John and Amaryllis Edris purchased 22 acres on the North side of county road 1000 N near Hesston Indiana in 1955 to run their recently acquired steam traction engine.  Soon like minded people began to gather and in 1957 the "LaPorte County Threshermen" were born with it's first official gathering labor Day weekend of that year. The sawmill ,light plant and the Browning Steam crane were added by the 1963 show.
   In 1964 the Bruce Achor suggested John Edris and Jack Keene buy a steam locomotive from Elliot Donnelley and then they were in the steam railroad business. Mr. Donnelley took great interest on the goings on near Hesston and offered financial support to expand and improve the little operation. In 1966 with Donelleye's help and everyone's love of all things steam a short line was started and the land acquired to total the 155 acres that we have today.
  The charter of "The LaPorte County Historical Society" was granted on December 16th 1986 by the state of Indiana as non-profit educational and recreational organization with IRS 501(c) standing obtained in 1969.