Tom Mills of Putnam Valley gives his vintage
tractor a once over
PATTERSON – Jeff Hyatt remembered growing up in Putnam County and
how old-time artisans told him it took almost a year to drill a well with
a water-well drilling machine.
Hyatt, who resides in Patterson, displayed his 1891 water-well machine
powered by a 9-horsepower engine at the weekend’s Antique Farm Equipment
show at Tilly Foster Farm.
Hyatt said the tractors along with turn-of-the-century farm implements
and antique water pumps “hardly painted the correct picture. Imagine
a 25-foot-tall water well rig. Picture the muscle needed to drive this
mechanical equipment hundreds of feet into the ground in search of water
for your well.”
He said the Putnam County Antique Machinery Association shares the appreciation
and understanding of the history of farming and encourage others to learn
about “the tremendous feats accomplished by our forefathers.”
Dozens of county residents of all ages came out to cultivate more knowledge
about farming over 100 years ago.
No, this isn’t at the Putnam tractor show; it’s just for fun!
