 The
"Big Band Era Friday Night Cruz
In" was an old-fashioned neighborhood get-together, but with a few
extras. Gary Osborne's band provided musical entertainment, catering
to everyone's preferences with a variety of tunes from different
genres.
Members of the Railsplitter Antique
Auto Club filled the front parking lot with classic cars. Circles of
car buffs sat in lawn chairs and seating around the yard -- talking
cars, greeting visitors and listening to the band.
One standout in the collection of
well-preserved antique and vintage cars was a 1938 Packard hearse,
owned by Bill and Doris Hanna, Emden. Bill purchased the vehicle in
2001 from an owner in Pinckneyville. It was black, a little run-down and had the original Packard straight-8 engine.
At the Friendship Manor Cruz In,
the Packard on display reflected Bill Hanna's profession as a body
shop owner. The vehicle was perfectly polished, the color of rich
wine. It now runs with a Chevy V-8. It has power windows and brakes,
and air conditioning. The original owner would be surprised.
A fold-down back seat allows extra
room for riders in part of the space where everyone but the driver
used to ride in a prone position. The original metal name tag from
an old funeral home, Doerr & Son, is kept inside, and the name "Hanna" is shown on both sides in the windows, identifying the
owners, just like hearses -- then and now --sported the funeral home's
name.
"We have a few more cars," Hanna
said, with a slight smile. So, how many more -- two or three?
"There are 19 altogether," he
replied, "and we keep them in a big shed. At Christmas time we
decorate all of them."
"You can see the lights from the
interstate, from 155," Doris Hanna offered, "and it makes quite a
sight."
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"And the meter just spins and spins,"
added Bill, referring to the electric meter that reflects the power
it takes to create such a spectacle. "But it's fun," he said, "and
people love to come see the cars."
While the band was on break,
Friendship Manor's administrator, Jerry Berglin, drew names for
certificates and prizes awarded from the evening's raffle.
As the day began to cool down and
residents began to go in for the night, the band's last song
signaled the end to a good time, and the crowd left for home.
[By MARLA BLAIR]
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