Monday, November 30, 2009

I know it isn't too early for this--you should start thinking about attending the 2010 Museum of Bus Transportation SPRING FLING....it will again be a two-day affair: June 4 and 5, 2010. This is the first weekend in June. We had a very successful two-day Fling last year and hope to make 2010 even better.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Hoping you have enjoyed the long weekend--just a heads up for the beginning of 2010--the Museum will be closed from January 2 through January 8, 2010 for floor painting. That's all I know about it--saw a notice in the Fliver (the volunteer newspaper)--I'll keep you posted as I find out more info.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Sorry - no, I wasn't out shopping....we went to Lewes, DE, for the day and I forgot all about doing the blog before I left. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Don't forget to think about the Museum Gift Shop for any stocking stuffers you might need for that "bus" person in your life.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Are you all out shopping on BLACK FRIDAY??? If not, stop by the Museum and do some shopping in our gift shop--we have LOTS of great Christmas ideas for the "bus" person in your life.

Enjoy your day!

Thanksgiving Day - November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. But it was Thomas Jefferson who opposed him. It is believed that Franklin then named the male turkey as 'tom' to spite Jefferson.

Here's a picture of the turkey that has taken over our yard since last April - and NO, we are not eating him today!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

In the first Thanksgiving celebrations a thanksgiving feast was organized in which there were dishes like boiled turkey, corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish, which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires.

Today, the tradition of pardoning the turkey was conceived by Harry Truman. After the Turkey gets the Presidential Pardon, it is transported to Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo at Frying Pan Park in Herndon, Virginia to be welcomed as the chief guest along with the President in a Turkey 'Roast' celebration. Here, the Turkey is not 'roasted' in the oven but through humor and turkey jokes. The Turkey gets a new home in the Turkey Barn.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Here's some more Thanksgiving trivia for you:

On December 11, 1620, the first Pilgrims (or Puritans, as they were initially known) landed at Plymouth Rock. By the fall of 1621 only half of the pilgrims, who had sailed on the Mayflower, survived. The survivors, thankful to be alive, decided to give a thanksgiving feast.

The Wampanoag Indians were the people who taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land. The Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, who had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in the year 1621, invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians also to the feast. The first Thanksgiving feast was held in the presence of around ninety Wampanoag Indians and the Wampanoag chief, Massasoit, was also invited there.

The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Since this is THANKSGIVING week -- I thought I'd share some trivia with you.

Abraham Lincoln issued a "Thanksgiving Proclamation" on third October 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving. Whereas earlier the presidents used to make an annual proclamation to specify the day when Thanksgiving was to be held.

However, President Franklin D. Roosevelt restored Thursday before last of November as Thanksgiving Day in the year 1939. He did so to make the Christmas shopping season longer and thus stimulate the economy of the state. Congress passed an official proclamation in 1941 and declared that now onwards Thanksgiving will be observed as a legal holiday on the fourth Thursday of November every year

Sunday, November 22, 2009

A fancy-wrapped MCI from the archives.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Another bus that has been part of the landscape for many years was the Greyhound Americruiser--here are two nice pictures from the archives.

Friday, November 20, 2009

A few Greyhound pics--checkout the great wrap on the bus on the left.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Did you buy your turkey yet??? Thanksgiving is just a week away!

Here's another nice old bus--an ACF Model P-516 - photo take in 1933.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

I know--many of you are saying--when is she going to start talking about buses again.....okay, back to some of the pictures I have located recently - here is an ACF Model H17S.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Funny, as I do more and more research on these "strange" buildings--I ran across what are called "mid-century architectural wonders"--funny, when I was growing up--these were called MODERN buildings! I actually think it is a timeless building!

