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We are happy to report that construction of the new restroom-shower
facility is back on track and construction has resumed! All of the permits are in order, the tanks have been
set, the drywell is in, the uderfloor plumbing has been completed and the floor is down. Next comes one more row of cement
blocks for the walls to set on and then construction will begin in ernest. Present time schedule calls for the building
to be closed in by the time the season is over and completed by the time we open for 2010. When finished, this facility
will greatly improve the farm's ability to host group outings, meetings, concerts and theatrical productions.
Keep your eye on this page to see the progress as it continues.
Advance
Steam Engine
We are very pleased to announce
that a 20 horsepower Advance Steam Traction Engine now makes its permanent home at Wellington Farm, USA. The
engine was built by the Advance Thresher Company of Battle Creek, Michigan in 1914. The engine is in excellent working
condition and most weekends you can find it huffing and puffing at the sawmill, with a thresher or steaming corn for hungry
visitors. The Advance Steam Engine will be leading the Big Machinery Parade at the Wellington Tractor and Engine Show
on August 23 and 24.
| 1914 Advance Steam Engine |
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| This engine now resides at Wellington Farm, |
Thursday evening, September 10 was
a significant time at Wellington Farm, USA. On that evening, 29 tractor enthusiasts and their spouses got together and
formed the Wellington Antique Tractor and Engine Association. The group got well established by electing
a slate of officers to steer the new organization and appointing a Constitution and By-Laws Committee to deal with the legalities
of the association. They established their regular meeting times at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month
with no meeting being held in December and February. This new organization will take over the Wellington Tractor
and Engine Show as well as any other activities involving tractors and engines that are held at Wellington Farm, USA.
The group is already looking for more members and is extending an invitation to anyone who likes old tractors to join them as
they launch this very promising organization. The new president Carl Hunt can be reached at mafd102@hotmail.com or additional information can be obtained by signing into the guest book on the home page of this website. The
next meeting of the club will be on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at the Grayling Moose Lodge.
| Our First Field of Spelt |
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| This crop of spelt will be ground into flour on the New South Mill. |
| 1923 New South Stone Burr Mill |
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| This mill is now grinding cornmeal and flour in the WellingtonnGrist Mill. |
Museum To Open - Spring 2010
As
things stand, everything should be completed so that our planned Museum can be available for visitors to see before the Summer
2010 Season sets in. The Museum will be housed in the building that was formerly our Farm Market. Originally,
that building was the first building constructed at the Higgins Lake Nursery by the Civilian Conseervation Corps. The
first major display in the new Museum will be a presentation of the plow and it's importance to the development
of modern agriculture. Several of the plow displays are currently under construction. For one of the displays,
a beautiful mural of a team of draft horses was provided for us by local artist Terry Dickenson. There will be no additional
charge for the museum experience.
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| Mural painted by artist Terry Dickenson which will be part of our new museum displays. |
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