Dedicated to the Memory of Bob Hendrixson

In the times of Back to the Days, the town crier was the chief method of communication to townspeople of important public announcements. Even though newspapers existed, many folks could not read or write.

Traditionally, the town crier dressed elaborately, wore a tricorne hat and carried a bell. Toby McTeague, fresh off the boat having traveled the ocean to America with his missus, kept to this tradition. He wore elegant dark blue breeches and waistcoat, a fine white frilled shirt, elegant clocked stockings topped off by a handsome tricorne hat with its beautiful feather.

The town crier used to shout "Hearye! Hearye!" while ringing his bell to draw a crowd who would then listen to the important announcements he had for them. Toby was famous for his commanding voice which would resound all around the Village of Red Brush as he gathered crowds and drew them to various events and battle skirmishes during the annual Back to the Days of Kosciuszko weekends. During the yearly School Day event at the beginning of Back to the Days, the children were always fascinated to hear him ring his official bell and announce important events on their schedule – like lunch!

Unfortunately, the day came when cancer stole Toby’s great booming voice and gradually, over time, with insidious certainty, stole his energetic enthusiasm, thus greatly limiting his activities as town crier. However, Toby’s legacy still lives on in the log house here which Toby’s alter ego, Bob Hendrixson, helped to disassemble and reconstruct at the Village of Red Brush. Bob was also instrumental in setting up the website design for Back to the Days, which greatly enhanced the event’s image and prestige.

This picture shows Toby participating in the annual 4H Fair parade in 2004, one of his last appearances before the cancer began to severely limit his activities. He loved to don his elegant town crier garb and promote Red Brush Village and

Back to the Days of Kosciuszko.