As a techie, I know that it’s a real challenge to keep up with all of the changes in the technology of networking, Web development, and security.

It takes a tremendous amount of new knowledge each year to stay on top of what I do.

With that in mind, sometimes it’s peaceful and enjoyable to throttle things back on occasion. That’s what we hope to accomplish with today’s Family First site: Steam-Era. Here’s its mission:

Steam-Era is the annual show produced by the “Ontario Steam & Antique Preservers Association” held at the Milton fairgrounds in Milton, Ontario every Labour Day weekend. Our members are devoted to the preservation and restoration of heritage equipment and bring their painstakingly restored machinery to display and operate at Steam-Era.

The site is loaded with information about the venerable smoke-and-steam-chugging machines that helped shape the nations of Canada and the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

For instance, check out their section on the traction engine. The site reveals that the heyday of the steam engine was from 1885 to 1912. It discusses how early tractors were small, but son got much larger as the need for steam power increased. The result? Many tractors crashing through rural bridges designed for horse-and-buggy travel!

Have fun reading the want ads of steam aficionados looking for various gadgets to make their engines run, too.

So get way back with today’s steam-powered Family First site!

Have comments? Want to see what others have to say about this story? Join the discussion here!

Do you have a Web site that you want reviewed on FamilyFirst.com? Click here to suggest a site to FamilyFirst.com!

[tags]family first,steam-era,steam engine,ontario steam and antique preservers association,traction engine,steam power[/tags]