OWASCO - What began as a personal collection of agricultural machinery has since become a history lesson for what life was once like in Cayuga County.

Annually, the Ward W. O'Hara Agricultural Museum hosts Old Ways Days, a living exhibit of what everyday life was like for the people who lived in Cayuga County in the 1800s and early 1900s.

“It is interesting to keep in touch with our history and where we came from,” said Brian Hopkins during the Old Ways Days celebration at the museum Saturday morning.

“It is amazing to see how far we have come in the past 100 years or so. Back then, life just seemed so simple and yet hard all at the same time.”

Hopkins, who visited the event with his wife, Karen Hopkins, and daughter, Emily, 4, said that although this was the family's first visit to the museum, he said they would surely return.

“I guess that you just don't think about these things or even realize all of the interesting things right in your own backyard,” he said.

“We would visit all types of places while on vacation but never gave a thought to all that our own community has to offer.”

While visiting the museum, the Hopkins family had the chance to see antique hay-baling machines at work, as well as how the power for certain agricultural machines came from actual horses.

“Talk about horse power,” Brian joked.

“I just don't see how they could have done so much work back then,” Karen said. “I will say that it has made me thankful for the quick and easy methods of doing various chores around the house now in these days.”

Doing things the “old ways” meant churning butter by hand, for one thing.

“It is funny how the more things change the more they stay the same,” said May Howard, who visited the event with her husband, Harold Howard. “It is funny that most things are the same with a little modern twist. Don't laugh too hard, but I actually remember the county from many years ago, and remember my parents and grandparents working and talking about many of the things that are in this museum.”