Steam-Era is a festival held every
Labour Day
Labour Day (''Labor Day'' in the United States) is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours fo ...
Weekend in the Town of
Milton, Ontario
Milton (2016 census population 110,128) is a town in Southern Ontario, Canada, and part of the Halton Region in the Greater Toronto Area. Between 2001 and 2011, Milton was the fastest growing municipality in Canada, with a 71.4% increase in popul ...
featuring historic
steam tractor
:''This article refers to the steam-powered agricultural tractor; for other types of steam tractor, see: Traction engine''
A steam tractor is a vehicle powered by a steam engine which is used for pulling.
In North America, the term ''steam ...
s. Well known for its eye on the past, the community annually celebrates the Milton Steam Era — populated by hundreds of steam-powered tractors, engines, and farm implements converging to salute a bygone era. Traditionally Milton's Steam Era has also featured a parade of steam tractors down Main St.
Origins & History
A small group of local men, chatting at a machine shop in August, 1960, came up with the idea of a “steam show” — an annual event, where owners of vintage, steam-powered vehicles could parade their antique treasures. In August 1960, Bill Johnson of
Burford
Burford () is a town on the River Windrush, in the Cotswold hills, in the West Oxfordshire district of Oxfordshire, England. It is often referred to as the 'gateway' to the Cotswolds. Burford is located west of Oxford and southeast of Chelte ...
and Les Lowe of
Brookville were at Gordon Brigden's machine shop in
Hornby and with the late Elmer Downs of Milton. the four discussed the possibility of putting on a steam show. On December 8. 1960 as a result of these discussions thirty-eight gentlemen gathered at Les Lowe's farm on the Guelph Line, north of Brookville. This was the founding meeting of the Ontario Steam and Antique Preservers' Association.
The first one, dubbed the “Steam Era,” was held on Labour Day weekend, in 1961, and the tradition continues to this day. In its early years, the whole town would get swept up in the nostalgic exercise, as well as an accompanying festival, called “Old-Fashioned Days,” in which everyone would dress up in clothing of bygone days. By its third year, the Steam Era attracted 27,000 spectators in 1963. By 1965, it had grown to 40,000.
In 1983,
Miss Canada
Miss Canada is a beauty pageant for young women in Canada. It was founded in Hamilton in 1946. No title was awarded from 1993 through 2008. The trademark was purchased in 2009 by a Québec organization who produces the pageant under the name t ...
Jodi Rutledge and
Miss Teen Canada
Miss Teen Canada was a personality and beauty competition in Canada for women aged 14 to 17. The event started in 1969 and was televised on CTV. The pageant was named Miss Teenage Canada for its first three years and was originally sponsored by A ...
Lori Assheton-Smith visited Steam Era.
Steam Era is the biggest exhibition of antique steam powered equipment in Ontario, thus lending Milton the title. In 2015, the event celebrated its 55th year.
Attractions
Some of the events and displays at Steam Era include:
* Displays of the restored equipment that was a part of the very first Steam Era show
* Displays that were a part of the Steam Era’s first 10 years
* Tractor pulls
* Operating demonstrations of a sawmill, threshing, and shingle mill
* Steam Era Parade in downtown Milton
* Corn roast
* Night of Fire Spark Show
See also
*
List of steam fairs
A steam fair or (steam rally) is a regular organised gathering of historic steam-powered vehicles and machinery, open to the public. Typical exhibits include: traction engines, steam rollers, steam wagons, and steam cars. Often, the scope is wide ...
References
External links
*http://www.steam-era.com
Steam festivals
Festivals in Ontario
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