Dateline Dayton – The past weekend was a busy one as Howard, my cash register-collecting buddy, and I were hosting Cash Register Collectors Club members and guests.

Prior to last Thursday, we ere busy getting the house ready for our guests from Australia. Pauline will not buy my theory that dust is a protection. I must admit, I suggested we clean the front porch, which we did on Wednesday, as well as the yard to rid it of the debris left by two storms.

On Thursday, Pauline completed what we started the day before, and in the evening we went to supper with early-arriving Club members and guests.

Howard took the Club members to the Antique Fest at the fairgrounds in nearby Springfield on Friday, only after they had visited antique malls along the way. Later, they toured the Air Force Museum. In the evening we had a pizza party at Cassano’s, a local pizza chain. Back in my high school days in Piqua, a Cassano’s pizza was the first I ever had. Pauline worked for them for a number of years. After the Cassano’s meal, we returned to the hotel for snacks, drinks and fellowship.

We toured Carillon Park on Saturday, paying particular attention to their outstanding National Cash Register display. At 1 o’clock, we started our 90-minute tailgate swap meet, 35 Club member and guests participating.

Once everyone had packed, we drove to Jimmie’s Ladder 11 for a late lunch- early supper. Jimmie’s is interesting because it is a converted firehouse on Brown Street. It was back to our house for dessert, then to the hotel for ssnacks, drinks and fellowship. Amidst record-breaking temperatures, everyone had a really hot time in Dayton,. Sunday was our day of rest. After church, we took our Australian houseguests, Liz and Milton, out for breakfast. We had tickets for a Dayton Dragons baseball game later in the afternoon, so Howard entertained and fed our quests, until we got home.

On Monday, since Pauline had to stay home to take care of her brother who is ill, I drove Milton and Liz to Michigan to visit Greenfield Village, the Henry Ford Museum and the Car Works. After three days in Michigan, I chauffeured them to Chicago, from where they would begin their 19-day driving tour of Route 66 across America.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net