Philip Wayne Myers, son of William Denver and Bertha Myers
.
Wayne Twp School (later named Simon Kenton Schools) put a priority on music education. With the arrival of Helen Milner, the music program expanded and diversified. There had always been an underlying assumption at the school that ordinary farm kids could develop musical talent, both as members of ensembles and as soloists.
Mrs. Milner also assumed that a few of her music students would turn out to be extraordinary. She gave individual instruction at school, and she mentored Philip closely from the very beginning. She prepared her best student musicians to participate in the Clinton County Music Competition.
As a result of Mrs. Milner’s encouragement and instruction, Simon Kenton was always well represented at the county-wide Competition (as this News Journal article documents).
Note in this newspaper article that Philip was only a Freshmen when Mrs. Milner first sent him off to compete as a flute soloist and earn high scores in his performances.
Mrs. Milner also assumed that a few of her music students would turn out to be extraordinary. She gave individual instruction at school, and she mentored Philip closely from the very beginning. She prepared her best student musicians to participate in the Clinton County Music Competition.
As a result of Mrs. Milner’s encouragement and instruction, Simon Kenton was always well represented at the county-wide Competition (as this News Journal article documents).
Note in this newspaper article that Philip was only a Freshmen when Mrs. Milner first sent him off to compete as a flute soloist and earn high scores in his performances.
Story from Philip:
Brother John and I pooled our money (US Savings Bonds included) to raise the $100 purchase price set by a very old retired resident of Washington Court House. John was not old enough to have a driver's license, so I was the designated driver. It turns out this was the only Myers vehicle that would reliably start anywhere, anytime, always. So, sometimes it served as the "go to work" vehicle for the Superintendent of Wayne Local Schools. This created murmured conversation among many at the school.
Brother John and I pooled our money (US Savings Bonds included) to raise the $100 purchase price set by a very old retired resident of Washington Court House. John was not old enough to have a driver's license, so I was the designated driver. It turns out this was the only Myers vehicle that would reliably start anywhere, anytime, always. So, sometimes it served as the "go to work" vehicle for the Superintendent of Wayne Local Schools. This created murmured conversation among many at the school.
- Then there was mother's need to go shopping in Sabina. So again, the trusty old '34 was rolled out for duty. Now understand, this was the first time mother had driven it, floor shift and all. The Chevy was on a short wheelbase as mother was to discover on her way back to the farm. While making the required left-hand turn from 3 & 22 onto 72, she cut the corner too short and drug that little coupe along a marker post on the left lane. No big damage but it was the brunt of jokes for some time.
- John and I had little money, so in the winter we would always drain the cooling system after each use of the car since we couldn't afford antifreeze. Which leads us to the "David" episode.
- David was employed at a truck stop in Sabina. He needed reliable transportation to the job one very cold night and he borrowed our 34 Chevy. We explained that the car had no antifreeze and that he needed to drain the cooling system at work and then refill it when he drove home. Maybe he ate too many pickled "trucker" eggs that were always on sale there; anyway, he forgot to drain the cooling system. You guessed it: a cracked engine head.
- It was following this event we decided to install a powerful Chrysler Hemi V-8 engine. We changed out the front-end hydraulic knee-action suspension for a dropped Plymouth tubular axle, installed a Chrysler automatic transmission and a Mercury rear-end. The required welding modifications were performed by a welding expert in Sabina named (wait for it)..............Roy Rogers.
- Now, the rest of the story. John and I used this trusty steed to go to school frequently without mishap. Well almost. Leaving the school parking lot one day to enter Larrick Road required moderate use of the throttle on the powerful Hemi V-8. Moderate throttle wasn't used that afternoon. The open exhaust was testimony to excess throttle being used as the modified Chevy did a 360 when turning onto Larrick Road. No damage resulted; well, except for a need to change underwear.
- Now you know some of our adventures with that $100 worth of great fun. Kinda wish we had kept it for old time's sake.
- We reversed the trunk lid so that the hinge was on the bottom edge and the lid would then open at the top edge. Then we put in an old car bench seat and now we had a rumble seat like the fancy Roadster cars of the era.
- The car had a new special type of front suspension. If you Google "1934 Chevrolet knee-action suspension", you will find articles and photos.
- There was no floorboard for some time (feet were kept on the transmission in middle and on the frame rails on side. Definitely increased the 'thrill' of the ride, especially on gravel roads! In fact, seeing the road pass underneath the car was a new sensation of motion/speed/sound.
The Great 1956 Chevy 2-door Hardtop.