The sun finally came out about noon Saturday after a week of clouds and heavy rain --- just in time to shine on this grand old Chariton home's 100th birthday party, thrown by its owners, Sherry and Fred Steinbach.
That's Fred seated (above) on the running board of the Lucas County Historical Society's 1929 Model-A --- the house was 11 years old when this vehicle rolled of the production line in Detroit. Sherry is in the middle and Florence Heacock, on the right.
James T. Crozier, a pioneer Chariton merchant, and his wife, Mary, hired architect William Lee Perkins to design this then very modern home, built in 1918, after their vast Queen Anne, located on the same footprint, caught fire and burned to the ground. This is the south front --- the more formal front faces a busy street to the west and so what was intended to be the front door is rarely used. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bonnie (Brown) Martin (right), the only surviving grandchild of James T. and Mary "Mollie" Crozier, was driven down from Cedar Rapids by her daughter (left) to join in the fun.
J.T. Crozier, who died during 1936, and Mollie Crozier had three children, Robert, Charlene (Bonnie's mother) and Mary. Mollie died during 1939. Robert and Mary continued to operate the Crozier store in partnership until retirement in 1974 and Mary had continued to live in the family home until the early 1960s, when she decided to move to a smaller house.
At that time, Dr. James and Ruth Egly purchased the home and moved in with their two children. Scott Egly, accompanied by Lisa Kozak, was on hand Saturday to reminisce about life at the intersection of North 7th and Ilion, too.
Fred and Sherry bought the property from an interim owner after he retired from teaching in Wyoming and decided to move back to his hometown and pursue a second career --- as an Episcopal clergyman. After ordination as first a deacon and then a priest, he now serves as vicar of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, a block or two north.
Guests during the afternoon were given the option of dressing in period costume and many did.
Music was provided by a trio consisting of David Katz on trumpet, Daniel Scheetz on keyboard and Steve Scott on drums.
There were games on the lawn, birthday cake inside and plenty of opportunities to socialize in the shade on the side driveway or the patio, where what seemed like dozens of hummingbirds were patronizing the feeders.
And many took advantage of the opportunity to pose with this fine old home --- and the Model-A --- before heading home.
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