Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village in Murfreesboro, Tennessee was
developed in 1975 as part of the national effort to celebrate our
Bicentennial in 1976. The Village attempts to recreate the
environment of an average rural village in the 1800’s. The
village contains a wide variety of the type of buildings found in
Murfreesboro (formerly called Cannonsburgh) in the early 1800’s
town hall, church, general store, etc.
In September, 1982 the Department of Agriculture at Middle
Tennesssee State University and the City of Murfreesboro began a
cooperative effort to collect and preserve agricultural relics
which have made a significant contribution to rural America namely
farm tractors and related equipment. Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village
seemed to be the ideal location with approximately 50,000 visitors
annually, an open shed partially filled with farm equipment, and
room for expansion. The city provides the facilities and the MTSU
Agriculture Department provides the overall development including
the collection, restoration, and display of the tractors.
An early 1900 Birdsell Clover Huller in excellent shape. Only
one steam engine is listed in the Cannonsburgh farm equipment
inventory, a 1915 Russell Portable.
There are several public agricultural museums in the South but
most of them emphasize the horse era. Our objective is to emphasize
the tractor era including steam and internal combustion engines up
to 1950. We are not planning to restore the tractors to running
condition although several do run. Our major effort is to clean and
paint them as close as possible to their original color. All
tractors are identified for visitors relative to type, year made
and the donor.
Neither the City of Murfreesboro nor Middle Tennesssee State
University provide financial support for the museum. Therefore, we
depend entirely on private donations of tractors and funds to
restore those donated. All donations are made through the MTSU
Foundation and are tax deductible.
The public response to the museum has been outstanding. We
started with about 40 items and now have over 100. In two years 23
tractors, a portable steam engine and numerous major pieces of
equipment have been donated. An additional shed has been added and
another one is planned for 1985. Currently, a 12′ by 24′
section is being enclosed display small tractor-related items such
as toy tractors, belt buckles, pictures, books, etc. This should
add a unique dimension to the museum.
Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village is officially open from May to
September, 10:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Tuesday through Saturday and
1:00 to 4:30 P.M. on Sunday. The tractor museum is open all year
and there is no admission charge. Anyone interested in making a
financial or tractor donation should contact Dr. N. Omri Rawlins,
Director, Historical Museum, Box 555, MTSU, Murfreesboro, TN 37132
or call (615) 898-2300, Ext. 2421
FARM EQUIPMENT INVENTORY-1984
Cannonsburgh Historical Museum
Co-op Tractor
Restored
1945
Industrial Fordson
Unrestored
1922
Farm Fordson
Unrestored
1923
C C Case
Unrestored
1930
C Case
Restored
1929
LCase
Unrestored
1930
S C Case
Unrestored
1949
D C Case
Unrestored
1950
(2) V A C Cases
Unrestored
1942-46
W-30 McCormick Deering
Restored
1937
15-30 McCormick Deering
Restored
1927
(2) F-12-Farmall
Unrestored
1934-36
(3) F-20 Farmall
2 Restored
1937-39-39
Standard Farmall
Unrestored
1924
F-30 Farmall
Restored
1939
Minneapolis Moline
Unrestored
1948
John Deere D
Restored
1924
John Deere D
Restored
1936
John Deere B
Restored
1936
Russell Portable Steam Engine
1915
McCormick-Deering Wheat Thresher, Birdsell Clover Huller, Corn
Husker-Shredder, Husker-Shredder-Silo Loader, McCormick & J. D.
Wheat Binders, and Numerous horse-drawn items.
CO-OP TRACTOR AT CANNONSBURGH
An unusual tractor in the Cannonsburgh Historical Museum
collection is this restored Co-op model C tractor built in 1945.
These tractors were built by the Indiana Farm Bureau in
Shelbyville, Indiana, and it is believed that only 66 were made.
(See GEM, May/June 1978.)
This particular tractor is on permanent loan to the museum, but
is owned by the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative. The tractor was
restored by Joe Drinnon, of Russellville, Tennessee, who had
exhibited it in shows in Tennessee, North Carolina and
Kentucky.
Drinnon purchased the tractor from John Cox, an antique tractor
dealer in Lebanon, Kentucky. It also was owned at one time by
Andrew Goodman of Lincoln, Nebraska.