We thank Dick Plum, news editor for permission to reprint the
following story and pictures from the Harlan Tribune. Howard G.
Mickelson of Route 1, Kirkman, Iowa 51447 sent us the story and got
permission to use it.
‘The sound and the smell! That’s the fascinating
thing!’ said Howard Mickelson of Kirkman as his old steam
Sunday afternoon.
In spite of the gray, misty weather, family and friends flocked
to the Mickelson farm southwest of Irwin to see the 50 horse-power
Case engine perform. It was made in 1915 at Racine, Wise, and was
intended to be moved around by 4-6 horses.
Purchased by Mickelson in 1971 in Montana, it seemed perfectly
at home in his Iowa house-yard. George Steenhusen took an implement
truck out west to bring it home for his friend. The past three and
a half years have been spent in acquiring parts and getting ready
for the day when it would be ‘Steamed up’ and make
Howard’s dream come true. Some repairs were made in the
Mickelson shop, others purchased and-or made at foundries in
Pennsylvania, Ohio and all over Iowa.
A trial run last Wednesday was a complete success when he opened
up the throttle, let the steam rush into the engine and it came
back to life after 40 years of absolute silence. As the smell of
hot oil and steam blended with the rather harsh, but strangely
musical notes of the old Thompson Bros, threshing machine whistle
which had been installed, Howard’s face was wreathed in smiles.
Later, he said that everyone who heard it had nostalgic smiles on
their faces, too!
Carl Mickelson, Howard’s father, had a 65 hp. Case steam
engine when he used to run a threshing rig but he solg it for scrap
iron while Howard was in service much to Howard’s dismay.
Always fascinated with the old engine, Howard still has a small
model he made himself as a toy when he was 10 years old.
People from Griswold, Avoca, Council Bluffs, Crescent, Boone,
Harlan, Irwin, Jacksonville, Marne, Brayton Iowa and Norfolk and
Bancroft, Nebraska were on hand Sunday to see the colorful machine
work. Green flywheels, brass fittings on black parts and a scarlet
chassis make the rather clumsy outfit very attractive and when the
white steam billows out into the wind, it ‘gets to
you’.
Mrs. Mickelson commented that Howard spent a lot of time during
the winter polishing the brass. ‘Well, it’s the only steam
engine in Shelby County’, he retorted.
