When I was about 12 my Grandpa auctioned off his entire farm, property and all. I remember riding and playing on his Ford tractor when I was just a little one. Now that I'm addicted to old iron I often wish I had 'something' from the farm. It breaks my heart to drive by there, a sign still hangs at the top of the big barn that says "Tonneberger & Son". I've read stories about people locating long lost items. It never hit me until recently that "I" might be able to locate that old Ford tractor. I called my Grandpa in Florida this winter to see if he had any idea who might have bought the tractor at the auction. The same guy that bought the property bought the tractor. This guy developed the fields and it's now all houses. He even lives in one of those new houses. My old house I lived in as a child (on the farms property) is surrounded by houses instead of fields now. Again, it breaks my heart. Anyway, I called my uncle who lives just down the road from the old farm to see if he knew anything about Grandpa's old tractor. He says that guy still owns it and it sits behind his house. My Uncle says he's not supposed to have anything in the yard 'cause it's one of those yuppie developments. But since he owns the development the rules must not apply to him. Neighbors are complaining. I happened to be in the area last weekend so I stopped in to the owners to give him my 'story'. He wasn't home so I told his wife. My brother and I used to run around with their son so she was into my life story :-) She ended up calling her husband on his cell phone and I quick told him who I was and why I was there. He said he had to use the tractor and brush hog to mow some empty lots. The lots are sold or will be sold before long so he won't need it long :-) He says when he's done I'll get first dibs at buying it. I hope it works out and is just a matter of time now. The owners wife says I can go down back and look it over if I wanted to. What a feeling to walk down that hill and see that tractor after all these years. What a feeling!
