5295 East Kinde Port Hope, Michigan 48468
What was only an idea in the minds of four men two years ago has
become a reality for the second year in a row as Port Hope,
Michigan became the site of the 2nd Annual Antique Equipment Show.
Roy Reinke, Marv Koglin, Fred Hasen, and Wayne Lenton began
planning in January of 1988 for the 4th of July Show. July 2-3-4,
1988 saw approximately 2500 people view an antique equipment show
consisting of over 150 exhibitors with approximately 125 tractors
and over 300 gas engines.
The featured item of the show was a 1903 Waterous gas horse
drawn fire engine which was used in Kinde, Michigan through the
mid-1930’s and was almost sold for scrap. The fire engine was
purchased by R. B. Hunter of Port Hope during its last hour before
going for scrap and has been owned by the Hunter family ever since.
The fire engine has an 8′ bore x 8′ stroke vertical engine
and a gear fire pump and is still in operating condition.
Other features throughout the weekend included a shingle mill
owned by the Twenty Lakes Club of Michigan and restored by Harold
Husted of Harrison, Michigan. Shingles were made and then, using an
old homemade forge and a homemade branding iron, were stamped with
Port Hope, 1988. Grain was threshed by a homemade threshing machine
owned and built by Wayne Lenton of Ubly, Michigan. Also featured
were four steam engines. A sawmill, owned by John Bukoski of Ubly,
Michigan, was in operation.
Along with the antique equipment on display were 60 flea market
exhibitors. A tractor pull was held on Saturday afternoon, along
with a fashion show featuring clothes from 1880’s through the
present day.
Port Hope’s 3rd Annual Equipment Show will be held on July
1-2-3, 1989. This show will be featuring Minneapolis-Moline
equipment. The Prairie Gold Rush Club, a national group of
Minneapolis-Moline collectors, will hold their annual meeting at
the Port Hope 4th of July celebration. This group will have several
rare Minneapolis-Moline exhibits on display.
Port Hope, Michigan is a small rural community set on the shores
of Lake Huron in the Thumb of Michigan-as all the village entrance
signs say, ‘Port Hope is the Little Town With the Big
Welcome’. Therefore, everyone is welcome! Anyone interested in
more information regarding the 1989 Show, please feel free to
contact Roy Reinke at (517) 428-4838 or Marv Koglin at
(517)428-4160.
