Nickle ‘A’ News www.nicklearegion.com/

May 2020

The Nickle “A” Region of Wisconsin is

dedicated to the restoration, driving and

preservation of the Model “A” Ford

Automobile from 1928 to1931.

.

In This Issue…

Calendar of Events Page 3

Meeting Minutes Page 5

Classifieds Page 5

MARC News Page 6

Tech Support Page 8

Message from the Director

Happy Spring Model A’ers!

While we’re all staying safe at home (at least the retirees

are), there is still a lot of work going on behind the scenes. Jerry Braasch was busy trying to

reschedule the National Meet from June to August—and

then when that didn’t look promising, he polled the

committee and started working on rescheduling everything

to 2021. That meant that that Tom Schmidt had to

contact vendors and Cindy Ellenbecker had to contact

advertisers and Fred Pennings had to start writing piles

of refund checks. Pretty much everyone on the committee had folks to connect with for the

reschedule –Bob Hegner with bus tours etc. Please thank those national committee members for

the extra work when you get to see them again.

The 18-month calendars that the gals of the club made for a fund raiser for the national

convention are date specific starting with July 2020. Since there will be no national convention

to sell them at, and probably fewer car shows, if any, this summer, Cindy Ellenbecker has

contacted MARC to get the calendars advertised in the July/August edition; the May/June edition

had a due date of March 20 for ad submission, so we missed that because we were still thinking

an August conference then.

Bill Lindsley has busy calling people to cancel the Spring Tour, but he will reschedule a summer

tour for us if we can see our way through the virus later on. Cindy Ellenbecker is still doing a

wait and see for the Seymour Historical Society Sunday excursion in mid-June. Stay tuned.

As for voting on our by-laws, that will have to wait for our next face-to-face meeting, but in the

interim, Cindy Ellenbecker did contact the national club and they do NOT have language for

dispensation of funds if the club ceases to exist, so our wording of having the remaining

members vote which educational facility(ies) should get any monies will work.

As for me, I have been getting in some windshield time with my collection of Model A’s, but as

you all know, it’s so much more fun when we can tour as a group. Let’s look forward to the time

when we can get together. I miss all of the bantering and B.S. (oops did I really say that?) of this

“family-like” group. Think of the stories we’ll have to tell when we finally do get a chance to

get together!

Keep your spirits up and your motor on in your “A”

Roy

2020 Club Meetings…

Sat March 21st Hosted by Roy &

Julie Farley @ St. E’s Marketplace

Sun April 19th

Spring Tune-Up

Hosted by Alan & Raquel @their

home

Thur May 21st Hosted by George &

Kathy @Winchester Town Hall

Thur June 18th

Hosted by Ralph &

Mary@ Kaukauna

Thur July 16th

Hosted by Roy and

Julie @ Farley’s Model A Ranch in

DePere

Sun August 16th

Hosted by

Moss/Braasch @ Annual Corn Roast

in Van Dyne, WI

Thur Sept 17th

Hosted by Fred &

Joan Penning @Kaukauna

Canceled

Canceled

WANTED “THEME BASKETS” The 2020 committee is looking for “Nickle A Region“members to put together

“Theme Baskets” for the can raffle. Be creative, this could be car related

items, homemade can goods, picnic items, grilling items, wine and cheese,

craft items, etc. Something you would like to win and or buy tickets for. Cost

could be any were from $25 to $75 or more if you like. If you have a great

idea and it’s beyond your means, the National Meet committee will be willing

to cover some of the cost. Just share the idea with a committee member.

Remember all proceeds stay with your club, the Nickle A Region, non goes to

the MARC National.

