Stumptown Steam Threshers Show Report

The threshing, baling, sawing, cornmeal grinding, making
shingles, power-eater generator demo, etc. got under way.The
club’s new ‘teeter-totter’ got initiated by Ralph
Jackson who was the first to try it but sprang a leak in his water
tank. Ken Diehl with his return flue Huber was the first to succeed
in balancing for which he collected a Stumptown hat.

At noon, all the steam whistles sounded off. Food was served by
the New Athens Firemans Auxiliary open kettle beans and cornbread,
which is their specialty. The Weirton Lions Club served huge fish
sandwiches, Bibbee’s specialized in ice cream and apple
dumplings, the Jewett Ruritans served lemonade and hot chocolate
and the popcorn man was kept busy with his popcorn and
snow-cones.

The Stumptown Ladies Auxiliary were kept busy selling tickets on
their quilt and entertained a huge crowd in their building due to
the drizzle outside. At 12:45 the Ladies Auxiliary announced that
Carolyn Fraley of Johnston, Ohio was the Thresherman Queen and
Henry Niemiec was Thresherman of the Year. Mrs. Fraley was crowned
by last year’s queen, Mary Young and Joe Harrison who
substituted for Frances Young, the 1986 Thresherman of the Year,
awarded Henry Niemiec. Lori Wines presided over the crowninq.

The slow engine race began at 1:00 with Gary Ludwig being the
winner in the antique class on the Flower’s Greyhound. This was
the first time Joe Harrison and his Russell had been beat for
several years. In the scale class, Bill Rees took the honors with
his scale Case. Both winners were warded their choice of hats.

The afternoon schedule of threshing, sawing and other activities
continued. At 3:30 p.m., the Young Farmers and Wives Kiddie Tractor
Pull Club from Dresden, Ohio, conducted the kiddie tractor pull. A
good response of kiddies made an interesting show. Seventy-six
children entered in five classes. Winners were as follows: John
Miller in Class 1, John O’Neil in class 2, Chad Cordner in
class 3, Steven Coleman inclass 4 and Jack Gorden in class 5. A
trophy featuring a silver tractor was awarded each winner and a
Stumptown patch was given all entrants.

At 6:00 p.m. the Ohio Valley Square Dancers and Promenader put
on a clogging and western square dance demonstration which was
enjoyed by all.

At 7:30, the old time fiddling contest, originated by our
founder, Raymond Laizure, got underway. Nine contestants had
entered. In the 60 and younger class, two cousins were the only
entrants. Carrie Dillion, 10 years old and Ginger Haren, 9 years
old, thrilled the crowd with their fif-fling. Carrie came in first
and Ginger was second.

The over 60 class featured seven fiddlers. Jim Addy of
Woodsfield, grandfather of the two little girls was first. Bill
Burris of Shipping port, Pa., was second and Danny Laslo of Martins
Ferry, was third. Trophies were awarded along with a Stumptown cup
& plate and $10.00 each. After the contest, all the fiddlers
got together and joined in the ’round robin’. While the
winners were being tallied, 85 year old Carl Porter entertained
with 3 or 4 songs on the harmonica. After the ’round
robin’, Harmon Harris and Don Wilson played on the organ and
fiddle for a couple of hours.

Friday night before the show, Foster Lucas and his gang from the
Barnesville area entertained the early arrivals with ‘Blue
Grass Music’.

Sunday’s show opened with church services led by Marion
Rogers and music by gospel singer, Joe Beltz. After services, the
usual threshing, baling, etc. got underway. At noon, the whistles
signaled dinnertime. After dinner, the wagon backing contest with
gas tractors took place. Dick Lyle won in the previous winner class
and Jim Smith won in the amateur class. Both winners received
Stumptown hats. Gas tractors without power-steering were all that
were permitted to be entered in the contest.

On Sunday, we were also honored with a beautiful team of horses
owned by Charles Lucas which pulled a hay wagon and gave people
rides. A large flea market was enjoyed by everyone. Everything from
‘soup to nuts’ was there to be bought.

Prior to the grand parade, the Ladies Auxiliary held their quilt
drawing and 10 year old, Dennis Jackowski of Flushing, Ohio, was
the winner. A wooden steam engine built by Daryl Murphy was raffled
off and won by Richard Millhon of Toronto, Ohio. Three membership
cards were drawn for a $25.00 prize and the winners were: Ed
Brenner of Kinsington, Ohio; Harold Nelson of Navarre, Ohio; and
Charles Doty of Cardington, Ohio.

At 4:00 the grand parade, led by the Thresherman of the Year and
the Queen, riding in the back of Ralph Jone’s Model T pickup,
got underway. Seated in the front seat of the pickup was Clark
Crassen of Cambridge, Ohio, the only charter member to be able to
attend the show. He stepped out and received a round of applause.
Our oldest member, Bill Humphreville, of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, was
not able to attend because of poor health but I’m sure his
thoughts were with us at the show. Antique cars and trucks followed
the Model T pickup, followed by steam engines, tractors, and other
equipment.

Jed Crane’s Frick Portable fired by Willard Palvoka.
Conveyor & coal crusher owned by Pete Stanley; model steam
table (foreground) by Lester Gilbert.

A typical Stumptown Show scene. To the rear on the thresher is
Clyde Sell’s Frick; center, William Flowers’ Greyhound;
foreground, Francis Young’s 6 HP Russell.

This year’s Stumptown show set a show record with 66 gas
tractors lined up in tractor row and 372 gas engines of all makes
and sizes shelling corn, pumping water or just popping away in gas
engine land. Model gas and steam engines and stationary steam
engines were all represented with 63 units on display.

The Arnold family from Marietta put forth a huge effort to bring
their ‘Park Locomotive and cars’ to our show and give the
children a live steam train ride. Gary Arnold’s scale display
was also a crowd pleaser. A blacksmith display was brought by Jim
Sutherlin featuring forge, shop anvils, cones, etc. and Nello Mungi
displayed three boards of Indian arrowheads on Saturday. Fifteen
antique cars and trucks were lined up with the oldest being a 1913
International truck.

To conclude this show report, the Stumptown Steam Threshers wish
to thank all the exhibitors who put forth a big effort to bring
equipment to our show. it hout them, there wouldn’t be anything
to see. Also wish to thank all who donated material and all those
who donated time and labor getting the show set up and everything
put away again. A special thanks to all the spectators who braved
threatening skies and muddy show grounds to see our show. Without
these people we couldn’t pay for a show and we thank the good
Lord for making our show a success.

Next year’s show will be on Saturday and Sunday after Labor
Day, September 10, 11, 1988. See you then.