A 1910 postcard originating from Cleveland, Ohio, shows the wreckage of a steam engine and threshing machine following an attempt at crossing a bridge that was unable to support the weight of the machinery.
Postcard photo provided by Ken Stein of Hastings, Neb.
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.
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.
Photo is courtesy of Karmazin and Melvin Haba, Pauline, Neb.
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.
Just as surely as lightning bugs, cicadas and warm weather sweep the plains during summer months, so do rural folks gather to enjoy food, fell…
A 1910 postcard originating from Cleveland, Ohio, shows the wreckage of a steam engine and threshing machine following an attempt at crossing a bridge that was unable to support the weight of the machinery.
Postcard photo provided by Ken Stein of Hastings, Neb.
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.
Photo is courtesy of Karmazin and Melvin Haba, Pauline, Neb.
