We were blessed with beautiful weather for the 12 th annual Show
of the Niagara Antique Power Association held at Wilfred
Learn’s Farm at Sherksto, Ontario, Canada on Canada Day weekend
June 30, July 1, and 2, 1984. Our club members are always glad to
see our friends and exhibitors from other clubs in Canada and this
year was no exception. The theme throughout this province of
Ontario’s Bicentennial was in evidence-the display this year
was Gilson gasoline engines. Our plans for 1985 will ‘zero
in’ on Gibson tractors.
A goodly number of logs plus the steamers kept the boys on the
sawmill busy. Erection of a pavilion has commenced. Displays by the
ladies in the log cabin and the blacksmith plying his trade in our
original and restored Blacksmith Shop provided varying and
interesting displays for those in attendance.
Scenes from the 1984 Niagara Antique Power Association Show.
The Antique Stock Tractor pull always draws onlookers.
Registration figures showed approximately 150 gas engines, 75
tractors, four steamers, 25 Antique cars, 50 models in the model
tent and numberous corn shellers, grain grinders, water pumps, drag
saws, etc. All operating, also many members bring displays of early
farm flea markets round out the show for those needing a bite to
eat or parts for their engines or tractors.
SHOW NEWS
Sistersville Festival
SISTERSVILLE, W. VIRGINIA The 16th Annual Old Gas Engine Show, a
highlight of the annual West Virginia Oil & Gas Festival in
Sistersville, held this past September 13-16 along the Ohio River
has the tag of a big success from the festival’s Board of
Directors.
General co-chairman Arthur Shreves and Virgil Webber reported
that this years Old Gas Engine Show drew 111 exhibitors from Ohio,
125 engines of all types and sizes.
Many of the engine owners didn’t wait until the dates of the
show, September 15 and 16. ‘They started coming in to the
festival grounds at the Sistersville City Park as early as
Saturday, September 8th,’ reported Shreves, who also served as
chairman for the Old Gas Engine Show. ‘They want to get a good
spot and some of the engine owners pitched in and helped our
different committees to set up the festival tents and
booths.’
Bad weather on Friday evening didn’t dampen everyone’s
big days on Saturday and Sunday, as record numbers of visitors came
out to see such events as the old gas engine show, antique auto
show, grand oil & gas trophy parade, custom and rod show,
entertainment, flea market, craftsman, good food, bingo and oil
& gas exhibits just to name a few.
An expert’s eye goes over this engine before it was started
at the West Virginia Oil and Gas Festival’s Old Gas Engine Show
in Sistersville.
This year’s Old Gas Engine Show was sponsored by Quaker
State Oil Refining Corp., which has been the sponsor for this event
for a number of years. Free admission and camping, free gas and
oil, free dash plate of the show were just some of the offers made
possible to the engine owners because of the sponsor. The festival
committee feels that this sponsorship is one of the key reasons for
the festival’s Old Gas Engine Show to be held each year
‘Plans are now being made for our 1985 festival, September
12-15, and the Old Gas Engine Show will have a major part in these
plans,’stated Stewart Bradfield, Executive Director of the
festival. ‘Two the changes in the Old Gas Engine Show will be
more room for engine owners to display their engines and more
manpower to help engine owners get set up.’
The place to be in 1985 is Sistersville, September 12-15 for the
17th Annual W. Virginia Oil & Gas Festival and the Old Gas
Engine Show.
The festival wishes to thank all the engine exhibitors who took
part in this year’s show and festival.
