70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | Saw using Steam Engine The steam engine is powering the saw mill via a very long belt. To learn more, see 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story.
70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | Sawing Logs Sawing logs with a steam engine providing the power is a sight to behold. These logs are not small; they are very large, reaching the width of the tree and ten to 15 feet in length. To learn more, see 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story.
70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | Mini Steam Engine Yep, it works just like the big ones; it’s just smaller, just the right size for a young boy to drive. And, it’s rather cute steaming around the grounds. To learn more, see 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story.
70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | Fire in the Hole Stream engines come in many sizes. This small engine was custom-built along with a small corn sheller. It’s been passed down from grandfather to father to son. To learn more, see 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story.
70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | Blacksmith at Work Blacksmiths work with hot steel. This image tries to capture a moment of work. To learn more, see 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story.
70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | Blacksmith The Blacksmith trade continues today. The blacksmiths at the Threshermen’s Reunion made various objects each day. “Black” refers to black fire scale, a layer of oxides that forms on the metal being heated. Blacksmiths heat pieces of wrought iron or steel until the metal becomes soft enough to shape with hand tools. The metal is heated in a forge fueled by coal, charcoal, coke, etc. As iron heats, it first glows red, then orange, yellow, and finally white. The ideal heat, forging heat, is a bright yellow-orange color. To learn more, see 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story.
70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | Piggyback Steam Engine Labor Day weekend Sunday brings the Threshermen’s Reunion parade to downtown Pontiac. This steam engine gets a piggyback ride on flatbed pulled by a big Kenworth. The parade draws a rather large crowd. It’s headed by piggybacked steam engines, but includes floats, fire engines from surrounding towns, marching bands, Shriner club cars etc. To learn more, see 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story.
70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story The annual gathering of steam and early gasoline powered agricultural tractors and implements is held in on Labor Day weekend at Threshermen’s Park, located just north of Pontiac on Illinois Route 23. The event will be filled with these powerful machines as well as many other attractions. There is a huge flea market, a number of historic exhibits, live entertainers, the daily “Parade of Power”, and of course, the Sunday afternoon parade in downtown Pontiac. This steam engine gets a piggyback ride on flatbed pulled by a big Kenworth. The parade draws a rather large crowd. It’s headed by piggybacked steam engines, but includes floats, fire engines from surrounding towns, marching bands, Shriner club cars etc
Attractions at Threshermen’s Park include a General Store, 1900 Country School House, Singer Saw Mill, 1910 era Blacksmith Shop, 1920 Conoco Gas Station, Veneer & Shingle Mill, Corn Shelling, Threshing Machine & Baling Operation, Rock Crushing, Plowing, Sheep Shearing, Tractor Pulls, and many more.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion.
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