Canceled

2020 BOARD & CLUB OFFICERS

Director Roy Farley director@nicklearegion.com

Vice Director Cindy Ellenbecker vicedirector@nicklearegion.com

Secretary Roselind Bresnahan secretary@nicklearegion.com

Treasurer Dennis Voss treasurer@nicklearegion.com

Sunshine Donna Hameister sunshinechair@nicklearegion.com

Historian Mary Lou Hegner historian@nicklearegion.com

Editor Julie Farley farleyjulie5@gmail.com

Tool Keeper Tom Schmidt toolkeeper@nicklearegion.com

Webmaster Jim Watermolen webmaster@nicklearegion.com

Spotlight Reporter Cindy Ellenbecker bhavenfiberarts@yahoo.com

Feel Free to contact anyone of the Club Officers with any

questions you may have. Thank You

Where’s the Monthly Meeting??

When: Thursday, May 21, 2020 Where: Winchester Town Hall

Hosts: George & Kathy Bresnahan

Lunch will be served at 6:00p.m. with meeting at 7:00pm

Please bring a dish to pass. A donation of $3.00 per person is suggested.

Thank You☺

MAFFI Newsletter Minute April 2020 ~ Did you get your commemorative pin from Model A Day 2019?

Each year for Model A Day we create a pin with our feature car. This year we had 2 pins, one with the Unrestored A-400 and another one of the Twenty

Millionth Model A. Both of these pins are still available but the quantity is limited on the A-400. The cost for the A-400 pin is $7.00 and the Twenty Millionth

Model A is $6.00. This includes postage and handling. It is more economical for us to mail out larger quantities of these (4 or more) so keep this in mind when

you order them. We are happy to mail out single ones as well.

These make fun giveaways at your club meetings or a special little something for the Model A person in your life and it is a

great way to support our Museum. Please send a check made out to MAFFI enclosed with a list of what you would like to:

Suzan O’Neale 477 Beaver Pond Way Mineral, VA 23117

Thank you again for your support of MAFFI and our museum.

Thank you, Marsha Quesnel, MAFFI Trustee clubcontact@maffi.org

MAP TO May MEETING

From Appleton, go South on I-41, Take exit 134 to merge onto US-10 W to

US-45 S exit toward Oshkosh, Continue onto US-45 S, Take County Rd II exit

go left toward Winchester, Turn left onto Parkway Ln.

8522 Parkway Lane, Larsen, WI

8522 Parkway Ln, Larsen, WI 54947

Youth Report ~ Model A Youth Restoration Awards

Every two years since 1994, the Model A Youth

Restoration Awards (MAYRA) program gives financial

assistance to youth who are restoring a Model A. they

must be between ages 12 and less than 22 when the

awards are announced. Every applicant who meets the

award requirements will receive the same amount. In

2018, nine youth each received $2,200 in financial

support. If you know of a youth who is working on a

Model A, please tell him or her about the program. All

the details are on the website -

www.modelarestorationaward.org. The deadline for

filing for a 2020 award in May 31, 2020.

MAYRA’s guiding philosophy is that the future of the

hobby rests with instilling an interest and love for the

Model A in youth. Once that interest takes hold, the youth

is more likely to stick with the hobby or rekindle the

interest in the hobby at a later point in life. And being

successful in the restoration often depends on finances

and that is MAYRA helps.

The program requires just two things,

youth and donations:

Youth — If you know of someone, please tell them.

Donations— The program is funded with donations from

Model A clubs, the national organizations of the MAFCA

and the MARC, Model A parts and service vendors,

individuals and memorials. We are a 501 (c)3 education

organization.

Thanks for your help, Bob Moore,

MAYRA President 626-358-2027

Send your donation to: MAYRA,

13478 Egbert St., Sylmar, CA 91342

Our website: www.modelarestorationaward.org

Page 2

May Birthdays

May Anniversaries

Richard & JoAnne Fink

Jon & Ruth Etter

Jim & Donna Hameister

Jeff & Barb Utke

Bob & Dea LeMeiux

Robert & Michelle Buech

Kevin & Nicole Nohl-Ress

Happy

Anniversary!

Wishing you

many more

happy years

together!

