ANTIQUE POWER HISTORY

Formerly the East Lake Simcoe Pioneer Society

Through the initial efforts of two men, Dave Mitchell of Beaverton and Carl Graham of Argyle, the idea of forming a steam engine (tractor) club to include all old and antique tractors, and farm machinery was spawned. This led to notices being place in the local newspapers throughout the district of East Lake Simcoe to all persons interested in forming such an organization.

The result was a meeting to be held February 4, 1979 in the Beaverton Town Hall in which thirty people were in attendance.

A report of that meeting appeared in the Beaverton Express February 7, 1979. It read:

Pioneer Club Formed

East Lake Simcoe Pioneer Club was formed on February 4, 1979.

There was a large, enthusiastic group out to give their support to the newly elected officers – President - Bill Windsor from Ballantrae; Vice-president - Carl Graham from Woodville; 1st Vice-President - Dave Mitchell from Beaverton; Secretary-treasurer – Linda Longhurst from Mt. Albert.

Regular meetings to be held the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Beaverton Town Hall.
A new charter will be drawn up for the regular meeting on March 12. A life time membership was set at $10.00 with annual fees being $5.00.

You may be an antique car collector, steam engine restorer, model railway builder, model airplane flyer or you might be a collector or enthusiast of some other description that the club has not come across.
Come out and get acquainted, the club extends a warm welcome to anyone interested in joining the club.

Interest in an annual show was a prime objective from the onset, the result being a Steam Show which was held at the Beaverton Fair Grounds on July 7th and 8th, 1979.

In 1980 a horseless carriage was offered to the club by Mrs. Eleanor Bates and Lloyd Johnson made a plaque in memory of George Bates to be mounted on the carriage.

On September 10, 1981 the club acquired “Letters Patent” from the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations and was issued a charter stating “The corporation shall be carried on without the purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the corporation shall be used in promoting its objects.”

A constitution was drafted and passed in October 1982 in which the purpose states that “the society was formed for the purpose of bringing together people with an interest in preservation, restoration, and exhibition of our heritage.” Issues covered by the constitution include: Name, Purpose, Membership (Active, Family, Honorary and New) as well as fees, Meetings, Officers, Minutes, Financial Auditing, General, and Amendments.

For ten years the annual shows were held in Beaverton from 1979 to 1988. In 1988 a new ball diamond was constructed at the Beaverton Fairgrounds which took a large part of the grounds that had been used for displays thus making it unlikely that it would be suitable for our show. Considerable discussion took place and in February 1989 it was agreed that our annual show would move to the Fenelon Township Fairgrounds for the 1989 show. Annual shows were held in Fenelon Falls for 22 years from 1989 to 2011.

At the regular meeting of November 15, 2011 the membership overwhelmingly voted to move its 2012 show to the fairgrounds in Lindsay where there is more room to expand.

At the September 18, 2012 meeting the membership voted to change the name of the club to Kawartha Antique Power. It was felt that this name more accurately describes our club and location.

On June 21, 2013 Kawartha Antique Power was incorporated with its new name and then received its charitable status from the Charities Directorate of Canada Revenue Agency on May 1, 2014

Monthly meetings are currently held at Manilla Community Hall on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. with an average attendance of 35 members.