Model A Days makes the past present

AMANA — Jerry Christensen traded stories with visitors on the street in Amana Saturday morning. A steady crowd examined dozens of old cars during the village’s annual Model A Days.

Christensen wasn’t showing his own vehicle, though. “My car is in the shop,” he said.

Instead, Christensen, a volunteer for the Amana Colonies, answered questions for the car buffs and history enthusiasts who checked out the antique vehicles.

Christensen was a charter member of the local Model A club, he said, joining when he was only 14 years old. His dad had a Model A, which he now owns.

“I burned the motor out of it,” Christensen said. He didn’t know he wasn’t supposed to drive 55 miles an hour in it, he said.

Christensen also owns a 1939 Model A and a two-door Model A, which he considers a parade car. It’s not pristine. His four grandchildren keep him busy, so he hasn’t spent much time on his cars.

Christensen hadn’t counted the cars displayed along both sides of the Amana street, but he estimated that more than 50 showed up for Model A Days this year. Organizers anticipate 80-100 cars each year, according to the Amana Colonies website.

The cars are usually altered for today’s road requirements, Christensen said. They originally came with only one taillight and no turn signals.

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Jim and Pam Pischke, of DeWitt, traded stories with Christensen. Jim is certified in 19th century limestone building restoration and has spent a lot of time in Amana, he said, so he’s familiar with many of the area’s historical events.

The Pischkes have a Model A — which was pictured on the back of their T-shirts — but they didn’t drive it to Amana Saturday. “We have a 1930 Model A Ford ourselves,” said Jim. They’ve had it restored, little by little, over the last 13 years.

The Pischkes show their car locally, in Eldridge, DeWitt and Davenport, said Pam. They plan to take the car to McCausland’s Labor Day car show, which attracts 300 exhibitors a year.

Nicholas Everhart, of Cedar Rapids, sat on the running board of his grandfather’s Model A and visited with family members. His in-laws, Traci and Bryan Monger, were visiting from Colorado Springs.

Mike Everhart, exhibited two cars Saturday. He takes the cars out once a year, said his son Warren — only on Model A Days.

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Mike has made exceptions, said Warren. He let Nicholas and his bride use the car during their wedding.

Other events that launched visitors into the past during Model A Days included a ladies’ tea, attended by women in period dress.