FCHS Joins Community for Annual Freedom Field Day

Clear skies and summer weather set the stage for a great turnout at this year’s Freedom Field Day, Parade, and Car Show. The grounds at Freedom Field were bustling with energy as friends, neighbors, and plenty of folks from away gathered to celebrate community traditions.

The working, pre-WWI vintage "one-lunger" hit-and-miss engines FCHS had at Freedom Field Day.

The Freedom Community Historical Society was in the thick of the action with a booth and our featured exhibit — a collection of working, pre-WWI vintage "one-lunger" hit-and-miss engines. Long before rural electrification, these engines powered early 20th-century farms and workshops. Named for their single cylinder and distinctive pop-and-coast rhythm, these massive flywheeled workhorses once ran everything from grain mills and water pumps to wood-cutting saws.

The machines drew a steady crowd of curious onlookers throughout the day. Local restorer Mark Letourneau kept the machinery humming, offering live demonstrations and hands-on history lessons to young and old alike. Mark also had a banner day at the Car Show, taking home 5th place honors for his entry.

Between engine runs, our booth had the pleasure of welcoming local author Trudy Chambers Price, who treated a visitor to a pop-up book signing of her popular title, The Cows Are Out.

Across the grounds, FCHS treasurer Tyler Hadyniak kept the fires going, spending his day serving up delicious chicken barbecue to support the Freedom Volunteer Fire Department.

It was a banner day for Freedom — full of history, good food, and great company. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth to chat, learn, and support our town’s heritage. We can’t wait to see you at next year’s Freedom Field Day.