5N330 Peters dorf Road Bartlett, IL 60103
The 31st Annual Northern Illinois Steam Power Club Show was held
at the Taylor Marshall Farm, which is located northwest of
Sycamore, Illinois on August 23-26th. Twenty-seven steam powered
engines, one hundred fifty tractors and over two hundred fifty
stationary engines and equipment were on hand for everyone’s
period and temperatures in the upper 90’s, a good time was had
by one and all.
As usual, the saw mill powered by massive steam engines was the
main attraction. Charlie ‘Butch’ Malsch of Pell Lake, WI
and John Ross of Hebron, IN can be credited for turning logs to
lumber. The sights, the sounds and the smell of those huge steam
engines as they powered the separator, singing the song of
yesteryear, brought back many memories to the old and amazed the
young. The Flink Fan told the truth about how much horsepower their
unit really had, as it made some sad and some glad. We were able to
watch silo filling, corn shelling, wheat grinding, baling and even
shingle making.
In honor of the 150th Anniversary of John Deere, Bob Johnson of
Hampshire, IL and Bruce Johnson of South Elgin, IL arranged a
special display of John Deere tractors with one from every decade
starting with the club’s Joe Dain through today’s modern
4450.
In the John Malsch Building, one could hear old time tunes
provided by ‘The Antique Notes’ while looking at old cars,
the country store, the living room and kitchen as well as other
items of days past. In the Ladies’ Tent, woodcarving, rug
weaving, broom making, chair caning, basket weaving and rope making
were of great interest.
A new twist to this year’s event was the Ole Time Style
Show. Volunteer men, women and children modeled the fashions of the
past dating back to the late 1800’s, including swimwear. The
collection was provided by Neva Granstrom of Wheaton, IL.
For those in search of treasures, there were over a hundred
vendors in the Flea market, displaying everything from antiques to
zippers.
For the younger steam power enthusiast, there were the scale
model railroad, the pedal pulling contest, a petting zoo and pony
rides. My granddaughter frequently asks me of the whereabouts of
the ‘pok-a-dot’ pony that she rode. Many of the youngsters
found the mud holes to be entertaining.
A trip to The Sycamore Show wouldn’t be complete without
eating at Fay’s Tent. Absolutely the best barbecued chicken and
pork chop dinners that I have ever had the pleasure of
consuming.
President Bill Karl Sr. of Genoa, IL, the directors and
participating members are to be commended for an excellent show
this year in spite of the rain and mud.
If you have never attended this great show nestled in amongst
towering oak trees, I suggest you do so next year, which is
scheduled for August 11-14, 1988.
For membership information write to the club secretary Anne
Baker, 24747 W. Charodon, Grayslake, IL 60030.
