Volunteers Put on Quite a Show in Mt. Pleasant

July/August 2001
 
Advance Rumely
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An Advance Rumely goes to work powering the full-scale Sears sawmill at the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
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The 2000 Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, had its share of heat with temperatures soaring above the 100-degree mark most of the week. There was still plenty of action in the traction steam area during the five days ending on Labor Day.

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James Broad head of Colchester, Illinois, supplied the steam power for the Sears Sawmill with his 20 HP Advance Rumely, better known as 'Ol Smokey.' Ol Smokey shared the sawmill duty with another 20 HP Advance Rumely owned by James and a 50 HP Case owned by the Van Vark family of Pella, Iowa. It had been a long time since we had seen a Case on the sawmill. It did a great job, and we appreciate having all three of these engines as part of our reunion.

The Baker fan and Prony brake both saw their share of action this year when the temps had cooled a little in the evenings. Tom Nichols of Eldon, Iowa, had his 22 HP Woods Bros. on the brake for at least an hour despite the daytime temperatures of 100 degrees. James Foreman and his 80 HP Case from Batavia, Iowa, and James Broad head and his Advance also braved the daytime heat to have some fun. We would like to thank these three gentlemen, along with Eric Douglas of Mt. Pleasant, for helping out with the efficiency testing on the Prony brake this year. I'm not sure what kind of figures they came up with for everyone's engines, but I do know they did a fine job. Thanks again guys!

Another attraction enjoyed by our guests is an operating shingle mill operated by Bob Gilchrist of Marion, Iowa. Bob, the director of the steam powerhouse, cut cedar shingles twice a day on the mill with steam provided by a 6 HP portable Case owned by Old Threshers and operated by Dale Meeks of Indiana.

Jim Huffaker of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and Herschel Hall of St. Louis, Missouri, once again coordinated the veneer mill demonstrations this year. They put on three great shows a day with power supplied by a variety of traction engines. Thanks to Jim, Herschel, and all of their volunteers. The visitors of Old Threshers continue to enjoy your shows.

One must not forget the beautiful sparks shows that several of the engines entertain visitors with at night. Joyce Hoffmaster of Dayton, Ohio, and her 15 HP Reeves did a nice sparks show one night. Ken Huffaker of Mt. Pleasant put on a sparks show four out of five nights with a 32 HP Reeves owned by Old Threshers. This engine put on a sparks show second to none. Great job, Ken!

These are just a few steam-powered attractions enjoyed by our visitors each year. We have numerous engines and volunteers who help the steam traction area put on a spectacular show ever year, and I wish I could list them all. I would like to express my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for your dedication and countless hours of time that you volunteer for our reunion.

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