I grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, just west of Cleveland. My dad and I built our first permanent O gauge layout in 1961 which my father continued to build and expand for the next 40 years. By the 1990s, the layout ran the entire perimeter of the basement and was by then all Standard Gauge, both original and some MTH.
Little did I know back then ( in the 60s and 70s)that several of my father’s TCA (Great Lakes) train buddies were themselves fairly well known within TCA collector/operator circles. I just knew them as friends of my father.
About 5 years ago, I read the preface to my late father’s copy of the TCA’s “Lionel Trains: Standard of the World 1900-1943” and was surprised to see two of my father’s pals named in the acknowledgements; Gerald “Gerry” Teater and Wilfred “Bill” Kus. Gerry and Bill also lived in Lakewood and were frequent visitors in our home. Bill worked in his family’s Sinclair (later Citgo) gas station and garage on Detroit Avenue and Gerry worked at a car dealership.
Bill was a wonderfully boyish and good humored man and always entertaining. My mom was particularly fond of him as he had incredibly piercing blue eyes and was a fairly close “double” looks-wise to Paul Newman! I recall going down to the basement and often spotting new additions to our layout- one day a magnificent 840 Power Station and TWO Hellgate Bridges magically appeared. I asked my dad where they had come from. He smiled and said they were Bill Kus’ latest acquisitions but that Bill could not let Mrs. Kus know he had purchased them. For years this went on with my dad enjoying the benefits of Bill’s treasures (loot) until such time it was safe for Bill to ease them into his own home and past the vigilant Mrs.Kus. Sometimes they never made it to Bill’s home and my dad would buy them from him.
Gerry Teater had an amazing Standard Gauge layout in his basement where I first saw the 184, 189 and 191 bungalows and villas, of which he had a considerable variety. He was also an incredible scratch builder. He made beautiful reproductions of Lionel electrics out of sheet brass that looked like the originals.
My dad passed away in 2008 ( at 91!) and I now have his trains. There are several scratch built standard gauge freight cars that Gerry built for my dad; lovely.
My dad also knew Don Speidel who, I believe, lived onCleveland’s East side. I never met him, but he was very kind to my dad ,especially after my mom died.
I am very grateful for the wonderful memories that Bill and Gerry have provided to me and for the kindness and faithful friendship they gave to my father.
Kind and gentle men, all of them.
Mack
