As the old year fades to a new beginning, I’m straying yet again from our typical vehicular themes to show you a broader round-up of my 2025 machinery encounters. This handsome but derelict tractor sits in a bay-side field in Wheeler, Oregon. It’s a Michigan, made by Clark Equipment Company, and it’s clearly seen better days – in fact, it will likely never move again. Clark invented the forklift in the mid-1920s and later purchased Michigan Power Shovel. The company introduced the first Michigan wheel loader in 1954, followed by dozers and other earthmoving equipment. The brand only survived the 1980s by becoming part of Volvo in 1985; by 1995, Volvo discontinued the Michigan name. The tractor wasn’t lonely; this abandoned boat was just a few feet away.
I found Donna during Thanksgiving in DeKalb, Illinois. She’s a Stuart M5 tank, clothed in light armor and built for speed: Donna was capable of notching 36 mph thanks to power supplied by two Cadillac flathead V8 engines. She weighs about 28,500 lbs and carries a quartet of personnel. During WWII, her jobs were generally reconnaissance and infantry support. Today, she stands as a memorial to veterans who fought for our freedom. Donna was originally situated at Lincoln Highway and Fourth Street by the rail tracks, but she was hit by a derailed train in 1961, pushed onto the highway, and then into a brand new car. It took until 2002 to find this little tank a new home just a few blocks away. Above her name hang spare links for her tracks.
This storefront in Geneva, Illinois, is an artifact of the 1950s. Best guess is the store was opened about 1958. It has service bays in the rear, but is used mostly to house the owner’s collection of automobilia. Goodrich was founded in 1870 to produce a variety of rubber items, from hoses to bicycle tires, golf balls to conveyor belts. As transportation evolved, Goodrich evolved with it, making aeronautic and automobile tires. Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St Louis wore Goodrich tires on its transatlantic flight. When Goodyear and Firestone entered the market, Goodrich lost market share, eventually selling its tire brands to Michelin.
Finally, we have this pair of carrier ships, waiting for safe passage across the bar leading from the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean in Astoria, Oregon. This crossing is one of the most treacherous in the world, appropriately christened the “Graveyard of the Pacific.” Bar pilots can earn well into six figures navigating the shifting sands and currents historically responsible for wrecking many a vessel. I’ve seen the weather on the bar switch from benign to gale-force winds, driving rain sideways, and back again in a matter of an hour. If you’re ever in the area, visit the Maritime Museum for a taste of the havoc surrounding this watery confluence. On that note, Happy New Year to all Barn Finds readers – may your carburetors carburate, your fuel pumps pump, and your electrons flow for all of 2026!
Michelle, fun and interesting info on your “machinery encounters.”
We appreciate all of your contributions to Barn Finds.
Happy New Year to all.
Okay, again, while many were nursing hangovers to be at this hour, I was on my way to SuperValu in Green Bay, which severely curtailed New Years parties, I rarely had holidays off. So being the 1st of the New Year( filter permitting) happy is a relative term, I’m happy when here, but getting tougher to find that “happy” part in todays world. I prefer to say, Have a safe New Year.
To Ms. Rand: while I can’t say “we” represent the majority of viewers, just by the interest your posts generate, should send a clear message, your posts, and the things you post, are why many tune in. What will Ms. Rand post today? As one of those weirdos that love your posts, I can say for all of us weirdos,,,more please.
That loader, yep, another memory,,,the asphalt company I worked at in the 70s, had a non-articulating loader just like that. The bucket pins were worn and hydraulic brakes that barely worked. I drove a dump truck, natch, and we had to load ourselves. I got pretty good as an operator with 22 loads a day stockpiling. You don’t realize how much weight is in a bucket, and with no brakes and worn pins, it was tense. If the brakes failed altogether, “DROP THE BUCKET”!!
The tank is something we all should know, tanks = freedom. These guys were sitting ducks and they knew it, yet they slogged on. I believe the Sherman got all the thunder, but a salute to who drove these, we’re free because of them.
