R.R. 1, Shawville, Quebec, Canada JOX 2YO
Many people in the Pontiac area probably have noticed the sound
of a puffing steam traction engine and the ‘bang’ of an old
gas engine quite frequently in the past months. The increasing
interest in these wonderful old machines of a bygone era can be
partly associated with the activities of a new club in the Pontiac
Pontiac have formed a club. We call it the Pontiac. Steam and Gas
Association. To our knowledge, it is the only steam and gas engine
club in the province of Quebec which holds an annual steam show. We
make our headquarter near Shawville, Quebec. Although a number of
our members reside in other areas such as Chelsea, Aylmer, Ottawa
etc. Our first steam show was held in 1975, just two short months
after the club was formed. The show was a success and another was
planned for 1976.
The Pontiac Steam & Gas Association held its second annual
steam show on Aug. 27 and 28, 1976 at the farm of Mr. & Mrs. E.
J. Campbell. For a small admission fee the many visitors to the
show could stroll through the grounds and see steam traction
engines puffing black smoke as they did in the past when the early
farmers of this area used them to do the threshing and other farm
work. The steam traction engines at the show included a 1895 -1900,
17 H.P. Sawyer and Massey exhibited by Mr. Eric J. Campbell,
president of the Pontiac Steam & Gas Association. Also a 1907,
17 H.P. Sawyer and Massey exhibited by Mr. Willard E. Clarke of
Chelsea, Que. Also a member of the club. There was also a
beautifully restored 20 H.P. Waterloo engine owned and operated by
Mr. T. A. Corrigan of Ottawa, formerly of Shawville. Mr. Corrigan
has operated many types of steam engines throughout Pontiac in past
years. The Ottawa Valley Steam Engine Association of Petawawa
exhibited a 1924, 20 H.P. Goodison steam engine. Also exhibited by
the Petawawa Club was an upright boiler and two very old stationary
steam engines owned by Mr. Jim Brown of Petawawa. Among the vintage
gas tractors on display were a John Deere model D and a Farmall
F-20 owned by Mr. Eric J. Campbell. Also a 1929 Wallis 12-20 owned
by Mr. Hector Overton of Aylmer. Also a nicely restored 1930, Rock
Island 15-25 owned by Mr. Dave Hodgins of Shawville. There were
also many types of old gas engines on display including
Massey-Harris, I.M., Goold Shapley Muir, Teco, Lister, National,
New Way and Eaton.
The show also had one of the best scale model displays in the
Ottawa Valley, which was a big hit with both the young and old. Mr.
Fred Moore a member of the club who is well known in the Ottawa
Valley for his fine scale models had many of them on display. His
collection includes a 20-22 Waterloo engine, a 33-48 Waterloo
thresher, shingle mill, saw mill, cord wood saw, Massey 44 tractor;
all working models built by Mr. Moore. Two other fine models were a
3′ scale model of a 1915 Case 65 H.P. built and exhibited by Mr
Gordon Weedmark of Ottawa, also a member of the club. There was
also a scale model of a 1915 Case built and exhibited by Mr. Percy
Gervais of Petawawa, Ontario.
Other attractions which were very popular during the show were
the saw mill owned and operated by Mr. Garry Overton of Aylmer. Log
sawing demonstrations took place during the show as well as log
hewing, grain threshing, corn shelling and grinding. The many
visitors enjoyed the live evening entertainment which included an
old time fiddling & step dancing competition as well as a
variety show. Hot meals were available as well as other
refreshments and the many visitors took advantage of these booths
as well as the souvenir booth operated by the club.
A plaque commemorating the 1976 steam show was presented to each
exhibitor. To sum it up, the 1976 Steam Show was a huge success and
plans are in progress for an even better show for 1977.
