Our club has its roots in an association which once had a large measure of influence on issues affecting agriculture and rural life. Formed at the turn of the century, this organization was known as the Indiana Brotherhood of Threshermen and had chapters in every county of our state. The Brotherhood set the local custom threshing price and served to unify its members by lobbying for their common needs, such as improvements to roads and bridges so they could safely drive their equipment from one farm to another, as well as by operating an insurance company to provide coverage for its members against fire damage. Another service the Brotherhood provided was in educating farmers in methods to improve their grain productivity.
With advancements in agricultural technology and assembly-line production in the 1920's and 30's, membership in the Brotherhood fell. Farmers could now afford to buy their very own "threshing rig", which now, for the most part, consisted of a tractor and a pull-type combine. This type of harvesting equipment was much less costly and easier to maintain than the traditional steam engine and thresher. And so the old tradition of the threshing ring fell to the wayside.
This fine equipment is owned by our club's own Lawrence Porter. It is the only known complete Robinson threshing rig.
A tractor and combine such as this is what led to the demise of steam threshing. This classic Allis-Chalmers outfit is owned by club member, Bob Schrank.
After awhile though, the people whose lives had been steeped in the threshing tradition waxed nostalgic for those bygone days and became increasingly concerned that many a fine engine was being doomed to the scrap heap and the ravages of time and weather. In 1946, Roy Mitchell and Luther Caldwell, two local, respected threshermen from way back, brought a portable Gaar-Scott steam engine and a thresher, both of which they had restored, to the Rush County Fair. Fairgoers truly enjoyed seeing this old equipment run. After a repeat appearance at the fair the following year, those most attracted to the display decided that some sort of club devoted to threshing and/or sawmilling be formed in the area.
This is Luther Caldwell and Roy Mitchell standing next to the 1870 Gaar-Scott. It can now be seen at the Wayne County Historical Museum in Richmond, Indiana. Click here to read more about Luther Caldwell and here to learn more about Roy Mitchell.
It was with this in mind that some of the remaining members of the local Brotherhood of Threshermen and a group of steam enthusiasts gathered in the fall of 1947 at the Pinnell & Thompkins (later Metzger) Lumber Company in Rushville, Indiana. They decided to use the $75 or so in the treasury to honor two of their oldest and most experienced members, Luther Caldwell and Henry McMann, with a gift of a leather coat. What remained in the club' coffers after purchasing these items (reputed to be less than $40) was handed over by treasurer Ralph Shelburne to this new fraternity of steam power aficionados which in 1951 became known as the Pioneer Engineers Club of Indiana. What a privilege it is now to have our show grounds named after Luther Caldwell who was a primary force in the founding of our club.
Information & pictures for these history pages was acquired from the 35th and 50th Anniversary Books of the Pioneer Engineers Club of Indiana.