Iowa
Warm temperatures and cool breezes were given at least partial
credit for the record turnout both days at the Greenridge Steam and
Gas Antique Show according to Greenridge president Richard Wooster.
Visitors came from as far away as Florida and Washington to attend
the various activities.
This year a remodeled ‘Opry House’ sported more room for
the musicians and dancers. A Texas-style acoustic jam was held both
with demonstration and teaching of line-dancing. Elmer Jensen, head
of the music, played host to many groups of musicians from Nebraska
and Iowa, including the Silver Creek Cloggers.
The Greenridge Steam show members and the Albert City, Iowa,
Steam Show members have an agreement whereby they help each other
at their shows. This has worked great over the years. Several guest
engineers helped out!
Threshing oats with the 1916 65-Case steam engine was held in
the east field with engineer Danny Mickelson of Harlan and guest
engineer Karl Lind of Albert City.
Howard Mickelson’s 1915 Case steam engine was run by Marlowe
Feldman of Albert City and Max Miller of Griswold. It powered Don
Ferry’s 1902 Aultman and Taylor sawmill. Howard’s half-size
steam engine ran the wood planing machine. Engineers besides Howard
on that steam engine were Clark Ahrenholz assisted by Al Peterson
of Irwin. Don’s guest helpers at the sawmill include Keith
Sunbladt, Albert City; John Thumma, Laurens; Bob Nelson, Atlantic
and Dick Wright, Villisca. Lee Fery and Mike Holloway also had a
hand in demonstrations at that site.
The sorghum crop was excellent and Ted Gollibit and crew from
Manilla cooked up gallons of sorghum syrup for the crowd. Arlo
Peterson brought his horses which were used to grind corn on the
treadmill and on a horse-powered sweep grinder.
Steve Nelson and friends from Marne were in charge of the
old-time blacksmith shop. The line shaft for the shop was powered
by a 1920 Fairbanks-Morse, 20 HP, two-cycle diesel engine owned by
John and James Weighton of Audubon.
Richard and Vivian Wooster of Manning, with the help of Adrian
Nelson, provided fresh ground rye and wheat flour from
Wooster’s 1918 Meadows grist mill. Bev and Garland Barratt,
Irwin, made fresh apple cider squeezed on a 1910 Americus apple
cider press. Alfred, Holly, and Phyllis Schroeder of Breda
entertained crowds with their mini tractor, baler, and
rope-making.
Many people brought gas and steam engines, unusual tractors, and
antique vehicles for viewing.
Wayne and Deb Harrah of Cedar Rapids set up their ham radio
station in the little log cabin at the west end of the grounds.
Robert and Gloria Beekman of Pocahontas used their 1918 1 HP Titan
gas engine which turned the crank on the machine to provide us with
homemade ice cream.
A new feature from Council Bluffs was a train ride for children
made out of barrels. Several antique miniature metal steam-powered
toys including a tiny Ferris wheel were brought by Harriett and
Bernard Cox of Tennant. Irwin’s Jim Clark displayed bears, a
squirrel, and other items he had carved from logs using a chain
saw.
Pastor Stan Wohlenhaus, Indianola, was guest speaker for church
services. He and his wife Paulette made brooms and rag rugs.
Paulette also wove their chair pads as a new item this year. They
are employed part-time by Living History Farms of Des Moines.
Preceding the show on Friday, the Harlan 5th grade students
toured the grounds. Members taught them how to shock oats and chop
sorghum. The highlight was watching the big steam engine being
unloaded off a trailer. (It had been in Marne undergoing
repairs.)
All in all, this year’s show was the biggest and best ever!
Next year our show will be September 16 and 17, 1995.
