rails and spikes and sig- Les said that members are working on another track nals and switches and other equipment. Decked out that will take passengers on a longer excursion. But in conductor’s hat, with a pocket watch in one hand for now, visitors can enjoy the 20-minute ride and view and walkie talkie in another, Kyle kept his eyes and several other vintage cars on the museum’s proper- ears open so we would not be tardy for the train’s depar- ty. First, though, Les pointed out the caboose’s former ture. kitchen and sleeping areas that workers used on THE June 9, 2005 Page 5
long runs. A cast iron stove, an ice box and sink occupy one half-of the car, and traces of upper bunks on the back end. Open air porches (think: whis- tle stops) flank each end of the red, cupo- la-ed caboose. The HVRM When is the last time you saw a wood-sided boxcar? has six caboos- car and several other Nickel Plate cars dating as far es, but only back as 1936, and many others. The wood-sided two are used Wabash box car #49119 was built in October, 1929 and for excursions. had been assigned to South Bend’s Studebaker plant. The one in The caboose was equipped with ice box, sink, Privately-owned cars “parked” at the museum include and cast iron stove. which we did two 1920’s-era South Shore cars. And then there are not ride has an electrical platform lift for visitors in the miscellaneous items, which include a Nickel Plate wheelchairs. Road Bracket Mast Signal, an Erie Semaphore sig- Of particular interest to Beacher readers is the Norfolk nal, and others. & Western Troop Car #565719, which is open to tour All that, and lunch wagon snacks, too, are part of at no charge. It was built in September, 1943 in the experience of visiting the Hoosier Valley Railroad Michigan City by the Pullman-Standard Company. Museum. Internet users can find out more by logging Members have partially restored the interior with 3- on to the museum’s website: http://hvrm.railfan.net. tiered bunks on one end of the car. A trio of sinks stands The depot’s phone number is (574) 896-3950. witness to where the troops would tidy up before disembarking. On the other end of the car sits a scale-model display of North Judson’s railroads in its heyday. Towering above the depot, the HVRM’s Erie semaphore.
Of particular interest to Beacher readers is the Norfolk & Western Troop Car #565719, which is open to tour at no charge. It was built in September, 1943 in Michigan City by the Pullman- Standard Engineer and Company. HVRM’s Board Members have President John partially LaOrange in the restored the Chessie. interior with 3- tiered bunks on To get to the train museum, take 421 south from one end of the Michigan City to State Route 10. Turn left on S.R. 10 car. and follow it into North Judson. At the intersection downtown, turn left when you see a gas station with The HVRM has, in addition to the 2789 as it is fond- a big ice cream cone and proceed several blocks until ly called, several switcher engines, a Purdue 20-ton you see a sign pointing to the museum. Follow the signs locomotive crane, a Nickel Plate RR baggage/automobile to 507 Mulberry Street. THE Page 6 June 9, 2005 Tom Chapin in Concert Reminder: well known entertainers Tom Chapin and Josh White Jr. will be appearing in concert with the “All God’s Children Community Choir” on Sat., June 11 at First Assembly of God, Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan. It’s the second annual summer “We Sing” concert benefiting the “Calling All Colors” educa- tional program for cultural understanding. Activities for this great afternoon of family entertainment begin in the lobby at 2 p.m. (MI time) with fun opportuni- ties provided by Curious Kids Museum. The concert begins at 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time: $10 for Treat Him Like Your Hero adults ages 13 through 64, $5 for children and senior citizens. Prices will be $7 and $12 at the door. For Give Him Whittaker House for Men complete concert information or advance tickets, phone the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra at 269/982-4030.
