Massive steam engines of yesteryear were key in transforming the Great Plains into America’s breadbasket. However, the agricultural revolution sometimes came at a steep price.
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This 1909 photo shows a threshing crew with their Avery 16-horsepower return-flue steam engine. Members of the Herbek-Karmazin threshing crew include James Drudik, standing left, Frank Karmazin, W.J. Prachejl, John Drapal, Henry Herbek, Anton Lukasek, Frank Mazour Sr., Albert Samsula, Joe Pallas, Joe Soucek and Matt Mazour; seated an unidentified man, left, Fred Jedounek and Frank Mazour Jr. The engineer is Leo Karmazin. The Herbek and Karmazin men partnered in a steam engine and threshing crew operation. The photo was taken in the rural Deweese-Lawrence area of south central Nebraska. The Karmazin men are the great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather of Ken Karmazin of rural Lawrence; Karmazin is also a descendant of Anna and Alois Mazour.
Note: This is the third in a three-part series of articles about how antique steam engines helped transform the Great Plains into the nation’s breadbasket. For the full series, visit midwestmessenger.com.
