Before snowplowing, winter roads were made passable by packing down snow with a horse- or ox-drawn snow roller. These rollers were used in the 19th century and early 20th century, usually pulled by six horses. Rolling the snow made roads great for sledding, and residents often put their cars away and used horse-drawn sleighs instead. A 1922 photo at the Bill Lorden home shows Bill Lorden, Herman Jewell, and Fred Cross on the roller. The original timbers of the Canaan snow roller had rotted away many years ago, and it was recreated on the original metal frame by many volunteers, businesses, and the Canaan Historical Society.