Calendar of Events May 2nd- Freedom High School Auto Club Car Show will be

hosting its 9th annual car show. We are open to all makes and

models and we have trophies for 1, 2, and 3 in 12 classes. The

show registration opens at 8am and the show runs 9-2. It is open

to the public we do take donations as this is a fundraiser for our

auto club and automotive program. We will have goodie bags for

registered cars, food, raffle, prizes and a shop tour. Please

consider supporting our show and auto program. Do it for the

kids!

May 3rd- NWTC Car Show and Swap Meet, 10am-4pm,

Admission is $4.00 per person, children under 12 and seniors are

free. Events goers can receive a $1 off admission by bringing a

non-perishable food item.

June 9th

– Allouez Fest 10am – 3pm

Page 3

Mike Ehmen

Joan Pennings

Karen Ziegert

Karen Kranzusch

Barney Schmidtz

Michelle Buech

Event Info Start: June 9, 2019 - 10:00am

End: June 9, 2019 - 3:00pm Where 900 Greene Avenue, Allouez Wisconsin, 54301

Mark your calendars now. Fun for the whole family!

Food & Refreshments, huge Bounce House, Kids Games, Remote Control Car Demo, and

Live DJ. Free admission for spectators ($2.00 donation suggested at the gate). All proceeds

support local youth activities.

Attention Iola Volunteers

I hope this memo finds all of you healthy and in a

good frame of mind. I received a letter from Iola

yesterday in regards to the 2020 Show. They are

diligently monitoring the Covid-19 situation and

hopeful the show can go on.

The gist of their letter was that they need to know if

our club intends to volunteer again this year if the

show is allowed to proceed. I don’t want to make

any assumptions so please let me know if you

prefer not to participate. I don’t have a work sheet

from them yet so for now just assume you will have

basically the same schedule.

Thanks everyne for their help in the past and hope

to see you in July. Or before!!

Godspeed my friends!

Sincerely,

Fred Pennings

(920) 450-1930 Talk or text OK

Fpennings30@gmail.com

Ray Hendricks

Neil Damsheuser

Jeff Utke

Pam Paalman

JoAnne Fink

Stewart Hallman

Deb Peterson

Craig Froelich

Chuck Lukas

Roy Farley

Julie Farley

Gene Hegner

Nancy Raeder

Audrey Schmidtz

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------

Editor’s Corner I hope everyone is well during this Covid-19

Pandemic. The impact on the U.S. as well as the

world has been staggering. The “stay at home”

restrictions have impacted our lives in ways we

never would have imagined. Shortages and hoarding

of essential items of normal living have almost been

comical. The impact on restaurants, gyms, nail

salons, and other small businesses has been

horrendous, with so many employees out of

work.

This has affected our local club activities and also

the national club. Most events have been canceled

until further notice. Hopefully we’ll be back to

somewhat “normal” by the end of the year.

Until the restrictions are lifted.........It’s hard to

predict when we can resume our normal schedules

and club activities. We’ll be in touch.

Everyone please stay safe and healthy.

Stay safe.

Julie

Page 4

Good Morning All –

I hope this finds you well! I am writing to inform you of a change that we are making

for the King Open House in 2020! As you all know, the weather has not been great in

May for this event and a big thank you to those of you that braved it last year!

We have decided to make a change and move the date to Saturday August 29th

and

have changed the name from Open House to King Family Picnic Day. The focus of

the event will be on our members, their families, and other guests that attend the

event! Our theme this year will be the Roaring 20s since we are entering the 2020s!

Our new Family Picnic Day will still contain many of the wonderful activities that

Open House had, including the Car Show, the bake sale, the Fox Valley Hog

Motorcycle Run, kids’ area, etc. The time will remain the same – 10 AM – 2:30

PM. We will be putting together the registration sheets in late spring for the car

show. I’ve attached our save the date card and I will send another email when we

have the registration working on our website.

Enjoy the rest of the winter and we look forward to seeing many of you in August!

Sincerely,

Shelley Jandt

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Signup sheet will be available at the March and April meetings or call

Bill Lindsley @920-639-1135 to get your name on the list.

