An event billed as “the greatest steam show on Earth” kicks off today in Mount Pleasant. Dr. Delores Poulter-Wilson attended the very first “Old Thresher’s Reunion” in 1950.

“It was really essentially one day and one night, because they were there after school,” Poulter says. “There were 10 steam engines — no tractors, no antique cars.” The event is now five days long and over 100 steam engines plus 200 antique tractors and cars are on the grounds.

Poulter-Wilson was the grand marshal for the annual Harvest Day Parade that was held Wednesday afternoon in Mount Pleasant on the eve of the reunion. County music concerts are held each night on the Old Thresher’s grounds. An old-fashioned “horse pull” Monday afternoon is the final event of the reunion.

By John Kuhens, KILJ, Mount Pleasant