These Model Ts Have Their Own Town

These Model Ts Have Their Own Town TRACTORS Antiques John Krug needed a building to store his model T so he built one to match the era As he bought parts and built more model Ts he also built buildings Today he has a 1920’s era town of around 20 buildings filled with a similar number of Model Ts and uncounted Model T parts “My first building was Ole’s General Store which is filled with parts ” says Krug “I have a grain truck in a grain elevator and a car in the hotel and the firehouse has two cars and the fire truck The blacksmith shop has two Model T tractors ” Some buildings like the church have been decorated and furnished accordingly Others like the post office stand empty The town even has an outhouse that once stood at the local fairgrounds The print shop is a dedicated print shop complete with a full set of turn-of-the-century printing equipment “A visitor who came to see my model Ts was looking through the town and told me if I built a print shop he would give me the equipment he had collected ” says Krug Unfortunately Krug has no one to run the equipment The same is true of the fully equipped blacksmith shop “I’d love it if someone would use it ” says Krug One of the most appropriate buildings for a Model T collector is the 26 by 35-ft Danielson Motors a Model T-era garage and Ford dealership It is complete with Model T parts and the tools used on them “The Danielson family had seven car dealerships in the area at one time so I named the garage for them ” explains Krug “The family has had reunions here ” The Danielson family isn’t alone The town and the Model Ts are popular with reenactors car clubs and individuals “People come here all the time and I give tours ” says Krug “One couple had a Roaring 20’s style wedding and had their pictures taken here All the men had shotguns Something is going on here pretty regularly ” The only time the town is not filled with old cars and parts is the three weekends a year when John’s wife Diana takes it over “I have to empty all the buildings for the weekend as she uses them for a vendor’s market ” says John “People come to see the town and then shop while they’re here ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup John Krug 3277 E 18th Rd Ottawa Ill 61350 ph 815-228-5898; modeltnut@hotmail com; www modeltnut com

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