1025 S.W. 2nd Street, Faribault, Minnesota 55021.
Steam cylinder oil was in the air and many people remembered
days gone by of hard work and lots of sweat; but many more people
remembered days gone by of a love of the land and a togetherness
that is not found today in our age of mechanization. Farmers banded
together against the elements are what steam days were all
Once again, steam was in its’ glory on September 6, 1976, on
a farm outside of Warsaw, Minnesota. On that beautiful fall day,
thousands of people gathered to view the massive Minneapolis engine
owned and operated by Fred Berndt of Morristown, and the 50 hp.
Case engine of C. E. Purdie, of Faribault, easily run the
separators of by-gone days, threshed over 20 acres of oats. Despite
the dry season in Minnesota, the oats yielded over 60 bushels per
acre.
Visitors were treated to a day of nostalgia in buggy rides given
by Chuck Thurber and Bud and Jim Cate. A team of llamas delighted
both the young and the young at heart compliments of the State Bank
of Faribault and Mr. Ervin Smith of St. Peter, Minnesota.
Old tractors were on display as were old farm implements. Dennis
Waskosky and his son Mark, collectors and restorers of gas engines,
displayed a large assortment of models and also demonstrated corn
shelling with an antique sheller. The Waskosky girls also got in
the act with their demonstration of rope making and their help in
the flea market area.
Warren Shevlin displayed his 1908, 12 h.p. International
tractor, and Ron Salaba, Roman Kalina, and Butch and Larry Malecha
also had a very large display of gas engines. Joe Cross, an avid
steam and gas engine lover, also displayed several gas engines.
A large static display of farm equipment of days gone by was
displayed by Rueben and Loren Dahle, on whose farm the event was
staged.
Smoky Cross and his son, Terry, demonstrated and gave rides on
their self-propelled, 5 h.p., vertical boiler steam engine of their
own design. The engine and boiler were salvaged from a creamery and
mounted on 1954 Chev. axles. When Smoky first acquired the boiler,
it was a plumber’s nightmare. Now, it is a fantastic piece of
beauty in its’ own right. They were assisted in the operation
of the steam car by Todd Voge, 9 year old grandson of Smoky, who
set many old timers back on their heels with his knowledge of the
operation of the engine. Steam runs in the Cross family.
Elsmer Machacek exhibited his 1/3 scale model of a 65 h.p. Case
tractor which has won many ribbons at county fairs. It has been on
display at numerous exhibits in the area and is always a favorite
as it chugs along under its’ own power.
Tom Voge displayed his 1/30 scale model of a 65 h.p. Case engine
that took him over two years to complete and is also
self-propelled. All of the parts were machined by hand and it is
now a valuable collectors item.
Art Voge ran the makeshift blacksmith shop and was kept busy
making horseshoes for the spectators. They made nice remembrances
of that special day in the lives of many people. Terry Voge, Art
and Smoky’s six year old grandson had the job of keeping the
forge hot.
Lunch was in the hands of the North Morristown Lutheran Church
and a traditional thresherman’s dinner was held in a big
tent.
It seems amazing how these men, women, and even children can
take a period of history and turn it into an event of today. How
can they see through the rust and dirt to rebuild a piece of
American history machinery into like new and original equipment.
Steam and gas engines have not been forgotten in the hearts and
minds of many people in the Faribault area if the second annual
Steam Days were any indication. It is a part of history that has
etched itself into the lives of everyone concerned, and contrary to
what people may think, STEAM IS HERE TO STAY!!!
