Sec .P.O. Box 382 St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950
Smoke billowed from the stacks of nine steam engines as the sun rose from behind the hills. It appeared the 1992 Stumptown Steam Threshers 30th annual Show and Reunion was preparing to get underway. By 8:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 12, a line of vehicles transporting gas engines, tractors, and other equipment was trailing through the gate. The parking lot was beginning to fill with cars. The flea market vendors were preparing their items for sale.
At 9:30 A.M. the show officially opened. Many single cylinder gas engines could be heard popping and putting. Henry Shores kept Doc Saffell’s corn shelter and Fred Rogers’ burr mill in motion as corn meal was ground and bagged with the help of Harmon Harris. Throughout the morning many traction engines, gas tractors, and lawn tractors could be seen riding around the grounds as spectators steadily flowed through the gate.
At 12 noon the officers and directors gathered on the stage to dedicate the noon whistle blow to William Flowers, in honor of his retirement from 18 years of dedicated service as club secretary.
Vivian Culler was crowned Queen and Glenn Kroft was named Thresher-man of the Year.
Bill Applegarth won the slow tractor race on William Flowers’ John Deere L. John McDowell showed the crowd his skills as he maneuvered his Baker to win the block race.
After the races, the crowd moved across the grounds to watch the demonstration of threshing and baling, with the equipment being belted up to steam traction engines and antique gas tractors. Also on display were many gas engines hooked up to items such as water pumps and washing machines.
The Tri-Valley Young Farmers & Wives set up the kiddies pedal tractor pull platform. After the children were weighed in, they participated in four classes. Winners were Stevie Banannio, Justin Vosick, Matt Hughes, and Matthew Modra.
Gas engines and tractors continued to flow in through the gate all day long.
On Sunday, September 13, the festivities once again were being prepared.
At 1:00 the wagon backing contest was set up and got into full swing. Many tractor operators tested their skills at backing the four-wheel farm wagon behind antique gas tractors. Ralph Bartlett showed the non-previous winners class how it is done with his F-12 Far-mall, and Bob Murphy topped the previous winners class on a Farmall Super C. Following the wagon backing contest, a hand crank start contest was held for antique gas tractors. Greg Fritter was able to win on his high geared Allis Chalmers C.
The show had displays of 84 antique gas tractors and 620 single cylinder gas engines, along with several steam engines and antique displays. Everyone’s invited to our 1993 show September 11 and 12.
