4391 Stewart Road, Metamora, Michigan 48455
This is an update on our 1903 Huber traction engine that was
featured on the cover of the May/June 1976 issue of IMA. My father
S. L. (‘Red’) Emery sold his farm three years ago and moved
to Florida. The Huber stayed here in Michigan with me. Let me give
a little background on the Huber and myself:
It seems that when I was growing up my interest in steam was
nil. What few times I would visit old steam engines or shows I
would just tag along for the ride. What the heck, it was usually
better than staying at home! Anyhow, I remember going down to Henry
Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, and seeing lots of engines; also
going to Montgomery, Minnesota and ‘Steam Engine Joe’
Rynda’s giant collection of steamers. My father and his father,
Roy Emery, who helped with threshing rigs in the
Stanton-Dundas-Northfield areas of Minnesota for years, were really
impressed. I guess truthfully, that’s when I first got the
engine bug. All that iron! Wow, it was like being in a candy
store.
Two years ago my son, Todd, and I re-visited Ryndas. I guess you
would call that recreating your childhood. As I walked around that
yard I could not help but think of my grandfather (now deceased)
climbing all over those engines and peering at everything in sight,
and my dad asking questions.
I had quite a visit that day with Leonard Rynda, Joe’s son,
who now has his father’s collection.
Our 12 HP Huber #6883 has been active, taking part in several
shows and parades in the last few years. We have been to the
National Threshers Reunion in Wauseon, Ohio; Seven Ponds Nature
Center near Dryden, Michigan; and Crossroads Village near Flint,
Michigan. My father drove up to Wauseon from Florida last June to
see his old Huber perform. I am sure he was tickled that everything
ran smoothly, except for the engineer (me), who was pretty shaky
with all those people watching. We plan on going back there again
this year with the Huber and renew old friendships.
Heading for the water wagon, September 19, 1981 at the Eastern
Michigan Collectors and Seven Ponds Nature Center Show.
Our own group of collectors recently celebrated the first
anniversary of ‘The Eastern Michigan Collectors Club’. We
have a very informal organization. We meet during the winter months
at Seven Ponds Nature Center and when the weather warms up we start
going to the members’ houses to see all their old machinery,
drink coffee and gab. Lots of good friendships abound. The club has
an annual show held in conjunction with Seven Ponds One Day
Harvest. We always have a lot of fun. This year the date will be
September 17, 1983.
This last Labor Day weekend, we Eastern Michigan Collectors were
invited to help put on a show at Crossroads Village. The setting of
the Village is around the turn of the century. It is also the home
of the Huckleberry Railroad, which is narrow gauge, and runs all
season from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. The train makes six
trips a day on a ten-mile track. the Trip comes complete with a
hold-up (whoops, I wasn’t supposed to tell that). While you are
there say hello to George Atchison, the engineer. Maybe if you are
polite and tell him you are an engineer he will let you ride up in
the cab with him. Also stop down to the round house and visit with
Carl Plaisted and see all the engines in various stages of repair.
If you happen to be in the Flint area the weekend of July 30-31,
1983 come over to the Village. Our club, the E.M.C.’s, will be
putting on our second annual show with gas engines, threshing,
baling straw and having a good time.
Recently I acquired a Huber Roto Rack separator and a Rosenthal
corn husker. Maybe one of these days the Emery’s will have
their own little threshing day. It would all be thanks to my
father, Red Emery, who made it all possible.
