Title
Weekly News June 20, 2005Description
The Steamer "REPUBLIC" (continued): John Benge (1864-1936), owner of 3 Stanleys and superintendent of the Marshall Brothers paper mill, took his family on the "Republic" for a day's outing to Cape May and return. Going down the Bay, John was standing on the crowded deck. A well-dressed man brushed against John and whispered in his ear, "pick or carry?" John didn't know what the stranger meant and thought he was joking, so he replied "carry". The man disappeared into the crowd. In a few minutes, he returned and shoved his hand into John's coat pocket. Inventory soon showed that John's wealth was gaining rapidly. This procedure happened several times in the next hour or so. John didn't know what to do. If he reported the pick-pocket, he himself would be implicated in the crime. Obviously his devious friend mistook John for an accomplice. John decided to do nothing, so he wound up somewhat shaken but financially much better off than he had planned. Next week: Another John Benge story (most of you know of the John Benge back yard exhibit in the Museum).
Last week, four FAHP meetings took place. Bill Schwoebel chaired the Management Group's meeting on Tuesday evening, the Development Committee of the Board met on Wednesday evening, a joint meeting of the Collections and Education Committees met on Thursday evening before the Board meeting, and finally on the same night, the Board's quarterly meeting occurred. In addition, the Division of Parks and Recreation had a special meeting in Dover on 6/16 to zero in on Auburn Heights Preserve. Most discussions are ongoing with Board Committees continuing to function and prepare recommendations to the Board and to all of us. It was emphasized that the Board needs to have continuous contact with the Management Group and with the State Division of Parks and Recreation. There are two things of note to report, however. 1) In discussing benefits of membership in FAHP, it was decided on a special and temporary benefit through August 1st of meaningful discounts on Gift Shop items, viz: the fine Stanley book "The Stanley Steamer, America's Legendary Steam Car" which retails for $79.95 will be available to members for $65, our professional steam car DVD which retails for $20 will be available for $15, and our T-shirts with FAHP lettering and photo will be available for $12. The offer of the Stanley book is made at this price with the hope that as many members as possible will want to own one. After August 1, these items, as well as everything else in the Gift Shop, will be available at a smaller discount, soon to be determined, along with other benefits for members. The Development Committee wants to meet with Rose Ann Hoover soon to discuss details for member benefits. 2) On the recommendation of the president and the Development Committee, the search process has been started for the position of a paid Executive Director. An ad hoc committee consisting of Dan Muir, Emil Christofano, Jerry Novak and myself has been appointed to explore a job description and consider candidates with the hope that such a person might be in place by the beginning of 2006. The Management Group approved its Events Committee's recommendation to have a Special Rides ticket available for those who want extra rides (usually the train ride) which will sell for $4 allowing two extra rides. This will be available at the Gift Shop as well as at the Ticket Office. Credit Cards will be accepted for everything on June 26.
A number of work projects took place on Tuesday and Thursday nights. I don't know of all of them but Dan Nichols' paint job on the turntable is beautiful. Several helped clean the Model 71 for its showing at the Concours d'Elegance event at Lehigh University, and Bill Schwoebel and Butch Cannard did us proud by not only showing the car on Sunday but in bringing back two fine trophies. Thanks, too, to Chuck Carisch for arranging for the 71 to be invited to participate. On Friday evening, Jerry Novak and Emil Christofano exhibited our two Packards to an appreciative crowd at the Hagley Fireworks event, and they plan to do the same this next Friday, 6/24. We didn't make the Helicopter Show this year- it's not possible to do them all.
Tomorrow, June 21, John McNamara has prepared a program for 135 Cub Scouts at their Banning Park summer day camp. We have the 3/4"-scale steam locomotive from the museum ready to go and run on air as a demonstration. Thanks to Bill Schwoebel for the loan of his air compressor capable of running the engine in place continuously. They wanted to focus on railroading; thus, no emphasis on Stanleys. Tuesday night we will begin preparations for our weekend events at Auburn Heights, and also get cars ready for the Ice Cream Run on Thursday evening. We plan to take the Mountain Wagon on the Ice Cream Run, so there will be plenty of seats for those wanting to ride along. Chuck Erikson has plans for June 26 well in hand, but can use help erecting the Independence Day decorations this week. A smaller number of volunteers can conduct the Wilmington Rotary Club event Saturday evening, and Anne Cleary has enough members committed for this. It's not too late to promote our June 26 "Steamin' Sunday", so pick up flyers and posters, along with a few complimentary tickets if you can use them to good advantage. A good ole Summertime to all! Tom
