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W e e k l y F e a t u r e P
a g e
| The contents of the “Weekly Feature” page are provided
to you for your entertainment, amusement, and perhaps information.
Here you may find articles of interest, pictures, historical information
on the Club, or whatever shuffles to the top of the pile on our
desk. The only defined characteristic of this space is that we
will make every effort to change/replace it around the middle of
each week. Thank you for visiting, and please stop by again. |
“The Steam Barn”
This week we take an abbreviated tour of one of the
true cornerstone features of the ever-expanding MMOGTA Showgrounds.
Officially named for the late Bev Meyers, a prominent and influential
member, the imposing structure was built in several stages over several
years to meet our growing need for indoor display space. The center
section came first and was designed to house and showcase the many
stationary engines, both Steam and Gas powered that we have been privileged
to acquire over our 33 year history. A large boiler is enclosed as
well, which is fed from the coal bin and wood pile, and in turn serves
as the common power source for the many permanently mounted, fully
operational Steam Engines which have been either donated or purchased
by the organization. Most prominent among them is the 150 hp. Single
cylinder Corliss which spent it’s first life in a tanning factory
in northern Michigan. The huge flywheel and many visible operating
parts are a source of endless fascination to spectators who seem mesmerized
by the motion and spectacle as the huge engine turns with hardly a
whisper of sound. Along the West wall, most eyes (and ears) are captivated
by the incredible roar and vibration of the giant Climax V-12 gas engine,
which had served as an auxiliary pump engine for the City of Saginaw
Water department. When the operator cracks the throttle, those 3300
cubic inches of raw power can be heard from one end of the Showgrounds
to the other.
The next addition was built on the North end, and
is an open sided structure to permanently house our fully operational
Sawmill and the associated lumber milling units. Equipped with an arbor
designed to allow many different types of units to be showcased as
the power units, we can operate with a single belt, tandem belt, or
from a PTO shaft. This mill and the many hardy souls who toil around
it has produced much of the building material we have used to construct
the various facilities around our grounds.
The newest end is the southernmost addition, which
houses an incredible array of permanently mounted displays. Near the
center is the blacksmithing area with two working forges and a complete
complement of tools. Continuing south, there are numerous machine shop
installations, and finally a complete Tin Shop, which was donated by
the late Bernard Leahy of St Louis MI.
The industrious crew has recently enhanced the internal
décor by creating a vintage storefront appearance all along
the interior. Both the East and the West sides have been equipped with
fold-down doors at about the waist level to allow spectators to view
the machinery at work from the outside, or you can pass through the
center aisle to see the operations from another angle.
During our annual show on the 3rd weekend of August,
the space remaining is filled with temporary displays such as Henry
Dorrum’s popular rope making machine, seen pictured below, fine
woodworking demonstrations, shingle branding, oil can collection, and
even some live music in the evenings.
Below are a few representative pictures from the Steam
Barn area from past shows. Click to enlarge each photo and please make
this a “must see” stop on your next visit to the Mid Michigan
Old Gas Tractor Showgrounds.
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