Heritage Acres hosts the Colorado High Peaks Club

Toni Lucas and Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Bill and Peggy Wolf
Chris Davis photo

The Colorado High Peaks Club (CHPC) made a long pit stop in Pincher Creek yesterday, staying at the Ramada Inn and driving their Model-T and Model-A Fords out to Heritage Acres for a tour of the facility, followed by a tasty feast.

Heritage Acres
Chris Davis photo

Kansas State Representative Bill Wolf and his wife Peggy were back for their second visit. "This is our second year visiting Heritage Acres.  We like being in Alberta," said Bill.  Back home in Kansas Bill is the Assistant Chairman of the Child and Family Committee.  On vacation and traveling in their gorgeous 1914 Model-T, he clearly enjoys being an open-road adventurer, as does Peggy. In 2004 Ford announced that this car, the 1914 Model-T, was the most significant ever built by the company.  It was the first mass-produced vehicle, introducing the assembly line to a world that has been radically changed by the concept ever since. This is the car that was advertised as being available in any colour you liked, as long as you liked black. Bill and Peggy have been with the CHPC for 14 years. "This group gets together every labour day weekend, and we do a couple-of-weeks trip somewhere in North America," explained Bill.

Pam and Bill Most
Chris Davis photo

The CHPC is affiliated with Model-T Ford International. Members take turns organizing the annual tour, which starts on Labour Day weekend.  This year it was the responsibility of Bob and Pam Most from Tampa, Florida. They were driving a 1914 Model-T as well.   This year the tour is linked by an even older form of transportation, the railways. The group will be travelling to some of the loveliest resorts in the Rockies, for the most part ones with a railway history.  Members gather from all over over the United States every year, pick an area to explore, get into their beautiful antique vehicles, and drive them. On average, the group will travel 160 miles a day.  This time out they plan to cover around 1,700 miles. This year there are 13 cars on the tour.

Chris Davis photo

They travel without support vehicles.  Everything they travel with fits into the car. They tend to travel alone or in groups of two or three. "We don't travel as a caravan.  We're here to help each other, we're good friends... so many car clubs all get in a line and smell each other's exhaust.  Not us," said Bob Most. They have a loose itinerary of where to meet in the evening.  "Not everyone travels the same way, or the same speed.  Some leave early, some later,  go off to shop, or hike.  We all have our own interests," Most explained. 

Gerry and Barbara Hosterman
Chris Davis photo

  Gerry and Barbara Hosterman are piloting a 1915 Model-T that they have owned for six years.  "This car has been all over the world.  It has been to Canada four times, Europe twice, and on a 3,200 mile journey that took them across the States," said Gerry.  "No more than 200 miles of that was on a modern highway.  Mostly, it was on route 66."

Betty Hepner
Chris Davis photo

The hard-working volunteers at the revitalized Heritage Acres were very excited to host the CHPC again.  Around 4 years ago, Betty Hepner was welcomed onto the Heritage Acres board.  She originally joined because she saw a need to rejuvenate the craft fair, and the amazing growth it has experienced since, as seen at this year's August long weekend event, is in large part a testament to her drive and determination.  She too was excited to have the CHPC visit. "This is the first time we (Heritage Acres staff and volunteers) are catering a dinner ourselves."  Hepner was instrumental in getting the CHPC to come to Heritage Acres.  "I met one (member of CHPC) last summer in Home Hardware in Pincher Creek.  We got talking, and I put him in touch with Jack (Jacques Daignault).  Later, Ray (Degan) ended up talking to some people in the same club. It has all worked out great," she explained.

Allan Reed
Chris Davis photo

Allen Reed was in charge of cooking the meat for the dinner, including prime rib roast and ribs obtained from Pincher Creek's Sobeys store.  Allan has been with Heritage Acres since it started, approximately 24 years ago. The guests were also treated to fresh corn and an assortment of pies.

Heritage Acres is a farm museum located just north of the Old Man Dam.
Visit their website at www.heritageacres.org for more information.