Steam Days is a powerful testament to the days of old
Doughty Valley Steam Days is made for young and old alike to enjoy a passion for steam. The event is designed to be insightful for those who know nothing about these old-time machines and to create memories for those who do.
Nearly two decades ago, local steam enthusiasts Reuben Kandel and Abe Mast had the idea of providing a venue for other steam enthusiasts to gather and celebrate a part of America’s history that helped shape the nation.
With steam serving as a main source of power a century ago, the powerful steam engines that spout steam and smoke and sound as though they are chattering up a storm as they chug and plug along with their hit-and-miss engines have made for a fascinating show for the public, and this year the 18th annual Doughty Valley Steam Days will take place July 26-28 and will again usher in a time of joy and fascination for those in attendance.
As is the case each year, the DVSD committee has created a venue that makes this show so much more than just providing an opportunity for the public to see these gigantic, historical machines.
Throughout the three-day venue, the steam engines and tractors will demonstrate their enormous power, whether it is demonstrations in plowing, sawing wood or several other opportunities.
The fact that this event is nestled in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country is very appropriate because the rural heritage of the steam engine seems to fit in with the lifestyle in Amish Country nicely.
According to committee member Atlee Weaver, remembering the past and keeping the rural farm heritage alive in the present day is what Doughty Valley Steam Days is all about. He said the mechanization of farm implements was a major step in the progress of farming and in ushering in the equipment being used today. Doughty Valley Steam Days wants to make sure that the role these beautiful engines played in the nation’s farming history isn’t forgotten.
“The weekend is a time when people can go back in time and experience a very important part of our culture and history,” Weaver said. “These are powerful pieces of equipment that played a key role in our nation as it grew and developed. What we want to do is provide an opportunity for people to experience firsthand what that time was like.”
Each summer the organizers pull together collectors from Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Pennsylvania for the three-day event, and with working demonstrations on all three days, there are plenty of chances to see these impressively powerful machines in action.
However, there is so much more to see for the whole family.
Thursday, July 26 will feature a horse pull that is always fun for everyone as the horses show off their incredible strength. Friday night will feature a tug-of-war between man and machine as upward of 100 men, women and children can grab a rope and take on one of these steam engines in a classic battle of power. Friday night also will feature the wildly popular sparks show with the engines ushering in the dark of night by showing the skyline with a cascade of glowing cedar embers that creates a glowing, brilliant appeal.
“In the past, Friday night has always been our biggest night because of all of the activities that are taking place,” Weaver said.
In addition to the authentic steam engines and tractors, they have brought in an authentic cook shack, which was a rolling kitchen that would accompany the threshing and logging crews out into the fields decades ago to cook meals for the workers. At the Doughty Valley show, women in the cook shack will prepare meals, just like it would have been a century ago.
A new addition to the show this year will be a garden tractor parade that will feature tons of smaller garden tractors and open the door for youngsters to take on more of an active role in the weekend.
“We are always trying to find new ways to keep things fresh, and we wanted to create something that would involve some of our younger fans,” Weaver said of the garden tractor parade. “We think this will be a fun time for families to participate in the activities. So often it is more of just coming and watching what is going on, but with the parade, families can become a part of what is taking place.”
By continuing to add new features and highlights to the show, they have been able to keep it fresh without losing the commitment to keeping history alive by focusing on the historical significance of steam. In addition the show’s country atmosphere helps it maintain that sense of the simplicity of the early days of steam.
With a slate full of action, steam, power and activity, Doughty Valley Steam Days is a perfect opportunity for those who are passionate about steam engines to unite and share their common love of these antique beauties. It also is a time when those curious about how these big machines operate can ask questions and find answers from a group of knowledgeable enthusiasts.
Over the years this event has become a place where the regulars return time and again to reminisce and reconnect.
What that has done is create a wonderful atmosphere that has helped build relationships between people who have similar passions for steam, and that has made it a very reunion-like weekend as year after year people return to enjoy the company of each other.
“We have a lot of people who continue to come back year after year to get together with each other,” committee member Dan Mast said. “It is very much like a reunion, and the family keeps on getting bigger and bigger because it is a passion that we all share.”
Anyone wishing to enter a garden tractor into the parade may do so by calling Weaver at 330-390-5764. Registrations will be taken right up until parade day.
After all of these years, having grown from a tiny idea into a large steam show, Abe Mast said there have been many times he has wondered how a few men were able to create something as big as this show has become. It has been a lot of work, but it has been a labor of love for the board members who have kept it going.
Whether it is the demonstrations or shows, the sheer joy of watching this slice of Americana is well worth the price of admission for those in attendance.
Between the wafting smoke, the shrill plaintiff call of the whistles, the gentle sound of the engines’ hissing after being worked out and the natural setting, the Doughty Valley Steam Show continues to be a source of joy and a trip down memory lane for many.