2339 S. Fort Springfield, Missouri 65807-2301
Our show is not the biggest, but we feel that we put on a very
good show for the public to learn about how our forefathers had to
work hard for what they got.
Our club started about 1961, or 1962. At the present time there
are about 12 of the larger steam tractors and several scale model
that runs a hundred horsepower Brownwell engine. In that building
there is a steam electric generating plant that was used in
Mountain Home, Arkansas, to provide electricity for the city. There
are two hoisting engines that were used to lift material off rail
flat cars in Branson, Missouri, when Empire District Electric built
Power site Dam on the White River at Forsyth, Missouri, from 1910
to 1912. They lifted the material off the flat cars, swung around
to the barges on the river, and used a small tug boat to take them
down stream to where the hydroelectric plant was being built. Then
the tug boat would bring the empties back and get loaded barges to
return.
Joe Hardin’s vertical shingle mill. This mill is very rare,
since most shingle mills are horizontal. Joe found this mill in a
barn that was not in use, and was able to acquire and rebuild it.
The six horsepower Russell handles it very well. The mill was
stationary, but is now mounted for easy transportation.
Joe Hardin, of Caulfield, Missouri, with a recently restored and
rebuilt Russell. Joe found this engine in central Kansas as a
portable, brought it to his shop, and converted it to a traction
engine. It is very smooth and quiet.
These two engines had not been used since the dam was completed.
The engines and equipment were kept in a building that had to be
torn down to get them out. Our club members moved the engines to
our show location in 1990-91.
We have two parades daily during the show, which is held ten
days after Labor Day each year since 1962. It is held in
conjunction with EDGE&TA Branch 16. In 1993, there were about
368 small gas engines, 130 gas and a few diesel tractors. We have a
few flea market operators, a kiddies tractor pull, rock crushing,
threshing, baling, and a sawmill. The show is climaxed with a
tractor pull on Saturday night with 1938 (and older) tractors. Also
there are a lot of scale model steam and gas tractors, related
equipment, antique cars, and trucks.
The show is located eight miles west of Springfield, Missouri,
on Highways 60 and 13. Springfield is the home of the Bass Pro
Shops, which are advertised as the largest sporting goods, and
marine equipment stores in the States. Springfield is 38 miles
north of Branson, Missouri. Branson is in the heart of the Ozark
Mountains, which affords beautiful scenery, more music theaters
than anywhere, and lots and lots of motels and shops to take your
money. There are lakes on both sides of Branson, and it is 25 miles
north of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the ‘Little Switzerland of
America.’
So, all of you good folks out in Engine and, get in touch with a
tour bus in the area. Come to the Ozarks, see our steam and gas
show 10 days after Labor Day, see the Bass Pro Shops, and take in a
Branson show or shows. The natives are real friendly. We have a 12
acre parking lot, lots of shade, camping space but no hook-ups.
