The Curran Homestead Village is elated over the news that they will
receive a large donation of restored Model T cars as well as a stake truck. The donation also includes early gas engines, extra Model T engines for restoration, and equipment for maintaining and doing other restorations of Ford Model Ts and other early autos in the future. The museum currently has a number of Model T related vehicles including a restored Model T cord saw, "Runaway Jane", a circa 1917 Model T doodlebug/jitterbug with dual transmissions including a double T example, a Worthington T ( a Model T tractor conversion produced for retail from re-purposed Model Ts, Model As, and other vintage cars in the 1940s) and four Fordson tractors of the same era.
The Model T gift comes from a long-time supporter of the former
Willowbrook Museum which was gifted to the Curran Homestead on January 1st
and has run under the aegis of Curran Homestead Village at Newfield this 2017
season. Curran finished its last school field trip for the fall on October 3 with apple cider making in addition to its extensive program of
hands-on learning activities with costumed interpreters and a ride on its 1894
Herschell Armitage horse carousel originating from Saco. The museum was also open on October 14th and had beautiful weather for its October 21st Free Members Day which was generously sponsored by Jeremiah Mason House in Limerick. The museum had a full complement of costumed interpreters with BBQ served out on the lawn free of charge to members; the museum anticipates a similar free day in the spring for new 2018 members.
The initial plan is to exhibit the donated Model Ts and the collection of early gas engines and belt driven equipment at the Newfield campus in its very large Carriage House. The donation also includes the equipment for a car restoration workshop. “The Newfield Carriage Barn,” said museum director, Robert Schmick “will eventually offer a hands-on, Model T assembly line for our ongoing school field trip programs and special events visitation along with other early American car culture learning opportunities connected with internal combustion engines and auto technology which is in synch with our focus on science and technology learning objectives at both our campuses.”
The initial plan is to exhibit the donated Model Ts and the collection of early gas engines and belt driven equipment at the Newfield campus in its very large Carriage House. The donation also includes the equipment for a car restoration workshop. “The Newfield Carriage Barn,” said museum director, Robert Schmick “will eventually offer a hands-on, Model T assembly line for our ongoing school field trip programs and special events visitation along with other early American car culture learning opportunities connected with internal combustion engines and auto technology which is in synch with our focus on science and technology learning objectives at both our campuses.”
“Eventually, this donation will be divided between our two campuses,
Orrington and Newfield, as an accommodation is built at our Fields Pond campus;
these gas engines are equally important to the development of our collection
which embodies Maine rural heritage and will complement the more than a dozen
engines that came with the Willowbrook gift to Curran. We will be scheduling
workshops in metal work, woodworking, electricity and more this winter,”
Schmick added. Visit us at: www.curranhomestead.org , or call for information:
(207) 205-4849.
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