(there are currently 13 cars signed up)

All times are approximate.

Depart from the BP gas station on County Rd E in Freedom

@9:00am sharp

Arrive at the Adam VanDenBosch

goat farm at 9:15am

Leave the farm at 10:30am to drive

to Kerrigan Brothers Winery for tour,

wine and goat cheese sampling.

11:45am we’ll leave to head

to Hollander’s Bar & Grill in

Little Chute for lunch.

1:15pm next we’ll travel to 1000 Island Nature Center in

Kaukauna. We’ll plan to spend approximately 1 hour touring

the center and the grounds.

After the 1000 Island Nature Center we’ll start heading home

back to Freedom. Those that would like to head home from

the Nature Center or along the way please feel free to do so.

Hollander’s Bar & Grill

1820 E. Main St.

Little Chute, WI

Name Tags

As you know at the January meeting the members in attendance

voted to have our webmaster Jim make new name tags with lanyards.

Name tags are in process now and you could get your car added on

the back of your name tag for an extra $1.50 per card. It would be

full back side of the card with your name.

Even if you don't want your car on the back of the name tag Jim

would love your car pictures emailed to him for the web site.

Please email to Jim at webmaster@nickelaregion.com

If any questions please contact Jim at above email or

call/text him at 920-412-1235

(Below is what the front of the name tag will be with your name)

Spring Tour has been canceled

The world has turned upside down.

Some humor for you. A teacher friend of mine sent these

too me; some of them you may have seen, but as a whole I

thought it was a cute bunch, and what else have we got to

laugh at!

2019: Stay away from negative people. 2020: Stay away

from positive people.

Old folks are sneaking out of the house, and their kids are

yelling at them to stay indoors!

This virus has done what no woman had been able to

do…cancel all sports, shut down all bars, and keep men at

home!!!

Do not call the police on suspicious people in your

neighborhood! Those are your neighbors without makeup

and hair extensions!

Since we can’t eat out, now’s the perfect time to eat better,

get fit, and stay healthy. We’re quarantined! Who are we

trying to impress? We have snacks, we have sweatpants – I

say we use them!

Day 7 at home and the dog is looking at me like, “See? This

is why I chew the furniture!”

DEADLINE FOR NEWSLETTER ITEMS TO THE EDITOR IS THE 25th OF EACH MONTH

FOR SALE - TRADE - WANTED

FOR SALE: Model A carburetors rebuilt, test run. $125 without core, $100 with rebuild able core. Also, rebuilt distributors with modern

points and condenser, oil upper shaft and lower shaft, new bushings, $100 each. Call Tom at 920-450-7770

For Sale: Air compressor head for Model A engine $300 Call Don 920-540-0193

FOR SALE: 1931 Ford Model A Rumble Seat Coupe, very dependable, LeBonney Interior

$10,000 Call Kevin at 920-479-5744

WANTED: 1928-29 Style Steering wheel with tapered hole not splined, call Tom @920-621-7994

WANTED TO BUY: Model A manifold, one piece intake and exhaust. Prefer late 1931 model, but would consider other years.

Jim 262-210-0718

FOR SALE: 1930/31 Bumpers (new) front set $200; rear set $200; Bumper clamps, back plates $70; Light Wiring Harness 2 bulb new $ 50;

Zenith Carb rebuilt $125; Coil 6 volt $ 15; Brake floaters 20; Lug nuts new cad plated $20; Tail light bracket right side $5; Goose neck $7;

Electric fuel pump 6 volt $15 Jim 262-210-0718

WANTED: 1930 or 31 Tudor or Fordor sedan, reliable. Call Hank 608-226-9671

FOR SALE: Model “A” style tool pouches. They are made with top material as they were in the day. Craig Vosters will make them using his

excellent upholstery skills. He has material to make 7 using short grain and 3 using long grain. The cost is $15.00 each. These pouches will

have a black muslin lining and will be double stitched for added strength for the snaps. In addition to using the pouch for tools, they can be

used to carry smaller repair parts such as condensers, points and fuses. A major “A” supplier sells them for $9.00 each, plus $10.00 shipping

and they do not have a lining. Please call Don Paalman at 920-540-0193.

