The sun is now in the southern sky; and due to the pandemic, we were unable to parade our vehicles this year. They are all now safely in winter storage; and, with a bit of hope and good fortune, maybe in the Spring of 2021 we will get a chance to get back out on the streets of our local cities and towns and display Shrinedom once again.
Although the Unit hasn’t been able to meet it hasn’t stopped the activity by our members. Captain Roger Metcalfe and Lady Marge, Noble Bruce Dickey and Lady Barbara, along with Noble Carl Ohlson, Sr. and Lady Pat of the Aleppo Fire Brigade have been diligent in sorting and bundling the abundance of can tabs that did not stop coming into Aleppo during this time. In addition, some work has also been done by Roger and Bruce to keep some items in the building in check.
Two of our members are convalescing from health issues at this writing; and we wish Nobles Henry Gilhooly and Marc Dumoulin our best wishes as they regain their good health and return to active status with the unit in the Spring.
The Rag Top Unit officers extend to all Shriners and their families our best wishes for continued good health and safety. As the pandemic slogs on, we need to be vigilant in social distancing; and, although we cannot see those who are important to us, we need to keep all our Nobles in our thoughts and prayers. Take the opportunity to reach out to our older members and tell them we are thinking about them. As this period slowly comes to an end, reflect on where we have been in the past nine months,, how the current situation has affected us, and what we can do as we move forward.
As in the last edition of Aleppo Shriners News, we are presenting articles on two of our former members.
The Rag Top Unit is always in search of new members. The Rag Top Unit is open to all members of Aleppo Shriners. Motorized, street-legal vehicles are to be personally-owned and cared for by the members. Production convertible-top or a vehicle altered by its owner to be a convertible-style are recommended; but the Unit will entertain membership from Shriners with antiques, classic, muscle cars, etc. for participation in the Unit. As the cars used for parading are privately-owned, their owners are obligated to carry an umbrella policy liability rider on their insurance – as directed by Shriners International (Tampa). Rag Top also solicits members to be “riders” – any Shrine member who would like to be a member of the unit without owning a vehicle for the sole purpose of riding in one of the member’s cars in parades and official tours of duty. Stop by the Unit Room during one of the ceremonials or at any of the many Shrine functions and talk with any of our members about your interest in joining the Rag Top Motor Unit.
Any Nobles with an interest in joining the Rag Tops may also contact any of the following members for more information:
Captain Roger Metcalfe at:
(978) 657-9626; or [email protected]
Lt. Paul Watts, Secretary at:
(781) 245-8020; or [email protected]
Lt. Henry Gilhooly, Treasurer at:
(978) 658-8527; or [email protected]
Calvin W. Bergstrom, Quartermaster
(Taken from the Rag Top Unit’s 25th Anniversary Yearbook published in 2004)
Noble Calvin (Cal) Bergstrom currently resides in Millbury, MA with his wife, Reta, and during the spring and summer months they spend time at their home in Bourne, Cape Cod, MA. He is a member of the Worcester Surf Casting Club Inc. of Worcester and Bourne, MA, where he is a Past President having served in 1963 – 1964. After completing his term, Cal became Financial Secretary in 1965 and has served in that position for the past forty years. Cal was employed by Norton Co. of Worcester, MA for 44 years. In 2000 he was the Supervisor in the Stock & Receiving Department at the time of his retirement. He still maintains friendships and associations with Norton and their employees and enjoys attending the Annual Clambake held each September.
Cal’s early association with Masonry began when he was a member of the Order of the DeMolay in Worcester Chapter in Worcester, MA from 1953 to 1957. He began his Masonic career in 1975 when he was raised in Morning Star Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Worcester, MA. He continued on his journey and became a member of the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Worcester in 1977. His association with Aleppo Temple also came in 1977 as he took his degrees in the Ancient Arabic Order. Cal is a member of the Worcester County Shrine Club, where he is a Past Director. In December of 1990, Cal was elected as a member of the Rag Top Motor Unit as a riding member.
In 1993, Cal purchased from Evelyn Benson, widow of Noble Earle Benson – a member of the Rag Top Unit, Earle’s 1970 Cadillac Convertible. Cal was appointed as the unit’s Quartermaster in 1997 by Captain Hollis Durgin and served in that capacity for many years.
Noble Calvin W. Bergstrom was taken by the Black Camel on September 26, 2014.
Russell C. Engstrom
(Taken from the Rag Top Unit’s 25th Anniversary Yearbook published in 2004)
Noble Russell Engstrom currently lives in Florida during the winter months, and travels north to Rochdale, MA and Cape Cod during the summer. When he is in Massachusetts, Russ is a busy person, collecting aluminum can tabs for the Shriner Hospitals, and participating in Tours of Duties and parades with his convertible.
Russ was employed as a painter in 1938, when he met his future wife, Astrid Linnea Gustafson, while he was painting the building she worked in as a seamstress. They dated and were engaged for nearly two years and married on May 29, 1940. They raised one son, Donald, who currently lives in Charlton, MA. After 57 years together in marriage, Astrid passed away in 1997. During the years of World War II, Russ worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft and lived in Hartford, CT. Other jobs kept him busy – working in a Service Station and in an Auto Recycling Yard. He went to work for Norton Co. in Worcester, and after ten years, retired in 1983 as an Inspector. His job was to inspect the molds used for making grinding wheels and other rotary products manufactured by Norton. After retirement, they moved to Florida as Snow Birds. He said that he lives the “Best of Both Worlds” being in Florida and in Massachusetts.
Russ was raised a Master Mason in 1974 in Morning Star Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Worcester. He continued his fraternal journey by joining the Scottish Rite, Valley of Worcester in 1976. In 1978 he joined Aleppo Temple, and became a member of the Rag Top Unit in 1989.
Russ is the proud owner of a 1964 Dodge Dart convertible that he enjoys driving in parades, and has had many compliments on the car. The car was purchased new by his wife’s sister. After she passed away, the car was transported from California to Fairfax, VA, and after years of abuse, she offered it to Russ before the car was a total wreck. Russ got the car in 1987 or 1988 and had it repainted and put four new tires on it. The car still runs like it was new.
Noble Russell C. Engstrom was taken by the Black Camel on August 27, 2015.