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The
Mill Road Thresherman
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The first show was held on July 24, 1982 as fun day by Louis Milleville to show his children how work was done in the past. On display were old gasoline engines, antique farm equipment and antique cars. |
| A neighbor, Wayne Mueller, hearing that Louis was wanting to hear the old machinery operating again, and show his family the way it was done in the past, said that he had the ideal place next to him in a wooded area owned by another neighbor, Elnore Scheidel. |
| Louis Milleville and his brother Wilbert grew up doing this kind of work. The brothers did custom threshing and some custom shredding, silo filling, baling and saw milling. When more combines came into use, Wilbert parked the threshing machine in a shed on his farm until Louis bought the machine from him in the early 1980's. |
| The first show was a success with 400 registering for the one day show. The event was held on property across from Interstate 70, drawing many people from the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and California who stopped in to see and reminisce. Some had no idea of how it was done in "the good ole days". |
| The group continued to have meetings and elect officers. Elected as President; Louis Milleville, Vice-President; Ben Winter, Secretary; Roy Cochran and Treasurer; Arthur Trost. The official name of the organization became "Mill Road Threshing Association" since names of most people who help lived on the mile near Louis Milleville started with Mill or Muel. |
| It was decided to have the next event at the Effingham County Fair Grounds in Altamont, Illinois on the second weekend in July since there was more room to expand the event. As of 2004, the show will be held the fourth weekend in July. |
| The event has been held on the Effingham County Fairgrounds since 1983 and has expanded to a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with exhibitions and events such as corn shelling, threshing, grinding corn meal, showing and running steam engines, gasoline engines, horse & wagon rides, flea markets, children games, antique tractors & machinery, horse farming and old time baling demonstrations. |
| A Model Railroading Show was added several years ago on Saturday and Sunday with operating "N" thru "G" scale. Dealers are on hand to show and sell railroad supplies and workshops are available on request. Also on Saturday and Sunday a Civil War Encampment with period music is on the grounds. |
| Membership has grown to over 100 paid members. Some do not own any antique machinery but thoroughly enjoy helping and watching the old machinery. Over the years the show has grown and so have the people coming to watch the show. The first show drew 400 people and has increased in size and numbers each year. |
| Food concessions are available all three days of the show. |