Page 5

Preparing a Model A Ford for the Season Joe Principe, San Gabriel Valley A’s

Do these on an annual basis, servicing your Model A:

1. Change Oil

2. Check Water

3. Pull front wheels and inspect bearings, add grease if

necessary, check brakes for wear

4. Grease universal joint

5. Grease rear axles, #4 & #5 brake drum grease

comes in green can

6. Grease entire chassis with chassis lube

Do these before each trip:

1. Check oil

2. Check water

3. Check tire pressure

4. Inspect engine compartment looking for oil and

water leaks

5. Check lights

6. Clean windshield

7. Fill gas tank

By following these steps you

will have a well-running ModelA.

Have Fun!

CoVid 19 Meeting Minutes ~ April 2020

MARC National Events

Page 6

Page 7

Fashion Era ~

Most Wisconsin farm kitchens in the late 1920s and early 1930s were Spartan workplaces. Struggling with hand utensils and laboring to fuel

the wood-burning stoves and keep rustic refrigerators filled with block ice, rural women toiled in the house as much as their male counterparts

did in the barn and fields. (As late as 1935, only one-tenth of the Wisconsin farms had electric service because the majority of farms were

beyond the reach of urban utilities according to the Rural Electrification News) Yet, most of these women toiled in a dress ---a house dress.

A house dress is a type of simple dress worn informally at home for household chores or for quick errands. The term originated in the late

nineteenth century to describe at-home garments designed for maximum practicality and usually made from washable fabrics. Ellen Quinlan,

later known as Nell Donnelly Reed, became an American fashion designer of the house dress.

Nell had always insisted on looking nicely dressed all the time, even

while working at home, for which many women wore cheaply made,

unflattering 69-cent dresses. The New York Times reported that she

said she wanted to "make women look pretty when they are washing

dishes.” Nell's ruffled dresses and aprons in good-quality, hard-wearing

fabrics were made for herself and her family, but were admired by her

friends and neighbors, who asked if she would make dresses for them

too. In 1916 she started working commercially, selling her first designs

through a large local department store, the Gregory B. Peck Dry Goods

Company in Kansas. The original order of 216 dresses, run up by two

seamstresses in the Donnelly's attic on newly purchased industrial

sewing machines, rapidly sold out. This was despite the fact that at a

dollar each, they were more expensive than the average housedresses.

The company remained successful through the Great Depression. By 1931 sales figure were at the

3.5 million dollar mark, and it had 1,000-plus employees. In 1932, Nell divorced Paul Donnelly

and removed him from the company becoming its sole shareholder. Although she remarried the

following year, her new husband played no part in her business.

Nell focused on her employees' welfare, providing life insurance and medical fee support, a

pension plan, an on-site cafeteria and medical care, and even funded and supported employees who

wished to study evening courses at the local college. In addition to this, there was a scholarship

fund for her employees' children. Despite pressure from the International Ladies' Garment

Workers' Union through the 1930s and 1940s to unionize the Donnelly Garment Company, this

was resisted by her employees and the company did not join the ILGWU until 1968. By 1953 the

Donnelly Garment Company was the largest manufacturer of women's clothing worldwide, having

expanded from housedresses to making a wider range of garments.

She retired from the company in 1956, after which it rebranded itself as Nelly Don Inc and went

public in 1958. It went bankrupt in 1978.

