Box 356, Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901
On July 22, 1978, the Williamsburg Fire Company sponsored their
annual steam and gas engine show and steam threshing demonstration,
held this year at the Mountaineer Farm in Williamsburg, West
Virginia.
The show got underway at 10:00 A.M. with the cranking of
‘Doc’ Graffam’s 10 HP Bessemer engine followed by the
starting of all the other engines down to the smallest a Nelson
Brothers which was owned by Fred Crews of Arborvale. The favorite
engine of many of the old timer spectators at the show was a
restored 7? HP Galloway owned by Dave Whitt. Several could easily
recall this engine’s working days from the time it was shipped
to this area in 1912. Robert, Landon, and Everette Berkley had
several good running engines on display including a nice
flutedhopper Aeromotor. The most novel engine was a CH & E
owned by Charles Lewis of LeTart, West Virginia. John Dunn had an
engine which he was trying to determine if it was an Economy, Arco,
a Jaegar or Hercules. It was about 1? HP.
Jim Thomas, a local miller, was in charge of Dave Whitt’s
cornmeal burr mill, and Tim and Dennis Maloney staged a rock
crushing demonstration. Dean Cockerham, in addition to his engine
and tractor displays, was in charge of the threshing show.
In the afternoon, Jim Nickell’s large Case traction engine
provided the power for the steam threshing demonstration, belted to
Grover Dixon’s Red River Special. Charlie Parker used his
restored F20 to power his Geiser wooden separator in another
excellent display of the old threshing art. The fire
department’s 1930 John Deere hay press was used to bale the
gigantic straw pile. The spectators appeared to enjoy the baling
demonstration as much as the threshing show.
Perry Charlton used his traction engine to give the kids of all
ages a ride around the show grounds. Bob Harvey also had a nice
Frick engine on display. The spectators were also treated to an
excellent gathering of antique automobiles shown by the members of
the Greenbrier Valley Antique Car Club. A brass plaque and button
was given to all exhibitors in appreciation of their efforts in
making the show a success.
The Fire Department has tentatively set the date for the 1979
show for July 21.
