Dalton show will pay tribute to Oscar Rude

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Last week Melvin Mortenson used the late Oscar Rude’s Craftsman LT 1000 garden tractor and riding mower to help prepare the grounds for the Sept. 5-7 Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen’s Association show in Dalton. Rude was 99 when he died Aug. 5.

“Oscar loved the grounds here, and being part of the threshermen’s organization,” said Mortenson.

Another volunteer, Chuck Adelsman, also sang the praises of Rude.

“Oscar spent a lot of time here, volunteering and doing work with this or that,” Adelsman said. “He’ll be remembered not only at this year’s show but for many years to come.”

Rude moved with his family to Dalton in 1914 where he attended school. He began working for his father in the blacksmith, service station and electrical generation business. In 1955 Rude began his employment as a mechanic for the Ashby Co-op, retiring in 1972.

For their part, Mortenson and Adelsman want to continue Rude’s tradition of keeping the grounds looking nice at the threshermen’s grounds in Dalton.

“The new memorial building will be dedicated to preserving the history and memories of the Dalton threshing show and its founders,” Adelsman said. “Oscar came here to the thresher show grounds almost every day — mowing and doing other chores to help keep the grounds looking nice.”

This year’s three-day event will be the 55th anniversary show in Dalton.

The 2008 Lake Region Pioneer Threshing Show, the weekend after Labor Day, will feature Oliver and Cockshutt lines of machinery and equipment. Free rides will again be offered on the train pulled by a World War I French locomotive. Visitors will see the largest operational Wheelock stationary steam engine in the United States, weighing 110 tons.

Another favorite stop for visitors will be the blacksmith shop where volunteers will pour castings, with many old tools in operation. Model gas and hot air engines will be on display.

Visitors can also see the antique woodshop which uses foot and lines shaft power to make items the old-fashioned way. There’s free entertainment on stage, and many homemaker displays.

Many steam traction engines and large gas/oil engines will be operating in addition to tractor and machinery displays.

Hard to miss is the old-fashioned Skelly gas station with drive-thru service.

Visitors young and old alike will enjoy watching the “Blue Ox” and “Little Babe” pulling sleds all over the track.

---

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?

---