Highland News Leader

“Heritage Days” are this weekend at farm museum in Greenville

News Leader
Santa Fee Levee District engine to be featured at festival: The Santa Fee Levee District is located south of Bartelso. Late last year, the levee district decided to update the levee pump engine and donated the engine to the Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville. The museum started the removal process in mid-December. The engine is a 32 Fairbanks Morse and drove a 52-inch water pump. The pump unit has been in service for the past 86 years. The removal process took about one month to complete and move to the museum. With the help of donations, equipment and numerous hours of hard work, the engine was reassembled. Built in 1929, the engie is 180 horsepower, capable of 257 rpm. The cylinder bore is 14 inches, and the stroke is 17 inches. The engine is a three-cylinder diesel engine that is cranked by applying air to the No. 1 and 3 cylinders. The engine will start on the No. 2 cylinder. After the engine is started, it will then run on all three cylinders. The fuel consumption is seven to eight gallons of diesel fuel per hour, under load. The water pump is still in service at Bartelso, with a new engine supplying the power.
Santa Fee Levee District engine to be featured at festival: The Santa Fee Levee District is located south of Bartelso. Late last year, the levee district decided to update the levee pump engine and donated the engine to the Farm Heritage Museum in Greenville. The museum started the removal process in mid-December. The engine is a 32 Fairbanks Morse and drove a 52-inch water pump. The pump unit has been in service for the past 86 years. The removal process took about one month to complete and move to the museum. With the help of donations, equipment and numerous hours of hard work, the engine was reassembled. Built in 1929, the engie is 180 horsepower, capable of 257 rpm. The cylinder bore is 14 inches, and the stroke is 17 inches. The engine is a three-cylinder diesel engine that is cranked by applying air to the No. 1 and 3 cylinders. The engine will start on the No. 2 cylinder. After the engine is started, it will then run on all three cylinders. The fuel consumption is seven to eight gallons of diesel fuel per hour, under load. The water pump is still in service at Bartelso, with a new engine supplying the power.

The American Farm Heritage Museum near Greenville is hosting its annual “Heritage Days” July 29-31 with old-fashioned fun for everyone. Admission is $7 per person, per day, with children under 12 admitted free. A three-day armband is $10 per person.

Each day of the event, attendees can take a train ride, admire tractors and working farm engine displays, learn about farm life at the Lil’ Red Barn, watch steam engines saw logs and thresh wheat, shop the flea market, tour the Hill’s Fort replica, listen to music in the air-conditioned main building, observe the military museum display and eat some great food, including hand-scooped ice cream.

On Friday, July 29, a four-corners tractorcade drive will bring participants from four different locations to the museum grounds around noon. There will also be a mule jumping contest and a draft horse pull and show at 6 p.m. On Saturday, July 30, there will be an antique weighted tractor pull at 10 a.m. and an open exhibitor tractor pull at 4 p.m. On Sunday, July 31, a church service will be held at 8 a.m. with a farm stock tractor pull at 10:30 a.m. Car cruise participants will be arriving around 11 a.m. for a special display/show.

A kiddie tractor pull will be held both Friday and Saturday. A new feature at the show this year will be a massive, 3-cylinder Fairbanks Morse engine that was salvaged from the Sante Fe Levee District, near Bartelso.

While the train rides do cost extra, guests can enjoy the various tractor pulls and horse pulls without paying additional admission fees. Massey Harris tractors, equipment and farm engines are the featured brand this year along with Massey Ferguson tractors and Cletrac/Oliver crawler tractors. However, exhibits of all makes and models are always welcome.

Event hours are Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to dark and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum is located at 1395 Museum Avenue, 62246. Take I-70 to Exit 45 (IL 127). GoThe museum is located at 1395 Museum Avenue. Take exit 45 off of Interstate 70 and a left off Illinois 127 to Museum Avenue, just south of I-70.

Find more information online at americanfarmheritagemuseum.com or on Facebook.

This story was originally published July 29, 2016 at 8:13 AM with the headline "“Heritage Days” are this weekend at farm museum in Greenville."

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