Route 1, Box 204 Marthasville, MO 63357
To paraphrase from Mark Twain, we wish to say ‘that the
reports of our death are greatly exaggerated’, and we are still
alive and active. Only our name has been changed to Warren Co-Mo
Old Threshers Assn. We feel fortunate to have the facilities of the
Warren County Fairgrounds available for our use. The grounds have
numerous buildings and sheds available to afford temporary housing
for flea markets and exhibitors, as well as open areas for display
of antique automobiles and tractors. We in turn try to help the
Fair Board by collecting admissions and performing other tasks when
the fair is in progress.
At our last show the Association’s 32 x 56 inch Keck
Gonnerman threshing machine was once again on hand and demonstrated
by running loads of bundled oats through the thresher. One of our
good members, Johnny Meyer, displayed his sawmill and sawed lumber
almost full time for two days. It was powered by his Advance steam
engine.
One disappointment we had was that the weather was not too
cooperative. It rained all day Thursday, the day before the show.
The result was a sea of mud that confronted us the following day as
far as the antique tractor pull area was concerned. Fortunately
there were many grassy areas for walking, the weather cleared a
little on Friday and was good Saturday and Sunday. But the tractor
pull had to be cancelled and the trophies put away until next year
when we will ‘order good weather’.
We had several new attractions at our show this year. One was a
Steel Queen horse-powered hay press, owned by the Schoppenhorst
family, and made in St. Louis by Rumsey Sikemeier. The
Schoppenhorsts had to replace some missing parts on this antique
press. This was accomplished just in the nick of time for our
show. James Quinn had a beautiful team of horses on the premises,
which he had been using to give wagon rides around the ground. When
it was time to demonstrate the hay press, he hitched this team to
the draw bar and led them around for two turns. They caught on
quickly and continued on their own to walk around and operate the
press. Mind you, this was the first and only time they had ever
been hitched to a machine like this!
Another added attraction was an 1898 Locomobile Steam Auto owned
and demonstrated by Freeman Montgomery who took a number of people
for their first ride in a steam car. Still another new feature of
this event was the display of a number of antique motorcycles which
the owners demonstrated by participating in games, such as the slow
race and cracker race. We are indebted to Lee Cowie, one of our
members, for inviting the Motorcycle Club to our show. We also wish
to thank him for the excellent photographs which he took during our
show.
The children enjoyed the kiddie tractor pull, straw scramble,
log fight, and the ever popular greased pig contest. For adult
entertainment there was square dancing and ballroom dancing with
music provided by the Missouri Fiddlers. The chain saw and
cross-cut saw contests were held again this year. Sunday’s
activities were preceded by an interdenominational inspirational
worship service by the Burris Gospel Sounds. Also on Sunday the
Antique Car Show was held again this year with approximately 52
antique and special interest cars on display.
There was the usual amount of flea market and craft displays;
also a display of the midwest’s largest pencil collection by
the ‘Old Tool Man’, Elmer Gerding, of Warrenton. A quilt
drawing sponsored by the club was held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday and
concluded activities for this year.
Our next show will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,
September 12, 13, and 14th. Mark your calendar or consult your 1986
Steam and Gas Show Directory. See you there?