Classic IH Dealership Opened As Museum

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #5, Page #19

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For Ben Trapani, President of the International Harvester Collectors (IHC) and the 270 members of local Chapter 17, purchasing the Bartlow IH Dealership Building in their hometown of Millville, Penn., was all about maintaining history.
“When I walked into the building in 2001, I was infatuated with it,” says Trapani. “Back then, I never thought owning it could happen. Now, we’ve got work parties with anywhere from 2 to 15 guys fixing things up, doing projects, and making sure it’s as close as possible to what it originally was.”
He explains that the building was a prototype of what IH wanted every dealership from Maine to California to be. Like a McDonalds’ fast-food restaurant, when you drove by, you’d know exactly what it was.
The front section measures 80 ft., and the shop area is 65 by 65 ft. square. Recent projects, completed largely by chapter volunteers, include a small library and meeting room with a conference table, chairs and bookshelves.
In 2008, Chapter 17 decided to purchase the building from Mr. Bartlow, the son of the original 1939 dealer, and his son. To make this possible, they ran auctions, attended shows, sold t-shirts, and participated in Red Power Roundups, the gathering hubs for IH equipment, dealers, and collectors. Mr. Bartlow, Sr. was paid his half of the $150,000 in full, and his son financed the remainder at a friendly deal for the club members.
In 2009, the club took possession and finished paying for the property in 2019. It’s now proudly open as a museum from May through October.
Over the years, they’ve maintained the original flooring and updated whatever was necessary, like the electrical system. Everything was done to maintain the authenticity of the time.
“Nothing has really changed,” Trapani says. “If you walk into it now, you’d think you were back in 1950. Nobody took a saw to cut things up. It’s the way it was, period. We kept it that way to uphold the history.”
Three 1831 reapers make up a portion of the display along with a 1962 dozer that was originally used as the test model for the IH construction branch in Chicago. An 8-ft. tall talking robot named “Tracto” greets guests as they arrive to view tractors, memorabilia, signage, cream separators, and milking machines.
“It’s been a large undertaking with a lot of effort from many good people to make this work,” Trapani says. “It’s a very unique building and we’re extremely thankful for it.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ben Trapani, Bartlow Prototype IH Dealership Building, 47 S. Chestnut St., Millville, Penn. 17846 (ph 570-971-3232; www.IHCC17.org).

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Classic IH Dealership Opened As Museum TRACTORS Accessories For Ben Trapani President of the International Harvester Collectors IHC and the 270 members of local Chapter 17 purchasing the Bartlow IH Dealership Building in their hometown of Millville Penn was all about maintaining history “When I walked into the building in 2001 I was infatuated with it ” says Trapani “Back then I never thought owning it could happen Now we’ve got work parties with anywhere from 2 to 15 guys fixing things up doing projects and making sure it’s as close as possible to what it originally was ” He explains that the building was a prototype of what IH wanted every dealership from Maine to California to be Like a McDonalds’ fast-food restaurant when you drove by you’d know exactly what it was The front section measures 80 ft and the shop area is 65 by 65 ft square Recent projects completed largely by chapter volunteers include a small library and meeting room with a conference table chairs and bookshelves In 2008 Chapter 17 decided to purchase the building from Mr Bartlow the son of the original 1939 dealer and his son To make this possible they ran auctions attended shows sold t-shirts and participated in Red Power Roundups the gathering hubs for IH equipment dealers and collectors Mr Bartlow Sr was paid his half of the $150 000 in full and his son financed the remainder at a friendly deal for the club members In 2009 the club took possession and finished paying for the property in 2019 It’s now proudly open as a museum from May through October Over the years they’ve maintained the original flooring and updated whatever was necessary like the electrical system Everything was done to maintain the authenticity of the time “Nothing has really changed ” Trapani says “If you walk into it now you’d think you were back in 1950 Nobody took a saw to cut things up It’s the way it was period We kept it that way to uphold the history ” Three 1831 reapers make up a portion of the display along with a 1962 dozer that was originally used as the test model for the IH construction branch in Chicago An 8-ft tall talking robot named “Tracto” greets guests as they arrive to view tractors memorabilia signage cream separators and milking machines “It’s been a large undertaking with a lot of effort from many good people to make this work ” Trapani says “It’s a very unique building and we’re extremely thankful for it ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ben Trapani Bartlow Prototype IH Dealership Building 47 S Chestnut St Millville Penn 17846 ph 570-971-3232; www IHCC17 org

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