July 2021

June Show 2021

By Paul Harvey

By the time this is read, CPM’s terrific June Show is history - but such wonderful history it is!  Having canceled the 2020 June show due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone was anxiously awaiting the decision for this year.  Thankfully due to the widespread vaccinations, the dread disease ebbed and we were able to have the show. And what a great show it was!  With the nice weather, there was an atmosphere of pleasant relaxation across the grounds.  So happy to see all our friends again!

Our grounds opened on Tuesday at noon for exhibitors and sellers to enter and set up their displays.  By late afternoon, the grounds had many displays being set up with a spirit of enthusiasm for the days ahead.  These photos show all the folks here.

Here are some more photos that show the pleasant memories.

A nice Wise made in Butler, and the unique Earl.

What a great beginning, and there is so much more to come!

Wednesday morning greeted me with a delicious plate full of sausage, eggs, and 'taters, all fried hard.  Good start for the day as I had to work the gate to greet all our guests.  So nice to renew old friendships, and to make new ones.  That is the best part of our engine passion!  While enjoying the breakfast, I reflected on our faithful food vendors; K and S Concessions, BBW Roasters, Villella’s Meats, and Dana’s Dogs and Burgers.  All were very busy.

All were pleased with the great food and service.

We were very happy to welcome a new vendor, Creekside Kettle Corn, who does it the old-fashioned way, sweet and salty.  Yummy, it was tasty, and fun to watch a batch being made!  Welcome to Knight and Amanda Clark.

Of course the Lions Club was here, and Gary Burkett was busy selling all kinds of brooms to benefit so many in our community.  Great job! My wife, Marilyn, loves the broom she bought!

Getting off front gate duty on Wednesday, I hurried down to the Preston Foster Hall for the usual engineer’s meeting conducted by our president, Kieth Monnier.  This meeting is necessary in order for all to have a good and safe event.  BUT! Then there was a big surprise for me!  Russel Farmer, on the right, founder of the Oil Field Engine Society, known as the OFES, introduced Jim Rush as their Grand Master.  Then it gets even better.

The Grand Master called me up and presented a donation for a memorial brick for the new Air-Blast Injection Diesel building.  Wow!  I graciously accepted and humbly bowed to him.  I thank all the OFES everywhere!

Now the show officially started on Thursday, and I was on gate duty again.  It was busy with a steady stream of visitors whom I enjoyed chatting with.  Probably the best part of our shows is making new friends and renewing old friendships.  That’s what makes CPM so special!

Our Show Grounds Coordinator, Jake Faith, along with John Hanley, did a superb job on the grounds.  Jake is always “Faithful” to us, and his attire is so unique!  We appreciate both of you.

As I "gatored" around the grounds, I discovered so many unique and wonderful engines on display!  I’m including a collage of six that I found interesting, but I could also show an entire page full.  I’ve never seen anything like it.

Probably the most unique engine that I have even seen is this Sorg, owned by Ed Laginess, and restored and operated by Marv Hedberg.  He patiently explained all the details to me.  It runs so very well and is a delight to see!  CPM appreciates your efforts to display and operate it for our show.  Thanks again!

Friday was another great day!  After greeting so many more at the gate, I had a special treat.  Last fall I had given Kyle Kintner, who is a rail car enthusiast, my “paddy” car that I saved from a scrap yard in 1967.

  Looked like a horrible job but he liked it and promised to display it this year.  And indeed he did!  I even got to operate it about 100 feet on the gravel.  I was thrilled!!!

Two other “shocking” exhibits.

Jim Rush, abandoning his role as Grand Master of the OFES, did a remarkable job on our three-cylinder, 90 hp, Westinghouse gas engine.  This is probably the largest of the few that survived.  Next to it, we have a 60 hp twin-cylinder example that is operational.  Both were donated by Blawnox Rolls in Wheeling, West Virginia, many years ago.

Mark Rembis and his friend Vicki did a wonderful job of demonstrating the Witte Dieselectric, and applying load testing to it to demonstrate its capabilities.  It is located in the John Kline Generating Plant.

Gordon Jones did an excellent job of selling bricks to benefit the new Air-Blast Injection Building.  We certainly thank all those who purchased, and there will be an impressive display for all to enjoy!

An impressive moment on the busy Friday afternoon was the dedication of the Pete Shaffer Field.  Pete and I grew up together here in Coolspring.  He was involved with the engines long before the museum was formed.  He did all the mowing, maintaining the equipment meticulously.  When no longer able to do that, he drove the shuttle cart, enjoying visiting with all the guests.  Pete, you are sadly missed!  The photo shows his family and friends.  Back row, left to right; Reverend Andy Shaffer, son; Tom Rapp, friend; Paul Harvey; Bob Shaffer, brother.  Front row; Gretchen, granddaughter; Carole Sue, daughter; Cheri, wife; and Linda, daughter.  Carole Sue did a tremendous presentation, sharing many memories!

Reid Wellman did a fantastic presentation about the Miller engines, our theme this year.  It was held in the Coolspring Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m., and it was packed!  Wish it could be that way on Sundays.  After the presentation, the grounds were alive with an evening engine run.  It seems so special to see them operate after dark.  A delightful way to end a perfect day!

Reflecting back, there were so many wonderful exhibits and happenings that it was hard to keep up with all.  I realize that I missed a lot and truly apologize to those omitted in this article.  Everyone is equally important here at CPM to help make our events special.  I thank everyone!

Everything slowed down on Saturday as many of our guests had left for their long sojourn home.  Now is the time to start the clean up with so much to put away until the next event.  All our volunteers did an excellent job making everything look so calm and serene.  Then to relax for the evening and anticipate the coming Volunteer Dinner.  And it was so good!

It was catered by Shannon’s Catering who provided a scrumptious array of food to please everyone’s palates.  Our president, Kieth Monnier, provided the opening remarks and offered the prayer.  Then everyone dug in.  The food was endless and absolutely delicious.  We were all provided with boxes to take the next day’s food home with us.  Then a leisurely evening of relaxing and chatting.  Everyone was in awe about the tremendous success of our show!

Then someone shouted, “There is a rainbow!”  A great sign to the success of CPM!  Later then, the water tank appeared awesome against the fading light of day.  Hope you will all return to enjoy our next event.