Tractors on parade
Published: June 3, 2009
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Around 20 Ford tractors graced the Jessup Township field of retired Magisterial District Judge Watson Dayton, and greeted members of the Endless Mountains Antique Power Association Sunday on a mid-day convoy. STAFF PHOTO/ROBERT BAKER
Watson Dayton was one of about 15 antique tractor drives out participating in a convoy that went from Lawton to Friendsville and back to Jessup Township Sunday.
If you saw the parade of antique tractors Sunday morning leaving Lawton and ending up 14 miles later in Jessup Township, no, they weren’t lost.
They were doing their twice a year pilgrimage for the Endless Mountains Antique Power Association.
And Dick Naylor, head of the group, said they couldn’t have picked a better looking day.
They ended their journey at the farm of retired magisterial district judge Watson Dayton, who was happy to host the group, and also to drive one of his favored Ford tractors the entire route.
Dayton is quick to let you know there’s nothing quite like a Ford tractor and just in case you missed it, he had a collection of about 20 Ford tractors parked in a row to greet the Sunday drivers.
Dayton said that while he likes his tractors, he wouldn’t be able to keep up his collection if it weren’t for Bob Skinner, who from 1971 to 1988 ran a Ford tractor dealership just north of Tunkhannock where Mulligan Printing is today.
Skinner’s not that big on parades, but really big on keeping tractors in good working shape, and he’s happy he can be of help.
On a regular working day, he can be seen keeping the equipment humming at Pickering Farm Equipment in Jackson.
Naylor said the antique machinery group would do another ‘convoy’ in the fall and would also be having a tractor parade at next month’s Antique Machinery Show at Lazybrook Park, Tunkhannock.
