IH Tractors on Montana Farm

[Old Binder Guy]

In my last post I mentioned Grandpa getting a McCormick binder and mower; here's an 1884 Lehman ad in the Mineral Argus Newspaper out of Maiden, Montana. Also pictured is the Cottonwood store.

This is another ad at the Lehman store in another Mineral Argus edition. It mentions Lewis Balanger, who ran this store. Lehman Brothers had a Lehman Mercantile in Utica and Lewistown by this time.

This is the earliest business establishment in the Judith Basin after the Judith Landing trading post on the Missouri/Judith River confluence. This trading post was owned by Reed & Bowles and it is still standing on the Carroll Trail, north of Lewistown on Spring Creek.

Perhaps their most famous trading patron was Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Percez on their flight through Montana. They stopped for supplies on their frantic flight ahead of the US Army. Gary

[Old Binder Guy]

This is the Lehman Department store in Lewistown with the stage coach and quite a crowd outside.

Since I never knew my paternal grandparents, maybe I should post a picture of my maternal grandmother as she was the only grandparent I had, still living when I was born. This photo was taken about 1904 or 05 at Kendall, Montana, where Grandpa Sam was a driller and blaster for the Kendall and Barnes-King gold mines there. Grandma Maude Hamilton is standing with the hat and her son, Mom's oldest brother Robert is at her right side.

Grandpa's brother G.R. Hamilton was a partner in the Hamilton-Clingan Club Saloon at Kendall and this ca. 1906 photo shows it a few years before it burned. There are rumors that another business was operated "upstairs".

This is the interior of the saloon. Notice the electric lighting. There was a water wheel type "hydro" electric plant at the base of the North Moccasin Mountains in Warm Springs Creek that operated a generating system to light the mines and town. Those lights had to be helpful for this business, as it never closed. There were three mining shifts per day/night and they were open to accomodate off duty miners. (I couldn't tell you if they accomodated "minors" as well??)

Before I get my tail in a knot, I'd better put a picture of an IH Tractor on a Montana Farm here so I don't get deeper into trouble. This was our industrial wide gauge International TD-40 TracTracTor... again. Gary

PS: I hope you all have a good weekend and don't freeze up. We're supposed to get down below zero in the next few days. Farmall kid got caught over at Glasgow and in Malta with his MTARNG inpection of National Guard Armories. It sounded darn bad over on the flats. I probably won't be back here until Sunday evening, so take care!

[Loadstar]

This is the earliest business establishment in the Judith Basin after the Judith Landing trading post on the Missouri/Judith River confluence.Perhaps their most famous trading patron was Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Percez on their flight through Montana. They stopped for supplies on their frantic flight ahead of the US Army. Gary

Gary, I'm currently reading a book about the sole survivor of the Custer battle at the Little Bighorn in 1876 by John Koster. One Frank Finkel. Its a great read about a subject I've been interested in for quite some time. Theres even a pic of the worlds innermost sea port, Fort Benton, Montana.

[Delta Dirt]

Great old black and white photos of the early days----------covering alot of different subjects (but all part of the steps of progress that had to be covered in order to get us to the point that we are now). A hundred years from now--------I presume today's pictures will be just as "dated" to the new generations to come.

Sure am glad to see that the Professors uncle's saloon wasn't one of the saloons that my famous horse Wrangler's uncle Dust Devil and his renegade rider wrecked on their way to the badlands. Sure would like to have that bar as my office-----could spread alot of maps out on the bar itself and watch the mirror to see who was sneaking in behind you!!!!!

That saloon picture looks to be the "real deal"-------------and it gets a little blurry when I blow it up. I have never been a serious bird watcher, but it almost appears that I can make out the image of a "double breasted, red-headed mattress thrasher" peering out of one of the upstairs windows on the back side of the photo (side not shown in the actual photo).

Delta Dirt

Avon, Ms 38723

[Old Binder Guy]

This is the earliest business establishment in the Judith Basin after the Judith Landing trading post on the Missouri/Judith River confluence.Perhaps their most famous trading patron was Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Percez on their flight through Montana. They stopped for supplies on their frantic flight ahead of the US Army. Gary

Gary, I'm currently reading a book about the sole survivor of the Custer battle at the Little Bighorn in 1876 by John Koster. One Frank Finkel. Its a great read about a subject I've been interested in for quite some time. Theres even a pic of the worlds innermost sea port, Fort Benton, Montana.

