52A South Main Street, New Milford, CT 06776.
On July 25 and 26, 1987 the town of Roxbury, Connecticut was
full of activity as the Roxbury Volunteer Fire Department and
Roxbury Historical Society held the 16th annual Old Roxbury
Days.
Over 9000 people passed through the main gate on South Street
and stepped back in time. The town hall was turned into an old time
country store. The Booth Free School was open to display arts and
crafts. Across the street was a flea market and a display of
antique cars and trucks.
The field next to the town hall was full of antique tractors,
engines, and equipment. You may wonder how full the field was? Try
39 tractors, several gas engines, a thresher, ensilage cutter,
shingle mill and wood planer. Many of the gas engines just
didn’t sit around all day, they worked pumping water, sawing
wood, shelling corn, and grinding corn, while the tractors supplied
the power for the large pieces of equipment.
A special event happened in 1987 at Old Roxbury Days, sort of a
show within a show, as the Roxbury Historical Society hosted the
Southern New England John Deere Celebration. With 1987 being the
150th anniversary of Deere & Company many collectors brought
John Deere equipment to display. Nineteen two-cylinder John Deere
tractors were displayed as were several pieces of John Deere
equipment.
Slow tractor races were held both Saturday and Sunday, with many
of the tractors in attendance participating.
Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM the town was full of noise as over
30 tractors were all running at one time to participate in the
largest antique tractor parade in the state of Connecticut.
If you have never been to Old Roxbury Days come see what
you’ve been missing. And, if you own an old tractor or engine,
bring it along and be a participant!