I have the most amazing luck!
I mentioned on Facebook that I thought I would miss driving around the country in the summer now that I was a homeowner. A Facebook friend mentioned that she had a friend who had a summer job as a seed courier. She drove around the wheat belt collecting samples from grain elevators and shipping them back to the lab. I thought that sounded like fun, so I asked her to find out the name of the company from her friend. I sent an inquiry via email to the company. Several applications, letters, references, background checks and a physical later, I was hired!
Now, there were some downsides to this. I had to find a house sitter as I wouldn’t be able to take Cora the Travel Cat with me and the lawn would need attention. I ended up hiring a young friend who was currently living with her parents.
My first stop on the summer of adventure was Wapakoneta, Ohio.
Why Wapakoneta? Well, it is close to Jackson Center and I was going to meet up with some friends from Airstream Addicts who were attending Alumapalooza, an Airstream rally held on the grounds of the plant.
But first, Wapakoneta. I arrived at the hotel the evening before. In case you didn’t know, Wapakoneta is where Neil Armstrong is from.
Yeah, THAT Neil Armstrong.
They sure do cash in on the town’s connection with him.
Even the glass on the hotel’s breakfast room has a space motif going on. The Best Western I stayed at is between Lunar Drive and Apollo Drive and just across the street from the Armstrong Air and Space Museum.
For all the times I’ve been in the area, I’d never managed to check it out. And, once again, it was closed when I got there. Still, there were things to see.
This jet was displayed at the entrance to the museum property. According to my research, it is a Douglas F5D Skylancer, one of four that was built in the 1950s. The first flight was in April 1956 and was supersonic. I remember hearing the supersonic booms when I was a little girl. I’m glad that they have proven to their satisfaction that they can break the sound barrier. They sure were loud!
Neil Armstrong flew this aircraft during the Dyna-Soar research program. (As Bob Curran, the Buffalo Evening News writer would have said, “For worst results, read aloud.”)
They also had some capsule mock ups that you could look at.
If you can figure out which mock-up is which, you are better than me. I even looked for information on the web, but still couldn’t figure out which was which.
They also had a Ford Transit decorated with the Neil Armstrong lunar theme. Over the course of the summer, I would become very familiar with the Ford Transit – 7,000 or 8,000 miles worth of familiar. But, more about that later.
I particularly liked the license plate. Neil Armstrong, 1ST MAN on the moon.
With that, I headed toward downtown Wapakoneta. I have to say that I find it encouraging that the true history of the original inhabitants is being acknowledged. They didn’t just “wander off.”
I headed toward the courthouse for Auglaize County. This building is the county’s second courthouse, which was opened to the public in 1894. according to my Preferred Source, the Courthouse and its adjacent powerhouse cost the “then-princely sum of $259,481.”
It was built of Berea sandstone, which is named after Berea, Ohio, although it is also found in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. In addition to being used as a building material, it is also a source of oil and gas. Who knew?
In addition to being built of sandstone, it had tile floors and it was highly fire-resistant. The boilers for heating and power generation were located in a separate powerhouse. The electricity, steam and hot water were fed to the building though an underground conduit.
I knew it wouldn’t be open. This was after hours, after all, but I thought I’d see what I could see.
I went to the first door I came to. “NO ENTRY COURTHOUSE ENTRY ON EAST SIDE”
I continued on around the building. No, this is apparently not the east side.
Just in case you got any fancy ideas about trying to get in, they posted signs on the door and the sidelight.
No, this isn’t an entrance, either.
I finally found the entrance, but it was closed – as I had expected it would be.
On my trip about the building, I came across some interesting things.
There was the cornerstone.
In fact, there was information on both visible sides.
They had parking reserved for prisoner transport. There seemed to be lots of space reserved for prisoner transport.
Thinking of prisoners made me thing of crime and wonder about statistics. No wonder these blog posts take me so long to write!
Then I found a memorial erected in 1959 by the Disabled American Veterans in memory of all veterans and all wars. I appreciate that they didn’t erect one of those monuments for space to honor the veterans of future wars. Those always make me sad. I guess we will never learn.
However, I guess they are hopeful that more citizens of Auglaize county will be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. There hasn’t been one since the Civil War.
While I was poking around, I managed to come across a survey marker.
I took one more shot of the courthouse and then I was off to my main reason for coming downtown.
As part of Alumapalooza, they have a Fine Art Invitational. Other years, it has been held out at the factory. This year, it was in Wapakoneta.
There were informational pamphlets available to help guide you around the exhibit.
Third place went to Patrick Saunders for his painting titled “Guest House.”
Second place went to Steve Wohler for Sixty-four Lakeside
First place was taken by Gil Dellinger for Over the Miles of Greasy Rails.
Okay, call me a crab or a grouch, but it seems to me that the art at an Airstream Fine Art Invitational ought to feature – oh – AIRSTREAMS!
Like “Cool Evening Out” by Jon Francis.
Or “Almost Heaven” by Wendy Brayton.
Or “Journeys to Come” by Godfrey.
Or “Wanderlust” by my friend Elizabeth Jose.
But, they didn’t ask me, did they?
There are quite a few historic buildings in the downtown area. In fact, there is a walking tour that you can download from their website. I didn’t have the time for it, but you know what I always say: “Next time!”
I did snap a photo of this decorative exterior staircase. Do you suppose it was a fire escape?
There was this charming statue at the entrance to the Downtown Parkway that seemed to provide access to the Auglaize River.
Auglaize is also the name of the county in which you will find Wapakoneta. When I was researching the name, it seemed like no one was quite sure where the name came from. My Preferred Source is quite emphatic that the name of the river comes from the French word “glaise” which means clay. It sounds to me that the river must be kind of muddy to have earned such as name. Or maybe there are clay deposits along the banks.
The Auglaize River, which was called Kathinakithiipi by the Shawnee, is a 113 mile long tributary of the Maumee River. It drains a primarily rural area in the watershed of Lake Erie. Even with Wapakoneta being about 100 miles from Lake Erie, it does remind me that we are all very connected. There is no “away” to throw things.
Okay, I’ll climb down off my soap box.
One more interesting shot in Downtown Wapakoneta, and then back to the hotel to rest up for the main event the next day: Alumapalooza and the Airstream Addicts gathering!
On there way to Jacksons Center, I was able to snap this photo.
Can anyone tell me what this is? I have seen them all over in rural areas. I assume it has something to do with electricity, but I don’t know. Finally, I arrived at the Mothership.
Alumapalooza!
People and their flamingoes had turned out in droves!
There was lots going on.
I could even see some Atlas chassis awaiting the Airstream magic.
Just in case you were wondering, this is an Atlas. It’s an Airstream. I prefer the classic pull-behind design, but this is the right design for some people.
Right next to the factory is The Heidout, where I was going to meet up with the Airstream Addicts folks.
Oddly enough, I didn’t get too many photos. We were all too busy talking!
Here’s one shot I got.
And here’s the other.
At least I know Elizabeth, one of (if not THE) founder of Airstream Addicts.
After lunch, I had to head out. I had about six hours of driving ahead of me.
Next stop: Springfield, Illinois!