Dave received his first train in 1950.
Ever since Dave Adair was a small child, he enjoyed trains. As a youngster, he frequently visited his Slavish grandfather, Dzeda, who lived near the train tracks in East Cambridge. Dzeda also worked in the Klondyke and Black Top coal mines in Guernsey County so he would tell Dave stories about the coal cars as they rolled by. It’s easy to see how Dave became interested in trains and coal mines.
Dave’s secret wish was that someday he would be able to have a caboose of his very own – a real one used on the train tracks.
Ellen, Dave’s wife, started his collection with this caboose.
When Dave was about forty, his wife, Ellen, took a ride with him a couple weeks before Christmas. They stopped in Senecaville to look at a caboose that belonged to Herb Tipton and had been used on the B&O Railroad. When they arrived and looked over the caboose, Ellen said, “Merry Christmas!”
Dave couldn’t believe it and looking back on that day said, “It was the biggest shock of my life.” Of course, she told him it would be his Christmas and birthday present for years to come. Little did she know at the time that she was only starting a vast train collection that today fills their home’s yard.
This original chair from a B&O office holds two railroad lanterns.
Over the years, Dave has narrowed his interest to Guernsey County trains and coal mining history. Almost everything in his collection came from Guernsey County. Every item and picture is special to him, but he doesn’t have any favorites. They are all part of history.
Dave built his own Depot and Museum in his back yard.
Since there wasn’t any place nearby that had room for his coal mine and train collection, Dave decided to build his own depot at his home and turned it into a museum. Nothing pleases him more than to sit down in his depot and tell stories about the coal mines and trains that were in Guernsey County long ago. But getting him to talk about himself was not an easy task.
Dave and his son, Alan, look over their large HO display.
Now that Dave is retired, most of his time is spent volunteering, while spreading the word about Guernsey County history. His slide shows have been popular attractions for years. He spends time volunteering at the Guernsey County Historical Society, Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, Coal Miners Museum in Byesville, and at various nursing homes, giving people a chance to tell their stories. He says, “It’s better to give than receive.”
Dave Adair tells coal miners’ stories.
While he claims to be “an ordinary Joe”, the history he has collected makes him a special person even though to him it’s just a hobby. It’s a good thing to make people happy and that is what Dave does best as he shares his stories and makes people smile. Through it all, his main goal is to preserve the history of Guernsey County trains and coal mines.
Dave and his family, thirty people in all, recently went on a short vacation. Where do you think they went? They headed for the train tracks in West Virginia, where they rode the Tygart Flyer. He’s still living his dream.
Gypsy Road Trip 
Comments on: "Dreams Do Come True" (7)
Isn’t this great!! I became glued on trains after seeing “Roadside America” in PA when I was a kid. This is like a peek back – thanks, Bev.
Dave is definitely our local train historian. He’s a great source of information on the history of our local area.
What fun. Thanks for sharing!
It’s always a pleasure to see someone have a passion for something that lasts a lifetime.
My husband just asked if I would buy him a caboose too, haha. Neat story.
Maybe you could take care of Christmases for years to come that way.
Haha!