Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 1976)
Page 10. THE GAZETTE-TIMES. For the last two years, Harold "Shorty" Peck, Hepp ner, has won the antique cate gory first place prize for his barbed wire collection. He plans to repeat for the third year but he'll have some competition. Hrppner. OR, Thursday. August 19, 1976 This year though, the barb-. ed wire and washing machines have his attention. , ; , t I s "I guess it's as good a women's lib as there is," Shorty says of the machines with a chuckle. Then he starts to turn the crank, demonstrate I f . i -1 S 4. I (, " t if Shorty Peck defends 1975 collector title "" .. V fit Shorty Peck The competition will be from hiimself. Along with the barbed wire, Shorty has a collection of antique washing machines that could produce a one-two finish for the almost retired wheat farmer. Shorty's washing machine collection dates back to the 1860s. "These are the oldest there is," he says, noting that the machines are mechanical. "I like to collect old things," he says, "to preserve the things our ancestors had to put up with to start this country and get her rolling." A quick tour of Shorty's sheds produces a look back to the turn of the century. Old washing machines and barbed wire will make room for antique cars, kerosene lan terns, and a stove or two in the future. ing how he used to wash the clothes as a kid. Shorty, who says he wants to show the kids what the old folks had to put Up with, can boast of an old Crescent machine, with words "The American Wringer Com pany," still easily identifiable on the embossed metal. On one old machine, that most people think is a wring er, Shorty said, you used to "soak the clothes in soapy water, then run 'em through the wringer three or four times. The roller acted on the same principle as an old rub board." Along with the machines, hobbies will keep Shorty busy after he retires following this summer's harvest. What's next? Shorty says he wants to build a 1915 Model T roadster and a 1917 Model T truck. He has all the old parts, "picked up, bought, traded for and give to." The 1917 truck, the first truck built, will run on four solid rubber tires he has. A 1907 International sits, rusted near a shed, ready for Shorty to get to work on a wooden body. A 1906 Sears and Roebuck autobuggy, that really runs, sits silently covered in a barn. Shorty does a lot of reading up on his hobbies he says. Along with wire and mach ines. Shorty will enter 30 different kinds of grass from his farm and wheat in the county fair. "I'm going to retire from active wheat farming this year so I can play with my hobbies." he says. Look for his displays at the Morrow County Fair. t f" ' ff v. I r;; Shorty Peck demonstrates how the old washing machines used to work. Performing si complete banking i i i h 7 'aJH service' to Morrow County First National Bank ofHeppner is proud to join with the community in extending the invitation to everyone to attend the Morrow County Fair & Rodeo. FIRST MjmGwJyL B MEMBER FDIC a1s J 1 V 4 ''i 4
