Harvest Days To Show Off New Exhibit
Among the cranks, gears, engines and belts that will be just some of the features of the St. Lawrence Power & Equipment Museum's 20th annual Old Fashioned Harvest Days Exhibition on Sept. 4 and 5, will be something for the ladies.
Or at least, sort of.
"Our new wash-day exhibit will showcase inventions that attempted to make the homemakers life easier," says Roger S. Austin, the museum's president and board trustee. "A lot of them - wild, crazy and practical - worked. Others didn't.
"A collection of unique and unusual machines dedicated to just doing laundry," Mr. Austin said of the exhibit.
For 20 years now, the Harvest Days exhibition has brought together those interested in good-old-fashioned gas, steam and diesel engines, tractors, cars and trucks, as well as early farm implements and other back-to-the-earth equipment. Basically, according to Mr. Austin, the technology that has brought us "from here to there."
New this fall, for the first time according to Mr. Austin, will be draft horse pulling. He says the horses attracted positive attention during the spring exhibit.
"People like seeing the big animals work," he said.
Weekend features will also include buildings dedicated to maple sugaring, milking, chickens, a granary, a vintage gas station and a shoe and leather shop that Mrs. Austin said features "different leather working equipment from an old shoe and leather shop in Canton."
Throw in farm animals and children's early-days games in the barn, as well as free horse and tractor wagon rides, good food - including breakfast and lunch each day, baked goods and scooped ice cream - and the sounds of put-put engines, and anyone can see why the June exhibition brought in over 2,000 visitors, exhibitors and volunteers.
"Its interesting to see and learn about how simple mechanisms changed our lives," Mr. Austin says, noting that museum members also hope to have "the old Lane sawmill" operating. Mr. Austin says volunteers are working hard to get the 1920s-era sawmill and a location to operate it ready for the exhibit.
"We're leveling land and getting things bolted down," he said of the sawmill, adding that "timber is coming in" for the project.
A complete list of the weekend's events is shown below, with admission costing $4 for those 12 and older. Trouble getting around? Transport assistance is available on site, with lots of chairs and benches available to relax on. For more information
Saturday
9 a.m.: Draft horse weigh-in begins
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Early textiles demonstrations
10-11 a.m.: Sawmill operating
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Antique auto exhibit
11 a.m.-noon: Harvest demonstrations
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Harvest days draft horse pull
noon: Tractor and horse parade
1-2 p.m.: Antique sawmill operating
1-2 p.m.: Harvest demonstrations
5-7 p.m.: Spaghetti supper
6:30-8:30 p.m.: Live music by Pure Country
7 p.m.: Saturday's 50:50 winner announced
Sept. 5
8-9 a.m.: Open trustees meeting
9:30 a.m.: Horse and tractor parade
10-11 a.m.: Sawmill operating
10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Early textiles demonstrations
10-11 a.m.: Harvest demonstrations
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Antique truck exhibit
10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Antique tractor pull
11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Honey Dew Acres pony rides
noon until gone: BBQ chicken dinner
noon: Country music by Echoes in Black
1-2 p.m.: Harvest demonstrations
1-2 p.m.: Sawmill operating
1-2:30 p.m.: Kids pedal tractor pull
3 p.m.: 50:50 winner announced
3 p.m.: Drawing winner announced
