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- Editor’s
Note:
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- This
column is a regular feature in the Wayback Times in which my
husband takes interesting people out to lunch … and sends
me the bill.
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- (It's
a tough job, but someone has to do it!)
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- Send
us an e-mail if you have someone in mind for one of Peter Neilly's
interviews over lunch.
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- Peter Neilly is Out
to Lunch
- Breaking bread with
interesting people
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- Out to Lunch!
- with Peter Neilly
 Today's
Out To Lunch guest is Trevor Hosier, owner/operator of
the Youngtown Rock and Roll Museum in Omemee Ontario. Trevor
started this museum three years ago as a tribute to Canadian
rock legend Neil Young.
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- The small town
of Omemee was Neil's childhood home and where his father, sports
writer, journalist and author Scott Young, lived until
he died in 2005 at age 87.
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- The museum has
evolved into an outstanding showcase of rock and roll artifacts
and memorabilia. Trevor has collected rare, vintage and original
one-of-a-kind items from the fifties, sixties and seventies of
rock and roll history.
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- After a quick
lunch at Bill's Pizza House, just down the road from the museum,
I got the tour.
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- Peter: Trevor this place is
amazing. Every square inch of this building is filled with rock
and roll memorabilia. When did you start collecting?
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- Trevor: I guess it all started
when I was a child. I started with Beatle cards in 1964 and I
still have them. In 1966, when I was 11, I wrote a letter to
Dean Martin and to my surprise I got a letter back from
him three weeks later. My bedroom was filled with stuff growing
up, to the point where I would have probably been considered
a hoarder. In a way, this museum is probably some sort of larger
extension of my bedroom collection. I am a family counselor by
profession and I just liked the thought of sharing all of this
stuff with other people. I'm a big Neil Young fan and Omemee
being his childhood home seemed to be a great location for this
museum.
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- Peter: I noticed the 45 record
in one of the showcases attributed to Neil Young. What's the
story behind that one?
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- Trevor: That is an extremely
rare record. It's the first recording Neil Young made.
It's on "V" records and was recorded in 1963. The group
was called The Squires.
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- Peter: I have seen lots of
automobile cassette and eight track players in my day, but you
have something very different that plays music in a car that
I have never seen before.
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- Trevor: It's also very rare.
It's a record player made by RCA Victor that plays 45 records
and was mounted under the dash in your car. I don't think it
ever became a big seller for them.
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 Peter: You have an outstanding collection
of original Beatles artifacts and memorabilia. They were a big
part of my life as teenager growing up. Do you have any favorite
Beatles items?
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- Trevor: It's hard to pick.
Some of the John Lennon signed pieces, like his original art,
would be among some of my Beatles favorites.
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- Peter: One of the examples
I enjoyed was the original letter from John Lennon on
display that he sent to Joe Franklin to promote and defend
Yoko Ono's style of music prior to her appearance on his
show.
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- Trevor: Yes that receives quite
a bit of attention and comments from Beatles fans.
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- Peter: In addition to the
interesting Beatles collection, you have obtained items personally
owned by stars like Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Bob
Dylan, Roy Orbison, Cher, Stevie Nicks,
Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and many more. It must
take a lot of work and dedication just to come up with and display
all of the memorabilia.
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- Trevor: It's more work than
I would care to admit, but I have a passion for it. Museums aren't
moneymaking enterprises. At best, it's a break-even project.
But I love it. I do have some volunteer help, but it's still
a lot of work.
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 Peter: Well thanks for taking the time to
meet with me today Trevor. I really enjoyed the tour of your
museum. It brought back a lot of musical memories for me. I am
amazed how much music does affect our lives.
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- Anyone with
an interest in the history of rock and roll music will enjoy
a visit to this museum. It's a pleasant trip down a musical memory
lane.
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- The Youngtown
Rock and Roll Museum, 45 King Street East (Hwy. 7) in Omemee
is open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from late
April through October. Admission is $7.50 per adult, children
under seven free.
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- For more information,
visit youngtownmuseum.com or e-mail admin@youngtownmuseum.com
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