Restoring Old Iron

Dwayne's 1945 Oliver Row Crop 70
3 Generations of Contiuous Family Ownership

The Moth Farm is located in Kirkville, NY at the corner of Chestnut Ridge Road and Marsh Mill Road in Madison County's Town of Sullivan. This area was settled primarily by immigrants from England many of whom arrived in this country in the early 1850s. This particular section of Kirkville was originally referred to as New Guinea or Fyler Settlement. John and Anna Hillcup Moth arrived from England in approximately 1854 and bought land from John and Sarah Taylor. They established a small farm that over the years grew to include 20-25 cows, 500 chickens, pigs, etc. They grew corn, hay, and vegetables to sell to passing neighbors. John's son William; his grandson Roy; his great grandson Leonard; and his great, great grandson Duane Arnold continued to work the farm long after John's passing. They have carried on John Moth's small farming tradition for over 165 years.

As 1952 dawned Roy and Leonard realized that they needed a more powerful tractor. On January 14th they drove to Syracuse Farm Supply on Park Street and traded their old AllisChalmers 8 and $700 for a 1945 oliver Row Crop 70. The farm already owned a Massey-Harris 30. As the story goes, the 70 was so much more powerful than the Massey-Harris that it could plow down-back-down in the main field while the Massey was still completing its first pass back and forth. The 70 literally wore out the extra set of plow blades that they had for the Massey. Leonard was so impressed with the performance of his Oliver 70 that he began to build a small collection of oliver tractors which eventually grew to include a 770, a 1650, and a 550. As the larger Oliver's shouldered the burden of the heavier field work the 70 was relegated to raking hay, but it remained the fastest of the fleet on the road. Duane would drive the 70 to deliver the hay that they would sell to neighboring farmers.
Leonard and Duane worked tirelessly to keep their oliver tractors in tip top shape. It was clear to anyone that Duane had inherited his "Uncle Leonard's" admiration for all things Oliver, When Leonard was stricken with cancer he still derived pleasure from "fiddling" with his beloved Oliver's. Finally, on his deathbed, Leonard gave his cherished Row Crop 70 to Duane knowing that it would be in very good hands. Duane has lovingly restored the Row Crop 70 and he enjoys showing it off at club meets and parades. In continuous use for 67 years the 70 remains an important part of the Moth Farm "family".

The following is a copy of the original purchase receipt for the Row Crop 70 from Syracuse Farm Supply.

Dwayne