9th Annual
Route 2, New Auburn, Wisconsin 54757
The Ninth Annual Hungry Hollow Steam and Gas Engine Show reunion
was held on the weekend of July 1st and 2nd, 1978.
Allow me to give you a brief history of the club which was
organized to preserve and restore historical machinery and related
arts and crafts of operation. In so doing they present an annual
show for education and enjoyment to the public. The club itself,
you would have to say, is basically gas engine with a small
spattering of tractors and some steam with a very nice line of
models. They like to claim to have some of the largest gas engines
in this area and I believe some of the finest restorations you will
see anywhere. As the club membership is small and show expenses
large, we find it impossible to put on a free show at this time,
but try to reimburse the public with free souvenirs and some nice
door prizes (including a TV this year). All exhibitors receive a
plaque in appreciation, but you must register with the office. Our
objective is not to make money, only have a fun weekend, reunite
old friends, make some new ones and try to cover expenses.
The previous eight shows were held at the Tony Prock Farm, rural
Rice Lake. Following the 1977 show Tony asked the club if they
could find a different location as he needed to put the 10acre lot
back into farm production. Barron County Fairgrounds at Rice Lake
was approved and proved to be adequate. There’s plenty of shade
and ample buildings for space to accommodate the exhibitors with
exhibitor camping available.
As we tried to get organized on Friday afternoon the rain began
and grew more intense as the night approached. Couldn’t help
think about the day ahead as I lay in the motel room only a block
from the fairgrounds listening to the pounding rain. Much to my
surprise the next morning, exhibitors began to arrive, despite the
weather which had subsided to intermittant showers. Equipment
arrived from Chippewa Valley Club at Eau Claire, North Central of
Wausau, Trempealeau County show, Sussex, Lake Elmo, Minnesota show,
and many independent exhibitors. The club was honored to have many
nice gas tractors arrive and two steam engines, one traction
engine. You know these are real engine buffs to brave this weather
and you can really get to know a fellow helping unload ankle deep
in mud and soaking wet. The day offered little more but time to
reminisce, drink coffee, chew tobacco, polish brass, prowl the flea
markets and would you believe even a little horse trading took
place??!!
Saturday night was a rerun of Friday night. By daylight the rain
had stopped and a jacket felt good, also protected you from the
mosquitos. Church was held and the towering pines seemed to form a
perfect cathedral. I had much to be thankful for that morning as we
learned after checking with home that a tornado had passed 6 miles
from our home destroying many neighboring farms, but only minor
damage to ours. The boys from the Coulee Club didn’t fair so
well as they were caught in some flash flooding and couldn’t
make the trip.
Shortly after church my iron picking brother arrived and barked
‘Crank ’em up fellas, it’s clearing in the west!!’
which it never did, but it didn’t rain anymore either. Enough
people braved the wet grounds and threatening weather to term the
show a success.
One of the spectators captured my attention, a blind man. He
seemed to be enjoying himself. Was it the sounds that related to
him? Then I thought, maybe also the smells. With the heavy cool air
and no wind, it was a perfect day to follow your nose. The
rainfresh white pine offered its own bouquet. From the sawmill came
the fragrance of fresh cut popple, mingled with steam, cylinder
oil, wood smoke from the #65 Case, traces of cedar off the shingle
mill, plus oak from the Appleton drag saw. Now you have the rythmic
barking of a Mogul that’s definitely kerosene. A 25 HP Bessemer
adds a dash of propane fumes and fresh ground corn from a burr
mill. There’s a steam popcorn wagon that beckons and the aroma
of coffee and fried cakes warms your middle. And one of my
favorites, new paint getting hot on the cylinder head of
someone’s freshly restored gem. Add this to the slapping belts,
saws cutting, steam whistles and some old time live music. I could
tell by the smile on his lips, he was enjoying the symphony and was
reunited with some fond memories.
Hungry Hollow’s 10th Annual is planned for June 30, and July
1,1979 at the same location. Come and be part of it, we are
planning something special!!
