Anna - 2004-10-10 13:21:45
How sad :(* * * * * * * * * * * *
It's awful. A friend had asked me last night what "that big plume of smoke was over there," but we never dreamed that it'd be so major.
At least they still have the outdoor planes. I worry about that big bomber, though. I live pretty close by, and I love to see that big old B52 bomber cruising by above the house.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-10 13:59:40
I saw the smoke after chores last evening a knew it was bad. Then the firetrucks from out here wailed off in that direction. Very bad.
Among the treasures lost was a library both technical and recollective. Libraries always take big hits in wars and other disasters. Many dedicated people lost their personal tools and years of labor.
We went over there this morning to gape at the ruins. Firefighters continued to spray water onto the smoking embers. Ms. Thompson of the AA News had as usual made a fine catch with her photo through the B-52 with flames behind leaping high and the US "flag was still there."* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-10 14:06:23
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of the library. For some reason it reminded me of the terrible loss of the irreplaceable Yung-le Ta Tien, then the complete encyclopedia of all Chinese knowledge. During the Boxer Rebellion its numerous volumes were used to bulk up sand bunkers. Just dumped in the dirt. And now lost.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-10 15:52:39
Freep story about the Yankee Air Museum fire.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-10 16:44:06
HOT off the press!* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-10 16:49:00
Oh, my gosh! How weird! It seems a bit grisly to immediately try to profit off a tragedy, to me. They want $15 for this picture? Bit pricey, I'd say. Why is that smoke black, instead of white?
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The 1941 hanger contained a variety of combustibles. Lots of oil: motor, hydraulic, and exotic. Old-fashioned plastic and bakelite. Leather and paper. Tarpaper and shingles. Cloth. Glue. Probably acetone, paint, solvents of many kinds. I'll bet some ornance. blahblahblah* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-10-10 18:43:18
...ordnance, as in bang-bang* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-10 18:51:24
You're right, it probably was quite flammable. What a loss. I'm still waiting to hear on the bomber. Seeing that old beauty roaring overhead low in the sky (rides on it are $400) is one of the Ypsi things I love.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura again - 2004-10-10 18:59:38
The bomber was saved! Yay! Also 2 other operable planes that formed the core of the collection. The museum's head says he'll rebuild. So says this new Freep story. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura yet again - 2004-10-10 19:28:26
The Seat has a troubling exclusive report, based on police-scanner recordings, that the fire may have been a "controlled burn" that got out of control.* * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-10-11 15:31:19
as a temporary citizen of your state, let me offer my deepest sympathy to everyone with memories of the museum. This is a terrible blow to the integrity of historic preservation in michigan. In my opinion Yankee Air did the best job (especially considering their limited resources) of any museum i've been to here, ranging from greenfield village to kellogg's cereal city to all the local historical societies with their vignetted parlours.
The artifacts they'd collected filled a rare and important niche in a state with a very unhealthy propensity to glorify automotive history at the exclusion of anything else.
I'm not sure yet what I can personally offer, but the yankee air website does have numbers to call if you have funds, artifacts, or skills to donate to the reconstruction.
as a more personal aside to Laura, she will be saddenned to know that among the items lost was the 1930's Lockheed Lodestar they were restoring (which was the military version of the Electra). Next to the plane was a little plexiglass box for donations, in which a dollar of mine was also destroyed.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-10-11 15:45:50
Thanks for the (saddening, indeed) information, brett. That is a shame. The image of your donated dollar as ask whirling up in that black smoke is haunting.
The last time I visited I remember feeling a tad overwhelmed by the sheer size of the place, inside and out. Given the huge trove of (saved, outdoors) planes and (destroyed) artifacts they had, I'm hoping they can cobble together the beginnings of a new collection expeditiously. * * * * * * * * * * * * brett - 2004-10-11 16:26:36
both of my grandfathers served in world war II, so i was pretty moved by the minutae they had collected in the tightly packed display areas (i.e., There was a teletype machine they had tucked away in a corner which was similar to one my grandfather used in England). I have a very small assortment of some of my family's photos and artifacts from the era, and i certainly would donate something, as well any skills i might offer. My wife was lucky enough to win a ride in the B-17 last year, and we both feel like we've lost a family member.
For the last few days, I've been working on an obituary for the Peninsular Mill, and then suddenly this comes from out of nowhere and makes everything one does seem very humbling.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: