THE INTER-COUNTY LEADER, Wisconsin
Nearly every community in Polk and Burnett Counties, and many
from a greater distance were represented at the sixth annual Steam
Engine Day at the Gilmar Johnson farm in West Sweden, Frederic,
Saturday.
Bright autumn weather helped make it a grand day for the crowd
of about 2,000 in attendance. Each year the affair grows in
popularity. It was a good clean crowd and everyone was enthusiastic
about the engines and the other old time machinery, rebuilt,
re-polished and actually operating. The shrill steam whistle was
common, as folks were invited to try out the cord.
Gilmar Johnson had in operation a collection of valuable antique
machinery, rarely seen in this area These, together with some items
brought by other fans, offered a wide variety of activities
including threshing with two outfits, plowing, baling, shredding
corn, and sawing lumber, shingles and wood.
Johnson’s 1908 Advance, rated at 12 h.p., or 36 by
comparison, was engineered by O. W. Bowen of Woodman, Wisconsin,
and his 1912 Case, listed as 9 h. p., but actually 30, was
engineered that day by Harold Churchill of Rock Elm, near Elmwood.
His 1918 Case 50 was under the care of Dan Booth of Ellsworth.
Hardy Lindblad drove his 45-year-old 60 hp Case, complete with
canopy, over from Trade Lake as it is equipped with rubber. Jens M.
Hansen’s huge 1920 Minneapolis engine had been brought up from
Luck, and he was there to operate it. These together with
Johnson’s 1920 Indiana, 1923 Titan and 1927 Fordson tractors
were shifted around operating a variety of machines, including a
1892 36 inch Case threshing machine, all wood, hand feeder; and his
Keystone Champion wooden overshot.
Dan Booth and Nyle Kurth of Eau Claire, operated a steamer,
pulling five bottoms, and could easily have handled eight.
Carol Peterson of Trade Lake, was there with his Jackson Timber
harvester, sawing logs, and Clinton D. Jackson and his wife of
Mondovi, were present. Jens Hansen’s shingle mill was quite an
attraction, folks picking up the shingles for autographs and
souvenirs.
One of the new attractions was the tiny one-third model of an
Advance Rumley and mill, brought by Leon Vandervort, a life-time
lumberman of Tomah who spent seven years making it.
Harold Churchill, Elmwood, brought his upright steamer and
boiler, and Clifford Larson of Deer Park had his car, operated by
steam, on display.
As in all hobby shows, those who understood the high degree of
skill needed to keep in repair and operate these machines, were the
ones who really appreciated the day. The fans have a number of
organizations, visit each other and swap letters, pictures and
trade magazines.
Mr. Johnson would appreciate good pictures taken that day.
Coming the farthest, 750 miles, were Mr. and Mrs. Davis Sullivan
of Markelville, Indiana. The Saters and Ernests were up from Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa, and dozens from Minnesota and southern and central
Wisconsin. Local folks were amazed at the spirit which brought so
many folks so many miles with such enthusiasm. Sunday, too, was a
busy day as some fans stayed and others came, mistaking the
date.
Forty gallons of coffee were consumed, 500 doughnuts, a similar
number
of hamburgers and 200 wieners and buns, and over a dozen cases
of pop. Roll upon roll of colored movies and stills were
snapped.
Gilmar Johnson and his wife helped to put this area on the map,
by presenting a collection of smoothly operating antiques that
compared favorably with similar events which have been given
nationwide recognition.
SPECIAL THANKS
We hereby express our many thanks to all who helped us in any
way at our last steam engine day.
Special thanks to J. M. Hansen, Hardy Lindblad, Carol Peterson,
Leon Vandervorst, Wedin Bros., Lewis Peterson, Joe Pangerl, Harold
Churchill, Wm. Herpst, and Clifford, Larson, who furnished
equipment used for various events.
We feel very grateful to all who helped support our
endeavors.
GILMAR AND ALICE JOHNSON
