Rt 4, Box 1645 Elizabethton, Tennessee 37643
On June 11, 12, &. 13, 1993 the East Tennessee Antique
Engine Association held the 22nd annual reunion at the usual
location on the farm of Jeff & Susie Hutchings near Johnson
City, Tennessee. This location is in a steep valley between two
mountains bordering the Cherokee National Forest. With an altitude
of almost 2000 feet the days get warm but the nights are always
cool this time of year and those camping seem to enjoy the good
mountain air.
This year the association worked very hard to complete the
outside portion of the old-time country store. It sure looked neat
with lots of old store items placed around it. The inside was
insulated and received a new hardwood floor before show time so
that the registration could be done here.
The weather was great on Friday and Saturday with some showers
late Saturday and on and off on Sunday. We feel like we had two
good days on Friday and Saturday and a fair day Sunday.
We were pleased to have a 25% increase in exhibitors this year
and an increase in the number of engines exhibited also. We were
fortunate to have over 40 sideshaft engines plus many other types
of unusual engines on display. We also had several tractors running
around the grounds. We had a very old shingle mill operational,
along with a rock crusher; a grist mill or two; log sawing;
homemade ice cream using a John Deere for power; and a great group
of blacksmiths performing their tasks and selling their wares. Also
we had some neat antique toys and hot air fans. David Oliver, our
resident blacksmith, ‘shot the anvil’ twice during the show
and each time it went up 60 to 80 feet with a thundering explosion
that shook the whole grounds. Ben Fox exhibited his two beautiful
miniature flour mills complete with water wheels and water flowing
over the wheels making them turn. These are about 30 inches long,
18 inches wide, and 20 inches high. It was great having one of the
two sideshaft Farquhar engines in existence present on Saturday,
exhibited by H. Michael Doss and family from eastern Virginia. A
very nice 8 HP Gould, Shapley & Muir was displayed by Ken
Bohnett and family from West Virginia.
We wish we had space to mention all the rest of you who came so
far, as well as those close by, who brought and exhibited engines
at the show. We thank you and hope you enjoyed being with us as
much as we enjoyed having you.
This year’s show is right around the corner, June 10, 11,
& 12, 1994, and again at the same location. We will have the 20
HP Superior 4 cycle and the 25 HP 2 cycle Superior running, along
with Big Bessy, the 30 HP sideshaft 4 cycle Bessemer. We plan to
have most all of the usual exhibits plus some additional exhibits.
We look forward to seeing you.
For information, contact: Jeff Hutchings, Rt. 4, Box 1645,
Elizabethton, TN 37643, 615-725-3992, or Larry Bennett, 491
Pleasant Valley Rd., Jonesborough, TN 37659,615-753-5994.
