56th Annual Duryea Day offers something for everyone
Anticipated 700 vehicles will be on display at Boyertown Community Park Sept. 3
An anticipated 700 vehicles or more will be on display at Boyertown Community Park on Saturday, Sept. 3. Combining vehicle owners and spectators, organizers expect more than 2,000 people will fill the Park.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, along with the Pottstown Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America, will host the 56th Annual Duryea Day Antique & Classic Car & Truck Show & Flea Market.
“Duryea Day is a very welcoming car show — we accept all makes, models, and years. Any car, truck, motorcycle is welcome,” said Kendra Cook, executive director of Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. “This makes us different from a lot of car shows because we have no minimum or maximum age requirement.”
The event welcomes restored vehicles, all original, barn finds, modified and hot rods.
“This means our show has a lot of variety and when we say there’s something for everyone, we truly mean it,” said Cook. “If weather is friendly, we expect 700 or more vehicles will be on display at Boyertown Community Park.”
The event already has more than 200 pre-registered vehicles but vehicles can also register on the day of the show for $20. Owners will receive a dash plaque and participation awards (first come) and be eligible for an award plaque. Any vehicle dated prior to 1920 enters free of charge. Show vehicle registration opens at 8 a.m. and ends at noon.
New for 2022
This year the event features two car clubs who will each bring vehicles for a special display in their own area.
“The first is the Berks County Mustang Club bringing a herd of Mustangs,” said Cook. “The Harrisburg Area Volkswagen Owners Club will also be joining us with a group of their cars — don’t call the exterminator!”
“The other really cool addition to this year’s Duryea Day is an old-time strongman show by The Irish Anvil,” added Cook.
In November, the Museum debuted both its new façade and a new addition to the collection — a 1938 Dodge truck with a modified camper and show stage owned and built by Joseph “The Mighty Atom” Greenstein, famous strongman who for years made weekly appearances at Zern’s Farmers Market in Gilbertsville.
“Many locals still remember The Mighty Atom’s shows, and even more remember the show performed by his apprentice, ‘Slim the Hammerman,’ who also used the truck as a backdrop for his feats of strength,” she said.
On Duryea Day, the Mighty Atom’s truck will be on display at the park and The Irish Anvil, himself a student of Slim the Hammerman, will put on two strongman shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. with the truck as a backdrop.
“We had such success with this at our November unveiling, and we are excited to bring The Irish Anvil back for Duryea Day and help spectators relive their fond memories of The Mighty Atom and Slim the Hammerman,” said Cook.
Also, a blacksmith at the Museum will be giving demonstrations in the 1872 Jeremiah Sweinhart Carriage Factory.
Food will be available for purchase at the park.
Event supports preservation
Duryea Day benefits the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles and the Pottstown Region Antique Automobile Club of America. Proceeds help the Museum to continue its mission of collecting, preserving, and exhibiting Pennsylvania transportation heritage. The Boyertown Museum, like Duryea Day, began in 1965 and continues to tell Pennsylvania’s industrial, cultural, and technological history through the lens of road transportation.
Explaining the significance of the event name, Cook said Duryea Day is named after Charles Duryea, who, along with his brother Frank, made the first commercially marketed car in the United States.
“They did this in 1892 in Massachusetts. Charles and Frank, however, soon parted ways,” she said.
Charles moved to Reading, and for eight years built very unique cars at his Duryea Power Company factory.
“Several of those Duryea automobiles are on display in the Boyertown Museum,” said Cook. “The Duryea Day name is an homage to this early automotive pioneer.”
Admission to the Park for spectators is $10 for adults with kids ages 15 and younger free, which includes free admission for that day to the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. Admission to the Museum is also included for those who register a vehicle.
Quigley Chevrolet sponsors a shuttle that will run between the Park and Museum throughout the event; there is no cost to ride the shuttle.
“We couldn’t have this event without our amazing sponsors,” said Cook.
Event sponsors include Truist; Gabelsville Athletic Association; Fred Beans Ford of Boyertown; Quigley Chevrolet; Quigley Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Ramp; and Suburban Water Technology.
Admission to the park for spectators is $10 for adults and free for kids ages 15 and younger, which includes free admission for that day to the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles.
For more information, follow Duryea Day on Facebook.*