Route 1, Box 332, Adena, Ohio, 43901
The silver anniversary Stumptown Show opened with a little less
than sunny weather. We are thankful so many brave souls put on
their raincoats and enjoyed the show anyway. Opening ceremonies
began at 9:30 a.m. with prayer by Lester Nabb, the raising of
‘Old Glory’ by the Cadiz Boy Scouts and the singing of the
‘Star Spangled Banner’ by Mary Webster.
The threshing, baling, sawing, cornmeal grinding, making
shingles, power-eater generator demo and etc. got underway. The
club’s new ‘teeter-totter’ got initiated by Ralph
Jackson who was the first to try it but sprang a leak in his water
tank. Ken Diehl with his return flue Huber was the first to succeed
in balancing for which he collected a Stumptown hat.
At noon, all the steam whistles sounded off. Food was served by
the New Athens Firemens Auxiliary including open kettle beans and
corn-bread which is their specialty. The Weirton Lions Club served
huge fish sandwiches, Bibbee’s specialized in ice cream and
apple dumplings, the Jewett Ruritans served lemonade and hot
chocolate and the popcorn man was kept busy with his popcorn and
snowcones.
The Stumptown Ladies Auxiliary were kept busy selling tickets on
their quilt and entertained a huge crowd in their building due to
the drizzle outside. At 12:45 the Ladies Auxiliary announced that
Carolyn Fraley of Johnston, Ohio, was the Thresher-man Queen and
Henry Niemiec as Thresherman of the Year. Mrs. Fraley was crowned
by last year’s queen, Mary Young and Joe Harrison who
substituted for Frances Young, the 1986 Thresherman of the year,
awarded Henry Niemiec. Lori Wines presided over the crowning.
The slow engine race began at 1:00 with Gary Ludwig being the
winner in the antique class on the Flower’s Greyhound. This was
the first time Joe Harrison and his Russell had been beat for
several years. In the ? scale class, Bill Rees took the honors with
his ? scale Case. Both winners were awarded their choice of
hats.
The afternoon schedule of threshing, sawing and other activities
continued. At 3:30 p.m. the Young Farmers and Wives Kiddie Tractor
Pull Club from Dresden, Ohio, conducted the kiddie tractor pull. A
good response of kiddies made an interesting show. Seventy-six
children entered in five classes. Winners were as follows: John
Miller in Class 1, John O’Neal in class 2, Chad Cordner in
class 3, Steven Coleman in class 4 and Jack Gorden in class 5. A
trophy featuring a silver tractor was awarded each winner and a
Stumptown patch was given all entrants.
At 6:00 p.m., the Ohio Valley Square Dancers & Promenader
put on a clogging and western square dance demonstration which was
enjoyed by all.
At 7:30, the old time fiddling contest, originated by our
founder, Raymond Laizure, got underway. Nine contestants had
entered. In the 60 and younger class, two cousins were the only
entrants. Carrie Dillion, 10 years old and Ginger Haren, 9 years
old, thrilled the crowd with their fiffling. Carrie came in first
and Ginger was second.
The over 60 class featured seven fiddlers. Jim Addy of
Woodsfield, grandfather of the two little girls was first. Bill
Burris of Shipping Port, Pa., was second and Danny Laslo of Martins
Ferry was third. Trophies were awarded along with a Stumptown cup
and plate and $10 each. After the contest, all the fiddlers got
together and joined in the ‘Round Robin’. While the winners
were being tallied, 85 year old Carl Porter entertained with 3 or 4
songs on the harmonica. After the ‘Round Robin’, Harmon
Harris and Don Wilson played on the organ and fiddle for a couple
of hours.
Friday night before the show, Foster Lucas and his gang from the
Barnsville area entertained the early arrivals with Blue Grass
Music.
Sunday’s show opened with church services led by Marion
Rogers and music by gospel singer, Joe Beltz. After services, the
usual threshing, baling, etc. got underway. At noon the whistles
signaled dinner time. After dinner, the wagon backing contest with
gas tractors took place. Dick
Lyle won in the previous winner class and Jim Smith won in the
amateur class. Both winners received Stump-town hats. Gas tractors
without power-steering were all that were permitted to be entered
in the contest.
On Sunday, we were also honored with a beautiful team of horses
owned by Charles Lucas which pulled a hay wagon and gave people
rides. A large flea market was enjoyed by everyone. Everything from
‘soup to nuts’ was there to be bought.
Prior to the grand parade, the Ladies Auxiliary held their quilt
drawing and 10 year old, Dennis Jackowski of Flushing, Ohio was the
winner. A wooden steam engine built by Daryl Murphy was raffled off
and won by Richard Millhon of Toronto, Ohio. Three membership cards
were drawn for a $25.00 prize and the winners were Ed Brenner of
Kinsington, Ohio, Harold Nelson of Narvarre, Ohio and Charles Doty
of Cardington, Ohio.
At 4:00 the grand parade, led by the Thresherman of the Year and
the Queen, riding in the back of Ralph Jones’s Model T pickup,
got underway. Seated in the front seat of the pickup was Clark
Crassen of Cambridge, Ohio, the only charter member to be able to
attend the show. He stepped out and received a round of applause.
Our oldest charter member, Bill Humphreville, of Mt. Pleasant,
Ohio, was not able to attend because of poor health but I’m
sure his thoughts were with us at the show. Antique cars and trucks
followed the Model T pickup, followed by steam engines, tractors,
and other equipment.
This year’s Stumptown Show set a show record with 66 gas
tractors lined up in tractor row and 372 gas engines of all makes
and sizes shelling corn, pumping water or just popping away in gas
engineland. Model gas and steam engines and stationary steam
engines were well represented with 63 units on display.
The Arnold family from Marietta put forth a huge effort to bring
their ‘Park Locomotive and Cars’ to our show and give the
children a live steam train ride. Gary Arnold’s ? scale display
was also a crowd pleaser. A blacksmith display was brought by Jim
Sutherlin featuring forge, shop anvils, cones, etc. and Nello Kungi
displayed three board of Indian arrowheads on Saturday. Fifteen
antique cars and trucks were lined up with the oldest being a 1913
International Truck.
To conclude this show report, the Stumptown Steam Threshers wish
to thank all the exhibitors who put forth a big effort to bring
equipment to our show. Without them, there wouldn’t be anything
to see. Also wish to thank all who donated material and all those
who donated time and labor getting the show set up and everything
put away again. A special thanks to all the spectators who braved
threatening skies and muddy showgrounds to see our show. Without
these people we couldn’t pay for a show and we thank the good
Lord for making our show a success.
