50 YEARS AGO TODAY

James Harold Browne Jr. & Jean Alice Hambleton

September 14, 1957

DOTY HOMESTEAD

In 1810, William Pack bought a tract of land north of Oxford, Ohio from the trustees of Miami University.

He sold the land and then that owner sold it in 1832 to Joseph Morris who built this house using brick made from clay dug and baked on the site. Morris lost the farm during a depression that began in 1837, creditors then sold it to Samuel Doty in 1844. The Dotys were part of a small community of Campbellites, better known as Disciples of Christ, that settled in the area.

This “bank barn” is of 1840’s vintage but was relocated from its original site near Trotwood, Ohio to the Pioneer Farm as a replacement for the Doty Barn which burned in 1980. It is interesting to note that the barn is facing to the west. A real farmer would likely have faced the barn south so as to give the warmest exposure to the overhang and stall doors.

The museum’s original collection of displayed tools and implements were lost in the 1980 fire and replacements had to be found. Seen here is a McCormick Reaper. RMB

PRE-LABOR DAY BOATING

The dredge line, a Sea Gull's answer to the electric wire.

Not sure if this is legal?

But it is entertaining.

SURF FASTER

If you use a broadband internet connection you might be interested in a tip given on today's Kim Komando website at http://www.komando.com/coolsites/

Her article refers to the Google web accelerator download found at http://webaccelerator.google.com/ which will allow faster downloading of certain web pages.

RMB

1947 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY CONVERTIBLE

Back in July I posted a photo I had taken of a 1947 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible at Celina’s Lake Festival.

This week I completed an artwork of the car.

From 1946 to 1948 Chrysler produced approximately 8300 of these elegant convertibles. The model was produced by laying mahogany veneer and ash trim over the metal body of a Chrysler New Yorker. Power was provided by a 323.5 cubic inch straight eight engine that produced 135 horsepower. Adding to the cars distinctiveness and luxury was an electrically-operated top. RMB

TRI-STATE GAS ENGINE & TRACTOR SHOW

The Tri-State Gas Engine & Tractor Show is held annually in Portland, Indiana. It’s billed as the World’s largest. If it is or not may depend on how you defined it. In regards to gas engines I have little doubt that it is. It was going to be a hot day so I got there at 8:00 AM, by 11:00 AM I had enough.

Lots of things to see ranging from displays of old spark plugs, the one in the middle is a monster.

To an old home built helicopter made from various car parts,

to a 3/4 Midget racer with a Crosley engine.

But the main thing that distinguishes this show from others is the number of gas engines displayed such as this 1923, 50 hp, Fairbanks-Morse.

I believe the total number of full size farm tractors at the show was supposed to be between 700-900. There were several I had not seen before such as this Brockway.

A 1918 Model C Indiana.

A David Bradley Tri Trac

Gibson SD

Besides the farm tractors, lawn & garden tractors are becoming increasingly popular at these shows. Gravely was a featured make this year. Which reminds me I need to cut the grass. RMB

MARTHA G. BENKERT BRIDGE

For those traveling by vehicle on Greenville’s North Broadway it is necessary to cross Greenville Creek. The 120 foot bridge that makes this possible is classified as an historic civil engineering landmark.

The bridge was designed in 1909 by Walter P. Rice of Cleveland. It is believed to be the longest non-reinforced three-hinged single arch concrete bridge open to traffic in the United States.

Another unusual element is that on the bridge’s southeast corner a house was built right on the retention wall. RMB