So how did this love for camping start? Ella and I can truly blame this love on our parents. They were born between 1915 and 1921. So their parents had fought in WWI, they experienced the Great Depression, they participated in WWII, and raised their children in an economic boom time. They shared a desire to see this great country and to take their children with them. Coming from humble beginnings they knew the value of a dollar and were frugal in their spending. The automobile had grown from a luxury to a family necessity and the interest in trailer camping had grown out of small homemade kit units to manufactured units. Both units supported beds off the ground with a canvas top. On arrival to camp set up was required, but within a short time supper would be going on the white gas Colman stove. During these summer treks Ella visited 49 states and Tom saw 48. We met during the Ohio Blizzard of 1978 and started dating. As spring arrived Ella decided to go to the camper show in Fort Wayne, IN to look at a Coleman Camper. She bought it! It didn't take Tom long to realize that this was the girl for him. Consequently we were married in September. The Coleman was a great little camper, but as Micah and Caleb came along we decided to enlarge our facilities. The 18' Scotty was our next camper. It was wonderful. The entire rear of the unit was our eating area with windows all around...great ventilation. Of course this unit had air conditioning installed for those beastly hot nights. Following the Scotty was a 22' Wilderness. The boys were bigger and we needed the sleeping room in this bunk-house floorplan. This trailer lasted until Micah was fully employed in Cincinnati and Caleb was off to school at Edinboro University. Then, we decided to go smaller. Tom envisioned us in a teardrop and he had a Camp-Inn model all picked out. Then we noticed that Dutchman was making a new model called the T@B and there was one for sale in Toledo, OH. Hooking up the Wilderness we drove to see if a trade was possible.....well....four hours later we were pulling the T@B home! During the next 7 years in the T@B we developed a love for small trailer camping. You already know the story of the Silvermineandhis. Travel camping has been a part of our lives since the beginning and the Airstream is simply the next chapter in this glorious story.
4 Comments
Susan
2/9/2012 05:27:25 am
What a great story! Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see your new one!
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Sharon
2/10/2012 11:25:36 am
Since I didn't grow up in a camping family, I love to hear the stories and see the pictures of others. Thanks for letting us in on your family's camping history! See ya at the Blue Ridge
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Emily
2/21/2012 09:07:51 am
I love the history, and I'm happy I convinced Matt to continue to tradition!
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Sandi
3/1/2012 06:13:09 am
What a wonderful story and great pics! Thanks for sharing and can't wait to see the you both and the bambi at the BRR!
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October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |