HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-09-08, Page 12Soil
Analysis
Crop Care
Centre
Congratulations
to the Huron Pioneer Association
on their 34th Reunion
Make Cook's your supply and service centre.
Elevator
Facilities
Seed
Supplies
Cnemicai
Supplies
Fertilizer
Programs
Division of
Parrish &Heinthecker, Limited
PLANNING IS THE KEY TO REACHING
YOUR FARMING GOALS!
Before you make any decisions for 1995
talk to the folks at Cook's.
Walton Atwood Amberley
887-9261 1-800.786-1476 356-2292 395-3601
Hensel! Centrailla Kirkton
262-2410 228-6661 229-8986
Parkhill
294-6256
Beechwood
232-4281
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1995. PAGE A-13.
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1995
12,000 passed through
Reunion gates in 1994
Expanded camping facilities
With the ever-increasing popularity of the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion
and Hobby Show, the association has worked hard to expand camping
facilities and provide the best services possible for its visitors.
Tented city springs up at fairgrounds
It's been a long way from the first Huron
Pioneer Thresher Reunion with an
attendance 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 Sept. 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 Twp. 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
Association 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
Don Snell, Fred Mote, John Ellacott, Robert
Cook, Wayne Houston, Raymond Hallahan,
Bill Vincent, Bea Houston and current
president Jeff Thomson.
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 first show there were four steam
engines. Last year there was at least three
times that as well, as 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, plenty of things for
those 12,000 plus people to see and do.
When the annual Thresher Reunion comes
to Blyth each September, that unusual
phenomenon known as the "tented city" is
re-born. Hundreds of campers (600 at last
year's Reunion) journey to the village to
partake in the various festivities.
hi order to secure a space, campers used to
begin arriving earlier and earlier. In order to
acommodate this, the Reunion organizers
developed a pre-registration policy two years
ago. As of late August this year almost 500
campers were registered, compared to 300
last year.
Camping facilities for the Reunion are
very good, considering that the area serves
that purpose only occasionally for special
events such as the Reunion. Three years
ago, 24 acres to the west of the area were
purchased by the village. Two-thirds was
paid by the Threshers, while the remainder
came from the Ministry of Tourism and
Continued on A14
Kitchen ware
The bulk of Lois Hodgins's collection
centres around the very interesting
and unique items which were once
commom place in every kitchen.
today, many items still hold to the
same basic design principles.
Collection
meant to
be touched
Continued from Al2
two-foot handle.
Having made inquiries to senior family
members, friends and other collectors with
no success, Hodgins plans to exhibit some of
the unnamed pieces at the 1995 Threshers
Reunion and Hobby Show Association in
Blyth on Sept. 8, 9 and 10.
Viewing the collection is not like a trip to
a museum where the pieces stand pristinely
on a shelf, behind glass. The items are to be
touched and studied. Hodgins lets you
experience the lives of grandparents or
great-grandparents.
The showroom, located south of Exeter on
Huron County Road 5 towards Mount
Cannel, is open by chance.
Cleaning up
This 75-year-old Red Star washing
machine is definitely a star in Lois
Hoking's collection. The machine
was completely restored by Walter
Ellis.
BELIEVE IT! THIS IS THE SAME TRACTOR
Watch for this tractor at the '95 Thresher Reunion
Before
Telephone:
(519) 233-7243
LEBEAU FARMS
Specializing in painting & restoration
- We Bring Dead Iron Alive -
After
Brucefield, Ont.
NOM 1J0