STOCKTON - Tractors, engines and cars are taking over Stockton.
The 38th annual Antique Equipment Show has rolled into town for the annual show. The show is sponsored by the Chautauqua County Antique Equipment Association (CCAEA). Each year, a different type of tractor is featured at the show. This year's featured tractor is the Leader.
"It's just a way to vary the show a bit," Norman Carlson, publicity chair for CCAEA, said.
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OBSERVER Photo by Samantha McDonnell
The Leader tractor is the tractor being featured at this year's Antique Equipment Show in Stockton. Each year a different tractor is featured on display. Fourteen Leader tractors are on display from all over the country this year.
The Leader tractor is a small tractor made by a small Ohio company for about 10 years. This year show's emphasis will be on models built from 1940 to 1949. Many tractors were sold by the Schott Brothers in their dealerships. When the brothers foreclosed in 1949, they destroyed all tractors, parts and records not producing anymore. The Leader Tractor Collector Association brought 14 Leader tractors to the show this year. According to President Henry Hahn, the tractors came from all over the country, including Tennessee, Michigan, Iowa and New York.
In addition to the tractors, other antique farming equipment and engines are on display as well as various demonstrations, including cutting logs in a saw mill. There is also a large collection of Chautauqua County guns by Gerald Nelson. Visitors can also walk through a museum which includes old-fashioned washing machines, an old fashioned refrigerator and more. One other display is by Martin Lydell who has old electrical equipment on display. Carlson called the collection "fascinating." Lydell said he obtained the items over the years.
"It was a lot of years of collecting," he said.
One thing that separates the CCAEA show from other shows is the focus on learning.
"One of the really standout things (of our show), it's really educational," Carlson said.
In addition to demonstrations and exhibits, the show offers old fashioned models. A gas station, a blacksmith shop and a printing press are available for guests to walk through and observe what life was like in past years. The blacksmith shop has a demonstration on taking iron or steel and shaping it to form different objects. Jed Curtis from Waynesboro, Va., has comes up for the show each year and demonstrates blacksmithing skills.
The show started with some low attendance but Carlson was pleased by the number of tractors.
"We're down from last year due to a shower (Friday) morning," Carlson said. "I'm pleased about the turnout of Leader tractors."
The event continues today and Sunday. Events today include a bake sale by the Stockton Citizens Organization for Renewal and Expansion. Music by the Old Dawg Bluegrass band will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. A tractor pull will be at 2 p.m. A tractor and car parade will take place at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. with a parade around town. A chicken barbecue will be held at noon both days. On Sunday, a tractor pull will take place at 1 p.m. with a parade at 11 a.m. Church services in Kates Korner Museum will be at 8:30 a.m. Demonstrations include a saw mill demonstration at 10 a.m. both days and 3 p.m. on Saturday; a weaving demonstration at 11 a.m. both days; and butter churning at 2 p.m. today. The tractor pulls are not affiliated with any club and are just for fun, Carlson explained.
Gates will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Parking is free and admission is $5. Children under 14 are free. The grounds are located at 4578 Cemetery Road, Stockton. For more information, contact Carlson at 483-0134.
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