R. D. #3, Box 138, Newfield, New Jersey 08344.
In this bicentennial year with all the celebrating and
hullabaloo going on, the residents of Salem County in New Jersey
once again held their annual 4-H Fair on August 4,5 and 6.
As usual there were the handcrafts such as embroidery,
crocheting, knitting, painting. and sketching, etc. The girls
belonging to 4-H displayed their homemade garments ranging anywhere
from sports outfits to evening attire.
One woman had jewelry made from spoons and forks, and another
girl from north Jersey had a display of cut-out coin jewelry. There
was also a large exhibit of Indian jewelry.
In the buildings outside, there were horses to fulfill an
equestrian’s dream. Some really beautiful animals. In another
building, were the cows, some of them with calves, pigs, goats,
ducks, chickens, etc. and in the petting area, were rabbits, baby
chicks, baby pigs, a pony or two, some goats and a donkey named
Jenny, with her baby whose name was Sparky. All the farm equipment
on display from the various dealers held the interest of a number
of farmers as they discussed with one another which make they
thought was better for a particular usage or job.
The homegrown vegetables and flowers and the homemade pastries
just proved to anyone what a little love and caring, a trip to the
corner grocery and a little help from Mother Nature can surely do.
They all looked like an advertisement out of Better Homes and
Gardens. It was a real struggle to keep from sampling anything.
All of the booths inside were setup rather attractively to catch
the public’s eye, including the usual amount of children who
just had to pick up any one or all of the phones at the Bell
Telephone exhibit. But then, we all were a kid at one time or
another.
Last, but surely not least, were all the happenings over at
Grandpa’s Farm. First, since I’m as much interested in my
husband’s hobby as he is, there were the guys with their steam,
gas and hot air engines. These are really something to see from
days gone by. They ranged anywhere from a pretty little half horse
New Holland to a very large 15 horse Fairbanks-Morse. Pat and Ken
Moore with their one and one-half horse John Deere and one and
one-half horse Mietz & Weiss respectively, Joe Dunn with his
Olds, high wheel bicycle and Fordson tractor, Paul Sullivan, who
very kindly operated the boiler, Barry Watson with his homemade
Hercules tractor and, of course, Dave Sickler with his
blacksmith’s shop and heaven only knows what else. (Where
Dave’s concerned, it could be most anything.) Stoney Harris,
who daringly drove his herd of cattle to Valley Forge, put in an
appearance every so often to check his herd on display.
Because of the fact that this author and her husband, as well as
a number of other people, passed out a great number of handbills,
our engine boys were greater in number this year. Next year, (the
Lord willing and if the creeks don’t rise), we should have even
more in attendance.
I don’t want to forget Warren Shank, who makes just about
every type of broom known to man. You can stand and watch while he
puts one together and then, if you so desire, you may purchase that
broom, or another type, if you like.
Calliope music was provided by Mr. Getz of Lancaster,
Pennsylvania who travels with a tractor trailer, which houses his
steam wonder. He plays several selections at a sitting, and if
you’ve never heard one of these instruments before, you really
should some time. It’s a treat to behold!
A collection of old wagons and a stage coach were on display by
Stoney Harris. There also was a very nice exhibit of 20 different
pony wagons by Mr. Prickett and associates.
The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Historical Society had a small building
where they displayed a few antiques and sold cookies and ice
tea.
Now that I’ve told you what goes on and what we do at one of
our shindigs, maybe we can look forward to seeing a lot of you on
the 10, 11 and 12 of August, 1977. Come join us, but don’t come
empty-handed, bring an engine or two with you.
Here is a nice little engine made by Nelson Bros, of Saginaw,
Michigan. Bore and stroke is 2? x 2?; serial number is 2VAG4154.
The engine is all original including the nice little cast iron
muffler. It’s a 4-cycle with push rods operating both of the
overhead valves.
What’s really interesting though, is the flywheel. It is
exactly the same as that found on a single cylinder Maytag (Model
82) except that it’s made of cast iron-the Maytag flywheel
being aluminum.
Since the Maytags come from Newton, Iowa, I’m wondering
about the similarity of the flywheels-any ideas anybody?
6 HP Springfield gas engine made in Springfield, Ohio. Picture
taken near Neenah, Wisconsin about 70 years ago. Engine is belted
to sawmill. Engine is side shaft with 6% bore, 10′ stroke and
49 flywheels.
A picture of art work which I have named ‘The Pioneer.’
It consists of 3-6′ diameter gears, largest ones weigh 1 ton
each. It stands 18 feet high and 20 feet wide. Balance of wheels
are gas engine, cultivator and toy on top – flowers planted at
base.
