Name/Title
Toolbox from railroad employee.Description
My grandfather, Ralph Turner, was a mechanic in the round house in Altoona maybe as early as the 1940's, but more likely in the 1950's and early 1960's. His brother Charlie Turner was a carpenter on the railroad working out of Altoona during the same time. Great Uncle Charlie preceded grandpa Turner in death, leaving his things to Grandpa. Grandpa, then left some of Charlie's things to me when he, Grandpa, passed away. Included in the things left to me was Charlie's BIG tool trunk full of tools that he used while working on the mostly wooden train cars of his time. The tool trunk is an admittedly unusual item containing a few equally unusual tools. I have been looking for a place to donate the tool chest and tools. I have thought about the railroad museum in Colfax, but because Charlie and Grandpa Ralph both worked out of Altoona, I thought I should check with your organization first to see if you had any interest in the chest and tools or if you knew of someone else who might be. For what it's worth, my other Grandfather, Harold Marine, and his father, Fredrick (Fritz) Marine put in a total of 100 years with Harold as brakeman and conductor and Fritz as engineer on the Milwaukee Road, with Grandpa Harold working out of Altoona his final few years after the Milwaukee Road closed their depot in Menomonie.
The above history was written by Gary Marine and he and his family donated the tool box to the Altoona Historical Society.Acquisition
Accession
2024.23Acquisition Method
Donation