Object Record
Metadata
Accession # |
2018.31.1.02 |
Item Name |
Plow Plough Whiffletree |
Description |
Walking plow or plough (.01) with double whiffletree (.02) dated 1935. The plow and whiffletree are made of wood and metal. The wood has been painted red, with black pinstripe details and the name Alex Black painted in black on the whiffletree. Made by Fleury. |
Date |
1935 EQUALS |
Provenance |
This walking plow was used by Alex Black (1910-2010) of Arkell, Puslinch Township in many plowing competitions throughout Wellington County and Ontario, beginning in 1935. Alex's first plowing competition was the Puslinch Township Plowing Match held 21 october 1925 on the farm of Tom Doyle in Puslinch. He used a Tolton plow that his father purchased for him that year. He won first prize for "best plowed land" ($8.00 prize), the "best crown" and "best finish" ($1.00 prize for each), "sole furrow" and best plow team and equipment ($5.00 prize) in the boys under 16 years of age category. A few days later he competed in the Eramosa Plowing Match held on the farm of Tom Forsyth near Rockwood, and won second prize. In 1928, Alex competed in his first International Plowing Match (IPM) and won second prize the boy's under 18 class. In 1935 and 1936 he won the IPM, using this plow, made by Fleury. Alex switched to tractor plowing in 1937, and eventually gave this plow to Robert MacRobbie, a fellow Puslinch Township farmer. Robert's son, Douglas MacRobbie used the plow at the 1954 IPM in Waterloo County and the 1968 IPM in Wellington County. He restored the plow and displayed it in the Wellington County Plowmen's tent at the 2016 IPM held outside Harriston. Alexander Lindsay Black was the son of Neil and Jennie May (Cockburn) Black. The Black family moved to Arkell in 1920, where they farmed a 300 acre farm on part of lots 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the rear of concession 9. They purchased the farm from Peter Iles, who had inherited it from his father John Iles Junior. The Farnham Ploughing Match was held on this farm in 1850, at which time it was owned by John Oulton. |
Person \ Organization |
Black, Alex L. Black, Alex |
Place |
Puslinch Twp. |