Ken's Journal Gorham, New Hampshire |
| Here's a bonus page. I overnighted in Gorham, New Hampshire on the way home and after the trailer was set up, I went into town to fuel up. The town square was taken over by some sort of a contest -- and it seemed to fit right in with my report on the Fireman's Museum in Yarmouth. |
The town square was full of these antique hand-pumpers! |
And even though they were all built in the 1850s or so, they were all restored and in operating condition! |
This was a competition! Each team had five minutes once their pumper was in postion and with the wheels chocked, to throw water as far as they could. |
The team who threw water the farthest, won. |
Some of these were in much better condition than the ones in the Yarmouth museum. |
Down range from the pumping action. That little mountain peak on the far right is Mt Washington. |
Did I mention this competition was held in front of the Gorham Historical Society buildings? That steam engine is restored to better condition that most I've seen in the past few years. |
A little action at one of the pumpers. The water is drawn from the red trough. First, the water lines are cleared of air by pumping them with the hose nozzle open. Then the nozzle is closed and the pressure is pumped up to about 100 PSI. Then when there are enough people to man the pump levers, they cut the nozzle loose and pump like hell! |
In fact, the teams would take anyone - I even helped out on one of the teams . . . !! Now I know why so many buildings burned down in the 19th century . . . !! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
xxx
|
Page 43a |