This weekend, 50 acres in eastern Goochland County will serve as a time warp, transporting thousands of visitors to simpler days filled with sugar cane, horses, tractors, log cabins and steam; lots of steam. 

For the 16th year, Field Day of the Past, sponsored by the Rockville-Centerville Steam and Gas Historical Association, will present a look back at the rural history of the area in a county fair setting.

Historical displays, exhibits and re-enactments will offer educational counterpoint to the Ferris wheels and funnel cakes. 

Modern spectators will mingle with old world volunteers demonstrating a day in the life of a family doing what it took to make a living in rural Virginia’s early days. Wheat and peanut threshing, meat smoking, the making of molasses, canning and saw milling will be among the activities on display.

 The surrounding scenery will mirror the old world experience.

Permanent structures at the show grounds include an operational United States Post Office from the 1920s and a grocery store and service station from the 1930s. There’s also a blacksmith shop, a fire lookout tower, gold mining equipment, a railroad car and an engine building for the historically inclined to visit.

This year a functional cotton mill and a tobacco barn will be added to the mix. 

Historic Springfield Baptist Church will also be among the new attractions for 2007.

The church was moved from Short Pump to the Field Day of the Past show grounds in July after it was decided that the church would be demolished if it remained in its western Henrico location. 

This original portion of the church dates back to 1887 and was one of the few remaining African-American churches of the era in Henrico County before it was moved. 

The church’s congregation will be on hand throughout the weekend to talk about the history of the structure and a display will be set up inside. The church choir will perform on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Field Day came about in the summer of 1992 when a few steam and gas engine collectors gathered to discuss hosting a steam and gas engine show in Goochland. They organized the Rockville-Centerville Steam and Gas Historical Association and hosted the first show, which attracted about 3,000 people.

“It’s just kind of snowballed from there,” said Field Day secretary and organizer Melinda Gammon, who started her involvement as an exhibitor in the show’s first year.

Now, the event spans three days and last year drew more than 30,000 visitors, Gammon said, noting that the event has in many ways become Goochland’s unofficial county fair. 

“It’s a good bunch of people doing a good thing,” said Gammon, noting that over the years the event has raised more than $300,000, much of which has been shared with local charities.

In keeping with tradition, the main attraction will be the tractor and truck pulls as well as a more recent favorite, the Virginia High School Rodeo and this year’s Virginia Junior Rodeo. 

Other annual attractions include small engine displays, arts and crafts, flea market, antique and modern construction equipment demonstrations. A frontier show featuring animals and lawn mower pulls and racing are among other highlights.  

Construction aficionados will be interested to know that the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club will host its national show at this year’s Field Day. Between 50 and 100 antique Caterpillar machines will be on display.

Field Day opens Friday and runs through Sunday. The show opens at 8 a.m. daily. Exhibits and demonstrations close at 6 p.m. and truck events run into the night on Friday and Saturday.

Admission is $10 for adults and children under 13 are admitted free. Adults over 55 are admitted for $8 on Friday. Parking is free.

For more information call (804) 741-8468 or visit the Web site at www.fielddayofthepast.net for a schedule of events and other details.