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Volunteers –
They're Hot! © Wed Apr 11 2007 |
Edna Dierolf has
earned the title of Lead
Docent
through many years of energetic and
intelligent hosting of visitors. If you have been here
with a group — with Edna as your guide
— you found out that it doesn't take a man in
that role to bring you the best and most interesting information
about cars, or any other type of vehicle. Edna knows
the collection, and enjoys sharing that knowledge with young and
old. Senior citizens, or pre-schoolers, all get Edna's
best — and her best is clearly
excellent. Edna is happy to work with
volunteers-in-training too, to give them needed facts,
and a feeling of confidence .
Ed Miller
is another whose energy and good sense have earned him the
admiration of the Museum family. Ed serves on the
Museum's board — but that is only the
beginning. He works on projects here as if it were his
second job — and in terms of his vigor and
dedication, it is! Ed's hand can be seen in exhibit
construction, frequent building improvements, and
in innovative creations like our
unique speaker's lectern,
fashioned from an auto steering wheel and various Studebaker parts.
Many of the residents in the region have met
Dan Olsen and Ralph DeStefano
on the Museum's cable TV program,
Wheels Along the Road.
Over the past four years, Dan has built quite a following for his
segment, Whata Ya Know — a magazine of
little known vehicle facts and curiosities —
frequently documented with early advertising. His
is the kind of stuff that gives "research" a good name
— and you can survey it for 'self,
here on line.
Ralph DeStefano
has hosted the Tech-Talk portion of the program for more than
a decade. Wonder how to get the most from your collector
car? Ralph's technical advice, and explanations of what
makes the old buggy tick, is an insight into the workings of cars
that goes beyond the mechanics — and into the art
of automobile restoration. He has brought the knowledge
and skills of his business,
Pollock Auto Restorations,
to the screen in a generous sharing with the program's audience.
Gerry Stuart
is seldom seen by Museum visitors. Yet, you all know
his work. You are benefitting from it now.
Gerry is the creator and operator of the Museum's extensive and
information-filled website. He is the mother and father
of www.boyertownmuseum.org. Gerry
joined the Museum team 4 years ago with
next-to-zero web skills.
Surely, he could now vanquish many who call themselves full time
professionals in the cyber world. If you meet him, you
will agree that his sense of humor and creative fervor is evident
in person — as well as on your computer screen.
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Venture Crew 1872 © Thu Mar 22 2007 |
After more than a 20 year
hiatus,
the Museum is again the sponsor of a
Boy Scouts of America
group. It is called "Venture Crew 1872."
The "1872" recalls the establishment of the historic
Jeremiah Sweinhart Carriage Factory,
which opened in December of 1872, and is now a part of
the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles.
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Three New Faces © May 30 2006 / Mar 8 2007 |
Hello, my name is
Darlene Brunner.
I am the friendly face that visitors see when they first come into
the Museum's entrance lobby. I give them an introduction
to the collection of vehicles built here in Southeastern Pennsylvania
that they are about to see. Or, I can sell them a seat
on the bus bound for Atlantic City. If you telephone
with a question on
our hours,
upcoming events, or anything else, I'll try to answer it for you.
Hello, my name is
Sheila Heft.
On weekends, I'm the one who greets you! I do
just about everything on Saturday and Sunday when our office is
closed. We have volunteers in on Saturdays who work on
several ongoing projects. The weekend seems to be a great
time for families to visit the Museum. I enroll new
members in the Museum. And, when I have time, I fill the
role of "registrar", maintaining the records of gifts and loans to
the Museum, as well as the log of all the objects in the Museum's
collections. Come in. Say "Hello."
Hi, my name is
Rachel Noviello.
I maintain the
Museum's records on members, contributors, and participants in our
annual Duryea Day Antique and Classic Car and Truck Show.
(It's Saturday, September 1st
this year.)
••• Also, you may know that the library
of the Antique Truck Club of America
(ATCA)
came to the Museum several years ago, and is now a part of the
extensive research collection available to those seeking information
on transportation history of their particular car or
truck. But now, the National Headquarters of the
ATCA
has also moved into the Museum. You'll find me on the
job Monday through Friday, representing the
Club
as their Office Coordinator, and servicing the needs of our
members. Are you a member of the
ATCA ?
Why not join up ? We'd like to see you carrying
both the
ATCA
and Museum membership cards.
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Rare & Unusual © Tue Jan 24 2006 |
The pioneering Duryea machines built in
Reading,
Pennsylvania,
and by licensed manufacturers in England remain fascinating, both
historically and mechanically. Features like "spray
carburetion", inclined steering king pins, and air inflated tires
were only some of the advanced features found on
Charles Duryea's
cars — features well ahead of most other early
car builders.
Who really manufactured the world's first gasoline
autos ? More than 30% of the cars and trucks on the
roads of many cities were once electric. What
happened ? Why did steam and electric vehicles loose
out in the competitive race for dominance of the
road ? What was the reason for having such a large
wheel on those bicycles of the 1880's ? Famous
department stores like
Wanamaker's in
Philadelphia
sold stylish all wool driving suits for men. What
did the ladies motoring attire look like ?
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The Big Four-O © Thu Jun 30 2005 |
When you or I reach the "Big Four-O", it is an event which may bring
on a mix of emotions — feelings that much has
already been accomplished, but recognition of a few more lines and
wrinkles, and possibly even a worry that we are now "over the hill."
On Saturday, September 3rd, 2005 we invite you to the 40th Annual
Duryea Day Antique & Classic Car & Truck Show and Flea
Market.
Beautiful Boyertown Park will rumble with the sounds of custom cars
and hot rods. The sun will sparkle from the brass and
chrome on gorgeous antiques autos, massive trucks and spiffy
motorcycles — flooding us with endorphins, as fond
memories appear around every corner, and the chug-pfutt sounds of hit
and miss engines are not far away.
••• Music on two stages, great food,
special entertainment for the kids, and a family-fun setting will
make the celebration complete.
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2005 Seminar Series © Tue Jan 18 2005 |
The program will be a flash-back to the nineteen twenties, presented
by James B. Reifsnyder, Chairman of the History Department at the Hill
School in
Pottstown.
A student of the
Jazz Age,
Reifsnyder will bring the exciting events and music of that
turbulent
decade into perspective with the war which preceded it, and the
financial
crash which ended it.
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| This
A Word From Our Driver page was first posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2003, and last updated on Wednesday, April 11, 2007. |