Not far from Lewistown, Ill., along the Spoon River Drive was Larry’s Small Engine Repair. Larry Cluney’s family were all set up next to the shop with tents, which offered an array of items that included some great finds for antique tractor enthusiasts.

This stop was a haven for International Harvester collectors. Since Lewistown is near Canton, where a large IH factory was once located, this was not a surprise. Canton is known in IH circles for the former plant, originally referred to as the Orendorff Plow Works. Canton also has the Orendorff Mansion, listed on the National Historic Register, and the Canton Museum.

At this site, Larry’s family included his wife, Arlene, and her sister and brother-in-law, Patricia and Jim Krazon. Arlene made jellies and jams that she sold. While most years she makes many items from her garden, she said this year it was underwater and couldn’t be planted.

One neat item Arlene had on hand was what she called mock strawberry jam. She explained how to make it without strawberries: “You take three cups of tomatoes, two-and-a-half cups of sugar and one large package of strawberry Jell-O. You can also make raspberry, or whatever.

“I cook the tomatoes and sugar until it comes to a rolling boil, then add the Jell-O, then place it in hot jars.”

Patricia Krazon, an Elvis lover, had several items for sale, as well.
Larry, who runs the small engine shop, services all types of equipment. “I work on anything but four-wheelers. I like lawnmowers, riders and pushers,” he added.

Jim is a former IH employee and it was through him that many of the IH items were for sale. “I ran a milling machine for 20 years and assembled 456 and 455 planters,” he explained.

After 20 years at the Canton plant, Jim transferred and worked at the Indianapolis plant in the foundry, running a hot box. Along the way, he started collecting IH memorabilia. Today, he has an extensive collection. Over the years he has been selling a few odds and ends, but is still holding firmly onto his favorites.

Jim is not the only one with an IH collection; the sisters have a deep family connection to International Harvester that began long before they were ever born. “My great-grandfather, Hiram Palmer, was killed in the Parlan Orndorff explosion in 1882,” Arlene explained.

This tragedy left behind a young wife and Arlene’s two-year old grandfather and siblings. The family continued to work for the company and Arlene even said, “My great-uncle Roy Malmgren started working when he was 12 years old.”

On down the road in Lewistown, at the fairgrounds, there were antique tractors set up along with several vendors. At one location, the Old Iron Club of Fulton County and South Fulton Antique Tractor Club were set up.

Besides bringing their antique tractors for display, farmer Marshall Litchfield had an unusual way to make popcorn. One of the members explained: “It is a 185 Cub Lowboy attached to a popcorn machine. The tank was made from an old LP tank.”

Old iron was represented in a variety of ways along the Spoon River Drive. From memorabilia to antique tractors, to an innovative popcorn machine, visitors saw a bit of everything.

For more information log onto www.spoonriverdrive.org or write to: Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive, P.O. Box 525, Canton, IL 61520. You may also telephone 309-647-8980 or e-mail info@spoonriverdrive.org

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.