La Motte, Iowa
Reunion reports of the three day celebration of the Mississippi
Valley Steam Engine Show held on the Justin Hingtgen farm 12 miles
north of Maquoketa, Iowa; 18 miles south of Dubuque, Iowa, on U.S.
highway 61, 1963.
The show started with quite a scare of rain. It rained
considerably the night before, but cleared up in time Friday
morning. By eight o’clock the steamers were puffing heartily.
There were approximately 12,000 Bd. Ft. of lumber sawed during the
three days of the show. The sawyer was Earl R. Russell of La Motte,
Iowa. The Baker fanes were running continually. Of special interest
was Harry Wood-mansee of Dawling, Mich who climbed the high ramp
three times daily. The engine used for the ramp climbing is owned
by Ray Kemerer of Zwingle, Iowa. It was restored by him and is a
perfect 15-45 HP Case.
Another fine stunt each day performed by many different engines
was the teeter board balancing very ably done by Nelvin Lugten of
Hamilton, Mich. A great deal of fun was the belting up contest. The
contestants were Harry Woodmansee using a 110 HP Case; Melvin
Lugten using a 19 HP Keck Gonnerman; Ralph Woodmansee using a 19 HP
Port Huron and Neil Miller using a 19 Port Huron. All the boys did
it in record time. Grain was threshed daily with a 50 HP Case
engine and a 32′ Case machine. They changed over to a 20′
Champion Hand Fed straight stacker machine and a 9 HP Case engine.
The machine was fed by a gentleman 89 years young-Thomas Coates of
Monticello, Iowa.
A 1910 Model 14 bottom plow was used for the plowing
demonstration and was pulled with a 110 HP Case. The boys made one
round across and back a 40 acre tract of land. Then the 40 HP
Undermounted Avery did his stuff for another round. The 110 HP Case
was operated by Harry Woodmansee all three days and was fired by
Matt Ludwig of Bristol, Wis. on Friday, fired on Saturday by George
Hedke of Davis Junction, I11., and by Louis Johnson of Bensonville,
I11. on Sunday Louis Johnson also took care of the 40 HP
Undermounted Avery all three days of the show. His helper was Elmer
Borton of West Lebanon, Ind. on Friday, Le Roy Levine of De Kaeb,
I11. on Sat. and Sun. There was a fine crowd of 8500 people on
Sunday and estimates were about 5000 people watched the plowing
demonstration which many people agreed was one of the main
attractions of the show.
Melvin Lugten brought his Veneer mill from Hamilton, Mich. They
are seldom seen in Iowa so there was a big crowd around Melvin all
three days. Leonard Koppenhaver of Stan-wood, Iowa was one of the
busiest men at the show. Lenny was lining up the engines for the
parade and many other activities. He was largely responsible for
the smooth operation of the show. He in fact got so busy he had to
call down to Pinckneyville, I11. for a helper as master of
ceremonies. Mr. Everett Pyle did a wonderful job of announcing as
he rode around the show grounds in a mobile unit. The on-the-spot
coverage contributed much to the enjoyment of the show.
Eldon Coates of Zwingle, Iowa, brought his fine display of
antique tractors. Mr. Leon Vandervalt of Tomah, Wis. brought his
model engine and sawmill. Mr. Fox of Plottiville, Wis., brought his
model engine and train. Joy Hingtgen of La Motte, Iowa had his Case
model there. Many people enjoyed the delicious thresher meals
served by the La Motte and Zwingle Community Clubs, while they
listened to some old time music. One of the players was Golden P.
Stewart of Nashville, Tenn. a member of the Grand Ole Opery cast.
When Golden wasn’t thumping the bass, he was out on the grounds
steaming up the 9 HP Case. Most everyone agreed the show was so
successful because of the wonderful steam men who participated in
putting it on. Mr. Hingtgen is improving the grounds and is trying
hard to make the show even better this year.
