May 27, 2008 – The Steam Railroading Institute is pleased to announce that we are recipients of a $2,500 grant from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation of Midland, Michigan. This grant will be used to help in the restoration of a recently acquired 1940’s tank car to an historic Dow Chemical Company livery.
Beyond the important preservation of an historic 1940’s era 8000 gallon tank car, this restoration will allow the Steam Railroading Institute to use it in its historic period photo freight charters, such as those held in conjunction with Historic Transport Preservation Inc. in April 2007 and February 2008. HTP’s mission is to convey the importance of transportation in American history to those who attend its special events, and to commemorate significant locations in transportation history. In addition, this grant will allow the Steam Railroading Institute to acknowledge the rich heritage and connection that the Dow Chemical Company has had as a customer for the Pere Marquette and Chesapeake & Ohio Railways, and as an employer in mid-Michigan.
The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation was established in 1957 and has been donating to worthy causes for 50 years. That colorful palette of giving is owed to the foresight of Eda Gerstacker, wife of Rollin Gerstacker and their son, Carl Gerstacker. The Gerstacker family lived in Cleveland, Ohio and was active in many charities there. After Eda’s husband died in 1945, she moved to Midland, Michigan to be with her daughter Elsa and her son Carl, a University of Michigan College of Engineering graduate, who worked for the Dow Chemical Company and subsequently became Chairman of the Board. The Foundation’s purpose was to carry on, indefinitely, financial aid to charities of all types supported by Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Gerstacker during their lifetimes.
The Gerstacker Foundation has made many notable grants, concentrated in the states of Michigan and Ohio, in the areas of general community support; colleges, universities and research institutions; music and the arts; social services; youth activities; health care and research; and churches.