By Dylan McKenzie

September 10, 2017 - An Ohio community is preparing for an event unique to the area, showing off the power of the machines of old.

On the second weekend of September, people will gather at a site along Ohio 519 just west of New Athens for the 55th Annual Stumptown Steam Threshers show. The annual event helps to show off the machinery and equipment that was once used to help people earn their livings around Eastern Ohio, such as old-style steam and gas engines for helping around the farm. The event will include demonstrations of grain threshing, bailing straw, sawing lumber and more to help show off the power of these machines that once were in common use all over the state. Other activities available to the public attending include a slow engine race, kiddie tractor pull and a kiddie coin hunt. Food will also be available for attendees, keeping them fueled as they enjoy the day and all there is to see.

This same weekend will also see the 14th annual Old Construction Equipment and Mining show at a nearby site. The focus of this show is on old and construction equipment that has been collected and given a new home at the reclamation site along Ohio 519. Some of the machinery featured will include old crawlers, mining equipment and digging machines of various types. The event will feature demonstrations by some of the machines, digging into the earth and showing off the power that they once used in construction jobs all over the state. The show will feature barbecue and bison burgers for hungry guests, and organizers encourage anyone who might own a vintage machine to bring it out and show it off to the public.

The 55th Annual Stumptown Steam Threshers and the 14th Annual Old Construction Equipment and Mining shows both take place today and Sunday at 43772 Stumptown Road and 43672 Stumptown Road, respectively.

For more information about the steam threshers, call 330-265-3659, 740-968-4796 or 304-242-6856 or email stumptownsteamthreshers@yahoo.com. For more information on the Construction Equipment and Mining show, call 740-312-5385 or 330-618-8032.

A massive shovel sits in front of a cab that once controlled it at the Harrison Coal and Reclamation Historical Park.

By Dylan McKenzie