(Information compiled by Cindy Ellenbecker from a variety of sources)

Nell Donnelly Reed

Born

Ellen Quinlan

March 6, 1889

Parsons, Kansas, United States

Died September 8, 1991 (aged 102)

Kansas City, Missouri

In 1919, Nell and Paul Donnelly established the Donnelly Garment Company. The company

rapidly grew through the 1920s, becoming known for its focus on good fit and durability

combined with attractive designs. Each design was prototyped in every size it would be made in

to ensure that the fit was correct and that purchasers would not be forced to alter them, with

unsuccessful designs either reworked or not produced. As Nell was a size 16, she wanted her

designs to look stylish and flattering on women of a wide range of sizes. In 1927, Kansas City

voted Nell its most illustrious businesswoman for her success in turning them into a successful

center for ready-to-wear production.

Nelly Don logo, 1921

I was SO excited when I opened my March-April 2020 issue of Model "A" News! I discovered that an article on small leather purses was one

of the feature articles. I had found a leather purse at my local thrift store about 3 years ago. (If you know me, I enjoy time "thrifting" looking

for treasures.) I bought the purse pictured here. I actually put it down once, thinking I wouldn't buy it, but the fact it was all leather made me

think twice. After closer inspection, I saw the OPEN on the hinge, and the olive green suede lining (which I later learned was “the” color and

fabric of the era), I knew it was special, so in the cart it went.

After reading the article in the Model “A: News, I came to realize what a treasure I really have because according to Jo Addie (author of the

article), “finding them in excellent condition is a challenge”. Jo says that the beaded and mesh purses are fairly common; however, they were

the evening bags of the time, “but hardly anyone is familiar with or has ever seen or held a stunning, mostly handmade tooled leather

handbag” which served as a day purse in the Model A era. In the era, these bags were called hand ‘modeled’ leather purses and every lady

had one! Remember, ladies now were out and about in their Model A’s so a day purse got more wear than the evening handbag. They

virtually not to be found, and I own one!!

Jo also shares that the dates were stamped onto the frame; you will see mine says 1921. You will also note that my purse has the unique turn

lock mechanism; the “frame’s hanging charm serves as a ‘key’ ”. And like all the hand-tooled purses of the era, it was brown. (Apparently

brown showed off the tooling better than other colors.) Jo shares that the wholesale price in the Model A era was between $8.50 and $21.00;

today Jo sells the ones she collects for $135.00 - $350.00!!!

Cindy Ellenbecker and I looked at my purse last fall, when looking for props for our photo shoots for the calendar. She too thought it was

vintage, likely from the 20's. My purse in remarkable shape for its age--- just like Cindy and me! (save your choking for later, boys!) If this

one had a mirror and coin purse, it would even better, but they are missing. Because this is one of the unmarked purses, I couldn't research it

to find its identity to find the actual company that made it. Still, I think I made a solid purchase for $1.00!

Submitted by Angeline (Jill) Moore

Me: Alexa what’s the

weather this weekend?

Alexa: It doesn’t matter –

you’re not going anywhere.

Can everyone please just

follow the government

instructions so we can knock

out this coronavirus and be

done?! I feel like a

kindergartner who keeps

losing more recess time

because one or two kids can’t

follow directions.

When this is over…what

meeting do I attend

first…Weight Watchers or

AA?

I never thought the comment

“I wouldn’t touch him/her

with a 6 foot pole” would

become a national policy, but

here we are!

The men of the Model A Club are terrific at fixing, painting, and restoring cars in

general. They also do fundraising work at Iola year around and represent the club

at car shows. The women of this club are no slouches either though! They are

cooks and clean up staff behind every awesome monthly potluck meeting; they

organize and run errands for the club behind the scenes all the time. They hold

office, write the newsletter, and keep dinner waiting and warm for those Iola runs!

They clean the house and get snacks and beverages out for all the thank you

dinners and weekly national conference planning meetings, and then they have to

entertain all those people in their house before and after the meeting. They knit,

crochet, and garner door prizes for the club. They find, mend, and maintain the

men’s Model A period attire—and then they supply the eye candy in the passenger

seat in those Model A’s, if they are not driving their own car.

