505 E. Broadway, Newton, Kansas 67114
On April 14th and 15th Bethel College of North Newton, Kansas,
held their bi-annual spring folk festival which consisted of
displaying the many kinds of folk lore of the early days and as
this is a Mennonite college and community, their early day life was
rather interesting. In their many displays they invited several of
the gas engine huffs to have a display of early day gas engines.
Mr. A. A. Trego of 207 East 3rd, Newton, Kansas, displayed a 1907
Bauer. Mr. Alvin Jantz of 430 Mead, Newton, Kansas, brought his
International, Cushman, John Deere, and an air cooled Galloway,
also a small feed grinder and ground a little corn for the folks.
Mr. W. G. Williams had his 5 HP Galloway which was the monster of
the bunch and a 1 HP Mogul which he had pulling his grinder and
also made some corn meal. G. O. Thomas of 505 East Broadway had a 1
HP Mogul, a 1917 1 1/2 HP Fairbanks and Morse and a 1904 model
Fairbanks and Morse Eclipse engine. The college officials estimated
a-bout 2000 people attended the festival and as the engines were
all running they attracted a lot of attention, as this is a farming
community. They brought back many memories for the old timers, and
as for the youngsters including college students, they were a
novelty. The usual questions were, ‘What is it?’ and
‘What makes it run and how much does it cost and where did it
come from?’ So, after two enjoyable days we all felt we had
added a little to the college festival as well as being educational
for those who had never seen this type of machinery.
Picture by W. G. Williams, 301 Brookside Drive, Newton, Kansas
67114 Bethel college scene in April 1967 at Folk Festival
displaying many kinds of folk lore of early days.
G. O. Thomas at Bethel College Folk Festival with a 1904
Fairbanks and Morse Model.
