Today, 60 year history of International Harvester came alive for the annual Harvester Homecoming held on the very grounds of the former complex. 

Ten thousand workers had a hand in building more than 1.5 million trucks there from 1923 to 1983.

There seemed  to be just many stories floating around the property.

Over open hoods and swinging side doors, it was as much a reunion as a history lesson. 

For some it was keeping the spirit of a parent alive. A dad or uncle who worked on the Scout line. 

Essentially, the first sport-utility vehicle, built right here in the Summit City. That is until late 1980.

The Scout and the Scout II were the headliners, the rock stars.  But what a cast there was.

Like the big boys of delivery trucks and wreckers, semis, even the Red Cross Clubmobile a Fort Wayne-built World War II M-series semi tractor.

Don’t forget the farm tractors, heavy equipment, even Cub Cadet lawn tractors. They were there, too, complete with an IH bulldozer, on a IH truck of course. If you listen closely you could hear the rumble through the plant. 

One enthusiast from Ohio rebuilt a Scout for his wife. “I had a show truck from 1977, she wanted a Scout.” Not wanting to end up in the dog house, he built it.

 “I still don’t know why she wanted it. You know I love it as much as her.“ He said as he put it on a trailer. “I was amazed, decades later, I had no trouble finding parts to do the job. That’s crazy.”

His story was repeated. Another attendee brought tow trucks from Syracuse. “I love them, you drive a Harvester for anytime, you will too.”

Another middle aged man smiled saying he found a perfect 1970 1100D pickup, not much different from his dad’s. He bought it immediately. Sheepishly he looked at his wife, we had to make some adjustments to get it. 

And, like so many others he couldn’t wait to show it off 

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