“Tinkering:” Inventor Michael B. Adams

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Meet the Inventor

Our latest exhibit, Fathers of Invention, features men from Harvey, McPherson & Marion Counties that invented tools that provided a safer work environment, increased efficiency and improved lives.

Thank you to the family of Michael B. Adams for providing stories about their dad, a Harvey County inventor.

“Our father was always mechanically inclined and a problem-solving engineer who took great pleasure in “tinkering” – usually with engines and cars, making adaptations to better serve practicality – or on a whim or fun-loving idea.”

Michael B. Adams was born on July 16, 1916 to Walter G. and Blanche A. Bartley Adams He grew up in the family home at 514 E. Broadway, Newton.

Michael B. Adams, age 3. Photo Courtesy Jean Adams Tonoli

Michael B. Adams, age 3. Photo Courtesy Jean Adams Tonoli

He attended Newton schools and graduated from Newton High in 1934.  He  met his future wife  Florence Hiebert, while attending Bethel College, N. Newton. After two years, he transferred to Kansas State University and graduated in 1939 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Michael B. Adams, NHS Sr 1934. Photo courtesy Jean Adams Tonoli.

Michael B. “Bartley” Adams, NHS Sr 1934. Photo courtesy Jean Adams Tonoli.

 Shortly after graduation, Adams served in the Army Air Corps.  During WWII, he was stationed at Dum Dum AFB in Calcutta, India where he worked in aviation maintenance servicing the airplanes which flew over the Himalayan mountains.

 

adams-army

“Santa Fe All the Way”

Michael B. Adams, Trainmaster.

Michael B. Adams, Trainmaster.

Following his time in the military, Adams returned to Kansas and continued his career with Santa Fe Railroad in Topeka.  During the span of his career he worked with the railroad’s transition from steam engines to diesel power.  As a result of his job, the Adams family lived in several different states including Texas and California.  While in Chicago, he was the Chief Mechanical Officer for the Santa Fe Railroad.  In the 1970s, to address changing fuel needs, he collaborated with a team to develop the Fuel Foiler—10 Pak.  The  lighter, more efficient Fuel Foiler was developed in response to the fuel shortages and increased cost of fuel in the 1970s. The invention improved the transport of  freight by rail.

foilerpiggyback

From the initial idea by a few Santa Fe engineers, this rail transportation concept improved the efficiency of the Santa Fe’s growing freight transport business, and beyond that, the rights to the design were eventually sold to other companies for further development and manufacture.

103057

“Emily”

Adams’ inventiveness and ingenuity was not limited to his career. A favorite story involved “Emily”, his first love, a Model T Ford that was “named after Emily Post, (because the car was so well mannered?!)” In one instance, to solve the problem of a missing radiator cap,  he used a tomato juice can.

“When the car overheated or the road was rough, he enlisted the help of his passenger, with a long stick to reach forward and keep the can in place.”

In addition to ‘Emily,’ Adams enjoyed working on unusual cars, including  two early Studebakers, two Peugeots and a Renault. He enlisted the help of his two sons in one project.

“A lengthy and special project was the overhaul of the Peugeot engine in the garage of our home. We completely dismantled the engine, cleaned and rebuilt with new parts, and learned first hand the workings of the internal combustion engine. We recall one little bit of ingenuity we needed. Since we didn’t have an engine hoist, usually used for this task, we removed the entire front axle and steering gear from the car to get access to the bottom of the engine.”

His children also recalled

 “a creation of Dad’s to solve the classic problem of 3 kids in the back seat of a car during road trips. He built a wood platform on the floor to cover up the hump in the floor of the 1957 Dodge so the three of us could sleep back there, one on the floor, one on the seat, and one on the back hat shelf. This of course was long before child car seats became popular, much less the use of seat belts!”

Throughout his life, Adams enjoyed do-it-yourself projects.  He shared this love of creatively inventing with his children from building a Soap Box Derby race car to overhauling car engines in the garage.

Michael B. Adams and diesel locomotive.

Michael B. Adams and diesel locomotive.

Adams died 24 March 1983.

