Route 1, Box 332, Adena, Ohio
Beautiful hot weather graced the Stumptown Steam Threshers
Reunion held on September 7 & 8, 1985, which many attended.
Saturday’s show opened with prayer by Lester Nabb and flag
raising ceremonies led by the Cadiz Boy Scouts Troop #269.
Threshing, baling, cornmeal grinding, sawing, shingle making, power
eater demo, etc. continued until the noon whistle blow. At 12:45,
the Ladies Auxiliary crowned Joe Harrison Thresherman of the Year
and Jane Sloan as Queen. The crowning was done by last year’s
winners, Doc Saffell and Mary Hard-rock. The new thresherman of the
year and queen took their royal ride in the back of Ralph
Jones’ 1922 Model T 1-ton truck. At 1:00, the slow engine race
and block race got underway. The slow engine race in the antique
class was won by Jim Fisher on Harrison’s 20 HP Russell and
Bill Rees won in the scale class. John McDowell won the block race
with his 23-90 Baker.
Then the usual program of activities continued until 3:30 p.m.
when the kiddie tractor pull under the supervision of the TriValley
Young Farmers & Wives got underway. The winners were Mike
Modra, Chad Corder, Matt Miller, Todd Hixon and Clarence Cattrell.
Trophies were awarded for 1st prize winners in every class and each
contestant was given a patch.
At 7:00 p.m., the fiddling contest got underway. There were only
9 contestants with six receiving trophies. Carl Porter, who is 85
years young, played several tunes on his mouth organ while the
judges were tallying up the scores. Trophies in the under 60 class
were awarded to Larry Stull, Clarence Miller and Carrie Dillon
(who, at 7, was our youngest contestant) and in the 60 and older
category the winners were Jim Addy, Dorman Jefferies and Frances
Dalton. Afterwards the entire group played several tunes including
‘Mocking Bird’ and ‘Orange Blossom Special’.
On Sunday, the show started with church services led by Marion
Rogers of Freeport and two groups of gospel singers. After the
services, the usual activities got underway until the noon
whistles. At 1:00 p.m. fifteen gas tractor operators entered the
wagon backing contest. Doc Saffell took first place by completing
the course in 1 minute, 15 seconds and Brian Brown took second
place by completing the course in 1 minute, 25 seconds.
At 2:30, the Ladies Auxiliary held their quilt drawing and Megon
Rees of Canton was the winner. Winners of a drawing for two $25.00
prizes were Charles Woolf of Salem and Larry Skull of New
Philadelphia. At 4:00 p.m., the grand parade, led by the
Thresherman & Queen, got underway followed by antique cars,
steamers, gas &. oil tractors and all movable equipment.
Plaques were presented to all exhibitors.
Gas engine land featured approximately 200 gas engines running
cornshellers, water pumps, fans, washing machines, etc. Several
exhibitors had model gas engines. One exhibitor came from as far
away as Florida. Several antique cars and trucks were in attendance
with the oldest being a 1913 International truck owned by John
Skellett of Holloway. Gas tractors participated in the wagon
backing contest, powered the baler, ran the power eater and paraded
around the grounds. The Green Line was the most predominant. A
Heider friction drive and a cross motor Frick were the most unusual
tractors and two OilPulls were featured.
A Korean war jet engine, owned by Mike Suca, was shown and
demonstrated. It vibrated the show grounds. Francis Smith from
Navarre brought his super tanker and helped wet the dust down. The
Arnold family from Marietta brought their Park locomotive (which
was featured on our cups) and cars and gave free rides. Charles
Lucas of Belmont brought his beautiful team of Belgian horses and
wagon and gave free rides. Jed Frowe’s pre-1900 Peerless
portable furnished the power for the group of stationary and
models. Ray Covault and Gary Arnold had their scale engine working
on matching fan and saw mill. John McDowell was kept busy on his
power eater generator.
Dick Firth’s shingle mill saw a lot of action with Francis
Young’s 6 HP portable Russell and scale traction engines. Fred
Rogers and Edgar Flowers shelled corn and ground corn meal. Cups
and plates and Stump town hats were sold. A large group of flea
markets had a good selection of new and old ‘fleas’.
The New Athens Fireman Auxiliary sold food and featured open
kettle soup beans and corn bread The Weirton Lions Club sold fish
sandwiches and other food. Ice cream, popcorn, candy apples,
lemonade were also sold on the grounds The New Athens Fire Dept.
had their ‘E’ car on hand in case of an emergency, supplied
our steam engines with water and watered the dust.
The officers and directors wish to thank the several different
individuals and companies who donated supplies and equipment, the
worker who worked such long hours getting the show together, and
the different exhibitors who traveled many mile to exhibit at our
show. Last but no least, a big thanks to all the spectators who
attended our show and helped finance us, for without their support
we wouldn’t have a show. We invite all to come back next year
and have good time with the ‘Stumptown Gang’ on September
6th and 7th 1986.
