Richard Guerrera, Sr., loved trucks. As he built his hauling business from one truck to a fleet, he began collecting them, particularly trucks of the 1950s. “The trucks of the 50s had souls; they were alive,” he said. “They had a different look to them and a different sound.” In 1998 he formed the Golden Age of Trucking Museum to preserve them and others like them. He died before construction began on the museum, but his widow and family dedicated the new facility in Middlebury, Connecticut, in 2002.
Today the Golden Age of Trucking Museum is home to more than forty vehicles, including the Guerrera collection of trucks and boats. They range from a tiny Crosley to Guerrera’s own International tractor, and from a rare unrestored 1917 Republic to a 1974 Dodge Bighorn. There are military trucks and a Jeep, and Tractor Mac, a Farmall Cub that’s been immortalized in a children’s book.
Small museums have a tendency to put too much in too little space. Golden Age of Trucking has managed to avoid this pitfall, saving open spaces for visitor touring and viewing. Other celebrities on show include a two-cylinder Autocar bus, once owned by the late Henry Austin Clark, Jr. and a regular at Hershey. Nearly forgotten trucks include a 1928 Pierce-Arrow and a Norwalk, Connecticut-built Barker. Local history is represented by a 1941 Federal that once hauled for the Thermos plant in Norwich, and a cab-over-engine 1953 Fageol van from Hartford’s Barrieau Moving and Storage.
Truck museums often overdose on Macks. Golden Age has the obligatory bulldogs, but seasons the mix with other makes like Sterling and Autocar, and more commonplace working trucks like a barrel-front Ford wrecker. Recently, the trucks have been joined by a retinue of local race cars. The demonstration engine is a favorite of popular author and lecturer Dennis David.
The Golden Age of Trucking Museum is located at 1101 Southford Road in Middlebury, half a mile from Interstate 84. It’s open year round Thursday though Sunday, except for major national holidays.
