ATWOOD, Ill. — Roger Harris and his wife, Glenna, opened the Harris Agricultural Museum in 2000. This fits well into a town filled with its own colorful history.

First, there is the name itself. The town of Atwood was named by train engineers that stopped “at the woods” to add water to their steam engines from the Lake Fork River. The name stuck, and the village was established in 1873.

Besides its unusual name, Atwood also has the distinction of being located in two counties. The town is literally divided down Main Street; those on the west side live in Piatt County, and those on the east side live in Douglas County.

And, part of the town history belongs to Roger Harris, who established his electric company in Atwood almost 49 years ago. “I started R. Harris Electric in February of 1960,” he said. “I started the business as a hobby. My father was a farmer north of town, and there was not enough ground for him and me to farm, so I took electricity in college and thought I might give it a try.”

Harris’ business took off, and he has expanded to include the Harris International Elevator as part of Harris Companies. The family elevator company harkens to Roger’s farm roots.

“We are one of three companies in the U.S. that make special purpose personal elevators,” he said. He explained they are manufactured primarily for grain elevators. Harris also makes freight elevators, and inspects and repairs them along with electrical contractor work.

Located at 202 West Locust Avenue in Atwood, the museum is open by appointment, and both group and individual tours are offered. Although there is no cost, donations are appreciated.

Before entering the building, visitors who like horse-drawn equipment will want to go around the west side and take a look at the display. Inside, Harris said he has mostly pre-war and Depression-Era items, “We have kind of ‘the first mechanical equipment for farms’ theme,” he said.

Exhibits are divided by sections. On the left side of the museum, tractors and farm equipment dominate. “I have a 1942 International Harvester I-9 which was owned by the Navy,” Harris noted.

His goal is to have one of each brand that would represent their first mechanical introductions into farming. When the Harrises acquire a piece of equipment for the museum, they first take it to a special garage area where they restore and clean it before moving it into the museum. Once inside the museum, all items are labeled.

“I have a 1935 Hart-Parr Oliver, a 1937 John Deere A, a 1958 CC Case, a 1937 Allis Chalmers WC, a 1937 Farmall F20, a 1922 Fordson and a 1938 Oliver 70,” he said.

Besides the tractors, he also has a manure spreader, a Huber thresher which predates many tractors, a McCormick-Deering Binder and a Triumph box wagon. “I also have a wood-wheeled flare wagon and a 1904 Whitman press. I was told that this is the same one that was at the 1904 World’s Fair, but I haven’t confirmed this,” he added.

He also has a beautifully restored 1909 Model T truck, a 1948 four-wheel drive Willys truck and a 1964-1/2 Mustang.

Dividing the two areas in the front center is an area dedicated to historical electrical equipment and a meter display. “Some of these items came from Mexico and South America,” he shared.

There are also hit-and-miss engines and filling station memorabilia as well. A collection of plows are near the engines. One wooden plow was donated by a man who told Harris it was used “to break the prairie.”

There are two stairwells to the upstairs section of the museum. One is a spiral staircase he said was given to them from a former grain elevator. Displays in this area include a farm household display, a milk collection area, a schoolroom and much more.

“A friend of ours was cleaning out his grandmother’s house and found a complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica from 1909,” Harris noted. The books are now on a shelf in the schoolroom.

There is also a 1930s “Before Electricity Comes to the Farm” display and a 1940s kitchen. While most items are owned by Roger and Glenna, he said some are on loan. “We have a friend that has a glass rolling pin collection. He made this up and allows us to display it,” he said.

Some items have not been collected by the couple, but were donated. Harris pointed out a few beautiful outfits from the turn of the 19th century that a 93-year-old woman recently gave the museum. “She donated clothing that belonged to her grandmother,” he explained.

“My wife is a nurse, so we also have a bedpan and urinal collection,” Harris laughed, pointing to one of the more uncommon collections the museum offers.

To visit the museum during the week, call 217-578-2231. On weekends, call 217-578-3040. Calling ahead can help ensure someone will be available to tell the stories, the history and the details of the Harris Agricultural Museum.