Perryville took a step back in time over the Memorial Day weekend. Residents took part in the 45th annual Old Timer’s Day on May 28-29 at the Seminary Picnic grounds. The long-time event featured food, antique tractors, games and old-time demonstrations, such as splitting wood and more.
The event was packed with both patrons and tractors from all over the area, but for Dennis House of Perryville, the event is different than many others.
“It’s just very relaxing,” he said. “I like the atmosphere here, it’s laid back. Parents can bring their kids here, partly because it’s an event that is free of charge. You don’t get that much anymore.”
People such as House come to the Old Timers Day event every year, or at least try to. In some cases they bring their own tractors. House drove in on his green Oliver 1550, while there were many other models and types from John Deere, Massey-Ferguson, and Ford.
For House, that is part of the beauty of Old-Timer’s Day.
“Some people will walk by the tractors and keep going,” House said. “However, there is that one person who will stop in their tracks and freeze and just stare. Most of the time it’s because they have a history with that model of tractor because their dad owned one or they grew up driving one themselves. These types of tractors bring back those types of memories and emotions for people. Some will talk to you and just tear up.”
House does not have that type of relationship or the memories with the Oliver Tractor that he drove over the weekend, but he did have display it for others to enjoy. House noted that his tractor spent about two months in the American Tractor Museum in the Catalyst Center for about the previous two months, before getting it out for the Old Timer’s Day festivities.
“I usually put it in the Christmas Parade and drive it in that,” he said. “Otherwise, I don’t do too much with it.”
Along with the tractors, one of the demonstrations was a gas-powered wood splitter. Logs were lifted into place, split and then loaded on an elevator where they wound up in the back of a truck. There was also a blacksmith area, heating coal and then heating and re-heating the piece of steel he was working on.
Whatever people were interested in over the weekend, people such as House believe it is important to continue having events such as Old Timer’s Day.
“Things just aren’t the same as they were back in the day when things like wood splitting with old machines like those over there,” he said. I think it is important that we keep that kind of history alive because it was a good time in this country. Everyone that grew up back then as a story.”
