Old Nancy

1906

  • Purchased by J. W. Dupree for use in his
    Old Nancy 1944

    J. Arthur Whatley, Arthur C. Whatley, and J. W. Dupree, 1944

    Lee County sawmill. It arrived in Opelika by train and was driven to the Dupree home located south of Beauregard. Dupree named her in honor of the steam powered passenger train, Nancy Hanks, which operated between Atlanta and Columbus. Old Nancy served two generations as power for a sawmill, J. W. Dupree and his son-in-law, Jimmy Whatley.

     

1954

  • Driven in the Opelika centennial parade.
    Old Nancy 1954

    Arthur C. Whatley 1954 Opelika Centennial Parade

July 4, 1956 and 1957

  • Old Nancy was operated to celebrate the 4 th of July

May 23, 1973

  • Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Leary Whatley from Dr. Eugene W. Rochester suggesting that Old Nancy be placed at Auburn University. At that time, Old Nancy was located at the Whatley home where Leary Whatley lived.
    Old Nancy 1973

    Mrs. Jimmie L. Whatley Cal Whately at the Wheel

    1973

Jan. 3, 1974

  • Agreement was signed between Auburn University and the owners of Old Nancy: Mrs. A. C. Whatley, daughter of J.W. Dupree, and her children J. Arthur Whatley, Lillie B. Gowder and Oleta W. Parker. The agreement specified that the tractor would remain at Auburn on a 25-year renewable loan.

1974

  • Old Nancy moved to the Agricultural Engineering Building and the restoration project was initiated by the Student Branch of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) under the guidance of Drs. Eugene Rochester and Roy Young and Professor Walter Clement.

May 1974

  • A fund raising drive was initiated to raise money for boiler repairs. Boiler shipped to Duffner Boiler Works in Birmingham for repair.

Jan. 1976

  • Boiler returned to Auburn, AL.

Feb. 1978

  • Renovation completed. First public operation of restored Steam Tractor at College of Engineering E- Day.

Sept. 1998

  • Valves were repacked and the entire
    Old Nancy 1998

    "Old Nancy" Ag Roundup 1998

    tractor was repainted by the Auburn University Student Branch ASAE.