D.A.V. Sponsors Benefit Hog Roast There will be a Hog Roast on Sat., June 11th, at the Michigan City Fish & Game Club. All proceeds will EXCEPTIONAL CLOTHING FOR MEN & WOMEN to to the Social and Learning Institute. From 3 p.m.- 26 North Whittaker St., New Buffalo, MI • 269.469.0220 10 p.m., you can eat all you want for $5. Beer will also OPEN DAILY be sold.There will be 50/50 drawings for chances to www.whittakerhouse.com • toll free 1.888.469.1011 win cash and live music by “Old Habits” featuring a mix of 50s & 60s tunes as well as country. THE June 9, 2005 Page 7
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Check out our entire inventory at www.RubloffHarborCountry.com RUBLOFF OF MICHIGAN, INC. 439 S. Whittaker Street New Buffalo, MI. 49117 VM 269/469-8735 • 888/257-5800 Bonnie “B” Meyer 219/874-2000 THE Page 8 June 9, 2005 Flapper Fashions on Exhibit It was the era of speakeasies, bobbed hair, bathtub gin, and jazz. Calvin Coolidge was in the White L House, and Coco Chanel was designing fashions. She ook and others were creating a distinctly different look from no further the previous generation. Hemlines were shorter, waistlines were dropped, fabric was swinging, and every- than one was having fun. Showcasing costumes of this period is “Flapper Fashions: Roaring ‘20s in the Oliver Mansion,” on view now through Sept. 25 at the Dan Northern Indiana Center for History. The exhibition features over 35 costumes from the 1920s. Coffey The exhibition’s centerpiece, from the museum’s James Lewis Casaday Costume Collection, is a dramatic fuchsia satin wrap, featuring a white satin lining, and FOR THOSE WHO must have Lake front and sleeves trimmed in gray fox. It is inge- Michigan views from niously designed to drape gracefully from the asym- inside and out for metrical, one-button closing. well under a million A black chiffon and crepe dress, perfect for an dollars, we present afternoon of Mah Jong in the 1920s, is on view in the this bright, renovat- mansion’s dining room. Detailed with a multi-col- ed, 2 bedroom cot- ored and gold embroidered chinoiserie design, the dress tage that can readily features a sheer overskirt with horizontal bands of black sleep 8, or be a crepe. friendly place for 2. A sky blue silk organza, worn by Mrs. J.M. Studebaker, has three layers of gossamer fabric woven with silver threads and fashioned into an ankle-length handkerchief hemmed skirt. Wide pan- The cottage was ren- els drape from the shoulder, blousing at the waist over ovated several years bowed ribbons. The 1920s gown would have been ago and is really in appropriate for such occasions as dinner at the cap- immaculate condi- tion. We were not kid- tain’s table aboard a trans-Atlantic steamliner. ding when we said A green chiffon dress might have been the outfit of that the cottage choice for a weekend house party—a popular method sleeps 8. 6 of them of socializing among the wealthy in the 1920s. Loops will fit in the large loft of beading glisten on the bodice, dropped waist, hip bedroom that has its and hem. Crystal pleats in a handkerchief hemline own half bath. cascade in panels on each side. The 1920s was a period of great optimism. Women had received the vote, Wall Street was booming and “American’s business was business,” according to Sit and watch Lake Coolidge. Fashion was a good reflection of the peri- Michigan at any time od’s light-heartedness. The drama that would be of the day or night unfolding at the end of the decade was nowhere in sight. from your front deck. Admission to the exhibit is $8/adults, $6.50/seniors Picture perfect. (60+), and $5/youth 2-17 and college. Tours are offered Price perfect at Tues.-Sat., at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.; Sun. at 1 & 2 $710,000 p.m. The Northern Indiana Center for History is located at 808 W. Washington St., South Bend. Phone: 574/235-9664 or www.centerforhistory.org
T: 269.469.5635 E: [email protected] Vacation Bible School W: remaxhc.com First United Methodist Church, 121 E. 7th St., invites all children preschool through grade 5, to attend Vacation Bible School June 13th through June 17th. The hours are 9 a.m. until noon. Phone the church harbor country at 872-7200 for additional information and to pre-reg- ister your children. THE June 9, 2005 Page 9 michiana log...