This post is certainly off topic, but it seems when Massachusetts oldest living person at 110 years old invites you to her birthday party, all should make note of it. Bernice Madigan was born July 24th, 1899 and spent her early youth in Cheshire. After graduating from Adams High School, she passed her civil service exam and moved to Washington. She lived there for nearly 90 years working before she retired at the Veteran’s Administration and then the Treasury. “Aunt Bennie” as she is known by the locals here remembers every inauguration from Warren G. Harding. For those of you weak in history that list would also include Calvin Coolage, Herbert Clark Hoover, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight David Eisenhower, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Richard Milhous Nixon, Gerald Rudolph Ford, James Earl Carter, Jr, Ronald Wilson Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, George Walker Bush and Barack Hussein Obama. Aunt Bennie is sharp as can be, fun to talk with and spry for any age.
The pictures below show her riding on the Hoosac Hose Company’s (Cheshire Fire Department) 1935 Diamond T Pumper truck. Aunt Bennie climbed right up onto that truck and rode around the barn at Rolling Acres Farm where she now makes her home. The beautiful farm is owned by the Daniels family. Elaine Daniels is Aunt Bennies’ niece. In the last picture Aunt Bennie meets and prepares to steal a kiss from what may well be the tallest fireman in Massachusetts…….
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In a very impressive line of old cars at a recent car show that we attended, an old brass era car really stood out. It was a 1912 Oakland owned by Rick LaPointe of Easthampton, Massachusetts. When asked how he kept the cars brasses looking so good he told us that Top Brite polish has been his long time choice. He originally purchased the polish at a small flea market and has been using it for years. That seems like a good endorsement to us. Top Brite Amazing Metal Polish is made locally, right here in New Hampshire. If you ever want to try a good American made polish this is it. Check out the pictures of Rick and his Oakland Automobile.
If you can not find this polish at your local store, similar type polishes such as Autosol and Wenol are available online here.
This past Saturday was perfect weather for the Berkshire Charity Auto Show held at Hillcrest in Pittsfield, Ma. This is a major fund raiser for the United Way locally. Posted are some pictures showing cars and what ever caught our fancy. Talking with many car owners, there seemed to be no particular detail polish that was used by the majority, but one product that stood out was microfiber cloths. The size seen most were about 16″ X 16″. About everywhere you looked you would see owners wiping down there cars with them or in their box of detail products that they used carefully packed in the trunks of the cars or placed out of sight under the rear of the cars. If you get a chance, don’t miss next years show.
