Munden, Kansas 66959
On Sunday, July 7, 1974, an annual event was held at Gilbert
Wisner’s farm near Arcadia, Maryland. This was the annual
‘wheat-cutting reunion’ where wheat was cut by antique
machinery to be threshed out at the Maryland Steam Historical
Society’s 19th annual reunion at Arcadia, September 12 to 15,
1974.
About 60-75 persons attended the event during the afternoon.
Before going to the field, a delicious country-style dinner was
served by the Wisner ladies and neighbors-no ‘store bought’
food, everything was prepared just as it was years ago. The only
modern touch was the soft drinks.
After dinner, the men moved out into the field of golden grain,
one of the best wheat crops we had ever had. Mr. Morrell Blizzard
Sr. took the controls of the McCormick-Deering Binder as Mr.
Gilbert Wisner, President of the Maryland Steam Historical Society,
mounted up on his Farmall ‘A’ tractor, about a 1930
model.
The other men present took turns at forking the sheaves on to
the old wagon. The weather was just perfect and that old reaper
really cut that wheat down fast. After, the machinery was put away
for another year and an afternoon of fun and fellowship was enjoyed
by all.
Many of those present enjoyed looking at the numerous old gas
engines and tractors at the Wisner farm. Also the 18 H.P. Frick and
50 H.P. Case Steam Engines drew a lot of attention from the
visitors. It was like going back in history about 60 or 70 years.
The rustic farm buildings, a sawmill in the woods, cattle in the
meadow and down-to-earth country folks who knew how a dollar was
earned years ago but enjoyed every moment of it.
Binding wheat near Munden, Kansas for Glen Strnad on June 22,
1974, with me on my 1935 Model A John Deere and Bill Sterba, also
of Munden, on my John Deere binder. The 10 acres of bundles were
later threshed with a 22 in. Red River Special and were pulled with
a John Deere D. and a McCormick-Deering 10-20 HP and for a short
time with a big 1909 Minneapolis. I am 12 years old. Mr. Sterba is
in his 70s. The 1928 McCormick-Deering, which is all on steel,
belongs to me.
Among the many visitors present were Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Myers.
Ralph is an engineer on the Western Maryland Railroad and he
recalled many memories of the steam engine days both on the farm
and on the high-Iron.
Mr. and Mrs. Wisner and all their friends will be looking for
you at the Maryland Steam Show this fall.