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.
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"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
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Shorty Peck
defends 1975
collector title
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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.
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Shorty Peck demonstrates how the old
washing machines used to work.
Performing si
complete banking
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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
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