Shelby Iron Works

"Old Iron" is a Hit at Shelby Iron

Tractor Kid, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

"Old Iron" enthusiasts from across Alabama gathered October 14th at our annual Shelby Iron Works Festival. Bringing along an outstanding variety of tractors, garden tractors, mowers, vintage trucks, hit & miss engines, and other examples of early machinery, these folks are a huge addition to our festival and provide a real treat for everyone.
This was our fifth year to host and promote antique tractors at the festival. Each festival has seen an increase in the number and variety of equipment displayed. The antique tractor participation is due, in large part, to efforts of the good folks of Southern Antique Iron Association. It was their participation five years ago that sort of jump-started our efforts to host old machinery. With their continued help and support, the Shelby Iron Works Festival Tractor Show and Parade has become a growing and much anticipated part of festival weekends here in Shelby.
In addition to Southern Antique Iron, we greatly appreciate all the other local and not so local folks who brought old tractors and other equipment. Their help in expanding our festival with more excellent examples of "Old Iron" is welcomed and much needed. They have our sincere thanks. We hope all can make it back in 2007.
Anyone interested in joining the fun at Shelby by bringing "Old Iron" to next year's festival can get more information by contacting us at: shelbyironworks@bellsouth.net. Your contact information will be passed on to Harry Burks who is our coordinator for the old machinery. Harry will get in touch and add you to our mailing list.

Shelby Iron Works Festival, 2006

Iron Works sign at Festival, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

This year's festival closed with the same near perfect weather contitions that blessed the entire weekend.
Thanks to Historic Shelby members, other volunteers, and our many visitors for the continued success of the Shelby Iron Works Festival, and for helping make Shelby Iron Works Park the special place it is..
I'll be posting more festival photos and information over the next several days.

Raisin' Cane in Shelby

Shelby Sugar Cane, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

Shelby Iron Works sugar cane is harvested from the field as festival weekend draws near.
Come this weekend, the cane will be pressed through one of the three syrup mills we will have in operation. The resulting juice will be fed into the evaporator pan in a contunuous stream where it will be "cooked down" into sweet sugar cane syrup.

Preparing the mill

Setting Mill Pole, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

Historic Shelby Association members continue to prepare for this year's Shelby Iron Works Festival.
In this photo, we are replacing the pole on one of our three syrup mills. This mill is of the type that would have been brought to Shelby in years past and placed in a central location. Farmers brought their cane to these travelling mills to be processed into syrup to see them through the long winter months which lay ahead. This syrup was considered an essential staple and was used as an all purpose sweetner.

Steam Engines Powered Shelby

SI steam engine, originally uploaded by JB @ Shelby Iron.

Heavy equipment operators place a Hardy-Tynes steam engine on its pedestal at Shelby Iron Works Park. The antique engine, manufactured in Birmingham, is reminiscent of the steam power that drove manufucturing in Shelby.
The engine's huge flywheel would also soon be in place..
In the background, towering over the site, is the machine shop stack which was constructed as part of the 1868 rebuilding at Shelby Iron.

Historic Shelby News and Announcements

This from Joel Crick Trimble and Tommy Trimble

We've had a very hot, very dry summer, but September finally arrived bringing much needed rain and much appreciated cooler weather. Crisp, cool mornings seem like a real blessing. We marvel at the beauty of the leaves changing colors until we realize that those leaves which were such delightful shades of red, yellow and gold just days ago are now piles of dead brown than need raking up.

October comes with pumpkins, apples, Columbus Day, Halloween, and best of all, The Shelby Iron Works Festival. The festival this year will be October 14th and 15th. Volunteers will be needed to clean and prepare the park, to bake goodies and to help with the festival activities. Please contact us at shelbyironworks@bellsouth.net if you can help.

A special meeting for last minute festival preparation will be held at the Park, Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 P.M.
Come on down and get involved in this year's event.

The Shelby Elementary School PTO volunteered to handle the kitchen operation and we are gratefully taking them up on their offer.

Just a reminder: Association dues for the 2006-2007 are due in October. Dues are $12.00 per person and are tax-deductible. You can mail your dues to the association at: Historic Shelby Association, P.O. Box 176, Shelby, Alabama, 35143. Dues can also be paid in person at any of the monthly meetings, or at the festival.

Other Upcoming Events:

Christmas lighting ceremony and our annual "Hey! Don't Hog the Campfire" cook-out will be November 25th at 6:30 P.M. until.
Also, volunteers will be needed to help put up the Christmas lights prior to the cook-out

Trade Day/Spring Festival
Mark your calendar - April 14.

Dates for Monthly Meetings:

November - 20th
(The association does not meet in December)
January - 15th
February - 19th
March - 19th
April - 16th

Meetings begin at 7 P.M. and are held at the park.
Called Board of Directors meetings beginning at time specified.