First things are going to be first this time. When our dear
Steam Brother Elmer Ritzman was still with us he wrote me telling
that he was happy with the way I ended my columns with a spiritual
note. This time I know he would also be happy to see my lead.
Such great things have been happening here in Wisconsin, they
deserve first place. For while steam events are great, they are,
perhaps, only temporary. We, in this area, are seeing human beings
completely changed. What a tremendous thrill! These things came
about as God worked through very ordinary people farmers,
housewives, truckers, business persons, teachers, etc.
In the Sept.-Oct. Column I mentioned the Bill Glass Crusade
being held here, and the soul-satisfying experience it was. It was
certainly a boost to a movement which had already started. The
preparation rallies were so helpful as we looked up Scripture after
Scripture and unitedly prayed.
And as the young people began to respond (yes, there were older
people too in fact, whole families) a heartening thing happened.
One H. S. age boy, who was on drugs, was saved and delivered. He
began bringing his friends night after night. Others responded and
now instead of drug traffic in these lives there are prayer
meetings.
One couple, (themselves the parents of teenagers and a younger
daughter) have opened their home for prayer meetings for these new
converts. They keep coming, and bringing others. One summer evening
there were 56 in that house. ‘Wall to wall kids,’ is what
they commented, laughing joyously.
But this is not all. These young people are so enthusiastic and
full of joy, several of them go to other prayer meetings as well,
some three or four nights a week. And they have been telling of
what God has done for them over our local radio station. And they,
of course, are telling others as well.
As I write this the school year is just beginning and the plans
are to meet for prayer and Bible Study in the School Commons during
break. How happy we are, especially those of us who have been
meeting for prayer every week, and praying that such a thing might
happen. We know we were joined by many others in the quiet of their
homes.
But we take no credit for the actual change. This is a
super-natural moving of God’s Holy Spirit. We are humbly
thankful that God has given us the desire of our hearts. When
mothers and grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers unitedly claim
God’s promises, and pray, God will never let us down.
August brought most of our family home to us all but three, a
son, a daughter-in-law and one grandchild from California. The
other girl, Gail, flew in. There were anywhere from six to
twenty-one for meals for twelve days. Mr. B. and myself made
several trips to the Milwaukee Airport, and even one all the way to
O’Hare at Chicago.
There were eight grandchildren in our house at one time. This
had never happened before. What a time of rejoicing! The overflow
slept at the farm, but were often here to eat. We cleaned up a
$20.00 ham at two sittings.
Just last week we travelled to Sussex for their Steam Reunion.
Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Rankin had kindly sent us complimentary
tickets. For this we thank them. Mr. Rankin was there and we talked
to him briefly. We’d been blessed with much rain the day
before. The grounds were wet, and it was hot and humid.
The first man we met was Howard Schmidt of Oak Creek. When he
learned where we were from, it developed that he had worked around
here on road construction in his youth. In fact, my husband and he
had worked for the same man. Familiar names were recalled.
Next in line was Jack Hoag of Racine who had the cutest little
steam calliope one can imagine. (I mentally compared it with the
one I had read about in the last Iron Men Album, that real large
one. And, by the way. I thought the last issue was GREAT.) This
calliope consisted of a tiny copper drum with pins protruding from
it, and these activated the 15 miniature steam whistles. The pins
are mounted on a sheet of copper, this is then rolled into a drum
that turns. Mr. Hoag can make additional drums for other tunes,
should he wish.
He needs 50 lbs. of steam in the boiler for his machine, and 15
lbs. in the whistle area. It used 2 lbs. of coal an hour and 3
gallons of water to operate.
An elderly gentleman, Jack Miller, of Brookfield, was displaying
the wood-turning art of his brother, Lester, who lives in Buffalo,
N.Y. There was a cannister set, paper towel holder, candlesticks,
and a fruit bowl. These were of various kinds of wood, all neatly
glued together, turned out and finished. Beautiful! Jack was
turning out some wooden balls, all identical in size.
Clarence Mirk of Wauwatosa had his miniature Reeves Steamer and
Yellow Fellow Thresher running smoothly. How neat!
Pearl and Lucy Seering of New Berlin had a lovely display of
their dolls, and sun bonnets this mother and daughter had made. The
rest of the day my husband kept pointing out ‘that red-bonneted
woman’ as his wife.
Pat Mullacky of Milwaukee stopped to chat. This Irishman was
helping Ray Klinger. I believe he said he owned a 25-75 H.P. Case.
I hope I have that right.
Bill Slack, the V.Pr. of the Sussex Club told me of his 6
tractors on his 6 acres. Unique, right? He does a little farming in
as old-fashioned a way as he can. He called for the Pres. via the
P.A. system.
Gary Peglow met me in the green and white tent. He informed me
that the Sussex Club has 215 members. This was their 17th show.
Glen Harmon was the founder and first president. They have many
young people involved, including two of Mr. Peglow’s sons.
Their wives are most helpful as well.
They display 150 gas tractors, 7 or 8 steam engines. Safety is
stressed at their gatherings. The oldest member is 92. Conrad Stark
is the father of Bill, their V. Pres.
Next I learned from a maker of horseshoes how individual horses
are to fit with shoes. Michael Klipstein of West Allis told me
horses can be pigeon-toed, and sometimes they have horizontal, toe,
and quarter cracks in their hooves. They are even afflicted with
corns and their feet have to be padded before they are shoed.
As we left the grounds the Threshing Queen, Marie Wilson of
Waukesha and the Fairest of the Fair, Sue Frank, were having a
Steam Engine Ride around the grounds.
What an exciting summer it has been! And to think that the best
is yet to be on the other side! So long for now.
