Engine House No. 1 - Engine House No. 1 has been part of the Voss Park display area since 1969.

Handmade Whistles - Whistles made from wood, vegetables, corn cobs, Pipestone red rock, plastic and wood and plastic combined are on display.

Wood Carving - Displays of carved decoys, Santas, birds, small shoes and boots, mostly from basswood are on display. You can also see a turning lathe used to create a small variety of ballpoint pens from exotic woods.

Stained Glass - Hand made stained - glass items and scroll saw art will be on display.

Woodworking - Anyone who enjoys watching woodworking will have the opportunity to see scroll saws in action, along with fret work and intarsia.

Rosemaling - Norwegian Rosemaling, Swedish Dala and German Bauernmalerei will be demonstrated. These art forms are about 200 years old. Ther is painting on such items as gourd birdhouses, butterfly houses, small snow scenes on Christmas decorations, doll houses and possibly a bat house, some with contemporary designs.

Spinning - Since the 1982 Bee there has been several baskets of wool donated to the bee. Bee visitors can watch wool being spun on a drum carder to comb the washed wool. The wool is then spun into yard for making a variety of items for display.

Candle Making - You will have the opportunity to hand dip your own 5 1/2 inch taper candle.

Norwegian Garden Cultivator - One item that draws numerous looks and questions is an original masterpiece. A Norwegian Garden cultivator which was brought to the Threshing Bee in 1994. Bee visitors will look at the unusual, creative machine and for some, since it was built for fun and typically draws forth the Norwegian response - UFFDA. The cultivator includes a headlight, rear view mirror, crank, distributor, all kinds of gauges and whistles, training wheels, a four-cycle engine and much more.

Toy Machinery - There is a unique collection of handmade metal implements and leather harnesses on Belgian toy horses. The display includes a wide assortment of implements pulled by Belgian horses, such as: a hay loader, two bottom gang plow, two-row cultivator, two-row plow, two-row cultivator, two - row planter; high-wheeled wagon, Bobsled, disc, side delivery rake and West Fargo Stagecoach. There is also a collection of farm machinery/toys, advertising items, trucks and construction equipment toys; as well as wooden model tractors, threshers and steam engines.

Corn Husk Dolls - The early settlers in America discovered that the Seneca Indians had made their children Corn Husk Dolls with which to play. That's where they learned to make use of the parts of the corn not ordinarily used.
 
Rug Making - From dirt floors to hardwood and linoleum handmade rugs have remained popular in homes of the past and present. You will see a loom to make place mats and table runners, which is the same process as used with a rug making loom. Rugs can be made from denim, wool, panty hose, knits and all washable materials. Two other types of rugs are also displayed. They include the Indian art of twining and braid-weave, which is an art from the Pennsylvania Dutch colony (eastern part of the USA) that can be traced back in her family to the Civil War Years. These rugs are made from old bed sheets and denim while Amish rugs are made from used clothing. You will also see rugs being weaved, place mats, table runners and coasters being made.

Books - The Bee bookstore in Engine House No. 1 is a great place to visit to peruse and purchase a vast array of pictorial histories on things seen at the Bee. Interesting material awaits you on steam or gas engines, horses, and old iron tractors. Ladies you'll love browsing through the collection of books on quilting, collectibles, Bee recipes, cookbooks and much more.

Quilting - There is a treadle sewing machine going, a quilting frame set up for hand quilters and several quilts on display. A family of quilters, they enjoy sewing and stitching quilts, designing patters and teaching quilting classes and, if the weather cooperates, they will be quilting on the porch of the general store.

Other Displays - There also a large and interesting collection of padlocks. There will be a demonstration on chair caning and seat weaving as will as a collection of antique fishing tackle.

Exhibitors Sought - Interested in exhibiting or know of someone with a unique craft? Let us know. Stop at the Threshing Bee information booth or call 507-956-2040.

Displays to See