Rt 1, Box 332 Adena, Ohio 43901
The Stumptown Steam Threshers Show was again blessed with nice weather even though there was rain in the surrounding areas. The bad weather held off until after the parade.
The show opened with prayer by Lester Nabb, the raising of ‘Old Glory’ by the Cadiz Boy Scouts and the playing of our National Anthem. The show got underway with sawing, threshing, baling, cornmeal grinding, power eater demonstration, shingle making, etc., along with a nice bunch of gas engines and tractors in operation. At noon, all the steam whistles signaled dinnertime. At 12:30, the Ladies Auxiliary announced that John McDowell of Plain-field, Ohio was the Thresherman of the Year and Lori Wines of Belmont, Ohio was the Thresherman Queen. They took the grand tour in the back of Ralph Jones’ Model T truck. One o’clock found the steam engines lined up for the block and slow engine race. Jim Welkart won the slow engine race in the antique class and Don Lautzen-hauser won in the ? scale class.
In the slow tractor race, Bob Bulter was the winner on a J.D. L, and Dennis Jackowski of Flushing won in the garden tractor slow race. In the steam engine block race, John McDowell was first on his Baker, Clyde Sell was second on his Frick and Jim Welkart was third on his Port Huron. After the races, the usual threshing, baling, sawing took place until 3:30 when the Tri Valley Young Farmers & Wives of Dresden put on the kiddie toy tractor pull. The following were winners: in Class I, Bill Burney of Jewett, Ohio was first; and Josh Shultz of Rayland, Ohio was second. In Class II, Matt Hughes was first and Jared Shultz of Rayland, Ohio was second. In Class III, Jim Bethel of Steubenville, Ohio was first and Aaren Henceroth of Adena, Ohio was second. In Class IV, John Shultz of Rayland, Ohio was first and Karen Lam of Piedmont, Ohio was second. In Class V, Chad Hughes of Temperenceville, Ohio was first and Mandi Graham of St. Clairsville, Ohio was second. There was a nice turnout for the kiddie tractor pull.
At 6:00, the Ohio Valley Promenaders put on a very colorful and talented clogging and square dance demonstration. While the fiddle contestants were being signed up, Ed Cole and Earl Whitehill entertained on their dulcimers. At 7:30, the old time fiddlers contest got underway with 12 contestants. Winners in the under 60 class were: Clarence Miller of Brilliant, Ohio, first place; Carrie Dillon of Woodsfield, Ohio, second; Ginger Haren of Woodsfield, third. In the over 60 class: Bill Burris of Shippingport, Pennsylvania, first; Dorman Jefferies of Toronto, Ohio was second; Danny Laslo of Martins Ferry, Ohio was third. All the fiddlers then played a ‘Round Robin’ after the trophies were awarded.
Sunday’s show started off with church services led by Marion Rogers of Freeport, Ohio and a spiritual singing group followed by the usual threshing, baling, etc. until the noon whistle blew. At 1:00, the wagon backing contest took place. In the amateur class, Jay Graham of St. Clairsville was the winner and John Miller of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania won the previous winner class. After the wagon backing contest, the usual activities took place prior to the parade. At that time, the Ladies Auxiliary held their drawing for the quilt, which was won by Dorothy Griffith of Wheeling, West Virginia. The pillow was won by Alice Laport of Tip-pecanoe, Ohio and the pillow cases were won by Sue Nichols of St. Clairsville, Ohio. Dan Trushell, oldest man to attend the show, won a stein featuring the Farquhar steam engine; Emma Holmes of Moundsville, West Virginia was honored as oldest woman attending. Both are 88 years old.
The plate clock was won by Janis Bell of Willow Grove, Ohio, the toy wooden steam engine was won by Terry Stewart of Cadiz, Ohio and the drawing among the membership was won by the club president Henry Niemiec and one of our directors, John Graham, who both donated their prizes back to the club.
After the drawings, the grand parade took place led by our Thesherman and Queen, followed by antique cars, steam engines and tractors. Approximately 4000 people came through the gate. There were 410 gas engines registered, 82 tractors, 8 full-size traction engines, 2 full-size portable steam engines, two ? scale traction engines, 1 homemade traction engine, two ? scale traction engines, a ? scale portable; 6 exhibitors showed small stationary and model engines powered by Jared Crowe’s Frick portable. The 1989 show programs were in memory of Bill Humphreville, a charter member and former director.
The show ran smoothly and was enjoyed by all. Mickey MacDonald was M.C. The Stumptown officers and directors wish to thank all the spectators and exhibitors who attended and all who helped make the show a success. This year’s show will be on September 8th and 9th, 1990.
