R.R. 2, Box 120, Odell, Illinois 60460
That’s just what you would have heard if you happened to be
driving past the Tracy Powers residence on December 26, 1992. But
for those of you who didn’t get to spend the day after
Christmas enjoying the sight and sound of a steamer, I will try to
relate what took place at Morenci, Michigan, on this cold winter
Tracy had been thinking about having a winter steam up to break
up the long winter hibernation for his 19 HP Port Huron. When he
told me this, I thought it was a great idea. It must have seemed
like a good way to spend the day to everyone else infected with
steam fever in the Michigan area, as Tracy had a yard full of
onlookers by mid-afternoon.
Howard Miller brought his ‘power eater’ generator to put
a load on the engine. It sure was a sight to watch the smoke and
steam billowing out of the stack as the old Port did her stuff. The
temperature may have stayed cold, but no one seemed to mind.
It takes a lot of extra work and planning to steam up in the
winter, but don’t be surprised if you are in the Morenci,
Michigan, area this year around Christmastime and roll down your
window and hear a ‘whistle in the winter.’
