Click Here for Part 1 of an article on Donkey Engines
John Dolbeer's Donkey Patent Drawing
The Anatomy of a Donkey Stream Engine
The Shaver Lake Museum Donkey
Donkey "Transmission"
Bill Edlund, Donkey Dude and "Whistle Punk"
Click Here for Part 2 of the article on Donkey engines and the restoration of this engine.
This video below is from a Steam Up celebration at the Shaver Lake Museum. This Donkey engine was abandoned in 1912 at the Petry Sawmill site, Southeast of Shaver Lake, where it was last used. It was found in 1993 by Patrick Emmert, nephew of one of the owners of Pine Logging Company in Dinkey Creek. With a great deal of TLC it was restored to operating condition, as you will see, and donated to the Museum in 2007.
Here are some photos of Donkey Engines from the past.
This is actually Shorty Lovelace’s cabin. It is only a couple of miles up the road from the Courtright Reservoir dam on the west side of the lake. Not too spacious but Shorty was only 5′ 4″ tall. He was just one of the many characters who inhabited the area.
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Recent Testimonial
"Thank you for making your home available for us to use. It couldn't have been more comfortable. We had a wonderful time on the lake and went on a really fun horseback riding adventure. The hot tub was a treat after the long days on the lake. We hope to make a trip back on winter so that we can take advantage of the snow. Of course, we plan to come back during summer break again. Thanks again. The Deichler and Forrester Families. 7-29-2011"