9374 Roosevelt St. Crown Point, Indiana 46307
The Northern Indiana Historical Power Association, held its
sixteenth annual ‘Harvest Festival and Steam Show’
September 18, 19, 20, 1992, at Sunset Hill Farm Park, just a few
miles north of Valparaiso, Indiana. The weekend started off with a
visit from local school kids that were guests of NIHPA over the
became an adventure.
This year the fields were covered in ‘green’ with John
Deere, the feature company of this year’s show. This is the
first year that NIHPA featured equipment of a single company. Early
after entering the show grounds visitors could watch a 50 HP J. I.
Case traction engine providing power to a 1937 John Deere thresher.
Frank Hansen of Rolling stone, Minnesota stopped at the show over
the weekend with his John Deere, ‘old 79’. Visitors were
also drawn into gasoline alley by the rhythmic charm of the
hit-and-miss engines.
A variety of power was used on the sawmill over the weekend
including John Ross’s 1929 25-50 Baker and the LaPorte County
Historical Steam Society’s 50 HP Case steam traction engine.
The mill was Lyon Iron Works with a 52 inch blade, four blocks, 20
foot carriage, owned and operated by Jack and Mark Corson, both of
Crown Point, Indiana.
The LaPorte County Historical Steam Society’s 50 HP Case;
take note of the four rows of rivets on the butt strap. Photo by M.
A. Corson.
Eight teams of horses visited our show this year as NIHPA
members paid tribute to the early American farm horse and the
duties and tasks they performed before being retired to the fields
by more modern machines and equipment. The preferred method of
travel, at this year’s show, was once again drawn wagons that
were touring the grounds. Out in the fields plowing was being done
with horses, steam traction engine and gas tractors.
Throughout the weekend tractor owners were invited to
participate in a variety of activities. Gary Parks and Dave Fritz
with their helpers provided a dynamometer, on behalf of the South
Lake County Historical Society, of Crown Point, Indiana. They were
kept busy over the weekend providing a chance for the owners to put
their tractors to the test.
As the ‘noon whistle’ signaled dinner time, there was
plenty of food and refreshments to be found. A variety of craft and
flea market items were also available at the show grounds. Local
music entertainment provided visitors and exhibitors a chance to
sit and relax.
On Sunday automobile history comes alive each year when NIHPA is
visited by the Winimac Old Auto Club and members display a fine
assortment of collectable cars and trucks. The Winimac Old Auto
Club was originally formed in 1950 by seven individuals and was
known as the Society for Collecting and Preservation of Antique
Autos.
We wish to thank all the exhibitors and workers who attended
this year’s show, and especially those who traveled distances.
Also, members of NIHPA are very appreciative of persons from other
local clubs who visited and exhibited their collectibles with us.
We always enjoy meeting new and old friends. We all invite you to
attend next year’s show. Plans of featuring tractors and
equipment of the International Harvester Company are well underway
and is scheduled over the weekend of September 17, 18, 19,
1993.
