a truck story

My name is Brockway and I was born in Cortland, N.Y. in June of 1924. I was sold to H.A. DeHart& Son in Thorofare, N.J. They were the Brockway dealership for south Jersey.

On January 1st of 1925 Mr. George Nichol of Mullica Hill, N.J. purchased me for use on his farm. I was so happy, he even outfitted me with electric lights, a starter, a grill guard, a bumper and cushion tires. Guess how much he paid for me? After a trade in of a Buick Truck for $385 he paid Mr. DeHart $1700.

Well off I went to the Nichol’s farm in Mullica Hill. Mr Nichols was good to me but I worked hard for over 20 years. Sometime in 1946 Mr. Nichol passed away and his wife sold me .I was subsequently sold two times in the same year. I began to wonder what my future had in store for me. Suddenly it became clear when I ended up in Coach Auto Salvage yard in Williamstown N.J There I sat for the next 30 years. I figured this was the end. Gone were the happy years on the farm.

Then late in the summer of 1978 a fellow drove up one Sunday afternoon with his family in the car. I figured he must have car trouble. But he actually stopped to see me. As he walked over to me I heard him say to his wife look it’s a Brockway. I wondered if he really knew what a Brockway was, anyway somebody was interested in me. He also wondered out loud what year is this thing. Imagine calling me a thing. Then he said somebody had scrawled 1901 on the side, I wanted to tell him 1924 but didn’t know how to do it.

As he was getting in his car I heard him say to his wife maybe we could stop next Saturday and ask if it was for sale. It looks like I might be rescued after all. But next Saturday came and I heard the boss say NO the truck is not for sale. My heart sank. Then several weeks later this same fellow drove up once again walked in the office. This time the “ NO” was not so emphatic but maybe we will sell it, stop back in two weeks. At this point I once again built up my hopes. It currently looked promising that I was finely getting a new home.

In two weeks this same fellow showed up and went into the office. When he exited the office he had a smile from ear to ear. Then he turned to the boss and said I will be back next week with a trailer and pick up the Brockway. Well it’s official I will be moving to a new home next week.

So next week came and this fellow by the name of Ed Horn came by with a trailer as he had promised. He had his youngest son with him to help him load me on the trailer.

Off to a new home, I overheard Mr. Horn tell the boss he was from Glen Mills, Pa. That sounds good to me.

My jubilation turned to frustration once again. Although the Horn family did start my restoration, the enthusiasm soon wore off and the work slowed to a trickle and stopped.

There I sit completely disassembled and stored all over the Horn’s property. I could not help but think that my life as a useful truck had come to an end.

Then one day in 1996,Mr. Horn’s son, Jim, said dad lets get going on the restoration of the Brockway. That was music to my ears. So within the next few weeks all the metal work was sent out to Madden & Ryan for restoration. The engine had already been sent out years ago and I have not seen it since.

Mr. Horn started fabrication on my new cab and one year later it was finished. During the year pieces of restored metal started to trickle in from the body shop, boy they looked great. I almost could not contain my self; I was starting to look like a truck once again.

During the year other parts were sent out for restoring. The radiator was sent out to Powell Radiator Service in Wilmington, Ohio, the starter and generator was sent out to R B R Electronics in Cleveland, Ohio. The engine was completed by Red’s motor machine of Wilmington, De.

Fabrication of the farm body was started and one year later it was completed. Painting was the next big project and it was accomplished in the Horn’s driveway among all the bugs and leaves. At this point some assembly was started as parts from the body shop were finished. My enthusiasm was starting to build.

Then in the spring of 2004 the Horns started me on the show circuit and in the first year I collected 13 trophies. Among them was a first Junior in Asheboro,NC and a Senior in Hershey, Pa..Now I hear we are off to Northglenn, CO. for the Grand National.

If a truck could talk this would have been its story.

The Horn Family