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The Chickentown Gas & Steam Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1993 by a group of local residents that have a common love. That is the love of antique equipment. The majority of these people had been involved with antique equipment for many years prior to the start of this club. Prior to 1993, we would get together on Memorial Day weekend for a picnic at the present site of the steam show. This picnic started with a handful of people and year by year it grew in numbers. We would bring out a few pieces of equipment and "play" for the afternoon. Finally in 1992 we had so many people and so much equipment there that we decided to open this gathering to the public and the Chickentown Gas & Steam Association was born and the site was named Chickentown Grove. Since then we have steadily grown in numbers and equipment.
The club now owns several items, the largest being the engine building and a sawmill that was purchased from the former Somerset State Hospital. The State Hospital was converted into a prison and the mill was scheduled to be destroyed. With the help of a lot of people, we were able to purchase the mill on the stipulation that it be completely removed from the hospital grounds in short order. Piece by piece (including the building) we removed and reconstructed the mill at it's present home. The mill is now being used to cut the lumber that we are using to build buildings at the show grounds. If you like antiques, steam engines, old tractors, or just enjoy the company of good friends, then this is the place for you. At our annual gas and steam show you can see it all. We have full size and miniature steam traction engines that are operational. These engines are running the sawmill, plowing, crushing stone, or just touring the grounds and taking visitors for rides. |
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If you like antique tractors, we have them too. As with the steam engines, the tractors are working at the mill, plowing, taking people for rides or just out cruising. Other things you can enjoy are the grist mill, blacksmith, straw bailing, stagecoach and horse drawn wagon rides, auction, and good music from local bands. We have a kids pedal power tractor pull, a garden tractor pull, lots of small engine displays, antiques and collectables, hit and miss engines, a water tower for the steam engines, a working full size saw mill, stationary engines, antique wagons, antique cars, horses, mules, old time gas station, flea market, and a myriad of other things too numerous to mention. DON'T FORGET WE PUT THE CHICKEN IN CHICKENTOWN Juicy, delicious chicken halves cooked by Chickentown's finest available daily and can be accompanied by burgers, fries, potato and macaroni salads, and be sure to save room for sweet treats. |
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