Farm machinery tours on Family Day

Volunteers with the Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum hosted their third annual Family Day event last Monday.

The Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum opened its doors on Family Day and local families showed up.

Roughly ten volunteers with the museum, including president Gary Struhar, were at the museum this past Monday welcoming those who wanted to look at antique steam engines and antique farm equipment. The museum is located on the grounds of Co-An Park in McGregor and Struhar said around the noon of the four-hour event, he had spent at least 90 minutes giving tours.

“I know people are coming and going,” said Struhar. “We hope to have 70-80 people come through during the day.”

This was the third year the Essex County Steam & Gas Museum opened its doors for Family Day, with Struhar pointing out the weather has been different all three years. No snow and warm temperatures greeted everyone in the first year, cold and snow last year and a return to nicer weather but still snow on the ground this year.

“Each year is different,” said Struhar.

The museum also offered hot dogs, chips, children’s activities and smores, in addition to the tours of the building. Struhar said they present the event “just to keep the kids happy.”

“We’re trying to keep the tradition going,” he said.

The Family Day event was part of Heritage Week events in the Town of Essex with a Tim Hortons location in Essex donating coffee and hot chocolate.

“It’s teamwork like this that makes it work out,” said Struhar. “Everything is donated. We pass the savings to everyone that comes out here. It keeps the kids happy.”

Upcoming events at the Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Museum include a pasta dinner March 28, a Mother’s Day ham and turkey dinner May 9 and a Father’s Day steak dinner June 20. For more information or to keep up-to-date on their events, visit www.essexsteamandgasengine.com or www.facebook.com/EssexCountySteamandGasMuseum. There is also a dinner scheduled for mid-September.

The museum’s main attraction is the Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Show, featuring displays, demonstrations, a parade, food and more. This year’s show at Co-An Park is scheduled for Aug. 14-16.

To book a tour at the Essex County Steam and Gas Engine Museum, contact Struhar at 519-817-5712.

Farm machinery tours on Family Day

By Ron Giofu