Northwest Illinois Two Cylinder Club
733 S. Shimer Drive = Freeport, IL 61032
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     The club had it's start in 1985 when John Bennehoff, Gerry TerHark, Mike Altoff and Clarence Russ gathered to discuss putting a display together for the Stephenson County Antique Engine Club annual show, to be held in July. That year's feature was the John Deere line of equipment. Altogether there were 8 people involved with this initial effort.
     After a successful show in July, the group met again at the John Bennehoff home with two representatives from the national Two-Cylinder club in the spring of 1986. At this meeting they chose the present name for the club and they selected John Bennehof as the first president. At this time they declined the invitation of the Two Cylinder representatives to charter with them because they had the local antique engine club with around 500 members who put on various shows and displays during the year. The club had now grown to 15 members.
     They then met several times a year for the next four years with picnics and mini-clinics at member's' homes.
     At the banquet meeting in January 1990 Dave Meyer became President with John Bennehoff, Vice President and "Bunky" Mease, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected were Bruce Nielsen, Gerry TerHark and Clarence Russ. There were 30 people at this meeting. To cover postage and other miscellaneous expenses it was decided to start charging for memberships at the rate of $10.00 per year, that covered all the members of a family and it remains at this cost to the present day.
     The club did decide to charter with the national Two-Cylinder Club at the annual banquet in January 1992.
     At a board meeting in October 1993, we adopted our own by-laws and designed our present logo. We then dropped out of the national club. Our club works with and supports the local antique engine club.
     In 1996 the Northwest Club joined the, Deere Valley, Illinois Valley and Northeast Clubs to form the "Gathering of the Green".
     With over 100 families in membership and serving thousands of tractor enthusiasts, the Northwest Club continues to grow.
Club History:

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