Rural Americana on parade

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AMBOY - When Jeff Johnson's Case tractor rolled off the assembly line in 1954, Marilyn Monroe had just married Joe DiMaggio, and the first color TV hit department stores at $1,000 for a 12-inch screen. One of only 500 ever made, Johnson's tangerine orange Case SC-4 rumbled down Amboy's Main Street near the head of an hour-long parade to celebrate the city's 31st annual Depot Days festival. Johnson, a 38-year-old Amboy farmer, recently restored the antique gem and has two others almost exactly like it. He rolled through the streets of his home town under the hot summer sun "to come out and be a part of the action" in the city's annual fundraiser for the Depot Museum. The building is a former division headquarters for the now-defunct Illinois Central Railroad that was once the longest single rail line in the world. Trucks, tractors, convertibles, and replica trains of all sorts thundered down the street, as political candidates didn't miss the chance to campaign in front of the large crowds. Street vendors sold their fare in the spirit of a cornfield bizarre. Eric Shaw, a Sublette member of the Amboy Lions Club, announced Saturday's parade for the 5th year in a row. "We had a great turnout today - great weather, great people. I'm happy to be able to do this." Today's events at Amboy Depot Days > 6:30-10 a.m. - Pancake breakfast, at the tent south of the bandstand. > 6 a.m.-3 p.m. - 18th annual Depot Days Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show. > 8 a.m.-4 p.m. - Crafts on downtown streets and community-wide garage sales. > 10 a.m.-4 p.m. - Food stands open. > Noon-4 p.m. - K.C. beer garden south of the bandstand, and carnival on Depot Museum grounds.