Article by Elena Ferrarin
Communications Coordinator
Northbrook Park District
The Northbrook Park District’s vehicle fleet recently welcomed two unusual additions: a bright red Ford Model T replica with a calliope musical instrument, and an attachable (and equally bright red) antique-style popcorn wagon.
The Northbrook community is very familiar with these distinctive vehicles thanks to their former owner, Ron Bernardi opens in new tab, who drove them to a multitude of events, parades, block parties and fundraisers for nearly 20 years.
Now 82, Bernardi decided it was time to cede the wheel and generously donated both vehicles to the Northbrook Park District.
Bernardi said he has great appreciation for the park district, and was friends with its former executive director Joe Doud (after whom the park district administration building is named).
“I am getting older and stepping back a little bit. I was thinking about what to do, and one day I just woke up at 3 a.m. one morning and I thought, ‘I wonder if the park district will want it?’” Bernardi said. “So, I called (Park District Executive Director) Chris Leiner, and here we are. I was really pleased.”
Leiner said he was moved that Bernardi trusted the park district to carry on his legacy of serving the community.
“During my time here, Ron has always been a joyful presence at community events greeting everyone with a smile, sharing stories, laughter, and, of course, popcorn,” Leiner said. “I’m truly honored that we have the privilege of continuing this tradition.”
Since age 15, Bernardi has worked at Sunset Foods opens in new tab, which was started by his uncles in 1937 in Highland Park. He managed the Northbrook store for 40 years and now holds the title of community service representative. He is such a well-known figure locally that he was given a key to the Village of Northbrook opens in new tab by its board of trustees in 2023.
The vehicles were built at Bernardi’s request in 2005-2006 by the Miner Company in Missouri. The calliope is a Calliaphone model. “I was always involved in community events, especially parades, and I thought they would be a fun parade addition,” he said.
The calliope is an organ-like wind instrument that was popular at the turn of the 20th century and played music like vaudeville. “Before TV and radio, they would do advertising this way,” Bernardi said. “They would go through the town’s streets and the music would attract people, so they could advertise about things like the circus coming to town.”
The calliope can be played three ways: manually, with an electronic Midi player, or using an old-fashioned music roll. “It’s a really happy instrument. It makes everyone smile and little kids dance,” he said.
Over the last two decades, Bernardi’s calliope and popcorn wagon have made appearances all over Northbrook, including events such as Northbrook Days, Shermerfest, Illuminate Northbrook, block parties, school events, charity affairs, Rotary Club golf outings, the park district’s Touch-A-Truck, and many more. It has also participated in Fourth of July parades in other suburban communities.
This past Fourth of July, it was Northbrook Park District mechanic, and Northbrook resident, John U. Hoffman who drove the replica Ford Model T along the parade route. That was before the vehicles were repainted to sport the park district’s name.
The vehicle has a Chevrolet engine with automatic transmission and an air pressure generator that powers the calliope, Hoffman explained.
“It handles like a regular car, except the steering wheel is really up close, and the music is very loud so everyone can hear it,” said Hoffman, who wore headphones for the parade. “It was fun to be in the parade, people like it.”
Gifting the vehicles to the park district will ensure their use will retain a strong community spirit, Bernardi said.
“The calliope brings a smile to people, and the popcorn wagon brings a smile to people,” he said. “It’s like a mascot in the community, and I thought, ‘It really belongs to the community.’”