Ralph,

That sounds like a book about Commanche, the surviving horse. Grandpa was working the steamboats from St. Louis to Fort Benton(the world's innermost port) from 1974 through 1876. I'm sure there were some gruesome stories going about Fort Benton when Grandpa first landed there aboard the steamboat Benton, after the June 25th 1876 Custer's ill fated battle.

Crow scout, Half Yellow Face told Custer, "...there were more hostiles ahead than there were bullets in the belts of the soldiers." I'd often wished I could have had one day with Grandpa... Oh well. Gary

Custer was a general during the Civil War, but his rank was reduced to a Brevet Colonel after that war.

[Old Binder Guy]

Great old black and white photos of the early days----------covering alot of different subjects (but all part of the steps of progress that had to be covered in order to get us to the point that we are now). A hundred years from now--------I presume today's pictures will be just as "dated" to the new generations to come.

Sure am glad to see that the Professors uncle's saloon wasn't one of the saloons that my famous horse Wrangler's uncle Dust Devil and his renegade rider wrecked on their way to the badlands. Sure would like to have that bar as my office-----could spread alot of maps out on the bar itself and watch the mirror to see who was sneaking in behind you!!!!!

That saloon picture looks to be the "real deal"-------------and it gets a little blurry when I blow it up. I have never been a serious bird watcher, but it almost appears that I can make out the image of a "double breasted, red-headed mattress thrasher" peering out of one of the upstairs windows on the back side of the photo (side not shown in the actual photo).

Delta Dirt

Avon, Ms 38723

Delta Dirt,

You have magnificent eyesight for a guy my age! I looked in Sharon's bird books and I couldn't find one of those... or were you talking about a thrasher type threshing machine? You're talking over my head, I guess or I'm slightly naive?

The "street" into Kendall came to a fork a few blocks up (No Yogi Berra didn't take this one.) Built at that fork which passed by both sides is this competitor's saloon. This was Colonel Joe Montgomery's Wedge Saloon. Maybe they had those birds upstairs here as well, Anson?

This was a picture inside the Wedge Saloon Buffet. This place appears to be a little fancier than my great uncle Bob had.

I used to visit with Col. Joe Montgomery (Spanish American War Veteran) on the streets of Lewistown. He was a very colorful gentleman who lived to be (I think?) 103 years old. I know he was one of the very last Spanish American War veterans. Grandmother Hamilton didn't speak as reverently of him as I did. Sharon's Grandmother Benton, who also lived near Kendall and both of those ladies lived in Lewistown in their later years, as the Colonel did, never spoke real highly of the old batchelor either.

When I posted the photo inside Uncle Bob's Hamilton-Clingan Saloon, I mentioned the electric lights. This is the water turbine and dynamo down on Warm Springs Creek that created that electricity.

That same building housed this water wheel and the pump it drove, piping water to Kendall.

I'd mentioned my grandfather, Sam Hamilton had worked for the Kendall Mine and Barnes-King Mine as a driller and blaster. Grandma and Grandpa Hamilton may have still lived in Kendall when this photo was taken in 1910? My information is at Silver Creek or about 17 miles from me, so I can't check it out. This photo was taken at a "single jack drilling contest" at Kendall and if my memory serves me right, it was part of a 4th of July celebration. My grandpa could have even been competing? He also did "double" jack drilling, i.e., hold the star drill for someone swinging a sledge hammer OR swing the sledge hammer when someone else held the star drill. I'd have loved to talk to Grandpa Hamilton one day as well! Gary

[Loadstar]

Ralph,

That sounds like a book about Commanche, the surviving horse. Grandpa was working the steamboats from St. Louis to Fort Benton(the world's innermost port) from 1974 through 1876. . Gary

Well Gary, they do mention Commanche but the book is mainly about Sergeant Frank Finkle who survived by riding away from the battle after being wounded. Chances are your grandfather may have met him since he did pass through Fort Benton. His story never came out til some 40 years after the battle.

http://www.historynet.com/survivor-frank-finkels-lasting-stand.htm

And referring back to the old school photo I posted, just to show that we do save a few old buildings, here is a pic of General Middleton's headquarters that dates back to before 1885. That log building now stands, incorporated into the local museum in Fort Qu'appelle.

[Old Binder Guy]

Ralph, Thanks for that link and information regarding Frank Finkel and his survival. I'm sure the two "Franks" had coffee and visited in Fort Benton(the world's innermost port)? I will sure check that out further. It sounds interesting and I'd never heard about it.

