Arcola, Illinois
It was one of our first visits as a family to Pontiac and our
children had heard much talk about steam engines and the upcoming
show at Pontiac which we were going to attend….that was ten years
ago and my daughter Pam was only three years old as she sat next to
an elderly man on a tree stump between two steam engines at Pontiac
‘Yes but I don’t have an engine any more so I came to
remember, to smell the smoke and talk about steam.’ We have
attended every year since and the Pontiac show seems to get better
every year.
This year was no exception good weather for most of the five
days allowed a lot of activity including a daily parade. Some new
faces (and engines) attended the show this year Russell and Wanda
Helm and son, John, of Murdock, Illinois, and their 16 HP Reeves,
Don and Mary Werth of Lincoln, Illinois, brought a 21-75 Baker
which they have restored beautifully, and Don and Eunice Raube had
a fresh coat of paint on their Avery tractor and it looks like a
new one. Another new addition to the show this year was a
well-constructed sawmill. Sylvester Fosdick and Roger Wessels
of Fairbury, Illinois worked hard to set up the mill in time
for the show and the crowd certainly enjoyed the operating
mill.
William (Maj.) and Marie Bragg of Atwood, Illinois, were crowned
King and Queen of the show by Herb Beckemeyer, President. Maj. and
Marie have been married 60 years and have missed only two of the 29
Reunions at Pontiac. For the past 15 years Maj. has shown his 1917
Heider tractor (usually running a shingle mill). You would never
know that Maj. is 81 and Marie is 80. Staying active seems to be
the key to life as well as for a good steam show and the Braggs
were zipping around the show grounds in a little electric car like
two teenagers.
Whether you are a ‘steam engine man’ (or woman) or favor
gas tractors, motors or other unique pieces of farm equipment, you
are sure to enjoy the Pontiac Show always in September on Labor Day
weekend.
