Sec. Route 1, Box 332 Adena, Ohio
Beautiful hot weather graced the Stumptown Steam Threshers
Reunion held on September 7 & 8, 1985. Many attended the show
although a slight decline in attendance was observed mostly due to
the status of the economy and hot weather.
Saturday’s show opened with prayer by Lester Nabb and flag
raising ceremonies led by the Cadiz Boy Scouts Troop #269.
Threshing, baling, cornmeal grinding, sawing, shingle making, power
eater demo, etc. continued until the noon whistle blow. At 12:45,
the Ladies Auxiliary crowned Joe Harrison, Thresher-man of the Year
and Jane Sloan as Queen. The crowning was done by last year’s
winners who were Doc Saffell and Mary Hardrock. The new thresherman
of the year and queen took their royal ride in the back of Ralph
Jones’ 1922 Model T 1-ton truck. At 1:00, the slow engine race
and block race got underway. The slow engine race in the antique
class was won by Jim Fisher on Harrison’s 20 HP Russell and
Bill Rees won in the scale class. John McDowell won the block race
with his 23-90 Baker.
After the race, the usual program of activities continued until
3:30 p.m. when the kiddie tractor pull under the supervision of the
TriValley Young Farmers & Wives got underway. The winners were
Mike Modra, Chad Corder, Matt Miller, Todd Hixon and Clarence
Cattrell. There seemed to be a great interest in this competition
for several local youngsters got involved. Trophies were awarded
for 1st prize winners in every class and each contestant was given
a patch.
At 7:00 p.m., the fiddling contest got under way. There were
only 9 contestants with six receiving trophies. Our youngest
contestant was 7 year old Carrie Dillon who won 3rd place in the
under 60 class. Carl Porter, who is 85 years young, played several
tunes on his mouth organ while the judges were tallying up the
scores. Trophies in the under 60 class were awarded to Larry Stull,
Clarence Miller and Carrie Dillon and in the 60 and older category
the winners were Jim Addy, Dorman Jefferies and Frances Dalton.
Afterwards the entire group played several tunes including
‘Mocking Bird’ and ‘Orange Blossom Special’.
On Sunday, the show started with church services led by Marion
Rogers of Freeport and two groups of gospel singers. After the
services, the usual activities got underway until the noon
whistles. At 1:00 p.m. fifteen gas tractor operators entered the
wagon backing contest. Doc Saffell took first place by completing
the course in 1 minute, 15 seconds and Brian Brown took second
place by completing the course in 1 minute, 25 seconds.
At 2:30, the Ladies Auxiliary held their quilt drawing and Megon
Rees of Canton was the winner. Previous to the grand parade, a
drawing was held of the membership for two $25.00 prizes. Winners
were Charles Woolf of Salem and Larry Skull of New Philadelphia. At
4:00 p.m., the grand parade, led by the Thresherman & Queen,
got underway followed by antique cars, steamers, gas & oil
tractors and all movable equipment. Plaques were presented to all
exhibitors.
Gas engine land featured approximately 200 gas engines running
cornshellers, water pumps, fans, washing machines, etc. Several
exhibitors had model gas engines. One exhibitor came from as far
away as Florida. Several antique cars and trucks were in attendance
with the oldest being a 1913 International truck owned by John
Skellett of Holloway. Gas tractors participated in the wagon
backing contest, powered the baler, ran the power eater and paraded
around the grounds. The GreenLine was the most predominant. A
Heider friction drive and a cross motor Frick were the most unusual
tractors and two OilPulls were featured.
A Korean war jet engine, owned by Mike Suca, was shown and
demonstrated. It vibrated the show grounds. Francis Smith from
Navarre brought his super tanker and helped wet the dust down. The
Arnold family from Marietta brought their Park locomotive and cars
and gave free rides. The locomotive was featured on our cups.
Charles Lucas of Belmont brought his beautiful team of Belgian
horses and wagon and gave free rides. Jed Crowe’s pre-1900
Peerless portable furnished the power for the group of stationary
and models. Ray Covault and Gary Arnold had their scale engines
working on matching fan and sawmill. John McDowell was kept busy on
his power eater generator.
Dick Firth’s shingle mill saw a lot of action with Francis
Young’s 6 HP portable Russell and scale traction engines. Fred
Rogers and Edgar Flowers shelled corn and ground corn meal. Cups
and plates and Stumptown hats were sold. A large group of flea
markets had a good selection of new and old ‘fleas’.
The New Athens Fireman Auxiliary sold food and featured
open-kettle soup beans and corn bread. The Weirton Lions Club sold
fish sandwiches and other food. Ice cream, popcorn, candy apples,
lemonade were also sold on the grounds. The New Athens Fire Dept.
had their ‘E’ car on hand in case of an emergency, supplied
our steam engines with water and watered the dust.
The officers and directors wish to thank the several different
individuals and companies who donated supplies and equipment and
the workers who worked such long hours getting the show together.
Also much thanks to the different exhibitors who traveled many
miles to exhibit at our show. Last but not least, a big thanks to
all the spectators who attended our show and helped finance us for
without their support we wouldn’t have a show. We invite all to
come back next year and have a good time with the ‘Stumptown
Gang’ on September 6th and 7th, 1986.
