The Silver Streak

A book telling the complete story of the Silver Streak and the Gypsy Coeds will be launched October 17, 2015.  The title of the book is Darlene’s Silver Streak and The Bradford Model T Girls.  This was what they were know as early in their travels, prior to becoming more famously known as The Gypsy Coeds.  The book will be on sale locally at the Peoria Riverfront Museum Store, the Bradford Pharmacy and The Wheels O’Time Museum store.  It will also be available on line at Amazon.com.  The Silver Streak will be part of an exhibition at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, “The Gypsy Coeds Ride the Silver Streak” which will run from October 17, 2015 to January 17, 2016.

Darlene’s Silver Streak and The Bradford Model T Girls

Monday, September 1, 2014 was a fun day in Bradford, Ilinois. The Silver Streak and the Gypsy Coeds returned for a third straight year.

With Gypsy Coeds Jean Turnbull Campbell and Winnie Swearingen Hays Waiting for the start of the parade

2014 is the 75th Anniversary of the 1939 trip to the New York Worlds Fair.

With Gypsy Coeds Jean Turnbull Campbell and Winnie Swearingen Hays Waiting for the start of the parade

Jean was a Gypsy Coed on the 1942 trip, Winnie on the 1938 & 1939 trips

The rain clouds departed and the sun came out

We’re loaded with luggage and supplies for a long trip!

The parade down East Main Street is underway!

Some of the supplies include candy, which we were eagerly throwing!

The third vehicle in our little caravan included our grand-children, with son Alex driving

The grand daughters are “Gypsy Coed Wannabes!”

Nice trophy for the third year in a row!

Thank you Bradford Lions Club

We have a lot of exciting updates since late August! Sorry we haven’t been diligent with Monthly updates.

1. Pictures from the Bradford Labor Day Weekend Car Show and Parade
2. 1936 Trip photos courtesy of the family of Ruth Gustafson Johnson
3. Picture from the 1936 Trip published in the Peoria Star Newspaper, Sunday September 13, 1936
4. Story & Picture from the 1972 Gypsy Coed Reunion, Jumers Castle Lodge, Peoria Illinois
5. Pictures from the Wheels O’Time Museum in Peoria, where the Silver Streak was on exhibit for the month of September, 2013
6. We now know there were 20 Gypsy Coeds rather than 17 and have them all listed by the trip they were on in the heading Gypsy Coeds
7. We have added a page for Verna Dorgan, Gyspy Coed on the 1935 & 1936 trips as well as her obituary
8. We have added a page for Olive Bell, Gypsy Coed on the 1935 & 1936 trips as well as her obituary
9. We have added a page for Kathleen Moran, Gyspy Coed on the 1935 trip as well as her obituary
10. We have added pictures from dinners we had on our west coast swing, meeting descendants of Gypsy Coeds and others associated with the Silver Streak

The Car Show is Sunday, September 1, 12:00-3:00

The Parade is Monday starting at 10:00am…correction, 11:00am

The Silver Streak will be on display in the New Antique Ford Dealership building at the Wheels O’Time, 1710 W. Woodside Drive, Dunlap, IL 61525.  Museum hours are 12:00-5:00pm Wednesday thru Sunday.  Thanks to the Early Ford V8 Club of Peoria and the Wheels O’Time Museum

Wheels O’Time & Early Ford V8 flyer

1.  We have included a great discovery from the Bradford Republican 1942 Newspaper that tells us more about the 1942 trip.  Thanks to the Bradford Public LIbrary.  It can be found under 1942 Trip.

2.  We have included a newspaper story from the 1942 Kalamazoo Michigan Gazette that adds more detail to the 1942 trip.  It can be found under 1942 Trip.

3.  We have included a July 24, 1940 Bradford Republican story that chronicles some of the trip as far as Long Beach.  Thanks to the Bradford Republican Library.  It can be found under 1940 Trip.

4.  We have included a newspaper article from the July 12, 1940 Tulsa Daily World that adds more detail on the 1940 trip to California.  It Can be found under 1940 Trip.

1.  Right under our noses we have found a wonderful story in the Bradford Republican Newspaper in the archives at the Bradford Public Library.  It details the 1939 trip to the New York Worlds Fair. This page has been added under The Story  

2.  With the permission of The Henry Ford Museum, we have added pictures that tell the story of the1939 photo with Henry’s signature from the 1939 New York Worlds Fair.  This page has been added under Trips-1939 Trip  

1.  Pictures of our trip to Greenfield Village can be found under, “The Car”.  2013 is the 75th Anniversary of the 1938 trip and meeting with Henry Ford

2.  We have located an obituary for Muriel Cunningham Hall in a Salem Oregon Newspaper.  This is located under Gypsy Coeds, Muriel Cunningham

3.  We have found a wonderful account of the 1941 trip  written by Muriel Cunningham in 1941 and published in the Sterling Illinois newspaper.  This is located under The Trips, 1941 Trip

4.  We have found an article and picture of the Gypsy Coeds from a 1940 Salt Lake City Newspaper. This is located under The Trips, 1940

5.  We have located an obituary for Anne Holland.  It is located under Gypsy Coeds, Anne Holland

1. There is a loving letter from Regina Fennell to her boy friend recounting her recollections from the 1939 trip to the New York Worlds  Fair.  She would marry this boyfriend two years later!  This can be found under Regina Fennell.  

2. We have also found and added a letter from the Toronto Star to Regina Fennell and Darlene Dorgan.

3.  Finally we have added a page from the Winnipeg Free Press that  carries a picture and references the girls.  These last two posts can be found under the 1939 Trip.