Preserving history one implement at a time

My dad would be proud of me.

If he were still alive, he’d pat me on the back and want to talk about the good old days. And that puts a smile on my face.

The reason is because I recently became the owner of an antique horse-drawn potato planter. It was a gift from Howard and Sue McDonough of Grinnell.

I first laid eyes on this piece of American heritage in 2011 or 2012. That year Howard and Sue where named the Grand Marshals of the Fourth of July parade.

The couple lived northeast of Grinnell at the time, but have since moved to town. Howard farmed and helped install stadiums for Stadiums Unlimited that was later renamed Outdoor Aluminum.

“I installed stadiums so I could farm,” said Howard.

He’s also a collector of antique implements, many from the turn of the century.

During my visit and interview at their farm, Howard gave me a tour of the barn. That’s when I spotted the potato planter.

I asked if it was for sale.

Howard was gracious in his “no” response.

He said he’d never sell it or anything he owns.

It was a nice piece of Americana and in the years since I have remained hopeful that someday I would have the chance to own the implement.

Every so often, I’d see Howard and would mention the potato planter.

“I still have it,” he’d tell me.

I was at the Grinnell Show and Shine Car Show in August a year ago and saw Howard. I mentioned the potato planter and he said, “If he wanted to get rid of it, he’d give it to me.”

I saw him again just before Thanksgiving last year at the Grinnell Jingle Bell Holiday event. I was standing on the southeast corner of Fourth and Broad Street by where the horses give folks rides.

Howard saw me and said I could have the potato planter if I still was interested.

“What a gift,” I’m thinking.

I was so excited that I went home and told Debbie that I was adding to my collection of rusty farming antiques. I’m already the proud owner of John Deere hay rake and may soon be getting an antique two-row International horse-drawn planter.

It took a while to get it home. Thanks to Seth Cline for hauling it to our house a few weeks ago.

Howard said the potato planter was made in the 1800s and he believes in Michigan. Howard said he’d have to look it up.

When asked, Howard said the potato planter came from Valley City, North Dakota. He said he got from a fellow he knew there. He said he’s always loved collecting farm implements and old antiques.

My plans are to display the implements in our yard.

Like my dad, I’m interested in preserving history.

My dad had a nice collection of horse-drawn implements including cultivators and, according to my brother, he also had a horse-drawn potato planter. I don’t remember the potato planter, but do remember the cultivators that were in the backyard at my parent’s farm.

He also had a vast collection of old hand saws, cultivator seats, singletrees and doubletrees, most of which I brought to Iowa from Oklahoma.

My brother and I divided some of our dad’s antique collection and sold some of the items in our family auction. I wish I had hung on and kept them all, especially the old two-man saws.

My dad enjoyed attending steam engine shows in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. He loved to make a deal.

One year while visiting a steam engine show in Pawnee, Oklahoma in the late 1980s, my dad found an old cultivator seat he was interested in having. A lot of these steam engine shows have dealers selling old antiques, and my dad enjoyed stopping to checkout their offerings.

I think the seat was $12 or so, which, to me, is a bargain.

Anyway, Dad offered the seller less and was turned down. So, he’d walk around the grounds for a while, then return and try and buy the seat from the same dealer, but a different person. It took a few tries, but he ended up getting it for about half price.

He got the biggest chuckle about that.

I also have a full set of horse reins. My dad said his father used them on a team of horses to build roads in Oklahoma during the WPA days.

I don’t have any history on that outside of what my dad said.

I tossed the idea around about donating them to the Midwest Old Thresher Reunion. I spoke with the folks there a few years back but haven’t done anything yet.

Debbie and I enjoy going antiquing on occasion. In addition to the implements, I have a large collection of old postcards. I love trading with other dealers.

I also have more than 100 old cigar boxes, Pepsi collectibles, old hand tools, old board games, pop bottle openers, old shirt patches and many other smalls.

Have a great week, and always remember that “Good Things are Happening” every day.