Joint Tour to Kokomo, Indiana - June 1-3

By Ken Bounds

In 2011 members of Northern Illinois and Northern Ohio Regional Groups met for a joint tour to the Battle Creek, MI, area.  We must have thought it was a good idea, so this year we decided to meet again in historic Kokomo, IN.  On a rather cool (for this year) June 1 morning, NIRG members gathered at the Lincoln Oasis: our hosts Len & Irene Vinyard – ’39 Convertible, Ken & Carolyn Bounds – ’50 Convertible, Joe & Nell Kozmic – ’53 Mercury, Tom & Madeleine O’Donnell – ’40 Mercury, Dan & Diane Pudelek – ’53 Victoria, Joe & Delice Serritella – ’41 Coupe, and John & Barb Slobodnik – modern.

We gradually toured our way out of the congestion of the city to the rural areas of central Indiana.  After about 130 miles, we reached our first goal – lunch at Dutch Café in Peru.  There we met our friends from Northern Ohio: Foster Buchtel with his brother Mike and Neal Garland – ’51 Fordor, Jack & Sharon Bukszar – ’51 Tudor, Jeep & Georgene Iacobucci – ’47 Mercury, Frank & Ginger Posar – modern, and Richard & Nancy Smith – ’53 Victoria.  We had a great time renewing friendships over a nice lunch.

After lunch we crossed the highway for a unique opportunity at the Grissom Air Museum; we were allowed to drive our cars among the many retired military aircraft on display and take photos.  We drove our cars around like excited kids, taking dozens of pictures with the planes.  I’m sure everyone got some once-in-a-lifetime shots. 

After a group shot of the cars and a visit to the museum, we proceeded to our next destination, America’s Oldest Art Glass Company, Kokomo Opalescent Glass (KOG).  What an incredible operation!  Our two knowledgeable tour guides walked us through every step of the glass-making process used at the site since 1888.  We could write an entire article on the tour and the items this company produces.  After an interesting and informative tour (you don’t want to pay their gas bill!) we had time to browse their gift shop.  Their products are truly works of art and several of us left with lasting evidence of our tour.

From KOG it was time to drive to the Hampton Inn for check-in; the NORG participants had already checked in on Thursday.  After a little time for some refreshing beverages, everyone got ready for our evening event, a tour of the spectacular Sieberling mansion, completed in 1891 by industrialist Monroe Sieberling.  After our tour we enjoyed a buffet meal in the adjacent caretaker’s house – itself a showpiece.  Back at the hotel we had a hospitality room, but most of us were tired from a long day of touring and said our good-nights early.

Saturday morning we were allowed to sleep in!  At 10:30 we gathered for a tour to the Kokomo Automotive Museum.  Here we learned the history of America’s first true automobile, developed by Elwood Haynes.  The museum is a wonderful history of automobiles from the 1890s through more current times.  After lunch we proceeded to the Elwood Haynes museum housed in his Kokomo mansion.  We learned that Haynes, an executive during Indiana’s natural gas boom, was also an inventor, metallurgist, entrepreneur and industrialist in addition to being an automotive pioneer.  Among his inventions are stainless steel and Stellite.

Later in the afternoon there was some time for touring on your own.  Some of us spent some time under the hood of a balky ’53 Mercury.  Never fear – it is currently in the Mercury hospital and should recover soon.  Our farewell dinner was held at the Half Moon Restaurant and Brewery.  After dinner most of us gathered in the hotel lobby for refreshments and some lively conversation.  We have the bug!  We all decided to do it again next year; the destination is set – Greenfield Village.  The date is pending and will need to be arranged around the tour to the Grand National Meet next June in Lake Tahoe.

After breakfast Sunday morning everyone said their goodbyes and began their trip home.  Everyone arrived home safely with memories of a wonderful event.  We’ll see you again next year!