HomeMy WebLinkAbout31st Annual Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Association 1992 Reunion, 1992-09-09, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 9, 1992. PAGE A-19.
Farmers form Silver Creek Threshing Syndicate
With the arrival of the steam engine came
the formation of threshing syndicates. A
steam engine could not fit in the budget of
many farmers so instead of each farmer
buying their own, often several farmers
would go together on the purchase of an
engine and charge neighbours to do the
threshing.
Many of these threshing syndicates were
formed in the Blyth area at the turn of the
century. In 1916 the farmers of the sixth and
seventh concessions of East Wawanosh
Township of Huron County decided to form
their own syndicate.
About 20 farmers each paid a share of a
set price for a second hand steam engine,
separator, and com cutting box bought from
Fred J. Cook. Three men were hired: an
engineer, separator operator, and a tank man
with a team of horses. The threshing
operation was called the Silver Creek
Syndicate.
The shareholders set a price by which the
farmers paid by the hour for threshing and
silo filling. A meeting was held each
November where all outstanding bills were
paid and the profit was divided among the
shareholders.
Business soon expanded. In 1919 the
syndicate purchased a new George White
engine. The organization could now do the
threshing of at least 40 farmers and
continued to do so for several years.
Rain or dew was not a hindrance to work
because grain was brought in from the fields
to the barn. The grain flowed into two
bushel boxes. Two men had to dump these
into bins in the granary.
After the first heavy frost, the com box
was put into action. Four to six teams of
horses and wagons and a crew of about 15
men loaded wagons, pulled the com off and
fed it into the com box at the silo. Knives in
the com box chipped the com into one inch
pieces and a fan blew the chopped pieces
into the silo. Two or three men in the silo
levelled the com off and tramped it down.
In the fall of 1927, Simon Hallahan, who
still lives at RR 3 Blyth, took on the job of
managing the syndicate. Bill Hallahan was
the separator operator and Hugh Blair was
the tank man. Simon Hallahan continued as
A Heavy Chore
The cumbersome task of getting the
logs in position for the steam-
powered sawmill is an event as
reminiscent as the sawing operation
itself.
the engineer and Hugh Blair become the
separator operator through the fall of 1937.
A new Waterloo separator had been
purchased in 1935.
Stook threshing became gradually more
popular and more threshing outfits began to
operate. Half the shareholders bought out
the others.
Hugh Blair took over the syndicate in
1938 as Simon Hallahan decided to work
full-time on his own farm.
A second hand Waterloo engine was
purchased in the fall of 1939 and used until
the fall of 1942, when Hugh started using his
Congratulations and best wishes to
the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion
on their 31st Anniversary
PLETCH ELECTRIC LTD.
(519) 357-1583
Electrical Contractor
PLETCH ELECTRIC 446 Josephine St. Wingham
Welcome Threshers
TO THE 31st ANNUAL REUNION
Dealers of Quality Grains
& Soybean Meal
own John Deere tractor. He operated the
syndicate himself until the late 1960s. He
purchased a forage harvester which chopped
corn in the field and loaded it in forage
wagons which were self-unloading.
In the 1930s combines were being
manufactured with cutter bars attached. This
machine could cut and thresh right in the
field. At first it was drawn by a small
tractor, but later most were self-propelled
with working capacity increasing.
Many operators still do custom work farm
to farm, but much less time and labour are
required.
Choice of goodies excellent
Continued from A-18
and his big bean pot have been part of the
Thresher Reunion for over a decade now,
hitting just the spot with hungry visitors.
It takes a lot of volunteer work to serve the
beans. Four to six volunteers will be helping
cook the big pot of beans. Each day 66
pounds of white beans go into the pot. The
work starts at 6 a.m. in order to have the
beans ready for noon.
Besides the beans, 95 pounds of pork
hocks will be used over three days, 18
Spanish onions, three cans of tomato juice,
three bottles of ketchup, three kilograms of
brown sugar, three pounds of butter and salt
and pepper and garlic to taste.
All this is cooked in a 50 gallon cast iron
kettle over an open fire and by the time it's
all ready about noon, a crowd has gathered,
ready to eat.
The choice of goodies is endless. So
while you're enjoying the steam show and
you suddenly feel the urge to nibble, feel
free to check out the pickiris.
Top Quality
Shur-Gain
Products
for your
Animals
Nutrition
and Health
Dauphin Feed
& Supply offer
Top Quality
Service and
value
comparable to
none.
Congratulations
to the Huron Pioneer Association
on their 31st Reunion
Make Cook's your supply and service centre.
FULL SERVICE MILLING
Custom Grinding &
Rolling - Ration
Balancing to
Meet Your Needs
GRAIN
BANKING
COMPUTER FORMULATED
RATIONS FOR BEEF & DAIRY...
We take forage
samples and our
computer calculates
the ultimate blends
tor your individual
requirements.
ASK OUR PROFESSIONAL
AG-REPS FOR DETAILS
Crop I 1 Elevator
Planning Facilities
Analysis
Walton
261 527-1540
Hen sailDivision of
Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited 262*2410
Crop Care
Centre
Seed
Supplies
Chemical
supplies
MarketFertilizer
Programs I Information
PLANNING IS THE KEY TO REACHING
YOUR FARMING GOALS!
Before you make any decisions for 1992
talk to the folks at Cook's.
Atwood Amberley Parkhill
356-2292 395-3601 294-6256
Centrailia Kirkton Beechwood
228-6661 229-8986 232-4281
DAUPHIN
FEED&SUPPLY
DUNGANNON
1-800-665-5675
529-7951
529-3133
MON. - FRI. 8-5:30
SAT. 9-12 Noon
WALTON
887-6023
MON. - FRI. 8 - 5:00
SAT. 9-12 Noon