Finding a sliver in the author's eye and trying to see past the plank in my eye, he had the "rifle" story misplaced. He talked about the "Henry 1866 repeating rifles" the Indians were getting at the trading posts. B. Tyler Henry didn't "invent" the Henry Rifle, he worked for Oliver F. Winchester, on the faulty ammunition problem that had plagued Smith & Wesson and Volcanic Arms, Winchester's predecessors. While Henry worked for Winchester, and in 1962 he developed the rimfire ammunition that made those earlier failures, S&W and Volcanic repeating firearm principles function reliably. The earlier S&W and Volcanics used a crude, unreliable "cartridge" ball. After the development of the ".44 Henry Flat Rimfire", Henry only had to improve the forbearer's firearms into the "Henry Rifle" that would handle his ammunition. Oliver F. Winchester allowed B. Tyler Henry to patent and add his name to these Winchester products, for his dilligent efforts to make this reliable product.

The Henry Rifle was issued to some companies of the Northern Army in the Civil War. In 1866 (Civil War has ended) as that author specified, those were sort of an "upgraded Henry rifle," now called the Model 1866 Winchester Repeating Rifle; affectionately called the "Yellow Boy" by their Indian owners. These new models of of the 1866 used the ".44 Henry Flat Rimfire" (or .44 WRF) cartridges. The princaple differences between the Henry and 1866 rifles were the method of loading the magazine tube. The Henry rotated about four inches behind the muzzle and the follower fit into that upper 4" while loading, then released holding positive spring pressure against the cartridges for feeding. The 1866 fed through the side of the the action as all "John Browning Patent" Winchester lever action rifles would into the 20th century. Carbines, rifles or muskets were now available in the 1866. The "Flat" mentioned in the cartridge nomenclature meant that a flat nose was necessary on the bullet, so as to not detonate other cartridges in the tube, due to slamming during firing. However, I've fired the .44 Henry Flat ammunition in a Henry I used to own and it was about like shooting a .22 rifle. It sure wasn't a "shoulder denter."

Of course in 1873, Winchester came out with the CENTERFIRE Model 1873 Winchester Repeating Rifle originally in caliber .44 Winchester Center Fire or "44-40 WCF" as it became known, making the .44 Henry Flat a cartridge that was no longer in high demand. Then the big frame 1876 Winchester Repeating Rifle was released in the 45-75 bottleneck cartridge, but I'd doubt any of that version were on the street long enough to have been employed by anyone at the Little Big Horn.

Now that class is dismissed, I must get ready to head to Silver Creek. Anson, I sure thought of you this morning... I've never been to Mississippi or especially Tupelo, but it was "two below" in Helena this morning (I'm going to have that song going around inside my head all day!). We're supposed to get "brass monkey's" cold here for the next couple of days. Yesterday when I got ready for church it was -9. Who sang that song, "It's two below in Tupalo" anyway? I've forgotten. Gary

[Delta Dirt]

Its actually Tupelo-------and that is where Elvis was from before moving to Memphis.

Never heard the song "Two below in Tupelo"-------------but it sounds like my kind of music!!!

Would have to say from an appraiser's viewpoint----------the Wedge Saloon had a near ideal location----------sorta hard to miss it!!!!! (sure would have made for great drive thru service---------either side!!!!)

Interesting comments on Custer's last stand-----------I had always heard that there was like only one survivor. In talking with one of my buddies last week who is somewhat of a western/Indian history buff and has been up there a couple of times---------he says that there were maybe a hundred or more of Custer's men who survived. They got separated from the main unit and dug in on a hill top and fought off the Indians for several days after Custer and the rest had been killed off. Supposedly the Indians kept charging up the hill and the troops kept knocking them down----------the Indians finally went home just about the time these boys were out of ammo??? Will have to revisit that conversation and learn more.

Been seeing that cold weather all across the Northwest and North--------looks like we will be wet for Thanksgiving but moderate temps.

Delta Dirt

Avon, Ms 38723

[Loadstar]

Interesting comments on Custer's last stand-----------I had always heard that there was like only one survivor. In talking with one of my buddies last week who is somewhat of a western/Indian history buff and has been up there a couple of times---------he says that there were maybe a hundred or more of Custer's men who survived. They got separated from the main unit and dug in on a hill top and fought off the Indians for several days after Custer and the rest had been killed off. Supposedly the Indians kept charging up the hill and the troops kept knocking them down----------the Indians finally went home just about the time these boys were out of ammo???

Delta Dirt

Avon, Ms 38723

Probably referring to Reno's group that were holding out on a separate hilltop. Some of them did survive but not any from the group that Custer was in. Only Frank Finkel who rode to safety in spite of some serious wounds.

Its interesting that the U.S. Cavalry had what would seem to be inferior rifles (single shot Springfields) compared to the Indian's repeater Henry (Winchesters). I'd think the repeaters would be a major advantage in a close quarters combat like that one.

Heres an old photo circa late 1890s of the Hudson Bay store in Fort Qu'appelle. The Hudson Bay Company was likely one of T.C. Power's biggest competitors in those days.

[Old Binder Guy]

Well, the weather is not great here. It looked like on TV that Roger was going to get it soon. I hope it doesn't interfere with the work he's tring to accomplish in his shop. I don't have much tonight so I'll post some of these encore photos.

This had to be a fatal accident?

This could be Roger soon, replaying this photo of a prior winter.

This is the Judith Theater and on the corner, the old Elk's Club in Lewistown. Actually in 1920, before the banks went bust in Lewistown, it was a bank.

This is the Judith Basin Milling Company's mill on the Spring Creek "mill ditch" on northeast Main. I remember my parents often shopped at Sawyer's Grocery Store, next door. My big brother would walk me over to watch the water shoot over the falls. I was NEVER comfortable, getting close to that. Of course by that time, it was the Montana Flour Mills Company. Gary

[Old Binder Guy]

Interesting comments on Custer's last stand-----------I had always heard that there was like only one survivor. In talking with one of my buddies last week who is somewhat of a western/Indian history buff and has been up there a couple of times---------he says that there were maybe a hundred or more of Custer's men who survived. They got separated from the main unit and dug in on a hill top and fought off the Indians for several days after Custer and the rest had been killed off. Supposedly the Indians kept charging up the hill and the troops kept knocking them down----------the Indians finally went home just about the time these boys were out of ammo???

Delta Dirt

Avon, Ms 38723

Probably referring to Reno's group that were holding out on a separate hilltop. Some of them did survive but not any from the group that Custer was in. Only Frank Finkel who rode to safety in spite of some serious wounds.

Its interesting that the U.S. Cavalry had what would seem to be inferior rifles (single shot Springfields) compared to the Indian's repeater Henry (Winchesters). I'd think the repeaters would be a major advantage in a close quarters combat like that one.

Heres an old photo circa late 1890s of the Hudson Bay store in Fort Qu'appelle. The Hudson Bay Company was likely one of T.C. Power's biggest competitors in those days.

Delta Dirt,

I can't remember who sang that song. I can't even remember if it was male or female, but I think female. It WAS your type of music, though! Sorry about my spelling of Tupelo.

Ralph,

I know you're correct about Hudson Bay Company being a major competitor for TC Power. I'm sure the IG Baker company fed some of the Hudson Bay trading posts in Canada from Fort Benton(the world's innermost port), using the Whoop-up Trail.

I think you are right about his reference being Major Reno and Captain(?) Benteen. They did hunker down in the hills with portions of Custer's command, but Custer broke them off of his command to split it. Custer had a problem thinking that because the Indian was illiterate, they must also lack intelligence?

Many rifle companies tried to sell the US Army some kind of repeating rifles, but they were hung up on the old faithful single shot. Those things were accurate up to 1000 yards, because it was proven to myself and Farmall Kid through experience at Virginia City, MT. But like Ralph said, for close combat, you can't beat a repeating rifle. The biggest problem with the Springfield Trapdoor Carbines they had was the ammunition. They employed a high copper content cartridge case. They weren't extruded as today's ammunition is. They were just a thin casing and had an inside primer, not our familiar outside primer of today. After several shots of that black powder heating the chamber, the powder residue fouling "goo" had a tendency to fry the casing to the chamber and after firing and attempting to eject the cartridge, the extractor would pop the back head off of the casing. This in effect was like soldering a bushing inside the chamber, reducing its size by several thousandths. They had nothing to remove that "tube" stuck to the chamber, so you couldn't put in another cartridge. It remained a weapon, I guess, if you wanted to use it for a club. Gary

[Old Binder Guy]

I posted a picture a couple days ago of the Montana Building in downtown Lewistown. I found these pictures of the construction of that building in 1916, and it has a steam engine doing the heavy lifting in the lower right hand corner. That is St. Leo's Catholic Church in the distance.

