Route 2, Box 332, Adena, Ohio 43901
The 1977 Stump town Show was blessed with two days of sunny, dry
weather for their 15th annual reunion held on September 10 and 11.
A large crowd attended the show both days. Memberships were bought
from as far away as Missouri, Alabama and Florida and exhibitors
traveled as far as 200 miles. Equipment at the show numbered 7
antique cars and trucks, 9 full sized steam traction engines, 4
scale model traction engines, 4 model stationary steam engines, 248
gas engines, 30 gas and oil tractors, 1 scale model oil pull, 4
threshers, 2 stationary balers, 1 sawmill, 1 scale model sawmill, 1
shingle mill, a stone burr cornmeal grinder, several feed grinders
powered by gas engines, water pumps, corn shellers, power eater
generator and other related old time farm machinery.
The Ladies Auxiliary sponsored the Thresherman’s Queen and
the Thresherman of the Year Award. Mrs. Dan Trushel was selected
the Thresherman’s Queen and Edgar Flowers was selected the
Thresherman of the Year.
A slow engine race was held Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 with a
trophy awarded each day. Joe Harrison, a young engineer and
grandson of our president was the trophy winner on Saturday
operating a 12 HP Russell owned by his grandfather, Charles
Harrison, and Clarence Saffell. Sunday’s winner was John
Griffith operating his 16 HP 1920 A.&T. engine. Mr. Griffith
was also the 1975 winner. Six engines entered the Saturday’s
contest and eight engines entered the Sunday’s race. Both days
after the slow engine race, a block race was held. The object of
the block race is to see who is able to turn his engine completely
around, back into a standing block and pull away from it without
knocking the block over in the least amount of time. Competition
was keen among the engineers in both of these races.
The sawmill, threshers, power eater generator, shingle mill and
cornmeal grinders were kept busy by the steam engines and tractors.
‘Gasoline Row’ was very active with 248 gas engines
registered. The gas engines were busy grinding corn, shelling corn,
pumping water, generating electricity and many other chores that
gas engines were built to do or just plain running! Cornmeal and
wheat flour was ground on an antique stone burr mill powered by a
1916 Russell steamer and sold daily.
Cups featuring a Domestic gas engine and plates featuring a 16
HP A.&T. engine were on sale both days. The Ladies Auxiliary
sponsored a quilt raffle with the drawing being held on Sunday
before the parade. There were several flea markets and craft
displays. Food concessions were kept busy serving good things to
eat. Soup beans cooked in an iron kettle on an open fire and corn
bread were on sale both days. Noon each day was signaled by a mass
blowing of whistles.
Saturday’s parade was lead by the Thresherman Queen and the
Thresherman of the Year riding in a 1923 Model T. 1 ton truck.
After the parade a whistle blow was held. Whistles were blown that
had not been heard for years.
A Blue Grass musical group featuring guitar, banjo and fiddle
music entertained the crowd. Before the fiddling contest, a man
played the dulcimer accompanied by a guitar player.
Fifteen contestants entered the fiddling contest which was in
charge of Raymond Laizure. Trophies were awarded to Don Wilson, 1st
place, Cliff Hardesty, 2nd place and Jim Ady, 3rd place in the
under 60 category. Trophy winners in the over 60 category were Gene
Dudley, 1st place, Paul Hood, 2nd place and Bill Ross, 3rd place. A
1977 cup and plate and entrance money was given to each
contestant.
Sunday’s festivities began with an inspiring church service
lead by Mr. Rogers and Mr. Burkhead. The grand parade was lead by
the Thresherman Queen and the Thresherman of the Year riding on the
rear of a 1932 Chevrolet pick-up owned by the Ralph Simmers Family
of New Philadelphia, Ohio. Plaques were awarded to all exhibitors.
An added attraction on Sunday were several antique cars and
trucks.
‘Mickey’ MacDonald from Grafton, Ohio served as M.C.
The Stump town Club wishes to thank all who helped make the show
a success: the exhibitors who provide the equipment, the people who
gave their time and talent to put on the show and the spectators
who pay the expenses. Without the cooperation of all, no show can
be successful.
Next year’s show will be the weekend after Labor Day,
September 9, 10, 1978.
