1745 Redwood Road Kirkman, Iowa 51447-7520
The 20th annual Greenridge Steam and Gas Antique Show was the
best attended show yet, with over 2,500 people taking in the sights
throughout the weekend. President Adrian Nelson felt it was the
best participation of exhibitors and parade entrants ever. The
excellent weather, of course, factored into the success, too!
The new shingle mill was a real drawing card, and the crowd
enjoyed watching it make cedar shingles. These were then nailed to
the roof of the mill by the club president, using nails which had
been handmade in the blacksmith shop on the grounds. Steve Nelson,
Marne, was in charge, along with helpers Bob Hansen of Atlantic and
Jeff Allen of Omaha. The blacksmith shop was run by a 1920
Fairbanks-Morse 20 HP 2-cycle diesel engine owned by John and James
Weighton, Audubon.
Don Ferry, Irwin, powered his home-built half-size sawmill with
Howard Mickelson’s homemade half-size steam engine. Howard also
owns the 1915 Case steam engine which runs Don’s 1902 Aultman
and Taylor sawmill. On hand to help run both sawmills and steam
engines were Clark Ahrenholtz, Harlan; Dick Wright and Max Miller,
Villisca; Bob Nelson, Atlantic; and John Thumma, Laurens.
The 1916 65-Case steam engine owned by the Greenridge Club
threshed oats in the east field with engineers Danny and Kris
Mickelson, Harlan; guest engineers Marlowe Feldman, Albert City,
and Randy Sawyer, Council Bluffs.
A first time attraction to the show was homemade baseball bats.
Willard Oliver, Irwin, fashioned these using a lathe. Kim
VanBibber, Harlan, did spray paint caricature drawings.’
‘The Rancheros ‘ of Sioux City drew a good crowd for the
Saturday night country music show. Howard and Marianne Clark said
that musicians arrived from all over Iowa and Omaha. As people
walked about the grounds, they could enjoy music in almost every
area as ‘jam sessions’ entertained.
Ted Gollobit of Manilla was in charge of the sorghum making
operation. He was aided by a large crew with special helpers Kenny
Brundige, Irwin; Dennis Duke, Panora; and John Hickman, Guthrie
Center. Ted reported that this year’s sorghum had plenty of
really sweet juice, which cooked up to perfection.
The Iowa Sesquicentennial Covered Wagon was in the center of the
grounds and enjoyed by all.
The horse treadmill ground corn. Arlo Peterson and Gaylord
Heilesen were in charge and provided the horses.
For the first time ever, Raleigh Woltmann, Avoca, shared his
Post Office box display. Special features in this display were a
Frederick Remington portrait. Remington is the man who started the
Rural Free Mail Delivery. This is the centennial celebration year
for Rural Free Delivery.
Richard and Vi Wooster, Manning, with several helpers, ground
fresh rye and wheat flour from their 1918 Meadows grist mill.
Richard said they had trouble keeping up with the orders as people
stood in line to buy the flour.
Bud Isaacs, Denison, was back again to please the crowd with his
1920s era Butter Kist popcorn machine. It is gas-electric and used
to be in the Sievers Drug Store at Westside.
Bill Constable of Shelby demonstrated chair caning. Kathy
McLaren, Cedar Rapids, showed people how to weave baskets of all
sizes and shapes.
Mary Miller, Irwin, filled the kitchen in the old house with an
interesting display of antique flowered feed sacks, crockery,
quilts, and cookie cutters, along with other items.
Doug and Vicky Travis of Lewis drew big business with their Lazy
T’s Homemade Ice Cream. Powered by a 1917 John Deere stationary
engine, it made five gallons of homemade ice cream every 25
minutes.
Jim Clark set up his chain saw demonstration by the little log
cabin. He enjoyed carving out his creations while the spectators
tried to guess what the finished product would be.
Garland and Bev Barrat, Irwin, made apple cider squeezed on a
1910 Americus apple cider press.
Bernard and Harriett Cox, Tennant, displayed their many
miniature metal steam-powered toys, including a carousel. Bernard
designed a ‘poorman’s Harley’a bicycle run by a
chainsaw. He demonstrated this by riding it in the parade both
days.
Ken and Frances Wieland, Templeton, had ‘Shorty’s
Homemade Taters, Chips, and Beans’ for a taste treat. This food
was cooked in iron pots and pans over an open fire, which was fun
to watch.
Alfred and Phyllis Schroeder, Breda, operated a mini-baler and
tractor which were made by their late son, Dan. They also
demonstrated rope-making.
Antique vehicles displayed included a 1926 Model T Ford by
Norris Olson, Walkertown, a 1951 Chevy pickup by Leonard and Madge
Fiscus, Harlan, a 1930 Model A Ford and a 1961 Ford Mustang by
Clark and Mary Ahrenholtz, and a 1928 Model A Ford by Robert and
Dorothy (Grandma D) Lohrmann, Manilla.
Another first-timer to the show was Ed Greiner, Panama, who had
his collection of antique bicycles on hand. He is especially proud
of his 24′ Schwinn Phantom, the ‘Cadillac’ of the
Schwinns, and a five-speed ‘Apple Krate’ Schwinn.
The Western Iowa Two-Cylinder Club, Avoca, brought several
tractors for display and then drove them in the parade.
Don and Marilyn Combes, Omaha, brought an unusual looking small
tractor called a Bantam. These tractors were made between 1947 and
1952, and were used for pulling lawnmowers or pushing snow.
Wilbur and Wilma Anderson, Kiron, showed off several
1/8scale models which Wilbur made by hand.
Some of these included a Minneapolis steam engine, John Deere
tractor Model D with a plow, Model R Waterloo Boy tractor, Holt
Caterpillar engine, gas engine model and cement mixer.
Preceding the show on Friday, the fifth graders from
Irwin-Kirkman-Manilla toured the grounds. Mrs. Nancy Kloewer, one
of the IKM teachers, said that the students’ favorite part of
the tour was getting to blow the whistle on the big steam engine.
The tour is incorporated into their Iowa history study.
We invite you all to attend our 1997 show to be held on
September 20 and 21.
