The area below is known locally in Cropton as the Wood Yard. In the photo is a threshing machine owned by the Stephenson family. The photo dates from 1904 - 1908 area.
The Stephenson family operated a business in Cropton for a long time. This photo shows the traction engine in full operation, cutting the wood, in the early 1900's. You can see 'Corner House', at the bottom of the main street in Cropton, in the distance. This site is now a building site and two new houses are being built here.
(Photo - Courtesy Stephenson family)
The man in the photo is Bill Stephenson. He owned and operated the Stephenson family threshing business. They used to move around the local farms to thresh the corn in the latter part of the year. Many local farmers cooperated and helped each other with the threshing of the harvest. Farming was a big employer of men in those days and threshing was a very active part of the farming year.
This photo is of the first Combine Harvester owned by the Stephenson family from Cropton. It was taken around 1948. The tractor is a Marshall and it is still used and operated by the family. Chris Stephenson takes this tractor to local vintage tractor events and the Pickering Traction Engine rally.
This Combine Harvester was a great labour saving device and it saved many hours of work for the farmer BUT the downside was less labour was needed on the local farms. It probably helped speed up the migration of agricultural employees from local farms.
(Photo - Courtesy Stephenson family)