Tribute to Don Rook and his Cm23u0c196877 final history?

The Rooks used to operate a junkyard up here in PA. Back around 1985 I was looking for a right door for my '66 New Yorker, and someone told me to check to see if Don Rook had one. There was a section of the yard that was completely fenced in by a wall of old school buses, and that area was filled with mostly C Bodies. It looked like he owned every 65 New Yorker coupe that was ever sold in the area. At the time I didn't know if a '65 door would fit a '66 because of the larger lock cylinder, so I went home empty handed. Don moved down south, I think in the late 80's/early 90's, and took some of the cars with him. Can't remember if his kids continued to run the yard for a while before selling it or closing it down. A friend of mine knows the details much better than I do.

Jeff
 
That yard in Pa. waz Don's Holding Pen for ALL hiz toyz 'til He and Kathy moved to Mena in the Mid-'80s. He moved "104" carz to that mountain and left 'bout 80 more in the Pa. yard. Haywire, Just picture transporting that many carz to Mena from ah bit north of Philadelphia and then having to ONE AT AH TIME 'UM ALL up on the mountain on hiz up 'n down driveway to the FIVE 40'X100' Pole Barnz he had built and waiting for 'um. Waz the Log Cabin still standing where they lived while they were building Raspberry Manor? Sorry Haywire, no pix from me only a lotta great memories. I flew into KCK to hook up with another Great Car-Bud in the spring of '90 and we went on ah week long junket. Jimmy Ray and I took hiz '78 Lil' Red on that Junket from Topeka, to Tulsa, to Mena, to Little Rock, and up to Springfield, and then back to Hiz and Patty's place in Topeka. Don, J.R., and I made the 28 mile pilgrimage to the Water Hole I mentioned earlier that waz in the two states the 1st nite we stayed in Mena(at my suggestion, having been there before) I got to ride in the Arm Rest both wayz with J.R. Driving and Don Riding Shotgun. I laugh now, but that trip back to Mena from the State Line that nite I almost wet myself. To say J.R. had ah heavy right foot with or without beer waz ah gross under statement. Hiz D.D. back then waz a twin turbo GT3000 only because the Stealth specked out the same way cost over 5K more? Go figger? J.R had to make another trip to Little Rock 'bout a month after we were there and on the way back to Topeka just ah bit south of Branson in the Ozarks he got Nailed and they wouldn't let him mail the fine back. That ticket had to be paid IN PERSON so J.R. had to make yet another trip to Arkansas just to thank the Magistrate in person, lol. My Pecker Fingerz are starting to cramp up Haywire and I can't stop laughin' so later for now, Jer
 
BIGBARNEYCARS said:
That yard in Pa. waz Don's Holding Pen for ALL hiz toyz 'til He and Kathy moved to Mena in the Mid-'80s. He moved "104" carz to that mountain and left 'bout 80 more in the Pa. yard. Haywire, Just picture transporting that many carz to Mena from ah bit north of Philadelphia and then having to ONE AT AH TIME 'UM ALL up on the mountain on hiz up 'n down driveway to the FIVE 40'X100' Pole Barnz he had built and waiting for 'um. Waz the Log Cabin still standing where they lived while they were building Raspberry Manor? Sorry Haywire, no pix from me only a lotta great memories. I flew into KCK to hook up with another Great Car-Bud in the spring of '90 and we went on ah week long junket. Jimmy Ray and I took hiz '78 Lil' Red on that Junket from Topeka, to Tulsa, to Mena, to Little Rock, and up to Springfield, and then back to Hiz and Patty's place in Topeka. Don, J.R., and I made the 28 mile pilgrimage to the Water Hole I mentioned earlier that waz in the two states the 1st nite we stayed in Mena(at my suggestion, having been there before) I got to ride in the Arm Rest both wayz with J.R. Driving and Don Riding Shotgun. I laugh now, but that trip back to Mena from the State Line that nite I almost wet myself. To say J.R. had ah heavy right foot with or without beer waz ah gross under statement. Hiz D.D. back then waz a twin turbo GT3000 only because the Stealth specked out the same way cost over 5K more? Go figger? J.R had to make another trip to Little Rock 'bout a month after we were there and on the way back to Topeka just ah bit south of Branson in the Ozarks he got Nailed and they wouldn't let him mail the fine back. That ticket had to be paid IN PERSON so J.R. had to make yet another trip to Arkansas just to thank the Magistrate in person, lol. My Pecker Fingerz are starting to cramp up Haywire and I can't stop laughin' so later for now, Jer
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The log cabin was there and Don & Kathy must have started a trend called “Tiny Houses”. I’ll find some photos later. Also I’ll relay the “truth is stranger that fiction’”story conveyed by Don about arriving in Mena with his cars.
 
haywire 440 said:
Yes, I had a good conversation with Brad back then and hope to hear from him again. I had a # but it’s buried in copious notes.
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I should have his number... Somewhere.

I've known Brad and his wife for quite a few years. Great people and a lot of fun.

He had told me that there was a huge problem figuring out where all his Dad's cars were stashed. They had to wait for some "Where's my money?" to figure out where he had rented space and they still worried that they would not find them all.

I'll see him in May and then again at Carlisle.
 
haywire 440 said:
The log cabin was there and Don & Kathy must have started a trend called “Tiny Houses”. I’ll find some photos later. Also I’ll relay the “truth is stranger that fiction’”story conveyed by Don about arriving in Mena with his cars.
Click to expand...
LMFAO about that move but our friends here on FCBO I'm sure would enjoy hearin' it when you have the time Haywire. Did Don ever tell you how they got the equipment in there for building the driveway after they bought the property, AND the cement trucks up there to pour the foundation for the Manor? When the Pate Swap Meet waz still being held on the Pate property west of Ft. Worth in the spring, Don & Kathy, Gail & I, and another couple that still live just a bit north of the "Fort" used to hook up thru' the mid + late '90s and see who could drink the most beer.(I alwayz came in 3rd in that contest but damn it waz fun) That all ended when Pate dissolved their collection and sold the property. Never waz the same when they tried to resurrect that show in the Infield when they built the new track on the west side of the Fort. That infield waz like ah pressure cooker even in April with NO TREEZ, OUI. Later, Jer
 
Here's Raspberry Manor in the Quachita Mountains that over looked Iron Fork Lake. Dreams are just that until action is exerted and we all have dreams. Around 77 heavenly acres Don & Kathy build a utopia. Yes the road to it was up~~&~~down. The plan for the final vehicle move was to stealthily worm this HUGE CONVOY OF SEMI CAR HAULER into and through this little town and no one would notice.....it was a brilliant plan. BUT being new to the area and unfamiliar with the torrential rain storms that kick up the HUGE CONVOY had to circle their wagons at the local Walmart. Well the cat was out of the bag and Don's Mobile Car Museum was on full display. As BIGBARNEYCARS noted, each piece had to be moved separately. Don Rook had drive, energy and a lust for life. I'll listen to most kinds of music and one song specifically lately has brought on an euphoric feeling. It may be the harmonies, the instruments and the achievement of the subject. It is the Beach Boys.... Spirit Of America. I know Don didn't have a j-47 jet engine but I think he SOARED.

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I didn't hear about the construction of the Manor but knowing the area, to put it lightly, it had to be quite the challenge. Sadly I just recently learned of Pate swap.
 
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haywire 440 said:
I didn't hear about the construction of the Manor but knowing the area, to put it lightly, it had to be quite the challenge. Sadly I just recently learned of Pate.
Click to expand...
haywire 440 said:
I didn't hear about the construction of the Manor but knowing the area, to put it lightly, it had to be quite the challenge. Sadly I just recently learned of Pate.
Click to expand...
Don told me one time how many FULL Cement trucks it took to pour the Foundation for the Manor and that number haz gone where my sockz go when Mama putz 'um in the dryer. Ah bit over a dozen iz all I can remember@ 7 Sq. Yds. per truck but the kicker waz. THEY HAD TO BACK UP THOSE LOADED CEMENT TRUCKS FROM THE BLACK TOP ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP WHERE THEY ONE BY ONE DID THEIR POUR BECAUSE 1ST GEAR WOULDN'T MOVE THOSE TRUCKS UP THAT MOUNTAIN, IT WASN'T GEARED AZ LOW AZ REVERSE WAZ, LOL. How many milez waz that driveway up and down to the top, 3-4-? I doubt Kathy even remembers, but I'm sure you've been all over Raspberry Manor from the bottom to the crows nest above the Master Bedroom. Lotta "MUD" in that little Ponderosa, an don't bother trying to calculate for the fire place and the elevator. I'm laughin' again! ... BTW.. They might still doing the April Show and Swap at the Race Track. We relocated back to Michigan from Austin in September of '99. (Mama health couldn't the heat) and you know what they say if Mama ain't happy? Later, Jer
 
When my wife and I met Don on his atv, with his dogs, we briefly chatted and then Don asked us to meet him at Raspberry Manor. Don said " stay to the left at the fork, go in the Manor AND go anywhere you want to go, I will meet you". (So far I can't locate the crow's nest and cabin photos yet.) We saw the elevator, the beautiful B&B rooms, the year around Christmas display and the exquisite kitchen/dinning area. And let's not forget the handsomely dark bar. What do I know about Don Rook in three hours...... he owned an electrical supply/parts company and ran a junk yard in Pennsylvania. He then sold the electrical company and the new owner didn't uphold his part of the deal, so off to court they went. It boiled down to Don receiving a quarter of the money or continue the fight. Don's advisor said take the money, Don said No No No no no and took the money. Maddening hell yes, but Don told us it was his best worst business decision. You see, shortly after that the electrical company closed for good. A failure no, a setback sure but the B&B was created and jellies and jams were produced. The sweet smell of success. Kathy is a tremendous cook and the meals, friendships and life long memories were generated on top of that mountain. The photos show a Miller High Life beer bar sign I bought at the estate sale in my garage along with Chrysler Fire Power valve covers I dragged over from the garbage a neighbor tossed over 40 years ago. All sporting some "Old School" Blacklight bulbs for that "70's" effect.

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This is a game of lenses that was in a mopar club newsletter. It was interesting learning more about ‘all things mopar’. These are from Don’s collection. Here is a very cool story of a ‘66 300 tail light lens. A guy called for his son looking for a replacement lens. He went on to say his son lived in California but he, himself lived in Indiana. (probably not peaking your interest yet?) But not only was he from Indiana but also the town of Santa Claus, Indiana. And low and behold HE was the official Santa Claus from Santa Claus, Indiana. So one of Don’s lenses went, by way of Santa Claus, out to a ‘66 300 in California.

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How about some numbers? ‘68 Imperial Limousine, 1 of 11 that was in Don’s stash. First photo is at Raspberry Manor and the others are shortly after a fellow club member from Illinois acquired and spruced it up. Folklore on this vehicle and the known, is the vinyl top was not original. Why, but why put a vinyl top where it doesn’t belong?? Shhh, very quietly and softly the answer told to me is ..... it was to cover up the gun shots fired in the car. Folklore, tall tail, totally false, well I don’t know. Have the statues of limitations run out...... maybe this is a Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
More to come and an Englishman’s account of surviving a death ride in a Superbird.....to be continued.

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Cool limo's.

Where are those cars now?

I love that 55 Imp too!
 
Haywire, Did you ever look at the horn buttons on any of Don's '65 or '66 C-bodyz? They all had NOS '79 300 Grill Medallions installed in 'um. lol If you ever get a close look at the grill on my old Batwagon you'll see one of the '79 300 grill Medallions in it too. Ironically, it wasn't one from Don's stash. For yearz I hounded Don to sell me one of his '79 300 Medallions but he looked and looked and never could find where he had them stashed in all the Pole Barnz of boxes and Barrels of partz somewhere on that mountain top, AAARRRGGGHHHH. I finally found one at the Swap Meet in Portland in '96 of a Joint Meet of The National WPC and the Western 300 Club held there that July. So when we hooked up at Pate the following Spring I told him he "was off the hook for the Medallion" He wiped his brow, handed me ah beer and said Thanks I waz starting to loose sleep. And we both laughed and clicked our Long Necks, Jer
 
Limousine is in Illinois now, the photos are from a friend and owner who posted them on the Imperial website. Photos were taken in Tennessee which is where the ‘55 resides. I have no information on that car.
 
Jer, I didn’t notice them on the cars. But I’ll tell you that I found a package with about 9 medallions for the ‘79 300 that I thought were for the mag wheel centercaps. I don’t have them any more. Don did boast that he could tell us what was in each box without opening them.
 
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