The Order Board Volume 4 Number 3 Summer 2002 A Publication of The Haley Tower Historical & Technical Society Message from the President Our annual picnic/meeting is quickly approaching; August 24th. So, I need to report on the State of the Society. We have come a long way since the days when we met during the month of October. Some times in Haley Tower, others in the open field behind it; with crock pots of Jackson’s firehouse chili, a loaf of real good freshly baked bread and a thermos full of Chieko Sprague’s famous herbal tea. In 1998 we decided to take that leap and incorporate with the intention of saving Haley tower. Who knew what that was going to lead to? Now, we have two towers, a couple of out buildings and a depot on the way and we are solvent. All this is a result of hard work by a very dedicated group of people, several of whom drive many hours and make multiple trips to the Museum monthly and contributions by many individuals and organizations. It is also consistent with our Wabash Valley Railroaders Museum “Master Plan” from 1999. This plan and the Museum name came about due to our proposals for grants from various organizations and CSXT asking just what we planned to do with Haley after acquisition. Now, it is time to possibly modify the plan. Our next major acquisition is a small depot of Vandalia Railroad (PRR) origin, which you can read more about later in this newsletter. There has been some discussion among the board as to where to place the depot once we get it here; modifying the master plan. We are looking for member input on this subject and will be discussing it at the annual meeting. Copies of the plan, which included an artist’s rendition of the complex by Jim Rhodes, will be available at the picnic. Or drop us a note and we can mail you one. You can also view Jim’s drawing at our web site http://www.haleytower.org. Also on the agenda, will be the election of two of our officers. The Secretary/Treasurer and a Director position currently held by Jim Rhodes and Ralph Bell respectively are up for election/re-election. There are no mail in ballots or nominations as this was changed at last year’s annual meeting. So, if you would like to vote or step up and run for a position, you will need to attend the meeting. If you have not been to the Museum in a while, you really need to come out and see what your support and dollars are creating. The picnic and annual meeting are free. So, money should not be a problem. th Thank you for all your continuing support and I hope to see you on August 24 . Remember, the meeting starts at 11:30AM with picnic immediately following. Sincerely, I am your President Bill Foster A NEW BUILDING FOR THE MUSEUM? On May 8, at the monthly meeting of the board of directors, Secretary/Treasurer Jim Rhodes announced that he had been informed of a railroad building that might be available to the Society. The building is a depot built during the Vandalia Railroad era and was used in Turner, Indiana. It still stands in Turner but was moved from its original location beside the former right of way to the back yard of a home in that town. The depot building is constructed of wood with dimensions of approximately twelve feet by thirty feet. The building's front has a walk-in door on one half and a rolling freight door on the other half. Jim reported that the owner was willing to sell the structure for $500. Although no official decision was made, the board agreed that the possible acquisition merited further study. Jim and President Bill Foster said they would investigate. The two officers visited the site and spoke to the owner of the building who expressed an interest in saving the structure. The owner gave the impression he would donate it to the Society so it could be moved to the Museum. While there, Bill and Jim took a few photographs of the depot so other board members could see its condition and then vote on whether to save it. Photos by Jim Rhodes & Bill Foster Before the June meeting of the board, Bill Foster met with a representative from the company that moved both Haley and Spring Hill towers, MCF Movers of Newburgh, Indiana. MCF stated that they could move this depot at a cost of $7000 and that it could be moved and reset in two days if a new foundation is in place before they begin their work. Bill reported this information to the board along with word that part of the $7000 cost has already been pledged. After some discussion the board voted to proceed with acquisition and relocation of the building. Board members decided that placement of this depot on Museum grounds should be decided by the membership of the Society because the eventual location of this structure might be a radical departure from the Museum's original master plan. That plan was depicted in a drawing made by Jim Rhodes in the summer of 1999. Copies of Jim's drawing were sent to members in volume 1 number 3 of "The Order Board" and a reduced copy is shown here. The Haley Tower Historical and Technical Society is a representative organization with most decisions made by the elected officers and board of directors. Members are always welcome at the monthly board meetings where they can make their views known before the five board members vote on any topic. The annual meeting provides each member with a better opportunity to voice opinions on the way his or her dues payment is spent and on the future direction of the Society and the Museum. All members of the Society are encouraged to attend the annual meeting and picnic on August 24, 2002. At the meeting everyone will have a chance to express opinions on location and then vote on the topic. The master plan for the Museum may also be discussed to determine if other major changes should be made or if the original plan, with minor variations, should be followed. words on behalf of HTH&TS. Dave Honan, HTH&TS TWO SOCIETIES member and president of the Rose-Hulman Model Railroad Club then greeted the group on their behalf. COLLABORATE FOR The next presentation, "A Brief History of the C&EI 'Whippoorwill' and 'Meadowlark' Passenger ONE GREAT MEETING Trains", was given by Bob Lehnen of the C&EIRRHS. Dr. Lehnen was instrumental in the production of HO The Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad scale models of the coaches used in the two passenger Historical Society held its spring annual meeting in Terre trains. He stated "Good models require detailed Haute on Saturday, April 27. The Haley Tower historical research." That research was the basis for his Historical & Technical Society acted as host and presentation. members of both groups were invited to attend. Several The two trains used eleven streamlined, people are members of both of the groups. Bill Foster, lightweight passenger cars made by the Pullman- president of HTH&TS, arranged most of the details of Standard Company. Seven of the cars were used on the meeting. "Whippoorwill" as it ran from Chicago to Evansville Bill worked with the Signature Inn in town to with stops in Clinton and Terre Haute. The other four reserve a block of rooms with reduced rates for members cars were used on "Meadowlark" on its trips from who wished to stay over the weekend. In return for the Chicago to southern Illinois. business, the Signature Inn provided a meeting room Bob gave details of the construction of the where a social mixer took place on Friday night. The original cars. His sources included Pullman's original HTH&TS provided the refreshments for this gathering plans provided by the Illinois Railway Museum. The and two Haley Society members presented programs on cars eventually were incorporated into the consists of rail related topics. "Hummingbird" and "Georgian" which were trains Ralph Bell gave a slide presentation on "Saving operated jointly by the C&EI and L&N Railroads. By Spring Hill Tower" consisting of photos taken by him 1972 all of the cars were lost to wrecks or scrappers. and Dave Honan from April 30 to May 4 of 2001. That Following Bob's detailed and informative was the week that the tower was cut into three pieces and presentation, the attendees moved to the other half of the moved from its historic southside location to the Wabash Kahn Room for a special event from the Rose-Hulman Valley Railroaders Museum. Model Railroad Club. Dave Honan said a few words The second presentation was a two-part before introducing fellow Rose-Hulman student Mike videotape shot by Joe Dermody. Part one showed "The Raffay who is the club's vice-president. Greenwood Job." Joe followed the activities of this Conrail train as it worked its way from Duane Yard to Greenwood Yard and back in September of 1990. At that time, many businesses along First Street in Terre Haute had industrial spurs connecting them with the railroad. Part two of Joe's video showed CSX signal gangs erecting a new signal bridge at West Haley. Erection of this bridge began shortly after "Day One" in the summer of 1999 and culminated on September 8 of that year. It was part of the signal changes that led to the eventual closing of Haley Tower.