Route 1, Box 97, Bunker Hill, West Virginia 25413
On July 23, 24 and 25 the Shenandoah Valley Steam and Gas Engine
Association held its 16th annual steam and gas engine show at the
Clarke County Ruritan Club Grounds on Route 7 one mile west of
Berryville, Virginia. We are one of few shows to have well-shaded
grounds. As in the past several years the weatherman has cooperated
with us and one of the finest and largest shows in the history of
the club was put forth.
This year the traction engines consisted of Frick, both single
and double cylinder, Farquhar, Peerless, Case and Russell. We had
one engine there for the first time belonging to Burchell Wiley of
Bluemont, Virginia. This engine had not been run in nearly 35
years. Mr. Wiley did a fine job on restoring and painting the
engine.
Our tractor and model displays were very impressive. One of the
main attractions in the model building was a model Shay locomotive
built by George W. Giles of Winchester, Virginia. This engine is
patterned after those in Cass, West Virginia, a past logging town.
Mr. Giles hopes to have the engine ready for rides for the kids
(from 1 to 101) at the 1977 show.
The gas engine display was the largest ever and was very neatly
arranged. A special thanks to Ed Sine of Front Royal, Virginia for
roping this area off for safety precautions and neatness.
The flea markets and craft houses were full and provided hours
of browsing for many.
As in previous years the helicopter was there for rides. Mr.
& Mrs. Elmer Schaefer were also there. Mr. Schaefer had his
handmade gas engine models there and Mrs.
Schaefer sells most any kind of steam and gas related book
imaginable along with subscriptions to the magazines.
Any show takes many hours of planning. The board of directors
and officers have spent much time doing this. As secretary, I would
like to thank Earl Rohrer, Elmer Schaefer, Oscar Chapman, Ralph
Lewin, Robert DeBoskey, Calvin Ritter, Ed Sine and Eddie Hornbaker.
And last, but not least Wayne Godlove, President and Paul Giles,
Vice-president have got to be the two busiest and most difficult
men to find at the show. Mrs. Hilda Lewin, Treasurer has done a
marvelous job along with helping me at headquarters.
Our banquet is tentatively set for November 6 at the Clarke
County Ruritan Club’s banquet hall at the showgrounds. If you
can’t make it to the banquet or the regular monthly meetings
that are held the third Friday of each month beginning in February
at the War Memorial Building in the Winchester, Virginia city park,
starting at 7:30 P.M. We hope to see you at the 1977 show on July
29, 30 and 31.
