Remnants of the past remain fixtures of today at the Mehmke Steam Tractor Museum.
The museum started 64 years ago after Walter Mehmke began collecting steam and gas tractors from across Montana. Now, the museum boasts around 50 pieces including about 20 steam tractors and 12 gas tractors.
Walter’s granddaughters, Charlotte Mehmke and Mardel Scott, are keeping his legacy alive by hosting a Steam and Gas Tractor Show once a year.
This year, three steam engines were running with help from the Montana Steam Engineer Association.
The oldest piece of equipment is an inoperable steam engine from 1857. The most recent is a Farmall from the 1930s.
One of the three pieces in operation for Sunday’s show was a 1911 110 H/P Case stream tractor. Mehmke believed it was one of 32 in existence.
The 110 Case is about 22,000 pounds as dry weight, however, it weighs far more when 1,200 gallons of water (eight pounds of water per gallon) is added.
Andy Troutwine, a member of the Montana Steam Engineer Association, volunteered to help the Mehmke’s get the machines to run.
He said about ten people were needed to run the 110 Case, including two to sit on ledges and run levers, a few others to add wood, and a few more to scout the area as it was difficult to see where the tractor was going. If the tractor was pulling a plow, several more people were needed to run the levers on the plow.
Another piece is a 1911 30 H/P Avery, which was originally from the Ringling Brothers’ farm. Walter Mehmke purchased the Avery from Bill Burro near Wolf Creek and restored it.
The Avery is different from the Case in that its boiler is on top while the engine is below.
A Marine Corps crawler that was used in World War II was also on display. The piece was sold for surplus after the war and runs on gas before switching to diesel. While initially used to pull artillery cannons, the crawler was then used for farming.
Mehmke said many steam engines were destroyed or used for military reasons during World War II.
“A lot of them were saved in Montana because we were so far from the east that the government didn’t come and get them because it was so hard for them to get them back east to be melted down,” Mehmke said.
Visitor Michelle Siewert and her family own a 1910 Rumley steam engine. She said the history of steam engines is very interesting once you get into it.
“It’s a lot to get them up and running,” Siewert said. “A new boiler can cost anywhere to $50,000 to $100,000 and the boilers have to be certified. That means their thickness levels have to be safe enough to run.”
Despite the maintenance and time, Mehmke said the museum is worth it.
“It’s a lot of fun and then to help everyone understand the history of farming; how our grandfathers or great-grandfathers used to farm because it takes a huge crew just to run one of these steam engines and thresh and plow so it’s a lot different than a modern combine that one guy runs,” she said.
Mehmke’s favorite piece of equipment is a Square Turn tractor, which she believes is only one of three still in existence.
With around 50 pieces of equipment, a historical village, and car and doll displays, the museum allows the public to open a window to the past.
The Mehmke Steam Tractor Museum is located eight miles east of Great Falls along Highway 89 towards Belt.
To make an appointment to view the museum, please contact the owners through the Mehmke Steam Tractor Museum Facebook page.
