Eaton Hosts 200 year History Bash
Written by mary Messere   
April 19, 2007
Press Release
Submitted by Mary E. Messere
Chairman, Neighbors for Historic Eaton
315-684-9908 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it


Apr 19, 2007 -- /prbuzz/ --  The Neighbors for Historic Eaton in conjunction with the Town of Eaton Bicentennial Committee will be putting on a special event, Memorial Day Monday, March 28th from 10 am until 4 pm in the Hamlet of Eaton. This free family oriented event is the kick-off for the Town of Eaton’s Bicentennial.

The Hamlet of Eaton, once called Eaton Village, will be the host a special series of activities on Memorial Day Monday that day include a Vintage Engine Show that will display all varieties of old engines from steam to snowmobile. **** Eaton was once the home of the famous Wood, Taber & Morse Steam Engine Works that started as A. N. Wood in 1848 and was only the third maker of agricultural steam engines in the United States. This company perfected the first practical four-wheel drive steam traction engine, precursor of today’s modern tractors in the 1880’s and sold engines around the world.

The engine show will be held at the Eaton Field in the Hamlet where there will be food and other displays and the show will be joined by a host of other events throughout the Hamlet.

Festivities begin at 10 am with the traditional, but expanded American Legion Parade, which will be opened with a Revolutionary War Salute from a re-enactment Artillery Crew. This group of re-enactors opened the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Syracuse this year with their canon volley.

A special ceremony and Revolutionary War Encampment will follow the parade to the Eaton Village Cemetery. ** Eaton Village (the Hamlet) was first settled by Revolutionary War soldiers and was once part of the first clearing and settlement of Madison County dating as far back as 1787. This land patent was purchase by Col. William S. Smith, adjunct to Gen. George Washington and husband of Abigail Adams Smith, daughter of President Adams.

The Old Town of Eaton Museum on River Road will be open with special displays on the town’s history; the Main Street (Route 26) tent next to the Post Office will host a postal cancellation. The tent will also have special historic speakers and guests from the past including the famous Sheriff Bonney who will be joined by other re-creators such as Eaton’s famous Eli Perkins (Melville Landon), author and missionary Emily Chubbuck (Fanny Forester), and Historian Rod Taylor of Pratt’s Hollow. These special presentations start after the parade. A country Store will sell all variety of goods and souvenirs.

Throughout the day people are encouraged to visit the historic Eaton Village Cemetery where there will be a self-guided tour that points out many of the pasts famous people, and the town will host a self-guided historic house tour in conjunction with the first printing of a book by Judy Lyrek on the historic houses of the hamlet.

The Eaton Fire Department will be open with a display and popcorn geared for children and adults to learn about fire fighting.

Ancestors of Eaton’s original founders are invited back to Eaton for the day to enjoy the fun and to reminisce, and the public from all over is invited to join the town’s people in a great celebration of 200 years history in the “Old Town of Eaton” and to partake of the Town’s Birthday Cake at 3:30pm.

From 1:30 pm until 3:30pm and beyond Tommy Hoe & the Barn Cats will be playing at the Ole Eaton Field and the public is invited to bring lawn chairs and picnic.

For more information and or to join the Engine Show (which is free) please contact 315-684-9908 or visit our website at www.CentralNYHistory.com
About the Press Release
Event marks the 200 birthday of Historic Town of Eaton in Madison County NY home of missionaries, inventors, authors, and Wood, Taber & Morse Steam engines. May 28, 2007


 
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