Brookings donate steam engine to Mississippi museum by Joey Martin - posted Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 @ 1:39 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  Jim McRae, Director of the Mississippi Industrial Museum in Meridian, said if not for the era of the steam engine, technology would not be where it is today. That's why McRae was more than thrilled when he received a call from Cecil and Liz Brooking of Ferriday about a donation of a steam engine to their museum for display. Liz said the 18-horsepower steam tractor was manufactured by Gaar Scott & Company of Richmond, Indiana in 1907. "Some of the cast iron parts that are easily visible are stamped as early as 1880," Liz Brooking said. "It was used to run the belt line for the gin that was out here on Panola Plantation in the old days. From what we have been able to find out, it was likely used from the time of delivery, circa 1910, until sometime in the early 1940's." "It is very rare to find one is this good condition," McRae said. "Most were used for scrap during World War II. Usually they are robbed for most of the parts." For the full story, subscribe to the The Concordia Sentinel's NEW E-Edition!