30th Annual Southeast Old Threshers' Reunion Has Record Crowd
Thirty must be the magic number when it comes to steam and gas festivals. Well, it seemed to be the magical number for the Southeast Old Thresher's Reunion held June 30-July 4, 2000, at the Denton FarmPark. Visitors from 26 states and several foreign countries made the event the largest in its history. Record numbers of antique tractors and gasoline engines also arrayed the landscape this year.
A new attraction this year was the museum building filled with antique radios and memorabilia. Other attractions included: steam shovel and steam crane, steam train rides, horse-powered treadmill, operating cotton gin, country store and post office, shoe shop, 19th Century tramping barn, granary, blacksmith shop, slave house and smokehouse, grist mill, church and a log cabin full of antiques.
Power from steam and gas engines operated a threshing machine and baler, the first combine ever used in North Carolina in operation; plowing with a 1914 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor.
Other demonstrations included: rock crusher, wood splitter, gold ore stamping machine, giant 350 HP Bates-Corliss steam engine, collies herding sheep twice each day, antique tractor pulls, horse pull and lawnmower pull.
Children enjoyed the barnyard petting farm, pony rides and games. Plenty of antiques, arts and crafts, and flea market items were for sale. For the antique enthusiasts an auction was held on Monday, July 3.
Come and join us for the 31st annual Reunion to be held June 30 -July 4, 2001, at the Denton FarmPark, Denton, North Carolina. For more information please call or write: Denton FarmPark, 1366 Jim Elliott Road, Denton, North Carolina 27230. Phone: 336-859-2755 or 336-859-3663.
Email: manager@threshers.com; Website: www.threshers.com