off in the little "school" bus

This week must be field trip week with a trip Wednesday to the Cole Transportation Museum in Bangor, ME and an outing on Friday with friends to school day at the Common Ground Fair in Unity, ME. The kids knew that we would go see lots of cars, trucks, and fire engines if they finished their schoolwork quickly so by 10:45 we were out the door.

“Miss Hormonal” here got very teary-eyed when I read about the impetus for this private collection of artifacts. Apparently Galen Cole was a combat infantryman in WWII and lost his entire squad to a German tank gun. He made a promise to God that if he survived he would do his best to leave his community better than he found it. After 50 years of running a trucking company he saved enough money to build this museum.

We had a grand time walking up and down the aisles seeing lots of old snowplows, cars, trucks, soapbox derby winners, plows, railroad cars and a locomotive, tractors, and an authentic train station. I was struck by this line from their mission statement, “to inspire patriotism in young people and help build their aspirations --- after seeing what these Maine pioneers accomplished with hard work, honest endeavor, and primitive tools - to believe that with today’s improved knowledge, advanced equipment, and similar efforts, they also can become creative doers and builders of a bright future for themselves, their communities, and their fellow men.” After just seeing the lumberjack saws I had good reason to fully appreciate the farmers who first cleared the trees and rocks from our farm, planted crops, raised animals, and kept themselves warm in the winter without cars, tractors or efficient furnaces.

Appropriately we finished up our expedition with lunch at Dysart’s truck stop, including a mighty fine apple crisp.