Owner wants to donate ‘51 Ford to museum or historical society

By Jared Raney
Reporter

Walter ‘Ronnie’ Schiltz is an old-school logger. At 79, he’s one of the few traditional lumberjacks left who can recall a time before chainsaws and automatic lifts. A relic from a time of true manual labor, when stunts that are now reserved for logging competitions were just how you got the job done.

He still remembers a time when it was acceptable for a 13-year-old to get into the business—which is exactly what he did, towing handcut pulp-wood from family land on the back of a rundown old pickup.

Of course, it wasn’t long before the entrepreneurial youngster upgraded, trading in for one of the classics; a 1951 Ford two ton pickup truck. It lasted him twenty years before he decided to put it aside for a newer model.

It sat in the woods for another decade, a derelict memento of a simpler time, before getting a facelift in the 80’s.

Today the truck sits in Schiltz’s driveway, pristine, and has won several trophies at car shows through the years, in addition to three first prize showings in the Tomahawk 4th of July parade.

But it’s time for the show truck to find a new home.

Donation conditions from the owner
A ‘51 Ford 2-ton logging truck with a cable jammer that the owner is willing to donate to a museum or historical society with these conditions:

• It is to be kept in a waterproof building
• The owner names stay on the door
• It is displayed whenever the museum is open.

If interested, or if you know of a museum or society that would be, please contact the owner at 715-453-4438.