1211 W. Eureka, Urbana, IL 61801
Visiting different festivals throughout the spring, summer, and
fall has always been a special treat for us in the past years. This
past summer we were to experience a different type of festival,
different from anything we had ever been to in the past. We
attended the Douglas County Historical Steam Festival at Arcola,
Illinois, for the purpose of producing/directing a professional
video production of the Festival which will be available on the
market this summer.
From the moment the production crew stepped onto the show
grounds color/sound/aroma/and friendly handshakes engulfed us. The
reputation that this show had gained was the determining factor in
going to the time and expense of recording its sights and sounds
for future posterity. One only had to be on the show grounds for a
short time to realize why the show had gained such a reputation.
Bustling activity all around us indicated that if we were going to
shoot this three day festival we had better waste no time because
this show was ‘On the Move.’
Bob Cook, Don Cook, and Steve Newport, all of Marshall,
Illinois, operate the WK-40 pulling the Western corn sheller at the
Douglas County Historical Steam Festival.
Orville Yelton of Casey, Illinois, and Clifford Williams of
Tuscola, Illinois, proudly display their gas engine models.
im Taylor of Oakland, Illinois, sawing with his Keck Gonnerman
tractor.
Peeking through the trees at Bob McClure’s big Superior gas
engine.
The permanent 25 HP Fairbanks Morse display at the Douglas
County Historical Steam Festival.
Major Bragg operating his Silver King tractor pulling Millard
Dukeman on the 1936 International Harvester grain drill putting in
winter wheat for the 1986 festival at Arcola, Illinois.
During this festival approximately three hundred and forty
people are involved in one way or another. The nucleus is the 1873
historical Jacob R. Moore home. It is the only time of the year
that the historical mansion is open to the public. Significant to
mention is the fact that Jacob R. Moore’s grandfather crossed
the Delaware with George Washington on Christmas Eve. With our
cameras rolling in the Moore home capturing the rare Victorian
furnishings and interior styling we eventually worked our way out
once again to the show grounds to film the many activities that
were continually going on.
These activities included such things as steam plowing, wheat
threshing, lime crushing, sawmilling, potato plowing, draft horse
demonstrations, blacksmithing, country music performances, etc. The
numerous antique/arts/crafts dealers exhibited quality items in
their booths that made buying a real pleasure for even the most
discriminating collector. Good homemade food, ice cream, and plenty
of shade made relaxing between activities a comfortable pleasure.
The rarity of the equipment at this festival, coupled with the 1873
historical Moore home, and the warmth and cooperation of the many
exhibitors made filming this event a real treat for us as well as
all who will view this production in the years to come. The 1986
show dates are July 11, 12, and 13.
