The tiny hamlet of Westwold is a blink on Highway 97 west of Falkland. Set within the grandeur of Crater Valley with a population, as described by a local, of "twelve folks, sixteen dogs and twenty-four cats, all related," it offers a medley of delights. Take a nostalgia drive there on Sunday, October 16th when you can simultaneously enjoy the fall colours and the annual steam engine exhibition.

You'll find the Pringle place, operated by Val and Sandy Pringle, off Douglas Lake Road. At their Crater Valley Farm, they run a steam-driven sawmill with a restored engine dating from 1911 when it powered another sawmill at this site run by Johnny Pringle, Val's father. In 1925 Johnny also bought a steam-powered Case Traction Engine to haul logs, to power a threshing machine, and to do other tractor jobs.

His steam equipment puffed away until 1948 when that tractor and the sawmill equipment were put to pasture. The mill was converted to diesel by a new owner, and internal combustion became the tractor engine of choice. When Johnny passed away in 1978, Val purchased the old homestead with its rundown mill and rusting machinery.

A 1984 Westwold School reunion inspired Val to restore his dad's Case tractor with the help of friend, Harry Burt. This steam tractor was such a hit that it was also exhibited at Expo 86 and Val became hooked on steam machinery. Through Harry, Val learned about a Marion Steam Shovel sunk in a creek north of Fort St. James, and in 1985 its recovery and restoration commenced.

A Donkey, also discovered in this creek, was added to Val's restored collection in 1989. A Donkey, for those of us who are mechanically impaired, is a contraption that provides steam to power all manner of other machines. This one was put to work to drive a drag saw.

However, it wasn't until October of 2001 that the steam sawmill came to life again with the help of many friends and an expert from Kamloops. When Harry Burt passed away that year, the Pringles became beneficiaries of his steam collection, including two more Case Traction Engines. Each October since, the Pringles have invited their steam friends to fire the boilers for a day of fun. Thus they established an annual heritage tradition at their Crater Valley Farm.

As word spread, the Pringles became recipients of yet more steam equipment and their fall event now attracts one thousand people. ("No more, please," Sandy pleads, "because we don't have enough toilets.") At each exhibition engineers from Kamloops Heritage Railway run the machinery, the Westwold Women's Institute provides concessions and others haul in their own antique novelties for show and tell. Equipment additions this year will be a steam log-roller and a Haggert Portable Engine that was used locally in 1906.

"We love our community and try to preserve its history," say the Pringles who also bind and thresh their own wheat and grind it into flour the old-time way. The most satisfying aspect for them is the number of curious young people who turn up each October.

The Pringles do more than preserve Westwold's history , their annual project also bonds the tiny community.

Barb Shave. Gray Matters