Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Conway.
Hi Tom, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Schwanke Tractor and Truck Started in the Mid to late fifties as a salvage yard for farm tractors and machinery. The primary person behind the effort was Virgil Schwanke, but he was assisted by his Father Alvin Schwanke and his brother Bud Schwanke. Virgil started collecting at an early age. We have a Model T Ford that he purchased when he was about sixteen. Th Original location was a few miles south of Town, Out in the country. In about 1964 Virgil purchased the current location and moved the business. Over the years as Virgil travelled purchasing stuff for the Salvage yard he would also buy interesting stuff to restore. By the mid nineties he had three Quonsets full of interesting stuff. That was when he got the Idea to start a Museum. He built a new building across the front of the three Quonsets to connect them. This is where I (Tom Conway) come in, I started here in May of 1998. And among the first things I was tasked with doing was assisting Dan Schuler, Virgil’s nephew with pulling everything out of the Quonsets, washing and cleaning and lining everything up for display in the new Museum. By early 1999 the museum was ready to open. It was originally staffed by Alfred and Dorothy Deaken. In 2004 some of the land was sold to Menards and the salvage side of the business came to an end. Although we built on to the Museum and still conduct business selling new and rebuilt parts. In 2017 Virgil passed away. It was a great loss to the business, but the family came to me and said that if I would run it they would keep every thing open. And to this day the family really wants to maintain that legacy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Its never a smooth road keeping a business running for this many years. But we have learned to just keep plugging along.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I run and manage both Schwanke Tractor and Truck Inc and Schwanke Museum. I have built a reputation in our community as being fair and honest. I am proud of the fact that people trust us. People come to me for advice all the time on their old tractors and cars. I think that is a great sign of respect.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Honesty and respect are the biggest factor in our success.
Pricing:
- Adults $8.00
- Children 6 to 12 $4.00
- Children 5 and under are Free
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.schwanketractor.com/museum
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schwankemuseum/