This was a 4th of July parade in Lewistown looking southwest in circa 1910. There were elephants in this parade on the muddy Main Street. The new 1908 Fergus County Courthouse was built at the top right hand side of Main.

This brings back a lot of memories to me. This was the Gem Cafe on the southwest corner of Fourth Ave. and Main. I'd like to have a (buffalo) nickel for every meal I ate there... usually a burger and Coke. Sharon's Grandmother Benton worked there for a time after she was widowed by her first husband. The Gem was operated by the Glen Kaurin family and they were also the Greyhound Bus Depot. Gary

[Loadstar]

The biggest problem with the Springfield Trapdoor Carbines they had was the ammunition. They employed a high copper content cartridge case. They weren't extruded as today's ammunition is. They were just a thin casing and had an inside primer, not our familiar outside primer of today. After several shots of that black powder heating the chamber, the powder residue fouling "goo" had a tendency to fry the casing to the chamber and after firing and attempting to eject the cartridge, the extractor would pop the back head off of the casing. This in effect was like soldering a bushing inside the chamber, reducing its size by several thousandths. They had nothing to remove that "tube" stuck to the chamber, so you couldn't put in another cartridge. It remained a weapon, I guess, if you wanted to use it for a club. Gary

I've read that too Gary, cartridge jams were common on the Springfields rendering them useless until you manually extracted the spent casing. Not something you wanted to be doing in the middle of a skirmish like that one, and probably a deciding factor in the outcome of the battle.

On a frosty morning here in Sask. its good to look back at a Saskatchewan harvest scene. This steamer was negotiating a corner in what looks like an oatfield pulling 4 maybe 5 binders. Amazing how they made it work.

[Old Binder Guy]

Ralph,

That's a great photo of that old 25hp Case pulling binders. I was looking for a picture I have of an engine pulling a steam lift plow behind the engine, plowing stubble and a binder or two on the left side cutting the grain, making that stubble. I could only imagine a binder having troubles knotting, as they sometimes do, and having to stop plowing because of that. I couldn't locate it, but when I do, I'll post it someday.

I was imagining spring and breaking sod. It takes my mind off of the falling snow and the -11 degrees outside right now.

Seeding wheat.

Harvesting the wheat...

And hauling the wheat to market! Gary

Ralph, These are all different engines. All are from Montana except the one with all of the plow levers... It's from Saskatchewan.

[Roger Byrne]

OBG posted a photo of my 1927 Model T in the snow so I figure that opens the door for a couple more photos of T's in the snow.

EDIT: Gary is correct, the first T is a 1912 model.

Below is a 1914 Kar Nation automobile. It was built as an ultra light and inexpensive vehicle to compete with the Model T. You will note that they didn't even have doors on the drivers side in the front or the back. . . . at least Henry gave you a rear door.

[Old Binder Guy]

OBG posted a photo of my 1927 Model T in the snow so I figure that opens the door for a couple more photos of T's in the snow.

Below is a 1914 Kar Nation automobile. It was built as an ultra light and inexpensive vehicle to compete with the Model T. You will note that they didn't even have doors on the drivers side in the front or the back. . . . at least Henry gave you a rear door.

Roger,

Is that first picture of a 1912 Model T Touring Car? Kar Nation... It must not have accomplished their goals?

[Loadstar]

Ralph, These are all different engines. All are from Montana except the one with all of the plow levers... It's from Saskatchewan.

I had a close look at that one Gary. Semans, Sask., only about 50 some miles away. Chances are I have driven by that field in the picture.

I've got a picture of some more "museum pieces" that I happened to dig up out of an old Rogers Syrup Pail. These big old 18 mm spark plugs I thought might be from my grandfather's 15-30 McCormick but apparently the Farmall M also used a similar plug. The list is as follows:

Champion 1 Com and C4

AC 75 Com, E9, and 77

Theres also a Champion 15A.

I thought the boxes looked pretty old.

[Old Binder Guy]

Ralph,

Those spark plugs are keepers. I'm not sure what IH products they fit, but MB Cat or someone will know. I'm posting my old collection I gave Mike after he built a display board. The second row down, first plug (green... and leaning) right of center, was the first spark plug I "collected" before I started school. It is an extremely poor example of an old 1/2" NPT Splitdorf plug, but it is my most "valuable" to me. I found it below planks in my grandpa Yaeger's old, old shop at the farm.

