HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe 27th Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion, 1988-09-07, Page 18PAGE A-18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1988.
Attendance has come a long
way from 500 in first year
It’s been a long way from the first Huron
Pioneer Thresher Reunion with an atten
dance of 500 people to the huge show today
that attracts at least 12,000 people each year.
The first Thresher Reunion took place at
the Blyth Fairgrounds on September 7 and 8,
1962. It followed the first meeting to explore
the possibility of holding a show. That
meeting was held May 28, 1962 at the home
of Simon Hallahan near Westfield, in East
Wawanosh township. Hugh Chisholm,
Sarnia; Stuart Muir, Paisley; John Scott,
Formosa and Hallahan Brothers of the Blyth
area attended.
At a subsequent meeting at Blyth
Memorial Hall on June 20, a motion made by
Robert Beatty and seconded by W.J.
Hallahan to form an organization called the
Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Associ
ation was unanimously approved. Harold
Turner of Goderich was elected the first
president and Simon Hallahan was named
secretary, a position he held for 20 years.
Other presidents over the years have been
Syndicate moves
to gas tractors
Continued from page 16
steam engine was purchased, continuing in
service until 1942, at which time Mr. Blair
bought out the remaining shares of the
Syndicate, put into service his new-fangled
John Deere gasoline tractor, and continued
to operate as a custom thresher right up until
1966, after more than 40 years in the
business.
The developments outlined in this history
of the Silver Creek Syndicate can be
paralleled by a number of other privately
owned threshing outfits which operated in
the townships around Blyth in those early
years; in East Wawanosh alone, custom
Don Snell, Fred Mote, John Ellacott, Robert
Cook, Wayne Houston, Raymond Hallahan,
Bill Vincent, and current president, Bea
Houston.
There have been four treasurers over the
years: Alec Manning, (1962-68); George
Watt, (1968-72); Simon Hallahan (1973-82);
and Carman Craig at present.
Marian Hallahan became only the second
secretary in the organization’s history when
she succeeded Simon Hallahan in 1981.
In the firstshow there were four steam
engines. Last year there were 13 steam
engines and innumerable gas tractors and
other pieces of pioneer farm equipment. The
arena is filled with crafts. The upstairs
auditorium sees bountiful meals served.
There are exhibits of everything from toy
farm equipment to old equipment manuals.
There is entertainment with old time
fiddling and step dancing at the stage area.
There is, in short, 26 Reunions after that
first reunion, plenty of things for those
12,000 plus people to see and do.
outfits were operated by Sam Walsh, George
Jordan, Fred J. Cook, Russell Walker, Jim
Coultes and Albert Gower - still all very
familiar names in the region today.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This history was adapted
from the history “East Wawanosh 1867 -
1967,’’edited by Walter H. Scott. A footnote
to that centennial project said: “With
modern combines taking over the threshing,
one can easily foresee the day when the
wonderful co-operation between neighbours
during harvest time will be past history,
which the younger generation will only be
able to read about.”)
Names from the farming days of the past are recalled at the Thresher Reunion. Not
only are there old tractors and other machinery but suppliers of everything from
these stencils to old service manuals are on hand.
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Congratulations
to the Huron Pioneer Thresher Association
onthe27th Reunion
Make Cook’s your supply and service centre.
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PLANNING IS THE KEY TO REACHING YOUR FARMING GOALS!
Before you make any decisions for 1987,
talk to the folks at Cook's.
Hensoil
262-2410
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Centralia
228-6661
Kirtaon
229-8986
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Walton
527-1540
887-9261
on
COOK'S -- "Where you can trade with confidence
COOK S DIVISION OF GERBRO INC.
MAC ARMSTRONG SEED
on your 27th
Threshermen's Reunion
Clinton
Veterinary
Services
Robin G. Wiley, D.V.M.
Peter W. Wiley, D.V.M.
Congratulations
to the Pioneer Thresher
and
Hobby Association
on your 27th Reunion
SEPTEMBER 9-10-11,1988
MAC ARMSTRONG SEED
620526 Ontario Ltd.
R.R.2,Teeswater 519-392-6721
Call for pricesand a dealerclose to you