Clinton News-Record, 1984-09-05, Page 25Page 5 •
Beans, beans, beans
A number of years ago, two men from
Chatham and Michigan'decided totake part
in the Threshermen's reunion. Their con-
tribution was making beans for the large
crowd of people who visited the reunion dur-
ing tha weekend. This year, Huron County
Pioneer Museum's curator, Ray Scot-
chmere, and a number of volunteers, will be
expanding the Museum's participation.
As well as the 6Q pounds of beans per day,
hot cider, popcorn .and .:.corn on the cob with
be available. According to Mr. Scotchmere,
the corn will be cooked after the beans are
done. The cast iron bean pot, which weighs
88 pounds, is 13 inches high and 26 inches
wide at the top, will be cleaned and then us-
ed to cook the corn.
The corn will not be cooked in the usual
fashion. hay/ever. Mr.. Scotchmere plans to
use the steam from a steam engine as the
heat.
It takes a lot longer for the beans to cook
then it• does for them to disappear. The
beans go on the fire at 8 a.m. and are ready
about 2:30 p.m. The huge bean pot is emp-.
tied in approximately 40 minutes.
For 60 pounds of beans to be demolished in
40 minutes must mean they are delicious.
This year the museum crew will be using
white beans, pork hocks, brown sugar,
tomato juice, onions, salf and pepper. All of
the .proceeds will go to the Huron
threshermen and the Huron County Pioneer
Museum.
Early threshing methods
The harvesting of the first wheat crop in
the Huron County tract was done in 1829. On-
ly a few farmers participatedin the harvest
as the majority of settlers did not arrive un-
til the following year,
Their tools were not very' well developed
during this period with . the major " im-
plements being the plough, the harrow, the.
sickle, the rake and the flail. As the farms
grew, the need from snore efficient equip-
ment also grew: This need led to the
threshing machines.
When fall frost was in the air, the work of
threshing began. The history of threshing in
this country has changed throughout the
years.
First of all, the men did the flailing -.slow
dry work. The grain, after being cut by the
sickle, was flung aside to be gathered later
and bound into sheaves. It was scattered on
the hard ground and beaten with flails to
separate grain from straw.
The second way was to "have animals do
the work of threshing by tramping on the
sheaves.
Thirdly, a horse was used to pull a log with
pins in it. The log would roll over the
sheaves.
The fourth way of threshing was to use
two teams of oxen, operating on
horsepower, driving an open cylinder
thresher.
These methods were the forerunners of
the John Goodison machine which was, built
in Sarnia about 1910. This machine was com-
plete with cylinder, self feeder, beater,
decks, fanning mill, blower and straw cut-
ter. It is a very heavy machine, equipped
with four heavy road wheels,. and it also had
an elevator to put the grain in the granary.
The advent of the threshing machine and
steam engine brought the final phase of
development in agriculture. Crews were
able to move from farm to farm on schedule
to thresh the wheat.
Threshing days became huge community
events. It also meant that this labor saving
combine, with othersnachines, helped to br-
ing costs down low enough to compete with
the States in the sale of wheat.
(This informationiscourtesy of the Huron
County Pioneer Museum's research team.. )
WELCOME
TO THE
Hours: Monday
Saturday 9 am - 8:30
pm during Blyth
Summer Festival.
Gifts ei Handicrafts
140 Queen St. North, Blyth Prop. Con fi Lois van Vliet 523-9477
September 7th. 8th and 9th
Come in and meet the
NEW OWNERS of
The Saga
during your visit in Blyth.
The Saga
WELCOME
to the
23rd Annual
PIONEER THRESHERS
and
HOBBY ASSOCIATION REUNION
September 7th, 8th and 9th
We invite you to come in
and enjoy
DAILY SPECIALS! !
Open Tuesdays to Sundays
lam - bpm
04E
ililtagE ?Restaurant
PROP. Jim Tesseris - Main St, Blyth 5239566
Stirring up ,60 pounds of beans during the Threshermen's Reunion is Ray Scotchmere,
curator of the Huron County Pioneer Museum. Mr. Scotchmere and a number of
volunteers from the museum will be cooking beans, corn on the cob, popcorn and hot
cider at this year's reunion. (Shelley McPhee photo)
Knitting
Kneeds
Ladies'
Wear
Fabric
Centre
Join Us In
Welcoming the 23rd Annual
Pioneer Thresher and
Hobby Association Reunion
September 7th and 8th
"Check Our In -Store
Specials"
arehion
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Welcome
BLYT.H
523-4351
HOURS:
OPEN 6 DAYS
A WEEK
9 a.m. - 815 p.m.
During Blyth Summer Festival
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