A Glimpse of The Past

By Staff
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Courtesy of John Batchelor, 16, Spring Gorden's, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1DR.
Courtesy of John Batchelor, 16, Spring Gorden's, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1DR.
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Courtesy of Roy Hough, Sunfield, Michigan 48890
Courtesy of Roy Hough, Sunfield, Michigan 48890
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What started out as a building to house antique cars has
transformed into an unusual museum for Jasper County.

Kennedy’s Museum, located on the west edge of Newton by
Illinois Route 33, features a varied collection of cars, trucks,
tractors, hand tools and horse-drawn farm machinery. There’s
even an old depot with a caboose, as well as a log barn, one-room
country school-house and the furnishings from the Rose Hill Post
Office.

The man behind the whole thing is Lexie E. Kennedy, who is in
the grain elevator business with his father and brother. A member
of Newton-based Norris Electric Co-operative, Kennedy conceived the
idea for a museum nearly 20 years after purchasing his first
antique car – a 1915 Model T Ford, the oldest in his
collection.

‘Since buying that first car,’ Kennedy commented,
‘I’ve added one after another until it reached the point
where I needed additional storage space.

‘In the back of our minds we had thought about taking some
of our farmland and developing a residential area for about 30
homes. And adjacent to the house we planned on having the
museum.’

But it’s turned out to be a bigger project. Kennedy’s
idea has mushroomed into one beyond belief. People will stop by
while passing through Newton to inquire about the museum; others
will have information on additional antique items which may be for
sale.

Collection of engines in my shed. Wish you could pop along to
have a look – as my total is now 54 engines and one Crawler.

My John Deere ‘D’, 1949, that I bought last year. The
block, head and radiator were broken due to freezing. The head was
split lengthwise below the valve seats. The radiator was cracked
the entire length at the bottom and the block had a hole in the top
the size of a dinner plate. I was able to repair all three by
welding it. It is now running fine and I enjoy it very much.

‘You’ll never know what’s going to happen next,’
Kennedy said. ‘Someone told me about a 1922 Chevy panel truck
which had been in storage since 1936 in New York City. And here it
is, still in its natural state with 1936 license plates.’

Although it’s the only antique car that doesn’t run,
Kennedy plans to have it in running condition and restored with
fresh paint. All his other antique cars are operable: the 1928
Whippet, 1918 Chevy touring car, 1931 Model A Ford, 1931 Chevy
truck.

The museum, which is 160 feet long and 55 feet wide, also has
other ‘ancient’ models: 1958 Edsel, 1951 Kaiser, 1941
Buick, 1948 Plymouth, 1947 Chrysler, 1964 Chevrolet Corvair and one
of Newton’s first fire trucks.

‘After getting the cars into place, I decided to add room
for a farm machinery display,’ Kennedy said. ‘This is a
real asset, especially for those who come here and start
reminiscing about the good old days.’

The agricultural display includes a horse-drawn one row Wayne
Agricultural planter, a rare bull rake used in the late 1800’s,
an 1890 Deere Mansur horsedrawn planter, a 1925 McCormick Deering
tractor, a Rumely ‘6’ tractor, and various other kinds of
farm tools and equipment.

‘It’s fun collecting the various items,’ Kennedy
said. ‘And people enjoy stopping by. At our grand opening more
than 2,000 people toured the museum. And it looks like we’re
going to have to open on weekends other than just the summer
months.’

For those who like antique exhibits, the Kennedy Museum offers a
new experience. Especially if you remember driving some of those
older, or later, cars, yourself.

From such items as a 1922 Chevrolet panel truck from New York
City to farm implements, buggies, wagons and even an old Rumely
‘6’ tractor, the Kennedy Museum at Newton offers a varied
collection. Inspecting the 1915 Model T Ford, from left, are Lexie
Kennedy, the museum’s founder, and Carl Mitchell,
electrification adviser, Norris Electric Cooperative, Newton.

A 10-20 Mogul owned by Hohrein Bros., Lebanon, Illinois at 1973
American Thresherman Show, Pinckneyville, 111.

At right is ‘The Pride’ of our collection, a Rumely
20-35, owned by our family.

Massey Harris Challenger

A little threshing at Knights of Columbus Labor Day Picnic in
1972 at Teutopolis, Illinois by Ed Jansen’s Twin City and Joe
Borries Case separator.

Courtesy of Edward Jansen, Teutopolis, Illinois 62467.

This engine is owned by Wilbur W. Funk and Grandsons. It is in
the 6 HP range, hit and miss governor, has no magneto, needs
battery and coil yet, has a Blitz spark plug, patent date 1903. Anv
information on this engine will be greatly appreciated.

Kind Friends! I enjoy your magazine so much. I am sending a
picture of a tractor I made for my grandson, Richard Little, age 8.
The wheels are from an old manure spreader, has 10 HP Briggs
engine, Ford truck transmission.

  • Published on Mar 1, 1976
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