As the old adage goes, behind every successful man is a great woman. Meet one of

those women: Kathy Bresnahan, wife of George Bresnahan. Kathy was born in

West Allis, one of 3 children. She had a brother 6 years older and a brother 1 year

older; both were taken before their time by cancer. Kathy shares that she is

especially proud of being the sister of her eldest brother, Bill (William J. Koelpin Sr.) who was a

multi-talented, world-renowned wildlife artist [Along with a career as firefighter

in Wauwatosa and advancement to Fire Chief, Kathy’s brother, Bill, won the title

of the world’s best woodcarver in 1974 and one of the finest bronze artists in the

nation. His sculptures and carvings were so realistic that viewers often touched

the feathers to be certain they were wood or bronze and not an actual soft feather.

In fact, Bill received national acclaim for all three types of his wildlife work:

woodcarving, painting, and bronzes! His work was exhibited nationwide

(ie: Carnegie Museum in Pittsburg) as well as internationally in museums in China and London. He also raised over 1 million dollars

for Ducks Unlimited by allowing the organization to auction off his original oils and prints.]

Kathy said that she started dating George before her 16th

birthday and that George, with the blessings of her parents, gave her an

engagement ring for her high school graduation gift. Since she has a November birthday, Kathy was not yet 18 when she graduated, so

she could only get work at a hospital diner until November. In November she got hired at a big company in Milwaukee for office work.

There were 30 engineers and 3 office workers waiting on them. She worked there until 6 weeks before her oldest, Rob, was born.

There were two more children that joined Rob in subsequent years, Mark, and Teri. Kathy stayed at home with the kids during those

years because George was on the road so much and because George and Kathy were both very involved with the kids’ school events

and sports. However, she did take on babysitting jobs to make extra money during those years.

By the time Teri was 12 years old, Kathy said she decided to go back to work full-time because there were college funds to think about.

Kathy always gave blood and one day while she was sitting waiting to donate she struck up a conversation (imagine that of our ever-

friendly Kathy) with a gentleman who was in charge of the office at

Theda Clark Hospital. He said he needed help, but that there was a

hiring freeze and urged Kathy to go apply at Kelly Girls and give his

name as the place that wanted her. Kelly girls made her test for

proficiency in office skills and Theda Clark did, indeed, hire her as

the temp to work the switchboard. These were the days before cell

phones and everything went through the switchboard and got passed

along by the little pink memo pads, all handwritten messages. Kathy

said the work was incredibly interesting because the switchboard

operator was the hub of the hospital. Her hours at the switchboard

(7-3p.m. or 3-11p.m.) worked well with getting the kids’ dinners too.

She graduated from switchboard work to accounts payable work at the

corporate office and actually retired from that job at 63.

And if a travelling husband, 3 children, and full-time job weren’t

enough, Kathy’s mom lived with them for 10 years and had dementia.

So, as Kathy recounts, there really was never time to pursue her own

interests or hobbies. She does fondly remember organizing the kids’

school and team events and the cook-outs the Bresnahan’s hosted.

She said she’s always enjoyed the outdoors, particularly hiking and

neighborhood bonfires.

These days she enjoys her grandchildren and still has

that babysitting job: George!

New or Renewing Membership Application- Please fill out so we can update our records each year, Thank You!

NAME________________________________________________ DATE_____________________________

SPOUSE_____________________________________ Model A’s____________________________________________________

ADDRESS ___________________________________________________

CITY________________________________________________________

STATE/ZIP CODE ____________________________________________

PHONE (_______) _______________________

Receive Newsletter by Email______ OR by US Mail________

E-MAIL______________________________________________________

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Her BIRTHDAY______________________ ANNIVERSARY DATE____________________________

MILITARY; Branch of Service____________________________________________________ Years Served____________________

2018

Club Dues: $20/per year

Check payable to: Nickle A Region

Send to: Dennis Voss

731 Zeh Ave. Neenah, WI 54956

To join Nickle A Model A Club Must also

be a member of MARC

MARC Dues: $45 per year