Williams Grove 50th Anniversary Show

[Reeves1665]

I am just dropping a line to everyone that this year is Williams Grove 50th year anniversary! The show is located in Williams Grove, PA, about 15 miles south of the Capitol of Harrisburg.

We are inviting everyone that can to attend, if you happen to have an engine you could bring, it would be greatly appreciated. We are looking to get atleast 50 engines.....

The show purchased the showgrounds it has been held on all of its' life this past year, at a cost of 2.5 million for just over 90 acres.

There are MANY activities at the show, including a full size locomotive. There is, of course, plenty of good homemade food, a farmers flea market (which is also held every Sunday, proceeds going to offset the purchase of the land), tractor pulls, games of all kinds, you name it, it is there!!

If you can spare anytime helping volunteer, just stop by and anyone would be more than glad to point you in the right direction!

The show runs August 24 thru September 1, 2008.

If you have any questions or can possbily bring an engine, please contact either MZeigler (Mike Zeigler), Barry Peck, or Reeves1665 (Josh Nace). You can also check out the shows' website, WWW.WGHSEA.ORG. Thank you!

[Brad Kelley]

Can you comment on what is required to bring an out of state steam engine into PA? Will there be inspectors on site, or must it be done in advance?

[Reeves1665]

Brad, and anyone with inspection questions, please send me a pm and I will answer your questions.

Thanks,
Josh

[HBurk]

Reeves,
I've checked the Williams Grove Site, and I see very little interest in gas tractors and no interest in gas engines. Maybe I missed something. Sometimes I do.

[M Zeigler]

H.B.
While you are correct about the content,but not the intrest, When you have a member that does the web page for basically no charge and who's main intrest is the full size railroad locomotive it can be a challenge to get the catagories listed as requested. I know it has been an issue in the past and will probably continue to be. The first 2 years the web page didn't list anything except the railroad.
You know the old saying , go ahead and scream at me ,I'm free help and here for the abuse.
Hopefully every catagory will be addressed properly.

,Mike

[Reeves1665]

Thank you Mike!

If I remember correctly, there were over 500 tractors and around 250 engines or so...

The interest and showing is definitly there in all areas!!!

Thanks!
Josh

[Jim Conte]

I'll second what Mike and Josh said. Acres of gas engines and even more acres of oil, gas and early diesel tractors. The railroad group has stuck together through thick and thin over the years, and they are the reason PRR 643 is running. I cut my teeth at The Grove in days of double rows of steamers and drawbar to drawbar, bolted with a piece of pipe, grudge pulls. Maybe not quite so wild nowadays, but lots of down home friendly folks, lots of camping, and interesting sights nearby for the out-of-towners. Gettysburg is about 20 miles away. It has to be one of the easiest shows to get to, right near I-81 / 78, US 15 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I - 70 / 76.

[Barry Peck]

Since I am the editor of the Bulletin , a yearly publication that we put together for our members , I have the official count for last year in my hands . Last year ( 2007) at the 49th annual summer show we had 20 Steam engines , 490 Farm Tractors , 176 Gas engines , 170 Garden Tractors Regestered and we had 5 teams compete in the horse pulling contest !! Not too shabby . I have gas engines , A steam engine , Tractors , Threshing machines and garden tractors that have all been at the show at on epoint or the other and I love all of them .
I will try to submit some tractor pictures and gas engine pictures to the person who does the website and see if we can't get some on there . But rest assured , They are there !!
We also now have over 2,000 members

Barry

[Beth V]

While I am admittedly biased towards our shows here in the MI, OH & IN area....it is really nice to see an "Eastern" show being highlighted!

Beth

[George & Helen Myers]

Originally Posted by Jim Conte

..... I cut my teeth at The Grove ..... .

Barry was probably still in diapers when he first attended the Show, I know he was quite young!........Helen

[Reeves1665]

Beth -

How bout the Port making an appearnance, or better yet you make it out????
You know there is a little Reeves you can run.....

Josh

[Reeves1665]

There is also tractor pulls most of the evenings for fun, with a serious one being on the 2nd Sunday.....

There is a HUGE consignment sale on the Saturday of the show also.....

Josh

[Reeves1665]

Just wanted to bring this back to the top....

Josh

[M Zeigler]

Just a reminder that setup for the 50th annual show has started, already close to 30 Traction engines on site and more scheduled to arrive in the coming days. Opening day is Sunday the 24th.
If the weather holds it should be a great show.

,Mike

[Mike Rohrer]

Save me a spot somewhere for my little Geiser portable!
We are bringing it up Sunday AM.
The Grove holds a special place in my heart. It was here where I got started down the path of steam. I been coming to the grove for now over 30 years!
Help us make this year a GREAT show!
Thanks
Mike

[M Zeigler]

Mike,
Consider a spot saved,see you Sunday.

,Mike

[Ross Clarke]

Is the show operating on Sun the 24th?
I will be passing thru the area and thought I might stop in.

Thanks
Ross

[M Zeigler]

Ross,
Opening celebration starts at 10:00 a/m SUNDAY the 24th, breakfast available around 07:00 at the butcher shop,
Hope to see you.

,Mike

[Farquhar]

Mike Z, & all, we had planned to make at least one day of WG this yr. I now have to take my bro in law, to Knoxville Tn, to an eye specialist on mon, 25.[we had planned to get in Somerset on Sun-24th] If we can get to Somerset, & have campers set up Mon afternoon, we may still try to make a day trip up, on Tue.

[Geiser13876]

Originally Posted by Mike Rohrer

Save me a spot somewhere for my little Geiser portable!
We are bringing it up Sunday AM.
The Grove holds a special place in my heart. It was here where I got started down the path of steam. I been coming to the grove for now over 30 years!
Help us make this year a GREAT show!
Thanks
Mike

Mike you could always park it beside the "Q". I want to get a pic of them this year hooked to each other.