Sanborn to benefit from former resident’s love of trains
A new display at Yesterday’s Memories & Truck Museum honors Sanborn’s history as a railroad town.
Michael D. Johnson’s family is part of that railroad history. His father, Wm. M. “Bill” Johnson started out as a brakeman with The Milwaukee Railroad then spent the majority of his career with the railroad as a conductor both in Sanborn and his last 15 years prior to retirement in Rapid City, SD. Two prior generations before that, Michael’s grandfather J. F. “Frank” Johnson, and great-grandfather M. M. “Mike” Burns, also worked for the Milwaukee in Sanborn.
Michael graduated from Sanborn Community High School with the Class of 1963. While attending college, he also worked for the same railroad on the section gang during the summers, but his career for 40 years prior to retirement in 2010 was as an insurance adjuster in the Des Moines area.
With the fascination and involvement with trains running in the family DNA, it’s not surprising that it manifested itself in the Johnson home in West Des Moines. Michael and his wife, Ann started setting up miniature lighted buildings around the home for the holidays, and in 2011 they added the first train and set up the first edition of the display. From there it evolved, and they found additional display items from multiple sources too numerous to list here.
And now that display will be located in Sanborn on a permanent basis.
“Ann and I decided last year that we wanted our personal multi-train display to be available to a larger group than just immediate family and friends to view and enjoy,” said Michael. Plus, it had grown to be such an undertaking setting it up in their home in each fall since 2011. Added Michael, “It was time to set it up one last time and leave it somewhere it could stay and not have to be disassembled every year, and what better place than Yesterday’s Memories & Truck Museum in Sanborn, the town where I grew up.”
Yesterday’s Memories invites the public to see this new exhibit on Wednesday evening, December 18 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. This Open House will be hosted by the Museum and by creator Michael Johnson. There is no charge for viewing the Exhibit during this Open House.
The Exhibit is a fully functioning multi-model train display consisting of three train sets, one streetcar and multiple active backgrounds. It is located in Yesterday’s Memories’ 2nd floor display room. Coffee, cider and sweet treats will be provided to all attendees.
Yesterday’s Memories thanks Michael for making frequent trips up from West Des Moines to Sanborn to set up this magnificent display at the Museum for many individuals to enjoy far into the future.
