Hardy Fowler's old surrey returned to Ceres Friday after a brief make-over in Valley Home. And it never looked better.
The old horse-drawn vehicle was delivered to the Ceres Museum by Valley Home man Larry Newcomb, the man who restored it. The historic vehicle will be displayed in the museum's garage once it's been completed.
The surrey was restored through funds donated by Hardy's daughter, Mary Fowler of Boise, Idaho. The $2,710 repair job included replacement of some wood, new patent leather fenders and dash, new upholstery (complete with horse hair padding) and new paint. The work took only two weeks.
The surrey was gifted to the museum upon the February death of Caryl Fowler, the widow of Richard "Hardy" Fowler. The vehicle originally belonged to Hardy's father, Carroll Fowler, the namesake for the school on Fowler Road.
"It was used by Hardy Fowler when he was a little child," said Museum curator Phil Reynders. "He always went to Sunday School in the surrey."
Newcomb said the buggy was made by the Columbus Buggy Company in Ohio. He estimated that it was manufactured around 1900 and retailed in the Sears & Roebuck catalogue for about $28 back then.
Newcomb learned the trade of buggy restoration 35 years ago when he purchased an old buggy and turned to a Doc Alders in Farmington.
The restored surrey will be rolled out for viewing at the Aug. 23 Ice Cream Social at the Daniel Whitmore Home. Reynders said that the museum will only be open in July by appointment only.
Carroll Fowler was attracted to Ceres from his native Duarte in 1903. He was a teacher at the University of California. In 1906 he married Aurelia Whitmore, daughter of Richard K. Whitmore.
Hardy died Nov. 2, 2004. Carroll Fowler came to Ceres in 1901 to pursue farming. At the time of his birth, Hardy's parents owned the land on which Smyrna Park and Carroll Fowler Elementary School exists today.
The old horse-drawn vehicle was delivered to the Ceres Museum by Valley Home man Larry Newcomb, the man who restored it. The historic vehicle will be displayed in the museum's garage once it's been completed.
The surrey was restored through funds donated by Hardy's daughter, Mary Fowler of Boise, Idaho. The $2,710 repair job included replacement of some wood, new patent leather fenders and dash, new upholstery (complete with horse hair padding) and new paint. The work took only two weeks.
The surrey was gifted to the museum upon the February death of Caryl Fowler, the widow of Richard "Hardy" Fowler. The vehicle originally belonged to Hardy's father, Carroll Fowler, the namesake for the school on Fowler Road.
"It was used by Hardy Fowler when he was a little child," said Museum curator Phil Reynders. "He always went to Sunday School in the surrey."
Newcomb said the buggy was made by the Columbus Buggy Company in Ohio. He estimated that it was manufactured around 1900 and retailed in the Sears & Roebuck catalogue for about $28 back then.
Newcomb learned the trade of buggy restoration 35 years ago when he purchased an old buggy and turned to a Doc Alders in Farmington.
The restored surrey will be rolled out for viewing at the Aug. 23 Ice Cream Social at the Daniel Whitmore Home. Reynders said that the museum will only be open in July by appointment only.
Carroll Fowler was attracted to Ceres from his native Duarte in 1903. He was a teacher at the University of California. In 1906 he married Aurelia Whitmore, daughter of Richard K. Whitmore.
Hardy died Nov. 2, 2004. Carroll Fowler came to Ceres in 1901 to pursue farming. At the time of his birth, Hardy's parents owned the land on which Smyrna Park and Carroll Fowler Elementary School exists today.
