Route 5, Box 321, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740.
On October 4th and 5th, 1975 the Smithsburg Athletic Booster
Club sponsored its first steam and craft show with a great effort
from the community, the weatherman and all of the great numbers of
people (10,000) who attended the two day event.
The show was highlighted by quite a few unusual exhibits and
There were 45 pieces of equipment demonstrated and some were
highlighted by a colorful parade held three times each day. In
between the parade the spectators were given demonstrations of a
shingle-mill in operation, a stone crusher grinding away and the
sweet smell of apple cider being pressed.
Would you believe we even had a still (sarsaparilla) and a
blacksmith making souvenirs for the crowd.
There were 20 craft exhibitions, some of which included leather,
tooling, wool spinning, handmade furniture, macrame, and other
crafts representing the old American way.
In the food line there were two big attractions, Leopard stew
and hot apple pie.
A band provided mushc for the two day event and a local radio
station WJEJ of Hagerstown, Maryland provided live coverage on
Saturday.
Of course the stand-out of the show was the display and parades
of the steam and gas engines and tractors. A number of pieces of
gas driven equipment included the manufacture of 1925 to 1940
pieces. Such names as Farmall’s F-12, F-14, F-20 and the
Farmall regular, John Deere As, Ds, also a 45 hp. Eagle, 1936 Huber
Tractor and a 1928 2-ton Caterpillar.
The steam engine included a 1910 Peerless, 1908 Russell and a
miniature (1/3 scale) Peerless engine.
A Rumely Oil Pull provided two functions, by pulling the
children in a Now Ideal grain wagon (1930), and provided the power
for the shingle mill. The shingles in turn were stamped with the
1st official emblem of the show. The Peerless, the Eagle and Huber
gave power to the noisy but effective stone crusher.
There was a large display of gasoline engines of which the
majority were running during the show.
This show will also be held on October 2nd and 3rd at
Smithsburg, Maryland on the Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Department
lot and Smithsburg High School ground. All is surrounded by a
gorgeous view of the Appalachian Mountains. With the great public
response of last year we expect this years show to grow in quality
with the additions of some unique pieces of equipment. The purpose
of the Booster Club is to promote all athletic activities at
Smithsburg High School and to present to the area a unique glimpse
of the past.
