Shinglehouse, Penna. 16748
The show was held at Whitneyville, Pa. on the large Tioga County
Fairgrounds, midway between Wellsboro and Mansfield on Route #6.
The official dates were July 11, 12. 13th 1975, but if you had been
there as I was you would have thought it started a week before with
all the equipment being brought in. Trucks, trucks and trailers,
names as I might leave out someone and I would not think of
offending anyone as the officers and members really did a wonderful
job in putting on this show. The largest and best in the history of
the Tioga County Days, Inc. This is not just a Steam and Gas Show,
but a show of Antiques in Operation including Steam and Gas
Engines. There was entertainment going on each day and evening
during the show. The shingle making drew considerable attention,
making shingles by hand splitting and making shingles on the power
shingle mill and hewing barn beams by hand and now I will give a
short description of the parade.
The oxen were in the lead as the parade came by the speakers
stand with the teams of Belgian horses. Following them came the
giant steam engines, the giant 65 horsepower Frick steam traction
leading the engines. There were more steam engines this year than
ever before from the big one right on down to the scale models.
Following the nice showing of steam came the gas tractors. It
seemed like a never ending line as they passed the speakers stand.
After the parade I took a look at the gas engines and early farm
equipment. There was an enormous show of gas engines, a 40 horse
power Bessermer right on down to the little faithful Maytags and
two hot air engines from Horseheads, N. Y.
The club has a very unique set-up for models in one of the fair
buildings. Exhibitors are welcome to bring whatever they have to
show and they came from many miles and many states including
Canada. The club is gong ahead fast and they have purchased their
own trailer for transporting show equipment to and from the
fairgrounds. The club has their own flag and is making arrangements
for a year round museum.
They are taking a very active part in the ’76 Bicentennial.
They have the large bicentennial flag as well as small ones to
display on antique equipment in parades. Speaking of parades in
other towns the club had a number of units in parades in
Coudersport, Shingle-house, Mansfield, Jersey Shore and Wellsboro
this year. In ’76 the club intends to reach out farther in more
parades. The Bicentennial Show will be held five days, July
7-8-9-10-11, 1976. Announcement for the ’76 Bicentennial Show
will be in this magazine at a later date. There was just too much
going on to see it all in one day. There was all together too many
operations to -begin to mention them all. It takes time to see them
all as most are in operation at the same time, such as the thresher
powered by a pony tread mill and the thresher powered by a horse
sweep or the drag saw cutting shingle bolts for the shingle mill.
The village blacksmith shop with the 1907 wood and leather bellows
was operated on a part time basis as the owner had a steam traction
engine to attend to and the engine came first.
If anyone enjoys seeing antiques in operation and living in the
past as our grandfathers did. Make reservations to see our
Bicentennial Show in ’76. Watch this magazine for dates!
