Oct 28 2008
2nd Annual Essex Steam Muster
Earlier this month the Essex Shipbuilding Museum held its 2nd annual Steam Muster. I was not with the museum for the first one, so I was pretty excited to be involved with this one. Not knowing much about steam power, I learned a lot talking with the vendors - the “steam heads” and how pervasive this technology was. The wooden boat fans out there may be wondering what Essex has to do with steam power, considering the town is known mostly for sailing vessels. Well Essex produced quite a few steam powered vessels, including a couple paddle-wheelers, passenger ferries, beam trawlers and of course - the Vidette, a collier of 191 feet - an Essex record.
The vendors had all sorts of displays - from steam engine toy kits, to large engines once used in lighthouses, we even had a couple of steam launches that took visitors for quick jaunts along the Essex River.
However I have to say the most popular exhibit for young and old alike had to be the old coal truck. Dating from about 1910 this coal truck was once used in Gloucester to deliver coal to power steam engines. It is entirely original, including the two-cycle gasoline engine and solid rubber tires. Although not steam powered, it is from the age of steam and in many ways was a harbinger of the technology to come.
The Steam Muster was so popular that I expect each year to get bigger and better with even more vendors. I am hoping that next year we will have two attractions that did not make it to this year’s: The Stanley Steamer and an antique steam roller. For those interested in participating as a vendor in next year’s Steam Muster should contact Mr. Ed Howard of Howard’s Flying Dragon Antiques in Essex, MA (978) 768-7282.
