June 28th, the several members of the WVBSCC gathered
for a drive from Martinsville, IL to Altamont, IL, approx. 60 miles one
way. Dave Kirkman [MGB], Bob Arnett & Linda Wood [TR6], Alice &
Allen Lee [Alpine], Howard & Ginny Baugues [TR7], and Arlo & Esther
Hawk [Cadillac] met up in Martinsville to begin the journey. We traveled
via Route 40/Old National Road through the Illinois countryside and stopped
at the Dr. C.M. Wright house for a tour. There we met up with Ed Wunderlich
[MG-TD] and Lynn & Rex Crow [Midget] from the Taylorville-Blue Mound
area of Illinois.
The Wright House was built in 1889 by C.M. Wright I, who
studied designs and planned the house and most of the details himself.
The builder was C.H. Spilman of Toledo, Illinois who agreed to build the
house for a total price of seventeen thousand nine hundred sixty_five dollars
with the owner furnishing the materials. The total cost, not including
furnishing, was approximately thirty_five thousand dollars. The house remained
in the family through three generations, and was left in trust by the family
as a museum. Luckily, most of the house remains as it did in the early
1930's.
Following the house tour the group stopped for lunch,
then proceeded to Alwerdt's Gardens south of Altamont, where we spent time
looking over the 6 acres of gardens that have over 1,000 varieties of herbs,
perennials, and ornamental plants on display for both sun and shade. There
are presently just over 200 All_America Display Gardens located in 30 states
and provinces throughout North America. Alwerdt's is proud to be
a part of this fine program.
As we left the gardens and headed for home, one member
developed some engine problems in their LBC. We broke out the tools and
sent two members on a parts run. After some fuel filter changes and fuel
line changes we were able to get the TR6 running and headed for home. Even
though we baked in the sun for an hour and were soaked in gasoline, we
did manage to have a fun trip. Such is to be expected when driving a British
car! |
