Early Farm Days at Windmill

The 1? inch drill is mounted on an upright boom constructed of angle iron; a 2? inch steel casing was used to protect the well walls. The boom is about 25 feet long and was laid back across the top of the rig when it was moved from site to site.

Another engine exhibit getting special attention this year was a rare 1899 Crossley 2 HP belonging to Carl Adams of Mooresville, North Carolina. Built in England, the Crossley was considered to be one of the best the Europeans could offer in the way of small engines around the turn of the century.

Some of the other small engines getting plenty of close looks from spectators at the three day affair included:

A 1905 2 HP Emerson-Brantingham belonging to Marvin Tucker of Statesville, North Carolina; a 1900-1902 Olds owned by Lacey Blair of Granite Falls, North Carolina; a 1920 Economy 9 HP engine belonging to Harry Gibson of Statesville, North Carolina; R. S. Hodge's 1926 International. Hodge hails from Belmont, North Carolina; a 1905 Perkins owned by Doug Kelley of Lake Wylie, South Carolina; a 1928 McCormick Deering belonging to Bobby Hall of Charlotte, North Carolina; and a 1915 Economy owned by Bobby Stewart of Dunn, North Carolina.

The 1989 Early Farm Days show was also an excellent opportunity for Doc Denny of Concord, North Carolina to show off his restored 1932 Toro dump truck. Denny's restoration efforts drew praise from exhibitors and visitors alike.

While bartering for engines and parts goes on almost continuously, many of the small engine buffs also take some time out to see some of the other fascinating exhibits at Windmill Acres.

Down in the big barn, visitors and exhibitors watch as farm manager Kim Sigmon, horseman Don Schneckloth, Rose Schneckloth and Michele McMain get the massive Sigmon Belgians ready for their daily performance.

Sigmon's award-winning Belgians participate in about 30 shows and competitions each year. They're also great favorites at parades and other activities.

Visitors to the big barn this year were treated to a video show presented by Sherri McMain, Linda Grange and Tara McMain of Delmar, Iowa. The videos featured highlights from the Belgian competitions at Toronto, Denver and Lexington, Kentucky.

For those who enjoy watching black smoke come from the stacks of old steam engines, there was plenty of that going on also. Down in the lower pasture John Link of Hickory, North Carolina and several helpers put on baling and thrashing exhibitions, while up on the hill by the lake James Sigmon of Harrogate, Tennessee, Greg Deal of Morganton, North Carolina, J.C. Green of Boone, North Carolina, and Paul Mullis showed spectators how to turn huge logs into usable timber at the old sawmill. Saw-milling was one of the toughest jobs around during the early 1900's.