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The GAHS Museum is regularly open on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month from 2PM to 4PM.  April through October.  The museum is located on New Street near the Old Greenwich High School. The Museum is closed November through March. The museum is open during the Greenwich Fireman’s Festival from 12 noon to 4 PM.  Be sure to stop by and see us!!!

In the Barn out-back!

GAHS Centaur Tractor Project

1934 Centaur 2G Tractor –

We would like to thank those who contributed to the GAHS Centaur Tractor Project.  Our Centaur Tractor Project has been a great success and we are almost there.

We are still accepting donations for the Tractor Project.  

Donations in any amount are still needed to complete the project. Donations can be sent to the Greenwich Area Historical Society, Bobbi Ronk, Treasurer, 6 Countryside Drive, Greenwich, OH  44837.

The Greenwich Area Historical Society is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)3 organization. Your donation is tax-deductible, to the full extent of the law.

The Central Tractor Company was established in 1921 in Greenwich to build tractors for small farms. From 1921 to 1926 six models of the tractor (A, B, C, D, E, & F) were produced.

A completely redesigned Model G was introduced in 1926. While keeping the sulky-type design, the changes included a 10-hp, two-cylinder LeRoi Model MR water-cooled engine; rack and pinion steering wheel system and a new magneto and carburetor system.

The riding sulky on the Model G carried a variety of one row implements, including a plow, cultivator, disc, harrows, seeder, grape hoe, and potato digger.  The Centaur Model G was also popular for cultivating in the vineyards of France and Belgium in Europe.

In 1928 the company was renamed as the Centaur Tractor Corporation.  The Model G underwent further refinements in 1929 to become the model 2G.  This tractor was also known as the Centaur 6-12.  Changes included a larger LeRoi engine that added 2 hp.  Due to the greater horsepower, the gears, pins, chains, and drive wheels were strengthened.  The Centaur promotional thrust for the 2G acclaimed the tractor as “not being better than other tractors, but as a replacement for the horse.” Marketing of the 2G focused on first time tractor buyers with small farms.

The Centaur Tractor Corporation survived the depression of the 1930’s by filing a patent in 1934 for a new tractor design, the “Klear View” tractor or the Centaur Model KV.  The KV provided a clear view directly under the steering wheel, allowing visibility of the ground being plowed or cultivated.

During World War II, the Greenwich plant manufactured gearboxes and elevation mechanisms for tank turrets and transmissions for military vehicles.  During the War, tractor production was suspended.

After the war, because of debt, LeRoi Corporation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin the longtime supplier of engines for the Centaur Tractors, took over the operation of the factory.  In 1945 LeRoi developed the Centaur Tractair 125, which were mobile air compressors which were sold to the U.S. and Canadian military.

In September of 1954, the Centaur property and manufacturing facility in Greenwich was sold to Westinghouse Air Brake Company and in January of 1963 Central Plastics purchased the facility.