2315 South Birmingham Place, Tulsa, Okllahoma 74114
The 1977 Steam Show at Pawnee, Oklahoma was held July 14, 15, 16
and 17. A daily parade was a highlight of the show. Approximately
22 traction engines and numerous gas tractors circled our pavilion
where several hundred spectators were seated. Included in the
parade was a 35-70 Minneapolis owned by Heine Bomhoff of Calumet,
Oklahoma and the Spurlin family of Enid, Oklahoma, and a 25-50
Avery owned by Floyd Kelley of Ralston, Oklahoma. Kenneth and Cecil
Kelley of Pawnee showed their fine collection of Case engines.
Other events drawing large crowds daily were plowing with the 110
Case and 75 Case; and the hill climb with a 50 Case, owned and
operated by Art Kosted of Oklahoma City.
A 28-90 Minneapolis powered our sawmill and the grist mill was
run by 3 and 4 inch scale model steam engines. Another popular
demonstration was a shingle mill. It was powered by a 30 HP Russell
portable engine owned by Ivan Burns of Edmond, Oklahoma. Engineer
was Max January of Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Cutting shingles for waiting
customers, were Herb Little, Yukon, Oklahoma and John Martens of
Fairview, Oklahoma.
A growing interest in model engines was reflected in our ’76
and ’77 shows. There were several 3 and 4 inch scale engines.
Fine craftsmanship was also shown in the smaller models displayed
by Walter Jantz of Newton, Kansas and Paul Kirk of Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
Wesley Pittman, Scott City, Kansas; Chuck Chapman, Tulsa,
Oklahoma; and John Younkman, Newton, Kansas, were engineers on the
20 x 36 Corliss valve steam engine. This display is a crowd-pleaser
because of its large size. New for the ’77 show was a 11 x 16
Frick stationary engine and a 5 x 8 upright steam powered exciter
engine.
There was a number of gas engines on display including a
beautifully restored 8 HP Famous horizontal engine owned by Ervin
Shelby of Mutual, Oklahoma. Also, Dallas Womack, Fairview,
Oklahoma, brought his one-of-a-kind tractor powered by a 10 HP
Fairbanks engine.
Henry Martens made ice cream with a large freezer and a 1 HP
John Deere engine. Bob Reudy of Oklahoma City displayed his
Wurlitzer band organ which provided music all during the show.
Exhibitors came from all parts of Oklahoma and also from Kansas,
Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Arizona.
As in past years, free entertainment was a part of our show.
Country and western musician, Johnnie Lee Wills, played a noontime
program and the American Theatre Company out of Tulsa presented a
melodrama one evening. There was also a dance with music provided
by Johnnie Lee and All the Boys.
The main building on the show grounds housed food service booths
run by Pawnee Senior Citizens and local church groups. One popular
booth every year is the donut shop run by Mrs. Henry Weibe of Corn,
Oklahoma. Antique dealers, artists, craftsmen, booksellers also had
booths, as did the American Red Cross for a first aid station. The
Women’s Auxiliary of Oklahoma Steam Thresher’s (the
‘Pop-offs’) was in charge of the information booth,
souvenir, cornmeal and shingle sales.
Tents and trailers for food and drinks were scattered around the
show grounds, with many exhibitors and visitors camping near the
show site.
Our 1978 show will be held July 14, 15 and 16. For more
information you may contact Kenneth Kelley, Pawnee, Oklahoma
74058.
