Way Back When

 The Thorp Courier  --   February 13, 2008
 

No inline skates to be found in this picture, but looks like this group is “rolling” with some laughter and fun.  It appears that among the variety of get-ups, some girls are dressed as cowgirls with a line ranger or bandit in there, too, and at least one or two clowns are in the bunch.  Do you know what the theme was at this skate party, where they are, and what year this might be?  Are you in this photo, or can you identity anyone among this fun-loving crew?  Let us know what details you may recall.

Last Week's Photo:
  
We received calls from Dolores Gardner and Larry Dallman both of Greenwood identifying the man in last week’s photo.  Larry told us that this was his father, Ben Dallman.  His dad worked for the Reseburg Township for 27 years, and drove the RD8 CAT which weighed 16 tons with the snowplow on.  The CAT with the V-plow and double blades attached is what his dad is standing by in the photo.  The mighty machine arrived at Reseburg by train 68-70 years ago and was built in Peoria, Illinois.  It is still around and resides in the Reseburg Town Garage.
 
“My dad was hired to work for the Reseburg Township when the CAT first arrived.  He rebuilt almost all the roads in the township widening them from 3-rod to 4-rod roads,” Larry said.  Larry recalled riding in the CAT as a boy with his dad and described how much he enjoyed it.  Despite how cold it could get in the CAT, since there was no heater (the only heat came from the engine), he said he loved being in it with his dad, and explained that he has always had a love of machinery.  Larry filled in sometimes helping his dad, and described that they both loved meeting the many good-hearted people in the area when they were out working.  “In addition to Reseburg, my dad (and his partner) would also be called to plow in Thorp, Worden, Withee, and Longwood,” said Larry.  “And this was back when winters were really winters with a lot more snow.”
 
Ben Dallman passed away in September, 1967, and in addition to working for the township, was a farmer.