Monday – August 18, 2014 72 degrees in the morning – 82 & sunny in the afternoon
Warning! If you’re not interested in antique vehicles, don’t read this blog…..
A 1931 Auburn
Our reason for staying in Auburn, Indiana last night was to visit the National Auto and Truck Museum and the Auburn Cord Duesenburg Museum. These are Historic Landmarks which are located in the former factory buildings of the Auburn Automobile Company.
I don’t know where my interest in cars came from. Maybe it was my mother’s first car: a 1954 orange & white Ford. Maybe it was my 7th grade science class where I learned about combustion engines. Or perhaps it was growing up in the ’50s and ’60s when new car models were different every year and the boys I knew had cool cars. Life revolved around Rock ‘n’ Roll, hot rods, and Roger Maris & Mickey Mantle.
Nice Paint Job!
Whatever it is, I have to admit my heart goes pitter-patter at the sight of a shiny restored multi-cylinder driving machine. We arrived at the National Auto & Truck Museum and were blown away by their collection of early motorized vehicles through the 1970s. They also had an amazing collection of model cars and toys.
Go Green!
Hood Ornament
There must have been more that a hundred beautifully restored cars and trucks on two levels which were manufactured in Indiana during the early part of the last century.
A 1930s Auburn Speedster – Wouldn’t that be fun to drive?!
Then we walked to the next building to see the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. This was the original Art Deco offices and showroom for these magnificent hand-built cars.
The A C D Museum
A Duesenberg
Art Deco Lamp
Copper & Black
Hood Ornament
We dragged ourselves away from the automotive museums reluctantly and wished we could return for the Annual Labor Day Classic Car Show or the auction which was scheduled to take place in two weeks. We had a quick lunch in a local place called Mad Anthony’s and then went to the Elkhart Public Library.
I can’t remember where I read about the library, but it was well worth the stop. It was designed in the ‘Prairie Architecture’ mode of the Art Deco Period with heavy overhangs and brickwork. There were early 20th Century decorative stencils on the walls and Arts & Crafts furniture as well as lovely stained glass windows. The library could have come directly off the drawing board of Frank Lloyd Wright and was definitely ‘Prairie School Architecture.
The librarian greeted us and gave us a quick history of the building and also recommended that we visit the DeKalb County Courthouse down on Main Street. She said that at nine 0’clock every morning everyone in the government building join together to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in the rotunda. She loves to attend and that’s how she starts her day. We went and it was magnificent.
The Rotunda
When we walked into the lobby, we were greeted by a man who was sweeping. He stopped his work to welcome us and then ran to get an historical brochure of the building. He told us about the history of the building and recommended that we see the beautiful Circuit Court Room which had recently been restored. He escorted us upstairs and beamed with pride. He was so kind and said he hoped we would return soon.
Circuit Court Room
We drove out of Auburn, Indiana impressed by the generous spirit of the people who we met and the preservation of the vehicles which developed along with our country in the last century.
Free in the Wind