MADRID - Visitors to the 20th annual Old Fashioned Harvest Days at the St. Lawrence Power and Equipment Museum got a brief trip back to the past, while celebrating something new.

The day began with the dedication of the Paul E. Merrill Horse-Drawn Equipment Exhibit Building at 10 a.m.

The building, which will house a variety of antique carriages and farming equipment, was built with wood from local hemlock trees, shaped at an Amish sawmill and assembled by an Amish carpenter.

When Harvest Days first moved to the St. Lawrence Power and Equipment Museum in 2008. In the five years that followed it grew to include various antique buildings and exhibit areas.

“This is something that’s very special,” said Leon L. Goolden, who sold the farm to the museum in 2006.

State Senator Patty Ritchie was at the dedication.

Those attending Harvest Days saw a variety of activities that hearkened back to farming’s roots.

“The whole purpose of the museum is to preserve the heritage of the North Country, and the technology of farming,” Goolden said.

Ponies competed to see which could haul the most weight in the miniature horse pull competition.

“For little guys, they sure can pull a lot,” said spectator Jared I. Villnave, Norfolk.

Once the miniature horses had finished the competition their full-sized counterparts took over in the draft horse pull.

Visitors could get a glimpse of the way things used to be with demonstration of early textiles, an antique steam engine and an antique sawmill, or shop at the show’s craft fair.

“We’re just enjoying it, having a nice day,” said Bruce Dartt, Canton.

The show continues tomorrow with more demonstrations and a chicken barbecue.

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