P.O. Box 382 St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950
Smoke billowed from the stacks of nine steam engines as the sun
rose from behind the hills. The smell of breakfast was in the air
as many workers gathered at the New Athens Fire Department meal
stand for breakfast. It appeared the 1992 Stumptown Steam Threshers
30th annual Show and Reunion was preparing to get underway. By 8:00
engines, tractors, and other equipment was trailing through the
gate. The parking lot was beginning to fill with cars. The flea
market vendors were preparing their items for sale.
At 9:30 A.M. the show officially opened. Under a sunny and clear
sky the opening prayer was given by Lester Nabb, and the Cadiz Boy
Scouts displayed the Stars and Stripes. By 9:45 everyone was ready
to go. A traction engine had been belted up to the sawmill, and the
shingle bolts were being cut. Many single cylinder gas engines
could be heard popping and putting. Richard Carnes’ Band Wagon
played many melodious tunes as the morning moved on. After the
shingle bolts were ready, Richard Firth began to cut shingles which
were given to spectators as souvenirs. Henry Shores kept Doc
Saffell’s corn sheller and Fred Rogers’ burr mill in motion
as corn meal was ground and bagged with the help of Harmon
Harris.
Throughout the morning many traction engines, gas tractors, and
lawn tractors could be seen riding around the grounds as the
spectators steadily flowed through the gate. The Ladies Auxiliary
had many items for sale, as well as tickets for the quilt
drawing.
At 12 noon the officers and directors gathered on the stage to
dedicate the noon whistle blow to William Flowers, in honor of his
retirement from 18 years of service as club secretary. After the
whistle blow everyone took a break for lunch. The New Athens Fire
Department had been cooking soup beans over an open fire during the
morning, which were served with homemade corn bread. Many other
delicious items were offered by the Fire Department and the Weirton
Lions Club. For dessert, many folks stopped by for some ice cream
at Bibbee’s ice cream stand.
At 12:45 the royalties were crowned for this year’s show, by
the Ladies Auxiliary. Vivian Culler was crowned Queen and Glenn
Kroft was named Thresherman of the Year. Following the ceremonies,
the couple took the traditional ride around the grounds in Ralph
Jones’ Model T truck, which was driven this year by the queen,
Vivian Culler, under the supervision of Ralph Jones.
At 1:00 all activities were ready to get back in to full swing.
A slow engine race was staged, with Doug Scheetz of Massillon,
Ohio, being able to crawl to the finish line last, on Joe
Harrison’s 20 HP Russell to win the full scale class. Russ Dye
managed to maintain his slow motion on the Arnold family scale Case
to win the scaled-down class. Chris Weikart of Leetonia, Ohio, on
her Port Huron, managed to outlast Gayle Jackowski of Flushing,
Ohio, on her Peerless, to win the ‘powder-puff’ slow engine
race. Bill Applegarth of New Athens, Ohio, won the slow tractor
race on William Flowers’ John Deere L. John McDowell of
Plain-field, Ohio, showed the crowd his skills as he maneuvered his
Baker to win the block race.
After the races the crowd moved across the grounds to watch the
demonstration of threshing of grain and baling of straw, with the
equipment being belted up to steam traction engines and antique gas
tractors. Some spectators also found their way to the sawmill and
watched as Jared Crowe and Carl Jackowski were sawing many
logs.
Also to be viewed were many gas engines hooked up to such items
as water pumps and washing machines.
By 3:30 the Tri-Valley Young Farmers & Wives of Dresden,
Ohio, had the kiddie pedal tractor pull platform set up and ready
to go. After the children were weighed in, they participated in
four classes. Winners were: Stevie Banannio of Mt. Pleasant; Justin
Vosick of Tippecanoe; Matt Hughes of Barnesville; and Matthew Modra
of Shadyside. After the pedal pull, many folks stopped by
Wodarcyk’s concession for a snow cone or cotton candy and the
Jewett Ruritan Lemon Shake concession. The gas engines and tractors
had continued to flow in through the gate all day long.
By 6:00 the day’s busy activities had slowed down. The Ohio
Valley Promenaders were ready to display their skills of square
dancing, with Ron Anderson doing the calling. A few spectators in
the audience had a chance to try their turn at square dancing.
At 7:30 the fiddlers and accompanists had gotten tuned up and
ready for the old time fiddler’s contest. Chuck Monticello of
Beallsville, Ohio, won the age 20-59 class, and Carl Sampson of
Moundsville, West Virginia, prevailed in the 60 and over class. By
the end of the fiddler’s contest most folks were ready to call
it the end of a busy day.
On Sunday morning, September 13th, the festivities once again
were being prepared. A church service was held at 9:00 with Marion
Rodgers of Freeport, Ohio, delivering the morning message. By 9:45
the activities were into full swing. Traction engines were testing
their power against John McDowell’s Power Eater generator. The
saw dust was once again flying at the sawmill, the corn meal bags
were being filled again, and the shavings were getting deeper at
the shingle mill. Mickey MacDonald’s voice could be heard
across the public address system as he served as master of
ceremonies for the show once again, announcing the activities as
they progressed.
Lunch time was signalled by the noon whistle blow. Everyone
gathered around the food stands to enjoy lunch.
At 1:00 the wagon backing contest was set up. Many tractor
operators tested their skills at backing the four-wheel farm wagon
behind antique gas tractors. Ralph Bartlett of Cardington showed
the non-previous winners class how it is done with his F-12
Farmall, and Bob Murphy of Flushing topped the previous winners
class on a Farmall Super C. Following the wagon backing contest, a
hand crank start contest was held for antique gas tractors. Greg
Fritter of Piedmont was able to win on his high geared Allis
Chalmers C.
Throughout the afternoon the remainder of the grain was threshed
and the remaining straw was baled. The final logs were being cut at
the saw mill. At 2:30, the Ladies Auxiliary held the drawing for
their quilt. The winner was Connie Hammon of Valley City. Henry
Niemiec of St. Clairsville won a set of pillowcases.
The oldest man attending the show was acknowledged as David
Meredith of Freeport, at 91 years young, and the oldest lady was
Emma Holmes of Moundsville, West Virginia, who was also 91 years
young.
The Stumptown Jr. Club also held a drawing to give away toy
steam engines, toy tractors, and tools. Membership drawings went to
Mickey MacDonald and David Bard-well. Following the drawings, the
children were treated to a coin hunt in the shingle mill shavings.
$10.00 in quarters were to be found.
By 4:00 the activities and duties had all been finished for the
year. All equipment and tractors and steam engines were lined up
for. the grand parade. The parade was led by the Queen and
Thresherman of the Year in Ralph Jones’ truck, followed by
antique cars and trucks, steam traction engines and portable
boilers, and threshing and baling equipment and many antique gas
tractors.
This year’s show boasted displays of seven steam traction
engines, two portable boilers, 84 antique gas tractors, 620 single
cylinder gas engines, a cast iron seat display, a milk can display,
a toy tractor and antique tool and equipment display by the
Stump-town Jr. Club, other toy tractor displays, and several
antique cars.
Attendants and exhibitors came from 13 states and from 44
counties within the state of Ohio. Members live as far away as
Texas and Florida.
The officers and directors would like to thank everyone who
attended and participated for making the show a great success, and
would like to invite everyone to return on September 11 and 12 in
1993 for the 31st annual reunion. See you there!