For the exhibit, the Adams family  loaned the museum a model of the Fuel Foiler 10 Pak invented in 1980.

model-3

model-2

Sources

  • E-mail correspondence with Mike Adams (jr), 26 August 2016; Jean Adams Tonoli, 26 July 2016, 21 August 2016, 24 August 2016;  Jim Adams,  30 August 2016.

“A Great Mix:” Harvey County’s Camp Hawk

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

Recently the Harvey County Commissioner voted “to move forward with plans to sell Camp Hawk” located at southwest 36th, in rural Harvey County.  The county has owned the camp for the past 42 years obtaining it from the YMCA in 1975.  Prior to that, the roughly 40 acres had been the property of the YMCA.  Harvey County resident, H.G. ‘Guy’ Hawk donated the land to the YMCA in 1959 and 1960. The camp is named for him.

Hyett Guy Hawk, 1922.

Hyett G. ‘Guy’ Hawk, 1922.

H.G. ‘Guy’ Hawk lived a long life of service to Harvey County.  He was born near Burns, Kansas in Marion County on August 27, 1872.  As a young man, he moved to Walton, Kansas where he was instrumental in establishing the Walton State Bank in 1907.  He married Ida Lathrop in 1917.

Walton State Bank, Walton, Ks. Guy Hawk, Ora Spangler, Dan Schomber, & Jim Johnson

Walton State Bank, Walton, Ks. Guy Hawk, Ora Spangler, Dan Schomber, & Jim Johnson

In 1919, he was elected to the Kansas Legislature and he moved to Newton.  Elected to the Newton City Commission in 1931, he served as mayor in 1932 and 1933.  He served again on the City Commission from 1947-1949.  While in Newton, he served as a director of the Midland National Bank and as honorary chairman of the board at First Federal Savings and Loan Association.

Guy & Ida Hawk, 1958.

Guy & Ida Hawk, 1958.

Guy Hawk died October 23, 1973 in Newton.  He was survived by his wife, Ida.

camphawk-3

Camp Hawk, picnic area.

Guy Hawk donated about 40 acres located at SW 36th to the YMCA in 1959 and 1960. It quickly became a popular place to hold camps and picnic.

Picnic Area of Camp Hawk, 1960.

Picnic Area of Camp Hawk, 1960.

Picnic at Camp Hawk, 1960.

Picnic at Camp Hawk, 1960.

Camp Hawk, SW 36th, rural Harvey County, 1960

Camp Hawk, SW 36th, rural Harvey County, 1960

Camp Hawk, SW 36th, rural Harvey County, 1960

Camp Hawk, SW 36th, rural Harvey County, 1960

Today, the camp includes a 4-acre fishing pond, tent camping, a playground and a 24-hole disc golf course.  The Professional Disc Golf Association described the course as:

“a great mix- through wooded areas crossing creeks and ponds while battling the Kansas wind. Signature hole #23 has water on both sides all the way to the pin.”

Sources:

  • Topeka State Journal, 24 October 1973
  • Newton Now, 15 September 2016.
  • Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) Web – “Camp Hawk.”

“With a Rush and Roar:” Newton Water Tower

by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

One postcard in our collection has the dramatic image of a large metal drum teetering on the edge of a stone tower – the notation “The Fall of the Old Water Tower, Newton, Kans.” 

An amazing photograph, capturing a moment in time, with a long story behind it.

Postcard, demolition of water tower at E. 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks May 1907.

Postcard, demolition of water tower at E. 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks May 1907.

“With rush and roar:” May 25, 1907

The demolition of the old water tower at 12th &  Walnut, Newton, was a long time coming and became a necessity at 4:00 o’clock in the morning of Saturday, May 25, 1907.

Evening Kansan Republican, 25 May 1907 p. 1.

Evening Kansan Republican, 25 May 1907 p. 1.

The Evening Kansan Republican reported that

“with rush and roar . . . a big wave of water swept down the valley to the north, scattering stones, sheets of steel, and iron trusses across the valley  clear to the Missouri Pacific railroad tracks.”

The farm of Silas Frame “a colored man, who lives in the Ensign house, a few rods northwest of the water tower” sustained the most damage.  “The trees in Mr Frame’s young orchard were pulled out by the roots and carried along by the water.”  Other damage included snapped telephone poles, damage to the hedge row  and a corn field.

