Behind the Scenes
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THE TM 911 Franklin Street Weekly Newspaper Michigan City, IN 46360 Volume 30, Number 30 Thursday, July 31, 2014 Behind the Scenes Volunteers Start Their Day Early to Ready Steam Museum for the Public by Kayla Weiss ver since it opened nearly 60 years ago, “Hesston has always been a place for families. Hesston Steam Museum has been a fam- That’s evident in our clientele and in the people who ily affair, the gates opening so new gen- love to work here,” Ted Rita, Hesston Steam Mu- erations can experience its steam-powered seum director and general manager, said. Etribute to the past. “I have always brought my son here, but now While the all-volunteer attraction opens to the that he’s getting older, spending more time with his public at 11:30 a.m. each weekend, those who get friends, I don’t get to see him as much as when he it up and running begin their day much earlier. It was little. But, he still loves Hesston, so this is one takes a considerable amount of work, and elbow place where we can come together, spend time to- grease, to make what families eagerly anticipate gether, and bond. I will always cherish that.” appear so seamless. Continued on Page 2 Beacher writer Kayla Weiss, experiencing Hesston Steam Museum for the fi rst time, greases up the Smith Myers & Schnier Stationary Engine. THE Page 2 July 31, 2014 THE 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.thebeacher.com/ PRINTED WITH Published and Printed by TM Trademark of American Soybean Association THE BEACHER BUSINESS PRINTERS Delivered weekly, free of charge to Birch Tree Farms, Duneland Beach, Grand Beach, Hidden 911 Shores, Long Beach, Michiana Shores, Michiana MI and Shoreland Hills. The Beacher is also delivered to public places in Michigan City, New Buffalo, LaPorte and Sheridan Beach. Inc. was chartered as a non-profi t organization, and Behind the Scenes Continued from Page 1 the original La Porte County Threshermen club was or those unfamiliar with Hesston Steam absorbed and dissolved. Museum, 1201 E. County Road 1000 North, More than 10 years after its formation, Hesston here’s a little history. Steam Museum began weekend operation of the FBack in 1956, a group of steam-engine enthusiasts railroad. Additional buildings were erected, and purchased 22 acres of land overrun with hundreds more equipment was brought in for restoration and of thorn apple trees, which were quickly cleared. A exhibit each year. The Shay locomotive, Hesston’s dam was built to create a source of water for the largest on display, was brought in, completely re- engines, and the group, then called the La Porte stored and dedicated on Aug. 30, 1975. Construc- County Threshermen, held its fi rst show in 1957. tion on the new site started two years later and Traction engines were the main attraction. Over the was completed in July 1982, marked with a Golden next few years, many new items were added to the Spike ceremony. grounds, including the saw mill, electric plant and The museum has survived tragedy — a fi re in Browning Crane. May 1985 took a devastating toll on the large rail- In 1964, a couple of members purchased a steam road equipment — rebuilt itself and added to its locomotive from Elliott Donnelley of Lake Forest, Ill. list of offerings. Today, according to Rita, about 15 Donnelley had taken an immense interest in Hess- to 20 volunteers arrive each weekend, coming not ton’s accomplishments. Through him, the remain- just from La Porte County, but also the Chicagoland der of Hesston’s 155-acre site was purchased and a area, South Bend and Michigan. About half camp unique dual-gauge railroad constructed. On Dec. 16, out on the grounds, making the museum their home 1968, the La Porte County Historical Steam Society for the weekend. Ted Rita (centers) enjoys breakfast with his fellow workers. THE July 31, 2014 Page 3 he day I arrived at Hesston, curious to see what it takes to operate the steam museum, Rita geared me up in a spare pair of Hesston Toveralls and my very own pink conductor’s hat. I was ready to get my hands dirty and help out. First, Rita dropped me off at the electric power plant and stationary engine. Despite the fact that the fi re was already lit in the boiler, there was still plenty of work to be done. Before the stationary en- gines could be started, they needed to be properly and thoroughly greased. After leading me around one of the engines to show me the different pieces, they took me to the Smith Myers & Schnier Station- ary Steam Engine. Oil can in hand, it was my re- sponsibility to make sure all of the different pieces were greased for the day’s work. Once that was fi nished, it was time to join those at the saw mill to begin measuring all the lumber on the schedule to be sawed for Hesston and its clients. Ross VanOverberghe measures lumber to be cut. Ross VanOverberghe, head sawyer for Hesston’s saw mill, pulled out his special ruler and began measuring each piece of lumber to fi gure out how many boards he could get for each order. Then, it was time to show me how to change and sharpen old, dull teeth. This time around, not many teeth needed to be removed and sharpened, so the blade check was short and easy. Continued on Page 3 If You Go Hesston Steam Museum will mark “American Family Day” on Sunday, Aug. 3, with a special family value pack. Any family — up to fi ve mem- bers — can buy a special three-ride ticket for $25. Normal train fares are $5, or $3 for children 3-12. Visit www.hesston.org for more information. THE Page 4 July 31, 2014 no later than 8 a.m. That way, the Behind the Scenes Continued from Page 3 engines have enough time to build up the right amount of heat and steam. “You want to make sure that the boilers have plenty of time to heat up so that there isn’t too much pressure being forced upon the metal all at once,” said Dan, a volunteer in charge of the amuse- ment park-size railroad. “Around 9:30 a.m., the pressure gauge will start to show a slight fl uctuation, so while we wait for the pres- sure to build up, we go over every square inch of the engines to make sure everything is in working or- der. And guaranteed, every morn- ing, there is something to fi x. “Guaranteed,” he said with a laugh. Kayla Weiss anxiously awaits her ride on the narrow gauge steam engine. Volunteers at the saw mill cut pieces of wood to order. Like ev- Finally, I was taken over to the narrow gauge erything else at Hesston, the mill is powered by railroad where a full-size locomotive was waiting to steam, which means the sawyers must make sure be taken on a test ride before families began show- they get wood chopped and fi res lit just as early as ing up with their children. So, I hopped up into the those working the large steam engines. When ev- small engineer’s space, barely 6 inches from the erything has been lit and opened up, the sawyers scalding fi re that powers the locomotive. Feeling join everyone else at Doc’s Soda Shop for their tra- every little bump as the train hurtled across the ditional breakfast. tracks, we ran the train along the full course of the Mid-morning, volunteers and staff come togeth- railroad, testing the train along the tracks to make er at the popular, vintage soda shop to enjoy home sure everything was operating smoothly. cooked food and lighthearted conversation. Plates clatter and conversations echo off of the walls as o what did I learn about life behind the scenes they all kick back and relax for a little bit before at Hesston? everything revs up into high gear. First on the order of business is to pull out Sthe locomotives that are going to be used for the day. Then, wood must be chopped to start fi res in all of the boilers. Once the fi res have been lit, everyone meets up at Doc’s Soda Shop for breakfast, giving the boilers enough time to heat up and make steam to power the various mechanisms running that day, including: the Hesston saw mill; the electric power plant and stationary engine; the steam traction engines; the vintage amusement steam trains; and the 1/8 scale handcrafted model trains. The bigger the boiler, like that found on the Shay locomotive, Hesston’s biggest locomotive, the earlier volunteers must light the fi res. So, those working with the larger steam engines and the sta- tionary engines must get fi res lit A volunteer drops off a load of “atomic blocks” to help keep the boilers fi red up. THE July 31, 2014 Page 5 Smaller engines like the 1/8-scale models have a taught me everything I know. He was extremely tal- little more time before the fi res need to be lit be- ented with these machines. He would build model cause there isn’t as much steam needed to power engines based off of original, full-size engine plans.