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Weekly News November 7, 2005Description
"The people of Auburn Heights": My father, T. Clarence Marshall (1885-1969) for whom the Museum is named, had a myriad of hobbies during his lifetime. In previous editions, I have told of some of the first cars he owned. Before that, however, at age 12 he became interested in photography. A distant cousin, Horace Dilworth, also a many-talented man who lived near Centerville, had made a name as an early local photographer, and Israel and Lizzie Marshall told their 12-year-old: "If thee really wants to learn how to take pictures, we must take thee over to see Cousin Horace Dilworth". So, in 1897 or '98, he dressed in his best suit and went for the visit. The first thing Horace did was to take HIS picture, and we have a print of that photo with my 12-year-old father standing on a stepping block at the Dilworth farm. His parents bought him a reflex camera with plate holders from Sears, Roebuck and Co., and he began his picture-taking career by using Stanley Dry Plates. As with any new toy, it was used a lot, and many prints exist taken between 1898 and 1900, some of them good, some not very good. About 5 of the good ones are enlarged on the wall of the Reception Room in the Museum. Dad had many cameras during the next 50 years, the largest of which was a dry plate camera which made 12 x 20 contact prints. Several photos of the Yorklyn mills were taken with this camera between 1914 and 1922. His first 35 mm. camera was a Leica about 1935, and toward the end of his life he was interested in the instant Polaroid Land cameras. In 1925 when I was one year old, Dad bought his first movie camera, and took many 16 mm. black and white movies of family, Easter egg hunts, Rehoboth Beach, and his favorite sport, trapshooting. He bought his first Bell & Howell sound projector about 1934, and whenever evening guests were entertained at Auburn Heights, they had to endure a 15-minute sound film in the living room. Most seemed to enjoy it, or so they said.
On short notice, 20 members and guests participated in a 28-mile steam car run yesterday, November 6. Four of our non-condensing Stanleys plus Bob Wilhelm's newly-restored 1918 Model 735 took part. It was a glorious November afternoon with temperature in the low 70's! All made the trip with a minimum of trouble and almost non-stop except for a snack stop at Applebee's Restaurant near Kennett Square. The Mountain Wagon, the Model 87, the Model 76, and the Model 607 all got their exercise. We were especially glad to welcome Nancy Gardner Powlison, Ryan Cleary, and Ed Baldwin's wife and sister among the participants, and it was good to see John and Robert Hopkins again.
In preparation for our "Auburn Heights by Lantern Light" event on November 19, we are having a dry run THIS THURSDAY NIGHT for those who've expressed an interest in being outdoor historians for walking tours around the grounds. I've prepared some text, and Ruthie says she learned a few more things about her home. The electric candles are in most of Auburn Heights' windows, and we'll try to envision how our luminaries will work around the driveway. Bill Schwoebel wants to experiment with some of his lanterns to see how they can best be used. If we need a second dry run or dress rehearsal, it will have to be on Tuesday evening, November 15. It is hoped that at least four or five will want to be historians and dress the part. There is a sign-up sheet in the shop for all the jobs that need to be covered on 11/19. Please look it over and sign up; the date is only 12 days away. John McNamara made up an enticing press release for this event, and I have today mailed this and a flyer to 15 news outlets with the hope of getting a story or stories.
Next week, our quarterly Board meeting will take place on Thursday evening, November 17, at 7:30, probably in the front hall of Auburn Heights. The agenda will be developed and mailed to Board members within a couple of days. There may be one or more Board Committee meetings on the 16th or 17th, but these have not been scheduled as yet. It is expected that a final decision will be made on the hiring of an Executive Director at our Board meeting. Letters have gone out to all members and advisors, as well as to other prospective donors asking for support for our annual appeal, with which we are attempting to raise $25,000. All of you should have received such a letter. We still have a number of "outside people" to be solicited, and we hope to have these solicitations out before the end of this week. We are optimistic that our goal can be reached; please be as generous as you can.
Finally, we still need more gallon or half-gallon plastic jugs from which to make luminaries. Our supply is growing, and Butch plans to fabricate these upon his return from Florida. Instead of throwing these out, please bring them with you this week or next when you come for a work session. There are several ongoing mechanical projects as well. Rob Robison is doing a great job of restoration on the Model 735's windshield, and Dale Simpkins has the wheels and rims finished as far as we can go. Jim Sank is planning to pick up two wheels for striping in a few days, which he will do at home. The grate needs to be changed on one of the A.V.R.R. locomotives. And a general clean-up and minor repair on the cars used yesterday will be in order.
I believe all of you have received a very gracious invitation from Rob and Chevonne Robison for a Holiday Party at their home in Yorklyn on Saturday, December 10, starting at 6 P.M. Please make a note to let them know by December 3 whether or not you can attend. It sounds like a festive and fun evening!
On a sadder note, I read in the paper this morning that Jack Evans, who ran his and Bob Volkimer's Atlantic locomotives on the Auburn Valley almost every year through 2004, passed away over the weekend at Kent General Hospital in Dover. Jack was 68, but I have no other details. Tom