If the pipe had broken on the south side, there would have been a great deal more damage to property.

“Last night’s accident has brought the matter to a crisis.”

The Evening Kansan Republican reporter noted that

“The stone foundation of the tower had been in shaky condition for some time.  The city authorities had been aware of this condition for months, but there had been some uncertainty as to the best course to pursue.  Some favored repairing the tower; others a complete new tower.  Last night’s accident has brought the matter to a crisis and makes anything but a new tower entirely out of the question.” 

 

Water Tower damage, May 1907.

Water Tower damage, May 1907.

“The water tower is in a rather precarious condition: 1901-1906”

Discussion of what to do with the water tower at 12th and Walnut was not new.  The city of Newton purchased the tower and equipment from the Water Works Co. for $75,000 in April 1895.

In February 1896, repairs took place on both the stone base and the steel pipe water tower.

“The water committee was instructed to have the water tower thoroughly repaired at as small expense as possible.”

By April 1901, it was noted that “the water tower is in a rather precarious condition and its future existence is a matter of some uncertainty.”

The problem remained in 1905.

Evening Kansan Republican, 9 June 1905, p. 1.

Evening Kansan Republican, 9 June 1905, p. 1.

“People living near . . . are hoping that this action will be taken speedily.”

In an article in July 1906, it was reported that the northwest corner of the base was “crumbling rapidly . .. and even from Main street it can be seen that a large portion of the wall is gone.”

Evening Kansan Republican, 28 July 1906, p. 1.

Evening Kansan Republican, 28 July 1906, p. 1.

The same article reported that the “council has given some thought to the matter lately and a committee was appointed . . . to investigate and report as to the best action.”  The reporter noted that “the people living near the tower are hoping that this action will be taken speedily.”

Removing the Water Tower: May 1907

Nearly a year later, the decision was made when the rock base of the tower collapsed on one side early in the morning of May 25, 1907.

Shortly after the collapse, the Council voted to “have the water tower removed.”

Viewing the damage of the water tower at 12th & Walnut, May 1907.

Viewing the damage of the water tower at 12th & Walnut, May 1907.

On May 30, 1907, with “about half the town’s population there to witness,” the water tower came “tumbling down” at 3:30 in the afternoon. Local businessman, D.S. Welsh and his crew pulled the structure down on their third attempt.

Demolition of water tower at 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks May 1907.

Demolition of water tower at 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks May 1907.

“A man climbed to the top of the tower and put a pulley there by which the steel cable was pulled to the top and there attached so that the pull would be on the top. . . the big steel tower fell slowly to the north striking the ground with a terrific roar and being obscured for several moments by a big cloud of dust.”

Demolition of Water Tower at 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks, May 1907.

Demolition of Water Tower at 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks, May 1907.

“Purest water in the State”

The City Council then turn their attention to a new water tower.

Postcard, New Steel Water Tower, 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks, 1907

Postcard, New Steel Water Tower, 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks, 1908-1909

A new steel water tower, 120 ft high with a capacity of 675,000 gallons of water was installed at the 12th & Walnut location. The water was “99.6 pure” and promoted as the “purest water in the State.”

New Water Tower, 12th & Main, Newton, Ks 1907-08.

New Water Tower, 12th & Walnut, Newton, Ks 1907-08.

The Council also had to address the issue of damages.  Silas Frame’s orchard sustained the most the most damage.  At the June 1907 meeting, he presented a bill for $400 damages to his young trees.  He noted that “the orchard was damaged to that extent when the water and rocks rushed over it.” At the October 1907 meeting, it was reported that the matter was “settled with Mr. Frame for $250 . . . for the damages.”

Sources:

  • Newton Daily Republican: 9 September 1892,  26 April 1893, 11 May 1893, 12 May 1893, 17 April 1895, 7 February 1896,  20 February 1896.
  • Evening Kansan Republican: 24 May 1900, 6 April 1901, 8 April 1904, 9 June 1905,  28 October 1905, 28 July 1908, 25 May 1907, 26 May 1907, 30 May 1907, 7 June 1907, 4 October 1907, 15 May 1908, 3 March 1922,