Praising the past

Three friends team up to host Hamilton Heritage Day Sept. 14; event showcases traditional tools and farming methods

Most agricultural equipment today is operated by computer technology. Each piece comes with an owner’s manual to ensure it runs smoothly.

But what would happen if technology suddenly stopped working and Prince Edward Islanders had to go back to the old way of doing things?

How would farmers get their work done? For at least three Islanders, that wouldn’t be a problem.

Jimmy Carruthers, Michael Delaney and Myron Taylor are passionate about heritage farming practices and the people who taught them.

“Growing up, we sat in the kitchen and listened to farmers’ stories,” says Carruthers, who pays tribute to these men and women by gathering pieces of equipment that they once used.

For the past several decades, he and his two friends have collected, built and restored pieces of farm equipment.

“It seemed like such a pity to let these things go,” says Carruthers.

In their combined collection, there’s a planer, thresher, binder and a horsedrawn plough. They also have a saw mill, vintage shingle mill and a blacksmith’s shop, as well as an antique engine display.

These friends are polishing up these pieces of equipment for Hamilton Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Civic Numbers 2509 and 2556 in Hamilton. It’s a fundraiser for Farmers Helping Farmers.

The event is an opportunity to show the current generation of farmers and non-farmers equipment and agriculture practices from the past.

Organizers of Hamilton Heritage Day display an antique threshing machine, which was built by the Hall Manufacturing Company in Summerside. It's one of the pieces that will be on display at the Saturday, Sept. 14 event. From left are Jimmy Carruthers, Myron Taylor and Michael Delaney.

SALLY COLE/THE GUARDIAN Jimmy Carruthers shows some of his work at his vintage shingle mill in Hamilton, P.E.I.

SALLY COLE/THE GUARDIAN Organizer Michael Delaney shows an antique engine that was pulled from the mud and restored. It’s one of the pieces of equipment that will be showcased at Hamilton Heritage Day.

SALLY COLE/THE GUARDIAN Myron Taylor shows some of the photos taken at previous events. He's one of the organizers for the 2019 edition of Hamilton Heritage Day.