Kyle Fanton found the engine at a Pennyslvania auction and brought it “back home where it belongs”
From the Wellsville NY Historical Society,
McEwen Brothers, located at the corner of E. State and N. Main, was started in 1861, by Duncan McEwen (1819-1864). It was built where the first log school house was erected in 1832. They specialized in the Manufacturing of Engines, Circular Saw Mills, Horse Powers, Mill-Gearing, Iron & Brass Castings, Store Fronts, etc. Duncan passed away and his wife Susan ran it (1864-1868) till her kids were old enough to take over. John (1849-1900) and William (1850-1886) formed a partnership in 1868. It was ran by other McEwens, after their passings and closed in 1954.
Today, Walgreens Store and it’s parking lot sit there today.
According to Fanton, The engine was previously restored by Don Baldwin, owner of Wellsville Hardware and sold at auction a few years ago where it ended up in Northern PA. “I purchased it to get it back home where it belongs.”
This particular model of engine was used to pump oil wells utilizing the “well-head gas,” which was a biproduct of the oil well. Today Fanton says the engine runs on propane now for display purposes. He hopes to show off the engine in parades this summer.
