714 7th Street Baraboo, Wisconsin 53913
For the past 34 years the Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club has
held its annual three day show in August at the Sauk County
Fairgrounds. The original 20 acre site, although offering many
facilities, has gotten too small for the crowds that come each
year. We were also limited to the kinds of demonstrations of
antique farm equipment the club could present. In order to overcome
these obstacles and provide expanded facilities for exhibitors and
attendees, the club purchased an 80 acre site. The new site is
located about four miles northwest of Baraboo, off State Highway 33
on Sand Road, which is west of US Highway 12 or four miles south of
I 90-94 exit 92. The grounds being half open and half wooded will
provide 25 acres of free parking for attendees, space for farming
equipment demonstrations, and expanded exhibit and flea market
areas.
Last October started with sounds of power saws, hammering, and
all sorts of equipment as the club began clearing fire lanes around
the building construction. We now have seven buildings. The first
one built by the members is a 30′ x 54′ metal pole building
which houses the band saw exhibit. Since then additional buildings
on the grounds include a brand new 40′ x 100′ gas engine
exhibit, a 50′ x 100′ steam engine exhibit, a 40′ x
40′ metal building, a 40′ x 48′ office and book store
designed to look like a general store, and a large well house with
antique pumping equipment. Presently under construction are a
30′ x 56′ shingle mill exhibit, a 50′ x 100′ flea
market and crafts building, a 30′ x 30′ cement block
bathhouse, restroom building, and a canopy/food shelter, to be
ready for the 1998 show, giving us a total of over 23,000 square
feet of exhibit space.
The bulk of this construction has been done by volunteers
donating their skills and equipment on many, many nights, days and
weekends.
Prior to construction, club work crews dismantled several large
buildings for materials, two of which were taken down by 54
volunteers with their equipment and moved in one weekend.
This year’s 35th annual show will be held August 21-23 at
the new grounds, and will feature Cockshutt farm equipment. The
club features many antique exhibits including sawing shingles and
logs, threshing, shredding, stationary baling, rock crushing, horse
power equipment, ice cream making in old style makers, large steam
engines, antique autos, along with hundreds of ‘old iron’
engines and tractors powered and working.
The jewel of our show is a 1901 Keystone steam powered well
drilling rig which will be operating after a 14 year
restoration.
There will also be pony rides and kiddie pull for the
youngsters. The ladies are not forgotten either, with a large flea
market and bake sale by the Auxiliary.
Along with our ’35th’ the club is celebrating the 100th
year of our Otto engine and commemorating Wisconsin’s 150th
anniversary. So mark your calendars and show directory for the
21-23 of August as this promises to be an event worth
attending.
All those involved with the show wish to thank everyone who
makes this event possible. Without the cooperation, hard work and
dedication to the hobby we couldn’t enjoy this gathering.
