SPRING STEAM FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND AT GORDONVILLE

GORDONVILLE -- The sound of steam escaping from safety valves and steam-powered whistles will echo through the hills around Gordonville on Saturday and Sunday.

The Friends of Steam Railroading and Shelby and Mildred Brown of Jackson are sponsoring a weekend Spring Steam Festival that will include operating steam-power tractors and steam engines.

The event will be held Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Gordonville City Park near Route A west of town. It is along the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad tracks.

Brown, who is retired from the timber business, has been actively involved since his retirement in restoring and demonstrating steam-powered tractors and steam engines. Several years ago Brown was instrumental in helping to restore the Iron Mountain Railroad's No. 5 steam locomotive, which bears his name.

"My father used steam-powered tractors on the farm and steam engines in the sawmill business in west Cape Girardeau County near the Bollinger County line," said Brown. "I've been around steam engines all my life."

During the weekend the Iron Mountain Railroad will be offering rides from Jackson to the Gordonville City Park in coaches pulled by a steam-powered locomotive. Reservations for the train ride to Gordonville can be made by calling the Iron Mountain Railroad ticket office in Jackson, 243-1688.

Authentic old-fashioned steam-threshing food will be served by the Gordonville Fire Department Auxiliary during the two-day event.