GEORGES ENGINES

engine for the Canadian West. This engine, however, was sold to the
Ontario Government in 1915 for about $5,500 to run a stone-crusher
for the Department of Highways. In 1932 she was sold to a private
contractor and continued in the same function. In 1955 more modern
methods were introduced to crush stone.

For the next 10 years she ran a sawmill at Barry’s Bay. The
ground was so rough and swampy where the sawmill was located, they
only operated in the winter. The average temperatures are well
below freezing for at least three months of the year. I gathered
that there was no problem at night as long as they drained the
injectors and glass carefully. The water in the boiler would stay
warm enough not to freeze.

After about four years the lumber had receded to the extent they
wanted to move the mill back. When it came time to move the engine,
it was impossible. You might say she was frozen in. After setting
there for so many summers the back wheels had sunk. They decided to
chain her front wheels to a bulldozer and try to pull her out.
However, in so doing they tore off the front wheels and everything
that was loosely attached. Undaunted, they simply gathered up their
chain again, attached the front of the boiler to the bulldozer and
literally dragged her to her new mill site some four miles away.
This time her boiler was well supported with lumber and the back
wheels were placed on cement blocks. Nevertheless, in 1965 when
George and his brother, Les, came to get her she was a sad looking
old gal, really looking her age and feeling her lack of dress.
There was no platform or saddle tanks and very little left of her
smoke stack and her smoke box was questionable. George and Les
drove back to the site of the original mill and found the front
wheels, chains, etc. They hadn’t moved in six years and the
saddle tanks had been riddled with hunter’s bullets. Any little
pieces of metal they tossed into the half ton truck ‘just in
case.’ In fact, they : returned the following year and dug down
almost a foot at the spot where the engine had set and found the
circle iron off the steering.

They went in for the engine the second weekend in December. The
ground had to be frozen but they didn’t want too much snow.
With the use of a bulldozer they got her on the float and put the
front wheels under as a brace. They then chained the bulldozer to
the back of the float. It acted as a pusher to get up the hill, and
a brake, going down the hill. The tract was barely wide enough for
a team of horses. Trees and swamp were the least of their worries
rocks and huge boulders, products of the Canadian Shield, tried to
make it impossible for the float. When they. finally reached the
highway, they stopped at the first gasoline station that had a
restaurant, as by this time it was getting dark and everyone was
tired and hungry. Before they had finished their coffee the place
was full of curious people. The owner of the place offered to pay
George to leave the engine there for the winter. He claimed that he
had seen more people and done more business in the last half hour
than he had done all month!

George had real problems in the beginning restoring the engine.
The few other Sawyer Massey’s in the area were all smaller side
mount designs whereas this one was a large rear mount. He had lots
of little pieces to put in his jigsaw but no pictures to give him
any clues. However, luck was with George in that another member of
the club, Gord Smith, was able to buy a similar engine out west and
had it shipped to Orillia. I won’t say he didn’t have any
more problems, but at least he could compare and see where things
went, even if he didn’t have all the parts, or know how to make
them.

In 1967 she was ready to parade at the local fall fairs and
steam shows. If you look closely at the picture you will note that
George built a platform, with railing, over one of the back wheels.
This serves many purposes, it allows him to care for her easily and
to carry the many admiring passengers in safety, especially his
little grandchildren.

1967 was also her first year at an International Ploughing
Match. In 1975 she was a guest at the World’s Ploughing Match
in Durham County, Ontario. No, she never did get to plough. She was
either puffing about being decorative or running a sawmill.

The little engine, a real club favorite, was built by Charles S.
Levey around 1871 belt power 5 HP. It was a stationary engine in a
beverage factory from 1872 until 1905. From 1905 to 1963 it was
used in a steam laundry for a summer resort on Lake Simcoe. When
George bought the engine he had to hack it out of a stone enclosure
of sorts. He then modified it slightly and put it on wheels. With
the aid of a winch he is able to just squeeze her on the back of
his 3/4 ton truck with its 8 foot box. ‘Nellie,’ as she is
called is named after his wife Nell and is a real star at the local
Pioneer Days, Steam Shows and Fall Fairs. ‘Nellie’ usually
works a little draw saw and cuts wood for her big puffy sister.
Through ‘Nellie,’ George has met some wonderful people and
acquired many friends. The big, black Sawyer catches peoples’
eyes and admiration, but little ‘Nellie’ catches your
heart, quiet, steady and always faithful.

George retires this year and he and his wife are planning to
load old ‘Nellie’ and drag their house trailer further
afield. Join us in wishing them many happy hours.

The dates of the Georgian Bay Steam Show for 1977 are July 30,31
and August 1. It is held at Cookstown, Ontario, just north of
Toronto.