306 W. Anthony, Corydon, Iowa 50060
The Central Hawkeye Gas Engine and Tractor Association put on a
popping good show at the Living History Farms Grain Festival on
August 4 and 5, 1973. The Living History Farm located near
junctions of Highway 35 and 80 west of Des Moines, Ia. is a project
that was started sometime in the 60’s. This consists of a
pioneer farm of 1840 complete with log buildings, rail fences and
an oxen team. Darwin Thede is the top man on this project.
Darwin is also a member of the Central Hawkeye Club, but was too
busy putting on demonstrations of shingle making with a frow. Also
around this pioneer farm were demonstrations of threshing with a
flail, soap making, rope making, and several other items of
interest.
Future plans for the Living History Farms area 1900 farm and
farming with the most modern method of farming that is possible.
The Central Hawkeye Club sort of adopted these Living History Farm
events for some of their biggest meetings. This is one of the many
lucky breaks the Living History Farm have had because the club
really puts on an attraction.
Rich Parsons of Indianola, Ia. said there were 70 gas engines on
the grounds August 4th but he hadn’t taken a head count yet on
Sunday, August 5th. Mrs. Rich Parsons and others were right on hand
with a headquarters set-up to sign up new members and said the club
now had 170 members signed up. I met quite a few of the members,
some I have known for a long time such as Dick Ries of Des Moines.
I never have gone to an engine show in Iowa that there wasn’t a
Ries around somewhere. It was his Uncle Wilbur Ries of Murray, Ia.
who twisted my arm to join this club. As soon as my arm healed up I
wrote Bernard Cline of Norwalk, Ia. and told him to get me in this
club as soon as possible. Bernard was at this meet with an 8 HP
Fuller Johnson 1914 model gas engine and I think had the 8 HP?
economy engine that run the slowest of any engine I have seen for
some time – a real gas saver.
Thayne Henderson of Waukee, Ia. was also on hand with a Monitor
engine and an Associated engine like mine. The boys tell me Thayne
has a whole farm full of goodies.
Jerry Klienbeck of Murray had at least 4 engines at the show,
one a little double flywheel model that was homemade. The crankcase
at one time had been a Maytag, I think, then from there on it was
anybody’s guess and Jerry said the fool thing would run
too.
I met another laplander who lives about 40 miles eat of me,
Donald Ellison of Unionville, Is. He had brought a nice little
Stover 1-1/2 HP engine of around 1924. I saw lots of engines that
made my pulse beat fast, a big Aeromotor gas engine and a Gode
engine. In fact, there were a lot of engines at this show I would
like to have.
Rich Parson had an engine that really got to me, a Scott Bros.
engine made in Kansas City but this engine was designed down here
in Lapland at a town west of here, Lamoni, Ia. Campbell and Thorpe
of Lamoni have one of these engines and are supposed to really put
out the information on this engine for the Gas Engine Magazine.
This club believes that engines should run something and this was
sure in evidence at this meet.
One engine was running an old wooden tub washing machine that
had a pair of red flannel underwear in the wringer. I never did see
them get wrung out but it wasn’t the engine’s fault if they
didn’t, as it was popping right away. Some engines were
shelling corn and some grinding corn. I really enjoyed some of the
people’s remarks on these engines. It was sure plain that many
of them never knew such things existed but I could tell from the
talk they will be back for the next show. Who knows how many of
them will come down with the fever and will be joining up also in
the future. I didn’t get to meet Duane Parsons who puts out the
club newsletter ‘It’s a Gasser’, a darn nice little
informative letter.
Donald Ellison of Unionville, Iowa with a Stover 1-1/2 HP engine
made around 1924. Picture taken at 1973 Central Hawkeye Gas Engine
Show.
I know I haven’t covered this show enough but my wife says I
write like I talk, too much, and since I have to have her type this
I had better stop. I thought it was a banging good show.
Demonstrating shingle making with a trow. Don’t let that
beard fool you – he is a young man!
All these scenes are from the Central Hawkeye Gas Engine and
Tractor Association Show held in August, 1973.
