Where C.F. Marley Works

Where C.F. Marley Works MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 34-2-5 If long-time FARM SHOW writer C.F. Marley has ever pulled into your farmyard with a camera around his neck, you know he's an 89-year-old ball of energy who won't leave your place until you've shown him every made-it-myself idea you've ever come up with. He's been covering agriculture for more than 60 years since mustering out of the Navy, where he served with distinction during World War II. Often when I call C.F., his wife Ruth Ann tells me "he's over at his office". I recently asked him about "home away from home" which is located on his farm near Nokomis, Ill. He sent me this picture and told me the story. C.F. and Ruth Ann raised seven children on their "moonlighting" farm. As the kids grew up, it became more difficult for C.F. to work out of the farmhouse. He needed more space for records and a photo darkroom. So in the 1970's, his kids - who are all do-it-yourselfers like C.F. - built him an office across the road. The building, with a half-brick front, has a large office, rec room, bathroom, and fireplace. It was built so that some day it can be easily converted into a country home. Over the years it has helped host many large family gatherings. Of course, being C.F. Marley, a man who loves talking to inventors and holds numerous patents of his own, there's a unique lawn decoration right out in front of the office. He calls it a "scoop shovel anemometer" and it consists of 4 aluminum scoop shovels mounted on a steel rod and bearing inserted into a 1 -in. dia. pipe buried in the ground. The anemometer was erected 30 years ago and has been turning ever since. It lets everyone know there's a guy inside who marches to a different drummer.

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