NORTHWEST MICHIGAN SHOW

Turns out that a bunch of fellows, mostly farmers or farm
country folks, got together and decided to bring in their old stuff
and invite neighbors and friends around to come and enjoy it. I
don’t know exactly who all was there, but I’m told it was
headed up by fellows like Leonard and Ray Claus, Maurice Hulett,
Karl Kreiser, Sam Zue, and Joe Rebman. In fact, I think that the
first show was held on Joe Rebman’s farm. Really, one of the
originators should be writing thisit would be much more accurate.
I’m sure I’ll leave out a lot of important names and
facts.

But, like the fabled Topsy,’ this thing just grew and grew.
Some years later, with an eye to the future, the fellows organized
a club and rented, with option to buy, a piece of land of about 70
acres. This had a woods, a natural amphitheater for parades and
such, and was near the town of Buckley. They bought the land and
started building permanent buildings here and there and putting in
permanent machinery such as a big vertical steam boiler, sawmill
and veneer mill under cover, covered eating area, comfort
facilities, etc. Like most engine clubs, the thing grew.

I won’t begin to list everything that goes on or who does it
just the philosophy that more and more, rather than have a row of
engines running or just sitting there, belt a number of them up to
whatever they were originally intended for and run something. That
there are items of interest for the wives or mothers in the family.
That there are things of interest for the younger folks. That there
is a good flea market with at least some items related to our
hobby. The club tries to make for fun and enjoyment for lots of
different folks, not just engine collectors. And another thing, the
club seems to have equal interest in most all old power: steam, gas
or kerosene, hot-air, dog power, horsepower, etc. They invite folks
outside the club to contribute show items. Some of the best items
come from a long ways away. For instance, Mrs. Georgiana Martin
comes with a spinning wheel and really teaches about it and
weaving. There is always a crowd around her.

For meals, they have permanent grills to do hundreds of chickens
a day, a beef barbecue setup, and a number of portable eateries of
different sorts. Wives and daughters get in on this real strong. At
night they make popcorn in a big old cast iron hog kettlebushels of
popped corn at a time.

We threshed wheat with a small separator that Tom Small
restored, then took the grain over to a stone grinder that Larry
Mathews restored and made flour. I took some of that home and my
wife mixed it with some sort of all-purpose flour and made bread.
Tried it out on some of our guests, especially toasted and with a
little honey. Can’t buy anything that good in a restaurant.
Wish I knew the names of all the contributors and could tell about
them here, but it would take a whole magazine. Many times just one
tractor, like the 30/60 Nichols & Shepard that Tom Graham and
Joe Smith restored and had to fabricate heads for, among other
things, would make a whole story.

Anyway, I guess that the Buckley Show, third weekend in August,
has become an important matter of happening year to year. The club
is a very friendly group. You, the reader, might bring something,
or just yourself. Folks all seem to enjoy it. I know that I do.