CORUNNA, Aug. 2, 1957 — The huffs and puffs of yesteryear sounded over a Corunna district farm field today as four old steam engines snorted through
The first steam engine race at Corunna, Ontario, Aug 2, 1957.
Part of a campaign to start a club for old-time steam engine enthusiasts, the show today was held on the farm of S. C. Hunter, east of Corunna. It will resume tomorrow.
Three of the steamers are owned by Charles J. Spicer, of Corunna and the fourth by Carl West of Sarnia.
In the race, run between threshing trials, one of Mr. Spicer’s steamers puffed across the finish line unchallenged when Mr. West’s entry developed mechanical trouble.
The first steam engine race at Corunna, Ontario, Aug 2, 1957.
Mr. Spicer, organizer of the show, said it is the first of its kind in Ontario, but said in Michigan and Ohio, similar demonstrations are becoming increasingly popular. A life long steam power enthusiast, Mr. Spicer has been superintendent of the Polymer corporation’s steam powered electric generators at Sarnia.
Among his three steamers, is a Sawyer Massey engine built in Hamilton 35 years ago. With this and his two other machines, Mr. Spicer hopes to form the nucleus of an old-time steamers club to present regular shows throughout Lambton, Kent, Middlesex and other Western Ontario counties.
The first show in 1957 on Stewart Hunter’s farm near Corunna, Ontario was a qualified success with about 500 visitors attending- expenses for the show far exceeded the gate receipts. This was discouraging, but the founding members pitched in to make sure all of the bills were paid. The regular show did not proceed in the following year. However, a scaled down version was held in 1958 at Carl West’s place on London Road, Sarnia Township. Neighbours pitched in to help with grain threshing using Mr. West’s John Goodison engine and an antique Champion separator brought by George Searson and Hugh Chisholm from the Goderich museum to make the day an enjoyable affair. The day concluded with an oldtime threshers dinner prepared by Mrs. West.
The 1958 event seemed to raise the enthusiasm of the founders and their friends. In August of 1959 the show returned to Stewart Hunter’s farm with much larger crowds and expenses were met. The founders decided that the project was certainly worthwhile and on February 14, 1960, the Western Ontario Steam Threshers’ Association was formerly instituted at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Spicer. The officers elected were Hugh Chisholm as President, Mrs. Carl (Margaret) West as Secretary, Mrs. Charles (Beatrice) Spicer as Treasurer. Carl West was elected Chairman of the first Board of Directors which included Ben Scaman, Jack White, Stewart Hunter, George Searson, Charles Spicer, A. V. Wright, Ted West, Walter Davis, William Dawson and James Hunter.
The popularity of the show increased, the attendance grew, as well as the number of exhibits. After the 1961 show, it was apparent that this annual event had outgrown the Hunter farm. The Petrolia Fair Board was contacted and the WOSTA board decided to hold the 1962 show at the Greenwood Park in Petrolia, Ontario where it stayed for three years. Model steam engines, old tractors, gasoline engines and antique cars were exhibited, as well as the regular steam engines. A parade was held through the main street of Petrolia to the Fairgrounds on the Saturday morning, and as everyone loves a parade, this drew crowds of people. In 1964 a change was made and the parade was held on the track in front of the grandstand on each day of the show. This seemed to be the beginning of varied activities, several of which are still used each year.
In 1965 the site of the show was changed again, and moved a few miles west to the Brigden Fair Grounds on Highway #80. In 1969 the 2-day show became a 3-day event. Now, the event is held annually the third week in August in Forest, Ontario.
