Anoka Engine Club, Rodgers, Minn 55374
July, 1971; this was the year bulldozers began to clear the way
for a freeway 94 by Rogers, Minnesota. A 1927 20-inch McCormick
threshing machine was in the way. Adrean Milliss, whose farm it was
on, and myself, a neighbor, started to rescue the small separator
from the trees, about 4 inches in diameter, which had grown through
the wheels. We decided to restore the thresher and in a month we
had our first threshing show. In September 1972, we had our second
show with a steam engine to run the thresher. In 1973 and also in
1974 the show started to grow. And the Anoka Engine Club was our
sponsor.
This club has about 80 members and is very active. It has about
60% of its members at each monthly meeting.
Our show is called the Rogers Steam Threshing Show. About 5
thousand people attended the 1974 show. Five steam engines were on
hand this year. A 25-85 Minneapolis owned by Joe Logas and with the
help of Russ Persian of Buffalo. Joe or ‘Engine Joe’ also
has a 16 horse Advance and a miniature Case steam engine.
John Shoening of Mound had this 50 horse Case engine. George
Bensen and Charles Wokson were there with a 20 horse Advance
Rumbley.
I had a 45 Case steam engine and a 9 horse model Case engine.
Ron Westphael of Elk River had his 1916-35-70 tractor, a 2 cylinder
1910-30-60 Hart Parr and a 1916-15-30 1 cylinder Rumley Oil Pull
along with several large gas engines. Jack Dahlheimer had his 20
in. hand feed, about 1890 separator, called Favorite, made in
Pennsylvania.
There was a 20 cylinder Mc-Cormick thresher owned by Adrean
Milliss and a 28 cylinder John Deere and a Huber of mine there.
Pictured is a 25 horse Minneapolis. Owned by Joe Logas of
Buffalo, Minnesota. Also homemade wood splitter.
Crowd at Rogers threshing show. Also 30-60 Hart Parr owned by
Ronald Westphael, Elk River, Minnesota.
John and Ralph Altenwig and Ernest and Marvin Zoppi had their
portable log sawing machines sawing logs during the two days.
We also had about 30 tractors; a8-16-1916 Int. owned by Ray
Harris of St. Louis Park; a John Deere by Rick Buratto of Long
Lake; a 20-40-1913 opposed Case and a 10-20-1914 Mogul 12-24
Waterloo Boy owned by Ron Westphael and myself. There was also 1926
2 cylinder Hart Parr 1928 20-30 Rumely Oil Pull; an Allis Chalmers
1918 Titan, 1920 Cletrac; also Marvin Zoppi was there with his
Farmall with a mounted cross log saw.
Karl Marquart of Minneapolis had his shingle mill, and John
Bensen of Deephaven, president of the club, had his 1911 Maxwell
Car.
Ron Wetter of Hanover brought a 1928-15 horse Caterpillar
tractor. Wetter was elected President of the National Early Day Gas
Engine Club which had three annual meetings at our show.
The Anoka Gas Engine Club had over 100 gas engines, all in
running order, there with their owners.
Joe Ondarlo had his model T Ford truck and 1928 Dodge car at the
show.
Wagon rides were given to the children with the small steam Case
engines. Space does not give all due credit to all who helped make
the show a great success.
A parade of all the moving engines, steam and gas, old cars and
trucks, was held each day at 2 o’clock. Lunch and beverages
were served on the grounds.
