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HomeMy WebLinkAbout31st Annual Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Association 1992 Reunion, 1992-09-09, Page 10PAGE A-10. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1992. o Reunion born in Simon Hallahan’s house Today the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion is so big, the expanded Blyth fairgrounds can hardly hold all the people, but 30 years ago, the idea that led to the big event was developed among a group of men small enough to meet in Simon Hallahan’s house. Mr. Hallahan was, of course, synonymous with the Thresher Reunion for many people in the early years of the event so it was natural that his farm house should be the nest where the egg was hatched. It was on May 13, 1962 that the first meeting of threshermen was held. The name Thresher Reunion seems natural enough when you look at the men involved. Nearly all were veterans of the Shuttle buses prevent traffic chaos Several years ago the Thresher Association helped the village of Blyth buy more land so the fairgrounds could accommodate more parking. The Thresher Reunion just kept on growing, however, and another solution soon had to be found. Today, visitors can avoid traffic tie-ups on Saturday and Sunday by parking at a special parking lot set up at the east end of the village on County Rd. 25. Special shuttle buses will be travelling to and from the fairgrounds each day. Parking at the lot is free, helping make a visit to the Thresher Reunion both convenient and inexpensive. threshing gangs that once brought off the harvest on Western Ontario farms. At that first meeting was Harold Turner of Goderich, a former steam engineer. He became the first chairman. Alex Manning of Blyth was named treasurer and Mr. Hallahan became secretary. Others present included Hugh Chisholm of Sarnia, a steam engineer, Stuart Muir of Paisley, John Scott of Formosa and Willie Joe Hallahan and John Hallahan of Blyth. Simon recalled some time ago that Harold Turner suggested he write to all the former threshermen and invite them to a meeting. That meeting was, according to the history of the Association published in 1986, held June 20, 1962 at Blyth Memorial Hall. Harold Turner chaired the meeting and a motion was made to name the organization the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. Interest was high enough that EDWARD FUELS Your "Off Electric" Experts! Talk to us about the savings and efficiency of modern oil fired heat Goderich 524-8386 Clinton 482-7381 Teeswater 392-6100 the group decided to hold its first Thresher Reunion that fall. There were five steam tractors, two separators (threshing machines) and a rented saw mill at that first Reunion. About 500 people came to see them. Little by little new events were added to the Thresher Reunion and with each the attraction grew. Someone suggested music should be added and the old fashioned fiddle music became a natural addition. For many years Earl and Martha Heywood provided entertainment. At some point someone suggested that women needed something to do while their husbands were admiring the old equipment, so a craft show was started. At first it took up part of the arena floor, but today the show takes the entire ice surface, spilling outside as well. The Association's acquisition of its own sawmill has been a popular highlight at the Reunion as have the antique and classic car show. Eventually a flea market began where people can get parts for old equipment or just old-fashioned materials. Camping came along and like everything else grew and grew it has become a village inside a village during the Reunion weekend. The fairgrounds themselves have grown as well, over the years, as the Association donated the money to purchase land from a nearby farmer. All this began from that first meeting in Simon's home. Back then most of the members had been threshers themselves. Simon had run a threshing outfit for Geordie Jordan for a few years. Then for 15 years he was with the Silver Creek Threshing Syndicate, a gang comprised of Hallahan family members. When he started, Simon recalled several years ago, there wasn't much stook Continued on A-11 • Friends • Threshers • Tractor Men • Neighbours &, Visitors Best Wishes to the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association on their 31st Reunion We extend a warm welcome from the Village of Blyth and wish you all a successful weekend celebrating our early technology and harvest skills. THE VILLAGE OF BLYTH AND THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION