1710 Walnut Street, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011.
The eighteenth annual show of the Williams Grove Historic Steam
Engine Association opened Sunday, August 28 and closed Labor Day
after setting another record for attendance and variety.
‘More than 15,000 visitors were on hand to enjoy our Horse
and Buggy Day program, Sunday, August 28,’ reported Harold
Scheib, association president. ‘This proved to be a good
indication,’ he continued, ‘total attendance for the eight
days was just a shade higher than that in 76 which was a record
year.’
The variety of steam-operated machinery and farm equipment
included 36 large traction engines; 2 portables; 4 small (model); 2
steam water pumps from the Newville, Pa. Water Company; a working
Corliss stationary engine; a steam crane from the Schmidt &
Ault Paper Company, York, Pa., an old International truck chassis
with a Huber boiler mounted for steaming tobacco beds; a big boiler
to furnish steam for the Corliss and a large display of miniature
steam engines of all sizes and shapes, plus a small Troy engine
from the paper company in York.
Farm equipment powered by steam included various individually
owned threshing machines, a sawmill, a shingle mill, a corn binder
and stone crusher.
A wide variety of different makes of steam engines included the
well-known Case, Minneapolis, Buffalo-Pitts, Baker, Frick,
Keck-Gonnerman, Peerless, Avery, Huber, Russell and Kitten, plus
accessories, such as water wagons, etc.
While steam played a leading role in the show at the once famous
site of the Great Grangers Picnic, farm tractors and BE (Before
Electricity) gas engines attracted the crowds also.
As a matter of fact there were more than twice as many tractors
as there were steam engines, approximately 150, while gas engines
on display and working totaled 125.
The variety of makes and models was truly amazing, including
some very rare ones, long since forgotten except among the
collectors and restorers.
Among the favorite farm tractors were the early model Fordson,
International, Farmall, Massey-Harris and Oil Pulls, in addition to
others manufactured in later years.
Of gas engines used on the farm and in industry there was a
bewildering variety including some rarities like the Quincy, the
Harrisburg, the Schmidt, in addition to better known makes like the
International. The various displays included gas engine powered
washing machines, churns, fodder choppers, water pumps, power saws,
etc.
Another popular attraction was the old-time steam passenger
train, operating on its own private trackage, adjacent to the
Dillsburg Branch of the former Cumberland Valley Railroad, which
had served the Grove during the long tenure of the Grangers
exhibition.
Powered by a Class B-4 locomotive, built by the Pennsylvania
Railroad in its Altoona Shops, in 1901, the train consisting of
cars purchased from the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad years
ago provided a nostalgic ride for the older folks and a genuine
thrill for those who have never before ridden behind steam.
Other displays and demonstrations included an old-time butcher
shop where 25 hogs were butchered and processed during the show.
The rendering of lard, the making of scrapple and sausage and meat
cutting all taking place on the premises before interested
spectators, who later are able to purchase the freshly prepared
meat for their own use. Some of this meat is also used in the
Ladies Auxiliary old fashioned kitchen in the preparation of meals
for members, or the public, facilities which recently have been
enlarged and improved since last year.
Another facet of the show is the threshing of grain harvested
from the association’s own acreage, and that belonging to
members. The threshing machines are powered, at different times by
steam traction engines, or tractors, and the old-time hand-feeding
method is used, much to the interest and education of the
spectators.
A permanently erected sawmill on the grounds also powered by
individually owned traction engines, or tractors, saws up trees
harvested from a wood lot leased by the association. The lumber is
then used for erecting new buildings, or repairing and altering
existing ones.
There was never a dull moment at the show, for in addition to
the above, visitors could enjoy a hay ride behind a team of oxen,
visit the museum where antique farm home furnishings were on
display in addition to tools of various sorts used by farm workers
of yesteryear and a huge operating model railroad complete with
scenery including villages, a trolley car and freight and passenger
trains.
If one so desired they could purchase a sunbonnet like
grandmother used to wear, a handmade apron, or a beautifully
executed patchwork quilt, plus other items at the Ladies Auxiliary
pavilion.
Souvenirs of the show were available at the association’s
souvenir stand, where copies of the annual association bulletin and
other publications such as a history of the Grove and its
association with the Dillsburg and Mechanicsburg Railroad were on
sale.
Daily parades of engines, tractors, and other equipment were
also attraction drawers, as were the static displays of farm
equipment used in another day and generation.
The popularity and success of this year’s annual show is
attributed to the many long hours of hard work, unselfishly
contributed by the many member-volunteers under the supervision of
President Harold Schieb, and Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Galen Brandt, plus Mrs. Scheib and members of the Ladies
Auxiliary.
Association membership, as reported by Dennie Van Scycoc,
membership secretary, totaled more than 1300 at the conclusion of
the show.
