Myersville, Md. 21773
The Wolfsville Ruritan Club held its first show in 1973 with 31
exhibitors displaying 101 engines. Last year 68 faithfuls showed
208 engines. This year, the growth was phenomenal. There were 137
exhibitors displaying 320 engines. Wow!!!!
Why the great growth and enthusiasm? You may ask, was it the
summer weather with the multicolored leaves falling from the
massive oak trees that lined the park. Fall frost laying on the
grass in the early morning that evaporated into an early morning
haze as the exhibitors wiped off the engines and prepared to ready
them for the days running.
Was it the enthusiasm of the exhibitors? Yes it was this factor
also. Long before daylight, those die-hards that camped on the
grounds got up for breakfast at 6:00 a.m. and began swapping trade
secrets (as well as lies). These men, and in some cases the entire
families, slept in campers, tents, and even merely in sleeping bags
under the stars. All were up early waiting for breakfast to be
served so that they could get on with the job at hand. You could
not hear the starter bark, ‘Gentlemen, start your engines’,
because that was not necessary. Soon this would be in evidence.
As the weekend began on Friday, many exhibitors brought their
engines in preparation for a rewarding weekend. Bob Meldron,
Ellicott City, Md., was the first to arrive. He was unloaded and
staked in. This was the beginning of another show where the slogan,
‘Caution, adults at play’ would be in practice.
It seemed that the enthusiasm of new exhibitors, who did not own
an engine at the time of our first show, was in evidence.
There were so many of these persons that to list them all would
be immaterial as they all thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.
Not only did the men take pride in talking to those who chose to
come but the younger sons took a much more active role this year.
It seemed that Elmer Rice’s son, Andy, was trying to wear out
the Fairbanks roller. He rode it so much that he had paths all over
the display area. Not to be outdone, Tod Gouker had an antique
garden tractor that seemed to follow these previously laid out
trails. Horace Sprout, Rising Sun, Md., should be ashamed of
himself. It seemed that he kept trying to sell the finely restored
engine that a lad, whose name cannot be picked up from the
exhibitors list, had on display at our show. The enthusiasm of this
lad was evidenced as he had many Cuttons on his cap from other
shows that he had attended. Allan Shows that he had attended.
Allankink, Fisher Hill, W. Va. had four maytag motors that his
father helped him display.
