Steam Power Steals the Show at Midnight Gladness in Memphis

Zimmerman family’s 1923 engine draws crowd, powers holiday fun

By Echo Menges

MEMPHIS, Mo. — A 102-year-old steam engine took center stage at this year’s Midnight Gladness event on Friday, Dec. 5, as crowds gathered outside Dutch Garden Nursery south of Memphis to watch history in motion.

Richard Zimmerman, of rural Memphis, fired up his 1923 Eclipse steam engine — built in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania — to power a rotating swing ride for children. The hiss and churn of the machine, paired with the laughter of children spinning in the crisp winter air, brought a sense of wonder and nostalgia to the annual holiday shopping event.

Zimmerman purchased the engine just six months ago. The steam engine usually serves a more practical role: processing apples for Zimmerman’s family-owned business, The Bushel Basket, located in the rolling hills of rural Scotland County.

The Bushel Basket is a true family endeavor run by Richard and his wife, Sarah Zimmerman, with help from their seven children. The family began planting apple trees in 2013, and over the years has grown their operation to include cider, vinegar, apple syrup and eggs.

In 2020, the Zimmermans rebranded the former Weiler Egg Farm into The Bushel Basket, and in 2023 added a greenhouse to the farm, further expanding their offerings and deepening their connection to the land.

The Eclipse engine, an example of early 20th-century engineering, turned more than just gears Friday night. It turned heads. Mounted with a flywheel, smokestack and hand valves, the machine captivated visitors.

Midnight Gladness, hosted annually by businesses throughout Scotland County, features extended shopping hours, special sales, door prizes and community fun. But this year, it was the chugging of steam and the Zimmerman family’s old-meets-new approach that stole the show and captivated children and adults alike.