After the Harvest, lots of communities will have their heritage festival of some type. These run through October in some parts of the country. Here one can see many of the old machines that were used during the 1800’s in to the early 1900’s. Lots of this could be found in the mining camps as well as the prairie land.
The pictures are from scanned slides I took a number of years ago, well decades ago. Since then things have changed some yet here is a glimpse into another era that is slipping into fading memory banks.
The steam engine was developed during the early 1800’s and one of the reasons for the Industrial revolution. The vertical steam donkey supplied power to factories and was put on the wheels to operate early trains. Here the steam engine is a tractor that is being used to operate a saw mill.
Lumber was critical to any early pioneer endeavor. Building houses, shops, sheds, buildings… etc.
The mill could be set up in the woods, town, camp or wherever a supply of wood could be found. Down into the mine shafts the timbers went for bracing. Out on the land there was a home raising and on the corner was a half frame for a saloon tent.
It was fascinating to watch the old timers operate these old pieces of machinery that their parents or grandparents had used to help build their home.
The lumber would take shape and one could feel the anticipation of new structures being built,a dream coming to life. It was a shared experience, neighbor helping neighbor. Working together to accomplish their dream.
The crowd was just as enjoyable as was watching the different machines operate.
because of the plethora of government regulations many of these old machines now sit back in the corner of the barn collecting dust.
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