Now, I have a confession to make here in front of all of you, and especially Roger. Roger sent me his spark plug collection, as he knew they'd go to Farmall Kid or son Mike. I've had two months to arrange them in some manner and photograph them to place on here. Next week, you'll see a picture of them, plus some more of mine that Mike didn't have. I told him, he's going to have to build a new board someday for the whole collection, as there are more that aren't on this board than are. Roger never says when he's disappointed in me, but I'll try to make his day! I did nothing to deserve those fantastic old spark plugs he sent me; and three of them are the large 3/4"NPT Tractor Plugs like the three at the right on the top row in Mike's picture.

Another thing I'm trying to think of how to display and also how to photograph for here, is my old light bulb collection. I have some fantastic examples... Thompson-Houston socket; Sawyer-Man socket ; Edison socket, etc. Here are those three types of bulb bases from a late-1800s book of mine. Gary

[Old Binder Guy]

I'm sure Roger sent me this picture somehow, sometime. It is supposed to be either Mr. Malcomson or Mr. Couzens, partners of Henry Ford's and here driving Henry in a (1907?) Model N Ford. EDIT: I did some research and couldn't tell the two men apart in a photo I found. Malcomson owned 25% of the Ford Motor Company and pushed Henry to make the blunderous, huge, ritzy Model K Ford. The 6-cylinder auto sold for $2500 and Henry hated building it, but was pushed by Malcomson to do so. Henry bought Malcomson out in 1907, so I'd wager a guess that this may be Couzens! Now watch Roger smear egg all over my face!

This is a picture of a circa 1907 Stanley Steamer descending a hill in Butte, America.

Since I haven't placed an IH Tractor on a Montana Farm for a little while now, here are two photos of my McCormick-Deering Farmall F-12 as an encore. The first photo was taken a couple of years ago, early in the morning, on a "shed day" when nephew Randy and I would help Mike make room inside the shop after me bringing loads of "merchandise" via Jedd Klampett, from Kalispell.

This is a picture I took this past summer when moving things out of the shed, the reason I can no longer remember. Of course I kind of "parked" them for photographing, as long as I was at it. The Model Ts are my 1926 Coupe and 1925 Model TT 1-Ton Truck. Of course that is the 15hp Case steam engine in the distance. Gary

[farmerboy3]

Ralph, that Model TT you posted has a cab that was built by an outside supplier and not built by Ford. Most of the Model TT's had cabs built by outside suppliers because Ford started building the TT in 1917 and didn't start building their own cabs until 1924 and production of the TT ended in the fall of 1927. Below are some 1923 shots of the Link Gravel Pit just outside of town. You will notice that none of them had metal cabs and most of them have different designs.

Roger, interesting shots of the trucks in the gravel pit. I see it was cold as one truck appears to have a winter front on it. The steam shovel is putting a great cloud of steam out. I was in my own gravel pit today with the little Massey Super 90 loading my R160 taking advantage of our above normal temperatures for November.

Heres another old post card from Sask. showing a scene of the cars parked at the sports day in Kerrobert, Sask.

good to see pictures from my home town on here lol

[Old Binder Guy]

farmerboy3,

I'm glad you liked that... How about another from the same farm? This time the Swanson's are threshing with that Big Forty Reeves Canadian Special. Gary

EDIT: Sorry about that... I guess I didn't read your post very well. I just saw the "Saskatchewan" I guess? OBG

[MnRed]

Gary; I had several cups of coffe in the gem cafe in '65. They sure were busy, RAY

[Lady H]

Happy Thanksgiving All!!

Thanks for the great pictures & stories throughout the year!!

[Old Binder Guy]

Gary; I had several cups of coffe in the gem cafe in '65. They sure were busy, RAY

Ray,

You're right. I worked for Johnny and Pat at the old store there on the corner of 4th Avenue South and Janeaux, while the Gem was on the front corner at 4th Avenue South and Main Street. When you were at "Bourke's," you would naturally go to the Gem to eat or have a cup of coffee. Years and years before, across 4th Avenue from the Gem was the "Snow White Cafe." It was sold to the company who built the large store on the northwest half of that block. The Snow White moved down to the northwest side of Main Street between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue North, next to the Eagles Club.

I have to pinch myself as my last time working for Johnny, after Pat's death, was at the 1st Avenue South location, which when you were there, this building was the John Deere dealership, Martin Farm Supply. It's nice to know that you know some of the places I write about here! Gary