Travel Back in Time at the RV/MH Heritage Museum by Paula Mchugh
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Volume 16, Number 40 Thursday, October 12, 2000 Travel Back in Time at the RV/MH Heritage Museum by Paula McHugh Occasionally, visiting an offbeat museum can be fun. I found this one accidentally through an Internet website devot- ed to “tin can travelers” and decid- ed to visit in person, since it is rel- atively closeby. Elkhart, a town known for the manufacture and sale of RV’s and modular housing, has a little gem of a museum that features vintage RV’s and motor homes where vis- itors can step inside each and get carried back several decades into the land of Ozzie and Harriet. Well, maybe the Nelson family did not travel the open road in any of these homes on wheels, but Lucy and Ricky promoted the motor home industry, if you are old enough to remember their movie “The Long, Long Trailer.” The RV/MH Heritage Foundation and Hall of Fame showcases the his- tory and accomplishments of the recreational vehicle and manufac- tured housing industries in a 15,000 square foot display area where pho- tos and models of a 3-decker mobile home village mix with tourist court favorites such as a 1954 Yellowstone, 1967 Winnebago, 1935 Kumfort, and my personal favorite, a 1957 Serro Scotty Sportsman. The highlight of the RV/MH museum is this 1913 two-bed Earl, pulled by a Ford Model T Runabout. RV/MH Museum Continued on Page 2 Page 2 October 12, 2000 911 Franklin Street • Michigan City, IN 46360 219/879-0088 • FAX 219/879-8070 In Case Of Emergency, Dial e-mail: News/Articles - [email protected] email: Classifieds - [email protected] http://www.bbpnet.com/Beacher/ Published and Printed by THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS 911 Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also Subscription Rates delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. 1 year $26 6 months $14 3 months $8 1 month $3 RV/MH Museum Continued from Page 1 This 1954 Yellowstone still sports its original interior. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore; especially the upholstry fabric. My favorite—the 1957 Serro Scotty Sportsman—offered sleeping and cooking space all within a compact 10-foot frame. Not much longer than 8 feet, the 1935 Kumfort kept campers happy. The rear of the Kumfort. October 12, 2000 Page 3 The 3-decker mobile home village was the brain- storm of designer Elmer Frey. Frey’s idea was to Open ‘til 7 p.m. demonstrate the economical use of space in urban areas Evenings and he established SkyeRise Terrace, Inc. of Marshfield, Wisconsin. Imagine an elaborate, many-tiered park- ing garage, but for mobile homes instead of cars. Two known multiple deck parks were built in St. Paul, Minnesota and in Tennessee, according to Becky wwwElegant.littlehousef Apparelashions.com for the Lindquist, administrative assistant at the museum. [email protected] Conscious Woman The St. Paul project turned out to be a failure, Women’s Apparel Becky said, because water could not be pumped to the upper deck levels during the harsh winter cold. The DESIGNER Tennessee project fared better, according to Becky. Sizes ORIGINALS Unfortunately, Becky was unsure of the location of the S-L Petites southern “SkyRise” experiment. The museum has S-XL Missy Still one of the 1X-3X Women’s models of Frey’s plans and many old newspaper best values in accounts of Frey’s great idea that went nowhere. fashions. In soft- as-cashmere acrylic, this wonderful sweater company can be as casual or dressy as you wish. Special shaping process for a comfortable full-fashioned fit. New Fall Arrivals $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 Fun Fall Bucks Fun Fall Bucks Fun Fall Bucks Worth $10 Worth $10 Worth $10 on Any Regular Priced on Any Regular Priced on Any Regular Priced Merchandise of $50 or more Merchandise of $50 or more Merchandise of $50 or more Expires October 31, 2000 Expires October 31, 2000 Expires October 31, 2000 Not Valid With Other Coupons or Discounts Not Valid With Other Coupons or Discounts Not Valid With Other Coupons or Discounts $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 A model of Elmer Frey’s vision of space-saving housing for urban Clearance 70 - 90% off areas showing modular units stacked upon several levels. The experiment did not work in St. Paul because water piped to the upper levels froze in the winter. Meet Us For Lunch And A Style Show Other vintage photos display a covered wagon, a THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 - ROSKOE’S, LA PORTE gypsy wagon, and clips from defunct motor home enthusiasts’ magazines. They are fun to look at, but THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19 - TIPPECANOE PLACE, SOUTH BEND the real fun at this spacious museum is having the 409 Alexander Street LaPorte, IN 326-8602 On Hwy 35 - 5 Blocks South of Lincolnway opportunity to climb inside each of the rolling homes. Turn Right on Alexander Monday - Friday 9:30 to 7 Saturday 9:30 to 5 RV/MH Museum Continued on Page 4 Page 4 October 12, 2000 RV/MH Museum Continued from Page 3 The historical “units” as the museum calls them, Step inside and check out the linoleum flooring, the date back to 1913. A beautifully restored 1913 Ford drapery fabrics that 50’s retro lovers would delight in, Model T Runabout is displayed pulling a 1913 Earl the thick wood paneling and the beveled glass cabi- trailer in a featured area of the museum. The Earl trail- nets in some of the more deluxe models that date back er opens in the rear with room for just a pair of beds, to the 1930’s. (I defer to my gender here since I did no more. We assume cooking was performed over a not bother to look at the mechanical side of the RV’s common campfire for the traveling adventurers who on display. The treat was in climbing inside and owned this unit. The Earl resembles something like imagining “camping” out for a weekend or a month a gypsy wagon except that the Model T provided the or whatever when the word “Interstate” had not yet horsepower for this camper. been coined. One of the first exhibits to greet you at the museum is a hot pink The 1913 Earl provided two beds, nothing more. miniature travel trailer pulled by a sporty model T. Looks something like a gypsy wagon. Pop-ups were around as early as the ‘30’s. A 1954 Holiday Rambler. This is a Kozy Camp from Oregon. An early pop-up, with four bunks. A 1939 Schult with canvas top and separate screen door. October 12, 2000 Page 5 The non-profit Heritage Foundation is a national organization headquartered in Elkhart, and besides the 15,000 square foot museum, another 3,000 feet of the building is set aside for portraits of members of its Hall of Fame and library. The Hall of Fame rec- ognizes individuals who have had “considerable influ- ence in the development of every phase of the (RV-motor home) industry.” Portraits of 198 pioneers and indus- try leaders are located in the Hall of Fame, and on the upper level, the 800 square foot library includes col- lections of photos, manufacturers’ catalogues, dealer materials, and industry and consumer periodicals. It is the only library in the nation dedicated soley to recre- ational vehicles and manufactured housing, and it is open for both commercial and private study. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are This vintage photo from a manufacturer’s advertisement shows how welcome. The facility is open weekdays from 9 a.m.- convenient bathing can be inside your own motorhome. 5 p.m. (EST) and by appointment on weekends. This 1962 Mallard was donated to the museum by a family which had used it for 30 years. RV/MH Heritage Foundation Administrative Assistant Becky Lindquist gave us a tour of the library. DIRECTIONS To reach the museum from Michigan City, take the Indiana Toll Road to the Elkhart exit (SR 19) and turn left onto Cassopolis (SR 19 south). Continue until you reach Bristol Ave., where you turn right. Immediately get into the left-hand lane and turn at the first stoplight, which is Main St. Follow Main St. into the downtown area and turn right on any street (unless one-way in the opposite direction). Go two blocks and turn left, which will put you on 3rd Street, and follow 3rd under the viaduct. At Martin Luther King Blvd., just after the viaduct, turn right. The museum will be on your right at 801 Benham Avenue. 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