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PAGE A26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006.
THRESHER REUNION
Years bring changes to show
members and all involved. It has far
surpassed its original aim. It has
developed into an event which
faScinates young and old alike,
drawing thousands to the village of
Blyth each September.
With the Huron Pioneer Thresher
Reunion and Hobby Association
marking its 45th edition this year,
reminiscing recalls changes which
have taken place through the
years.
When the concept was first
developed many years ago, the aim
of the reunion was to reunite a gang
of men who had travelled the
countryside performing the task of
threshing farmers' fields.
That original group consisted of
the Hallahan brothers of East
Wawanosh, Dennis, Willie Joe,
Daniel, John, Simon and Raymond
as well as Alec Manning, Jack
White, Hugh Chisholm and many
other local men.
Notices were sent to other
threshers in the community,
informing them of the planned
gathering. Machinists who had
worked with the steam threshers and
owners of machines were invited to
show off their equipment and
discuss old times.
• The first reunion, held at the old
Orange Hall in Blyth, apparently
caused somewhat of a commotion.
Upon arriving at the hall the Orange
Master refused the threshers
entrance. Assuming some liquor had
been consumed, the Orange Master
would not allow then into the
building.
Since indoor activities had been
curtailed, the men carried on their
party in front of the hall. Several had
brought fiddles and other musical
instruments so they began playing in
the street.
As the group carried on, the street
began to fill with spectators and
soon overflowed. The Orange
Master, having decided the threshers
weren't such a bad group after all, let
them into the ball.
For the next four years the group
of men gOt together at an old horse
barn. They had five steam engines on
display and entertained spectators,
with their homegrown style of
music.
The contribution of the threshers'
wives to their reunion was never
overlooked. The women provided an
excellent meal in the old thresher.
way, cooking good hot meals with
plenty of homebaking too. The
selection included pies. cakes and
home preserves.
By the fifth year, with the
popularity of the reunion changing it
into a community activity rather than
a private social gathering, the
original members decided to set up
committees to provide more
entertainment, fiddle and stepdance
contests and to bring in more
threshing machines.
As the years passed, the event just
continued to grow in its ability to
pull in spectators and exhibitors.
After managing the show for 23
yearS, the threshers decided it was
time to incorporate the show.
This was the biggest change for
the reunion. Instead of all the
members par-ticipating in the
planning, 15 directors were chosen.
As the enthusiasm for the show
grows, so does the investment of
lime required by the committee
Smiling faces abound at the annual Reunion. (File photo)
Little engineers enjoy a rest in a vintage buggy at last year's
Reunion. (File photo)
The Reunion is always a time for generations to get together
and learn about or remember the past. (File photo)
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