HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-09-08, Page 34The way they were
The original Reunion organizers took time out to gather for posterity's sake
Every tractor has a story behind it Welcome
To everyone attending the
32nd Pioneer Thresher
Reunion
n • 0 •
J & H Campbell
Transport Ltd.
Blyth 523-4204
• • • •
PAGE A-14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1993.
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1993
Reunion originator remembers early years
Continued from A-13
off so Mr. LeBeau can sandblast around the
rims to make sure there are no holes. The
tractors may then received as many as seven
coats of primer and at least five coats of
paint which will take one week. All parts are
painted away from the tractor. Hoods go
through a body shop.
Then the wiring, gauges and rad are put
back as well as new tires if requested by the
owner.
His personal love for the antique tractors
has never ceased, however and he is again
trying to put together a collection of 1957-
1959 Case tractors. "There are nine tractors
in the series; I need three more, the 600, 700
and 400," he says.
Though his personal favourite is Case,
Mr. LeBeau says he has worked on every
type of old tractor, he says, stressing the
adjective. "New are too complicated," he
says.
Though the tractors are treasured
heirlooms they are treasured more for the
memories than the financial investment. Mr.
LeBeau told of a McCormich Deering WD9,
that starts on gas and switches to diesel,
which was bought new by his uncle in 1946.
At that time Mr. LeBeaus says it was the
biggest tractor on the road.
In 1962 it was sold to a man in Goderich
Twp, who fanned with it until 1986. "In
1988 he came to me and said he would give
me the tractor provided I would restore it
which I did in 1991," said Mr. LeBeau,
describing the tractor before restoration as "
a piece of junk." Not counting the 150 hours
labour it took for the project to be completed
the cost of the restoration was $5,000, he
says.
"Almost every tractor here has a story
behind it," he said, fanning the collection
lines up at the road. "There is a good deal of
sentimental value attached to them."
As the 32nd anniversary of the Huron
Pioneer Thresher Reunion draws near, some
of the threshers who helped start the event
might reminisce about the changes that have
taken place over those years.
One of those original threshers is Simon
Hallahan of RR 3 Blyth. Now almost 95
years old, Mr. Hallahan recalls the early
days of the reunion and the meaning the
reunion had.
When the concept was first developed
over 30 years ago, the point of the reunion
was to reunite a gang of men. These men
used to travel the countryside of this area
performing the job of threshing the farmers
fields.
The original group of men consisted of
several Hallahan brothers, Dennis, Willie
Joe, Danny, John, Simon and Raymond as
well as Alec Manning, Jack White, Hugh
Chisholm and many other local men.
The group wanted to get together with the
old gang to remember the past, says Mr.
Hallahan.
They sent notices to other threshers in the
community to inform them of the planned
Continued on A-15
INTRODUCING THE NEW RAM PICKUP
Models: At launch this fall:
• 1500 (4 x 4 and 4 x 2) short - and long-wheelbase
• 2500 (4 x 4 and 4 x 2) long-wheelbase
• 3500 (4 x 4 and 4 x 2) long-wheelbase
Cab chassis for the 2500 and 3500 models will be
available 90 days later. V10 engine production will
begin in January 1994. Club cab production is
scheduled for June 1994.
Engine lineup:
• 3.9 - litre Magnum V6
• 5.2 - litre Magnum V8
• 5.9 - litre Magnum V8
• 5.9 - litre Cummins 1-6 diesel
• New 8.0 - litre Magnum V10
Turnberry St. N.
Brussels 887-6173
SEPT 16 AND BRUSSELS 1994 NEW CAR SHOW 6PM T" PM
17
B. M. & G. COMMUNITY CENTRE