Essex Steam and Gas Engine Club hosts 40th show, displays new barn quilt

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by Garrett Fodor 

Tractors rolled, engines roared, and the streets of McGregor came alive this weekend as the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum welcomed visitors from across the region for its 40th annual show. The event celebrated the machines, people, and traditions that have brought the community together for four decades.

  From August 14-16, the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum grounds were filled with activity as the club marked the milestone 40th edition of its annual show. The event celebrated the machinery, technology, and innovation that helped shape many of the processes and equipment used today.

  “Looking back at it, to say we have been here for over 40-years and 40 shows is great,” Gary Struhar, President of the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum, said. “Things have changed through the years, but we’re always trying to improve. This year’s show featured more new tractors and exhibits. We want to get the word out, because not a lot of people know we are here or that we’re a museum. We’ve been trying to add to the kids’ programs over the last five years to offer more fun for the whole family.”

  Although the festivities got underway Friday afternoon, Saturday was when the grounds truly came alive. The day began with the rumble of engines as more than 40 tractors, along with a variety of vehicles and machinery, made their way through McGregor as part of the annual parade, before returning to the museum grounds.

  From there, visitors had plenty to see and do throughout the day, with demonstrations, machinery displays and tractor pulls taking centre stage alongside pony rides, vendors, live music, and the always-popular kids’ “Turkey in the Straw.” With activities happening throughout the grounds, there was something to keep visitors of all ages entertained.

  The 40th annual show also marked the unveiling of the club’s latest addition to the museum – a custom handmade barn quilt proudly displayed on the front of the building.

  The project was the result of extensive planning by the Board of Directors, with several drafts and designs considered before the final concept was chosen. The quilt features a traditional border, while the centre combines half of a hit-and-miss motor with the front end of a steam engine, reflecting the club’s history and focus.

  The project was overseen by a committee of three longtime members — Ken Voakes, Kathy Badlan, and Bernie Meloche. For Meloche, the project carried an especially personal connection, as his grandfather, Omer Meloche, played a major role in Co-An Park’s history and was instrumental in securing the museum’s current location when the club moved from an earlier site.

  “The response has been really positive, with everyone seeing it, and we are so happy that we were able to have it up and completed in time for the show,” Voakes said, who is a director with the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum. “We’re always looking to move ahead, and we encourage young people to get involved. There’s so much they can learn from these old machines, from fuel-saving engines dating back to 1915 to tractors with some pretty unique ways of starting. We really encourage people to ask questions, because the owners are more than happy to share what they know.”

  With the new quilt now proudly displayed on the front of the museum, the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum has also been added to the barn quilt tour that is hosted throughout the county.