Every once in a while an opportunity arises thanks to an individual with the right connections and a willingness to use those connections for the benefit of others. This time that opportunity would be the privilege of viewing the incredible private collection of trucks, tractors, cars, models and more amassed by the Tackaberry family in the Athens, Ontario area. The individual who made it possible for me (and a maximum of 39 others) was Sandy, a long time member of several Ottawa area HOG chapters.
The plan was for everyone who confirmed their participation to meet in Smith Falls and be ready to roll by 9am. And one
Originally, Caroline and I, as well as Gail and Andrew were all to ride our bikes, but things didn’t quite work out that way. Caroline, a long time migraine sufferer, unfortunately was plagued that day with a bad one. Since riding her 883 was not an option, we decided to both still go but took the car instead. Gail and Andrew accompanied us on their Buells.
The Collection We entered the first of three large buildings and walked directly into a small room with wall to wall display cases of model trucks and tractors. Little did we know that this would be just the beginning of what we were about to see. When we walked into the main garage we were immediately blown away; it seemed like every square inch of the floor was filled with antique trucks, cars and tractors, and the walls painted with historic photos, models, art, neon, and so much more. Not even the ceilings were spared. There were large suspended signs from SUPERTEST and PENNZOIL, as well as model planes. If all that was not enough, there was a loft with heritage furniture, a pool table, a barber chair complete with a tuxedoed barber, zebra skins, and all kinds of small collectibles. We could have spent all day just absorbing the treasures in that one building alone. Each time I traversed the floor, I noticed something else I had missed earlier. It was just too much to take in at one time.
Then there was another building, and another, each filled to bursting much like the first, but all different and just as exciting. I have yet to visit a public museum that could match the same impact this private collection had on me. But the exhibits didn’t just stop indoors, there was even more outside. Old rusting carcasses of past road construction equipment lined a gravel pathway through the woods, sometimes looking like they had suddenly stopped mid way through an operation, frozen forever in time.
Everywhere one turned, there was something to see, and sometimes it was totally unexpected. A monument to Buddha, a Far East pagoda sheltering an Egyptian sphinx, a tipi - surely this is an eclectic collection as any in Eastern Ontario.
Our two hour tour was long enough to almost overwhelm, yet too short to fully digest. I took over 100 photos, many of which I have included here. As I look through these hastily taken shots, I realized that another visit to the Tackaberry’s estate should be on my list of must do’s for next year. Thanks Sandy, for introducing us to this jewel of Eastern Ontario, and if you plan to organize another tour next year, count me in. Photo Gallery |
