September 7th, 2024, Nick Menke held the fourth annual Antique Tractors on the Boulevard in Williamsville, IL. Twenty tractors and six lawn & garden were on display. The weather started out chilly but soon became pleasant. It turned out to be a perfect fall day to show.
The added lure, for the event, is the venue.The street fronts the abandoned train depot. The novel old building sits empty now, even with the active railroad passing right behind it. What better reflection of times gone by?
Just south of the depot is two railroad boxcars that once housed a museum. Nick informed me that the boxcars are now only used as storage.
Red power dominated the lineup. There were a few Oliver, one Allis Chalmers, a Minneapolis Moline, and surprisingly, only one John Deere. A working Rumly Oil Pull was on display and actually was driven down the street by host Nick. The starting process to get a Rumly purring is very extensive. There was also a McCormick Deering 10-20, of course, on steel in the lineup.
In contrast to the dominating red tractors, the lawn tractors were all green. Carl Davis brought five various models of early John Deere. I hauled my Shaw Du-all N8W. I only took one due to my knees giving me issues, and I didn’t want to climb to load a fifthwheel.
I had a great visit with Carl when he wasn’t standing close to the railroad tracks. Anyone who knows Carl Davis well would know of his great love for trains. This was a perfect venue for him. Both passons side by side. I have featured Carl many times over the years. One of my first interviews to write was a story about him. That was a time before I was writing this blog. Carl will be featured again more extensively in the future.
I had the privilege of meeting Lori Lynn Parkin. Lori gained her notoriety, driving five and half hours to pick corn. Not many would take a journey from Pekin to Rantoul driving a tractor with a mounted corn picker and dragging a wagon. Luckily, it was a red tractor. I’m not sure any other color would have made it that far.
Williamsville is much closer. Lori and her husband Terry made the 45-mile trip on newer red power. Lori’s 1206 and Terry’s 966 has an average top speed nearer to 20 mph. Saturday started cold, so it must have been a chilly journey. Both tractors were open stations.
Not all the Farmall on display were red. Mike and Chase Turner had all three white demonstrators on the street. These three are the real deal. I asked Chase how to tell. Of course, it’s all in serial numbers. The white H and Ms are not legit! These three tractors are the only models painted white in the 50s
Nick recently acquired Super C. The little jewel was employed to pull a barrel train. The ride was enjoyed by children of all ages. I have a sentimental attachment to the C, considering I was the previous owner.
Congratulations to the best of show winners! Overall, it was a great day for fellowship with friends, old and new.
Editor’s note~ caption code #CL is Cindy Ladage #LP is Lori Parkin #CD is Carl Davis. Thank you, photographers, for your help.. I like to share different perspectives
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