Coleman gathering will light up the area June 26-28
On June 26-28 the International Coleman Club Collectors annual convention will stop in Holmes County, where collectors from around the nation will unite for three days of fellowship centered around all things Coleman.
When it comes to illuminating the world about days gone by, Ed Erb enjoys doing it the Coleman way.
Coming soon, Coleman will serve as the host of one of the nation’s more unique collector gatherings, and his Coleman Museum will serve as a centerpiece for those who attend.
On June 26-28 the International Coleman Club Collectors annual convention will roll into Holmes County, where collectors from around the nation will gather to talk about all things Coleman.
According to event host Ed Erb, who has become nationally renowned for his rare collection of Coleman memorabilia, the mission of this event is to promote interest in the hobby of collecting, restoring and preserving vintage Coleman products and to assist Coleman collectors in making collecting Coleman an enjoyable experience.
“With Coleman it’s gas from the past that is lighting the future,” Erb said of the long-standing Coleman company.
He said not only is collecting Coleman memorabilia fun, but also the ICCC is a great place to meet new friends, share information and establish lifelong friendships. For those who invest in the hobby, collecting Coleman items has become a rewarding experience for the young and young at heart.
“This is one of those events where people who share a common interest can get together and enjoy spending time talking about things they love,” Erb said.
Most of the convention is built around making the close to 200 ICCC members happy, but there are a couple of events that should interest the community.
The convention schedule will convene Wednesday, June 25 when Erb will open up his museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for tours, something he said should garner plenty of interest from the group. That alone is worthy of community members taking time to make a stop.
Erb’s Coleman Museum may feature plenty of rare pieces, but Erb said the main goal of the museum is to bring people together and escort them back to simpler times when these collector pieces were utilized on a daily basis.
Erb, who founded Erb’s Stove Center in Berlin, began his career as a repair person, where his main job was altering people’s gas stoves to burn the cleaner natural gas Coleman was introducing back in the early 1980s.
Throughout his career Erb used his creativity to help a variety of Amish communities adjust to new improvements in the advancement of kitchen stoves, as they moved away from typical wood-burning stoves to new gas stoves.
In the process he began collecting the older stoves. In addition, over time he had collected many other kerosene items including an enormous collection of Coleman products.
His business eventually branched out into gas fireplaces, and Erb’s Stove Center has since become well known for providing innovative stoves, fireplaces and more.
Through it all Erb has remained committed to building and growing his Coleman Museum, which has allowed visitors to step back in time and learn about lighting, cooking and more prior to the days of electricity.
The museum is a trip down memory lane, and hearing the stories Erb tells is every bit as inspiring as the 7,000-plus Coleman Museum pieces.
“To be honest, we’re probably closer to having more than 10,000 items in the museum now,” Erb said. “We’ve been growing since that statement was made a while back.”
At 5 p.m. the group will have a barbecue dinner before returning to explore the museum.
On June 26 the ICCC show will officially open its doors at noon at Carlisle Inn at Walnut Creek, where plenty of chatter will take place.
At 6 p.m. Rob Butts and Rob Colson will host a free hot dog roast at Timbercrest Campground and RV Park for ICCC members.
Friday, June 27 will see the show reopen its doors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Carlisle Inn, with a seminar starting at 10 a.m. and another to follow after lunch at 2 p.m. The group will conduct its annual business meeting at 4 p.m., with a banquet to follow at Der Dutchman Restaurant at 6 p.m., both events aimed at ICCC members.
A group photo will take place at 8 p.m. before the ICCC members create one of their unique gatherings, the annual Light Up event in the Carlisle Inn parking lot, which will feature the glow of many Coleman lanterns.
“That’s really a unique event that is quite beautiful,” Erb said.
Should the public stop by in the parking lot that evening, they could take in a rare scene.
On Saturday, June 28 from 9-10 a.m., the ICCC show will be open to the public to come in and experience the Coleman aura, rounding out the event, which will take place next year in Michigan.
“The open house is a good chance for the public to come in and explore what we’re all about,” Erb said. “It’s a lot of fun, and the people are very friendly. It’s a really relaxing time of fellowship.”
Erb’s Coleman Museum is located at 149 Seldenright Road SW near Sugarcreek and is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.