The store front,,much, MUCH more of these. It’s Americana at it’s best. I happen to just browse another site,,no I’m not a traitor, just take a look see( and see several of “our” commenters there, :0) and they regularly feature things like vintage post cards, street scenes, vintage motels, and such, and they regularly get between 50-75 comments. I do hope this site gravitates towards those types of posts, they go a long ways.
Last pic,,,”Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours”,,1st thing I think of,
Have a safe New Years, not sure what our future holds in store, we never do, but I still think of this site as an oasis from the hassles of everyday life,( what hassles?) and I don’t drink booze, but a raise of the coffee cup in triumph to another year,,, take care all.
Really well said, Howard. Michelle is a class act with a knack to find rigs that appeal to every segment of BF.
This compilation stands as one of your best articles, Michelle. Well done.
Howard, I don’t tell you enough how much I appreciate your comments, and this one comes with a compliment and a great idea. Thanks for looking for what I write, and I think your idea of vintage scenes – post cards, archaic automobile sites and so forth is fabulous. You’ve fired me up, stay tuned for more in that vein, provided the boss is on board.
Yesterday I was in Goldendale, WA, the epitome of small town America. I must have seen five auto/truck/old repair shop graveyards. As soon as I saw your comment I was sorry I hadn’t acted on my inclination to get out and take photos. I have to be back there in a few days, this time it will be with camera in hand.
I’d hit the “Like” button 10 times for that. I could not say anything better than Howard or Bob or Nevada or….. Well, you know…… I enjoy your write ups too. Love that old BF Goodrich store too, reminds me of the old small town I grew up near as a kid. Those store fronts look the same whether they’re in NY, NJ, PA or Washington State.
Thank you very much avain Michelle!!! Keep them coming!!!
Michelle. This is terrific!!! I unfortunately am on my way out the door to goto work. But wanted to say a brief thank you as well. I enjoy all you contributions and your write ups. -Dave
Safe travels today and every day, Dave. Thank you for keeping our country stocked and fed.
Thank you kind sir.
Michelle, you put a great cap on the end of 2025. I hope ’26 is a better year than ’25 in all aspects and Happy New Year to you and all the
Barn Find staff and commenters. You are all bright lights in what has emerged as a darker world.
Can fully support the mouth of the Columbia river being treacherous as I used to go fishing with my Dad out there in his 16 ft boat. Rough can’t describe the area but the fish loved it.
Bobhess, you hit the nail on the head. Thats why I come on here. Its my way to unwind after a stressfull day, ir, sometimes even before a stressful day. My wife and I can’t even watch the news any more except for the weather. But this place is just a nice relaxing way to get your mind off the 1008 things you’re dealing with.
-Dave
This is great, Michelle! I love the yearly update idea, especially with such a diverse yet somehow related mix of vehicle types. Mine would be four paragraphs of brocade seat fabric colors. (I wonder what kind of seat fabrics that tank had?) (kidding)
All the best to the Barn Finds family in 2026!
To you and yours too Scotty in 2026 and beyond, as with everyone here in the BF forum.
Scotty….. If you wrote that thing up….. We’d not only see brocade fabric, but also a drop top and a crew cab version too!!!! Hmmm…. I wonder if Scottys gears are turning now……..
-Dave
Scotty, you could do a year end wrap up of all the rides you’ve photoshopped in the past year.
Yes!!!! That would be hilarious!!!
Nice work Michelle. Your reviews and unique perspective continue to be appreciated.
I should add my 5 cents worth, since there are no more pennies 2 cents worth is outdated. Barn Finds has become one of my favorite sites to go to lately. When I should be checking emails, paying bills, watching the market or just cleaning up ‘my area’, I’m trying to sneak a peak at the latest posting on BF. My wife will come into my office and look at my monitor like there’s gonna be neckid ladies on there or something, but nope, I’m looking at BF. She calls it my ‘car @#$%’. So thank you to all the commenters and staff at BF for putting up with me. Let’s have a great 2026! God bless America!