The 29th Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion, 1990-09-05, Page 2PAGE A-2. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1990.
Volunteers make Reunion successful
This is the 1990 executive of the Huron Pioneer Thresher
Reunion, who along with many others, volunteer hours of effort
and energy to ensure the success of this annual event. Back
row, from left: Darryl Searson, director; Findlay MacDonald,
director; Gordon Gross, director; Jim Sloan, President; Bea
Houston, Past President; Harry Wilkins, director. Front:
Marian Hallahan, secretary; Joe Hallahan, director and Lloyd
Josling, director. Missing were: Directors Joan Houston and
Jeff Thompson; First Vice Raymond Hallahan and Treasurer
Carman Craig.
Making an event as big the Thresher
Reunion a success year after year requires
hundreds of hours of volunteer time.
Planning for one Thresher Reunion begins
soon after the last one ends.
Everything has to be looked after from
getting the big steam engines to Blyth and
home again to organizing the small town of
campers to cleaning up after the event.
Heading up the planning is the executive
President Jim Sloan of Chesley. Others on
the executive are Ray Hallahan, RR 3,
Blyth, vice president; Marian Hallahan,
secretary; Carman Craig, treasurer; and
directors Harry Wilkins, Joan Houston,
Joe Hallahan, Lloyd Josling, Jeff Thom
son, Gordon Gross, and Finlay MacDonald.
As well the work is carried out by
different committees. Committee chair
people are: flea market, Bruce Thompson;
gas tractors, Jeff Thompson; outside
concessions, Bob Cook; crafts, Joan Hou
ston; special events, Raymond Hallahan;
float service, John Ellicott; grounds, Lloyd
Josling; camping, Joe Hallahan; antique
cars, Bill Crawford; gas engines, Ray
Moore; small engines, Roy Bennett; steam
engines, Bob Houston; Jamboree, step
dancings and fiddle contests, Gladys Van
Egmond.
Campers create
small town
Joe Hallahan may be a Public Utilities
Commissioner year round in Blyth but
come Thresher Reunion time, he’s mayor
of a small town for a few days.
The town is the Thresher Reunion
community that springs up in the week
leading up to the big event and Mr.
Hallahan is in charge of the camping. Over
the years the size of the campground at the
Reunion has just been growing and
growing. Last year 280 campers were in the
grounds, most in the large camping area at
the northwest end of the grounds.
Many campers come early and stay late
and the trailers and motor homes provide a
little reunion of their own, especially after
most of the crowds have disappeared and
people get their chance to visit and swap
stories and musicians gather around to
give impromptu concerts.
Facilities over the years have improved,
although the reunion organizers still call it
“primitive” camping. More and more
water and electrical outlets have been
added over the years. This year new
facilities have been added along the east
side of the grounds south of the maim
gates.
And Best Wishes on your 29th Reunion
HURON PIONEER THRESHER
AND HOBBY ASSOCIATION
Come visit the downtown merchants' Sidewalk Sale
The Village of Blyth
The Public Utilities Commission
BLYTH
FESTIVAL
LiveTheatre
BLYTH
MEMORIAL
HALL
featuring
Canadian Plays
HURON
PIONEER
THRESHERS
STEAM SHOW
First Weekend
after
LabourDay
r a k
Friendly
to our
Village