R. D. 1, Box 149 A, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania 16117
The Northwestern Pennsylvania Steam Engine and Old Equipment
Association held their annual show for 1977 at the show grounds in
Portersville, Pennsylvania in August. Again, several new
improvements were in evidence on the grounds for this, the third
show at the club’s own park. For the first time the show was
expanded to four days, Thrusday through Sunday. The fourth day was
an effort to escape bad weather which had disrupted much of the 76
show activities, and sure enough the rains rolled in on Saturday
and Sunday and caused lots of mud, especially in the parking lot at
the north end of the grounds. We seemed to have learned a lesson
that other shows might be interested in and would be very
interested in comparing notes with any other groups having similar
experience. Two of the improvements were a greatly expanded eating
shelter attached to the cookhouse and a barn with attached shed for
the housing and display of animals. These along with the picnic
shelters, main display barn and sales stand with its awnings,
greatly expanded our ability to shelter people from the showers
which were on and off Saturday afternoon. Our helpers all remarked
afterwards that every shower brought a rush of business. This was
obviously good for the business ledger and it also held the crowd
by giving them something to do till the rain stopped and they could
move out to other displays. Perhaps with sustained rain the effect
would have been different, but with intermittent showers we met a
surprising degree of success, as people took their chances.
Among other improvements were a gate with improved visibility
which was incorporated with a beautiful white picket fence down
both sides of the driveway. Harold Bupp engineered this project
along with the barn and food shelter and most of the help was
provided by Bill Henry and Bud Beiber. The paint was applied by the
faithful crew of Lilliam Bupp and Carrie Henry, aided by Mary
Badger, now the wife of the vice president, Tom Downing. The
railroad was greatly improved in appearance and useability with the
brickwork started on a platform-loading over the original
beginnings. The railroad crew was headed again by Chuck Burr and Al
Bupp with other help as needed (but never quite enough). With most
of the rest of the grounds developed rather well, the finish,
grading, and seeding of that area in the lower end will soon be
getting its share of attention and may well be the most picturesque
picnic site on the grounds with the trestle and railroad.
The threshing site was moved down into the shady northwest end
this year and worked out quite well in spite of the weather. Bill
Reynolds horse baler made quite a hit, even operated by a mule. A
team of beautiful (yeah, I think so) young and well trained mules
were among the first occupants of the new barn provided by Abe
Mengel. The weather apparently prevented a better showing of draft
animals which add so much to the show.
The food service provided by the Portersville-Muddy Creek
Firemen and Ladies was better than ever and the threshermen’s
dinner was expanded to two evenings, Friday and Saturday.
The gas engine area was well visited again under the leadership
of Paul Boehm and friends. One hundred and fifty-eight engines were
registered from as far away as Glenville, West Virginia, a lot from
Ohio and Pennsylvania. Small engines ranged from the Maytags at
less than 1 horspower, to the 14 horse ‘Ball’ oil well
engine, the 25 HP ‘Reid’ and the 18 horse upright
‘Cook’ from the ‘Cyclone Driller.’ The Cook was
limbered up this year to the extent of running on two explosions
per minute 30 seconds of coasting between. Is that some sort of
record, fellows?
The tractor display was organized partly by make this year by
our Fordson man, Don Martin of Butler. The front row had seven or
eight Fordsons all different, including a mounted mower, mounted
plows, an industrial model. Parading was planned, but it was
stopped by the weather, as cleats would be bad for the soggy
turf.
The Model Table was well handled by Mark Williams and his
friends this year with some help by Tom Henry on the hooking up.
Other steam equipment of the stationary type was run by Bob Kearns
and his Eclipse return flue boiler. Bob also helped some on the
portables which power the sawmill and shingle mill. I was having
some trouble keeping the ‘Orr and Sembower’ hot on the
shingle saw when Bob showed up and took over firing while I was on
top with the throttle. In ten minutes or less, the old engine was
going full tilt, the injector was on and the pop valve was up, all
at the same time. I didn’t think it would do all that at once,
but a good fireman does make a difference.
Our indoor display was well handled again by Bob Bodescheim and
his helpers and was, in the wet weather, a great attention getter.
Features this year were music by Bill Reynolds’ Player Piano
and on Sunday, by a band organ displayed by Jake Debence from the
Music Museum in Franklin, Pennsylvania. The Harmony Museum provided
spinning and weaving crafts and the potter, Rob Szakelyhidi,
demonstrated several times each day. The flea markets, as well as
the womens’ craft booth, provided bargains and goodies even
though many of the flea market vendors were not prepared for the
bad weather and left early when showers came.
All in all, a good year was recorded. The grounds held up very
well and the bills are paid and we are looking forward to a better
year in 1978. Come see us on May 19, 20, and 21 for the free
‘Spring Gas UP,’ and August 3, 4, 5, and 6 for the Summer
Steam Engine Show. Just a note on directions. For reasons only
politicians know the Interchange Numbers on Interstate 79 are
changed AGAIN. At first and now again they are
numbered in sequence, ours being #28 at Portersville (Route
488-thank heaven that is still the same) and #29 at U.S. Route 422,
just about three miles north. For the past two years they were
numbered by mileage as #96 and #99, so if you follow directions on
an obsolete poster or card, you will have to be sharp or you may
find yourself in Erie, Buffalo or West (by gum) Virginia.
