The Citizen, 1998-09-09, Page 28FAMILY TRADITION
Wayne and Bea Houston of Moorefield have been a fixture of the Huron Pioneer
Thresher Association for many years, serving in executive and committee
capacity.
E S T I V A L.
CANAD4AN THEATRE
L y P.O B
phone:
e:o5x 0, 191.523B.,3L9Y00TH/ faN:11H 54191-52 03.9804
email: blythiestival@odyssey,on.ca
40.1k Wimiotivtr EV0,*1 . .
We extend our best wishes to the Pioneer
Thresher and Hobby Association
on their 37th Reunion
Our elevators are ready to receive your
1998 corn and soybeans
BUY, SELL, DRY AND STORE
SOYBEANS AND CORN
See us for forward contracts
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AND SUPPLIES LTD.
(519) 523-9501 Westfield R.R. #3 Blyth
PAGE A-S. HIE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, /998.
1998 HURON PIONEER THRESHER REUNION & HOBBY SHOW
Thresher Reunion a Houston family tradition
first steam engine.
Bea couldn't believe what she saw when
the float carrying the engine came down
the lane.
"I said, 'What on earth is that?' I
thought it would be a small thing," recalls
Bea.
It was no small thing. Over the next two
years, Wayne and his three sons re-built
the 1923 engine. They showed it for the
first time at the Blyth reunion in 1975.
"We fixed the engine just the way our
grandfathers would have. We didn't use
any fancy, modern machinery," said
Wayne.
The Houston's granddaughter Christy,
24, has been driving the steam engine ever
since she was 10. This year she will be
visiting from Moose Factory during the
Blyth and Milton reunions.
After restoring the steam engine, Wayne
started getting more involved in the show.
Less than 10 years later Wayne found
himself at the reunion's annual meeting
elected as second vice-president. Shortly
after being elected in July of 1982, the
president quit, leaving Wayne in charge of
putting the show together in two months.
Fortunately, he had help from his family
and a core group of dedicated people at
the association.
"I knew what steam engines were," said
Bea, "but I didn't know anything else
about the show." It was a busy summer
for the Houstons. All three sons and their
wives pitched in to make the show
happen.
"That was the re-birth of the show," said
Wayne. "Since then the club has never
looked back," Bea added.
They drew up a constitution to set out
rules and regulations for the reunion and
to ensure that if there was a bad season
they could get support from the bank. The
same year Wayne and the executive
council of the association found a
permanent home for the reunion. The
town of Blyth agreed to buy a lot and a
half of land for the reunion.
A few years later, Bea followed in
Wayne's footsteps to become the first
woman president of the association in
1988.
"They weren't ready for a woman
president but I had done a lot of the work
behind Wayne so I knew what was going
on," said Bea.
Realizing there wasn't enough for
women and children to do at the reunion,
Bea set out to change that. She travelled to
different shows and found crafts for the
reunion. She then put her daughter-in-law
Joe, in charge of the craft section.
The other change Bea made while
president was to move the beer tent
outside and away from the children's
activities. Bea said she didn't fool around
when it came to serving alcohol. She
recalls one time asking Gary Courtney,
now serving as president, for his
identification before allowing him to enter
the beer tent. "We laugh about it now,"
Bea said.
Serving as president wasn't the last of
Bea's involvement in the reunion. She is
CONTINUED ON A-9
By Allison Lawlor
Citizen staff
Weaved into the Houston family's
history is the Huron Pioneer Thresher
Reunion and Hobby Show.
Wayne and Bea Houston of Moorefield,
have been around the show since its early
days. Their first involvement with the
show was in '64, when Wayne and an old
friend, restored a drag saw and brought it
to the show. From then on the reunion
became a big part of the Houston's life. -
In the spring of 1973, Wayne bought his
Stuart McLean ;s Vinyl Cafe
the popular CRC Radio series
featuring live music and original short stories
Saturday, September 19, 1998@ 8 p.m.
Tickets $25 each
Gala Auction 1998
don't miss this bi-ennial capital event!
Knights of Columbus Community Hall, Goderich
preview 5 p.m. / dinner 6:15 p.m., live auction 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 17, 1998
Disconnections: Out of Time, Out of Place
selected works from the permanent collections of the Gallery/Stratford
in the Bainton Gallery, September 19 - November 8
Admission free / Open 9 a.m. - 5 p m. Mon-Fri., or by appointment
Call today - 519-523-9300
For Ares Sake
theatre for young audiences
whete can y-oa Turd a mil leer tiaa, a taming litap papa, acid a widow-
whaled wean: enly in pua Award, that', /a aurae!
Public performances: Saturday, October 31, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. / $4 each
Also this fall, Waiting for G.Doe, (mystery dinner/theatre
Nov. 27 & 28) and Quartette (Dec. 5)
Book your Christmas party today!
OR inquire about special packages for your fall and Christmas Gift-Giving needs.