The Guggenheim Museum was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built from 1956-1959. As the exterior suggests, the interior features the unique spiral ramp exhibition space inside. It was intended to resemble the interior of a nautilus shell.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Back to seeing some of the stranger things as you travel around the country...I found this:

Josephine Stapleton began decorating her front lawn in Mays Landing, NJ, with milk jugs in the late 1960s. Her displays included over 2,000 jugs at one time. She began collecting them to build a barricade to keep the kids with mini-bikes and dune buggies off her front lawn. She saved about 400 on her own, then family, friends and even passers-by started dropping them off. Somewhere along the line, she started painting the jugs and creating colored patterns with them.
She used two methods to color her jugs. Her favorite method was painting them but this was time-consuming (requiring two coats) and costly (filling the bottoms with cat litter). The other way was by using food coloring or fabric dye and water. This made the jugs heavier and there were problems with freezing in winter.

Here's what it looked like in 2007. I understand the lady has since moved and this no longer is on display.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Halfway through the month with Christmas on the way--have you visited the Gift Shop lately??? Here are two pictures taken at the Spring Fling....lots of bus-related items to purchase. Checkout our GIFT SHOP page on our website for new items!

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Another Spring Fling photo shows the bus that was donated by Jamaica Bus of New York.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Here's a picture of the 1954 Flxible formerly owned by Harran Bus of Long Island....it is a real beauty. This picture was taken at our Spring Fling

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I recently came across this picture--nice to see our buses lined up outside! It really shows the difference in sizes too when they are lined up like this.

It is a picture taken very early on because the Golden Eagle is there--and that has been on the floor for as long as I know! So I'm thinking this was taken before our original display was put ont he floor.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY! THANK YOU all for your service to our country.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Thought I'd share a picture of our Greyhound that we recently turned into a magnet and a new postcard to sell in the gift shop. Photo was taken by Bob Devine - thanks Bob! It was taken on the misty/foggy morning of the 2008 Spring Fling!

Monday, November 9, 2009

I know I have mentioned we are now on Facebook--but I seem to be somewhat Facebook challenged--so hopefully some of you will add your comments and join us on Facebook if you are a member there.

I will continue to write this blog--this is a easiest for me. Thanks.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

The Kissmobile Cruiser is 26' long and 12' tall vehicle. The Hershey's Kisses themselves are 7 1/2'tall. The first Kissmobile was created in 1997, borrowing the concept of the famous Weinermobile. The Kisses have been repainted over the years to promote different flavors of their candies. A second Kissmobile Cruiser was built in 1999. One Kissmobile travels the northern and southern states while the other travels the midwestern and western states.

This is not the current paint job of the kissmobile--but still fun to look at. It is parked outside the Museum everyday in good weather.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Well--we have finally made it onto FACEBOOK.....I had tried it once and it was listed in my own name--then had to delete the account for at least 2 weeks--now I have finally managed to get it on under Museum of Bus Transportation! So please check it out and join as a friend! When you are in Facebook - just search "Museum of Bus Transportation". Thanks for your support

Friday, November 6, 2009

The AACA Museum has a TRAIN ROOM that in on the lower level along with the Bus Museum. It is a big attraction and we have contributed 3 buses to the layout--here are the pictures of the buses...it is really a neat layout--in a large U-shape.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Here's our Raffle Winner - the prize was a custom-made bus by Harold Sauter of New York. Winner of the raffle was Jeff Holland. Congratulations Jeff!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

One of the features at the Annual Meeting was Board Member, Oliver Ogden, signing his new book "Fifth Avenue Coach Company 1880-1960" for anyone who bought one or brought one along to be signed.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A few more pics from our Annual Meeting on Saturday. You can see from the full room we had a very good turnout.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Good morning everyone...a glorious morning here in SE PA after a week of rain. Thought I'd share a few pictures from the Annual Meeting and Bus Day that was held Saturday at the Museum. You can see how beautiful it was to be up in the rotunda.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Oh my, what a delightful day we had yesterday at our ANNUAL MEETING. We had a great group of 50+ people who enjoyed our new display of buses and shopping at the Gift Shop! Our meeting was packed and was followed by a very interesting talk from Jim JeBran, Vice President of TransBridge Bus Lines. After the speaker, we enjoyed a delightful meatloaf, potatoes green beans, dessert luncheon in the Rotunda of the Museum and then held our raffles. In the afternoon, many went on the bus trip to Hersheypark, Lancaster, Red Rose Transit to view the coaches.

Thanks to everyone for making this a VERY successful ANNUAL MEETING.