Latham Fire Department hosts 66th Annual Ice Cream Social

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[July 15, 2015]  LATHAM - With music from the 1950s playing and antique and vintage cars lining main street, the streets of Latham, Illinois looked like a scene from the 1950s on July 11, 2015. It was the Latham Fire Department's 66th Annual Ice Cream Social.

Activities included an antique tractor and engine show, a car show, tractor games, slow races, a kiddie tractor pull, live entertainment by the Tennessee Borderline Band, a raffle, a meal, and of course, ice cream.



Kenny Crosier, who has been the fire chief since 2001, said that money raised from the event goes right back to the community supporting events such as a town-wide Halloween party and a Christmas party with a visit from Santa. It also enables the volunteer department to sponsor youth softball and baseball teams, donate to proms at Mount Pulaski and Warrensburg Latham schools, and purchase new rescue equipment. The ice cream social is their biggest fundraiser, but they also host a chili supper every February.
 


Though a brief afternoon rain shower sent everyone inside the building, it did not seem to dampen the spirits of the many attending, though the Jr. Olympics that was scheduled at the ballpark had already canceled because of wet fields as swimming was not one of the events.

The ice cream social is something of a homecoming and reunion for many in the small town especially now that there is no grade school there anymore.

As Latham resident Marsha Powell stated, "There is nothing like a small town."



According to retired Chief Carl Faith, he sees people that he only sees once a year and the event brings in between 600 and 700 people, which is about double the size of Latham.

Faith, who was the fire chief for 35 years from 1965-2000, has been a part of the ice cream socials at least since 1952 when he played in the jr. high band that would perform there, and says he has only missed a few ice cream socials. He noted that in 1992, the event had a fire truck parade to celebrate the department's 50th year and stated that the department hopes to do another parade in 2017 for the department's 75 year anniversary.

 

Faith explained that though Latham is not the oldest fire department in Logan County, they were the first fire protection district in the county and also one of the first rescue squads. Latham's fire department assists other departments such as Warrensburg, Mount Pulaski, Chestnut, and Niantic with big fires, and was even called upon to assist Lincoln's fire department with the fire at the Oasis Senior Center in June 2013.

The antique tractor and engine show has been part of the event for 21 years and is organized by the Land of Lincoln Antique Engine & Tractor Club, a club started by Faith's brother. It is one of the largest tractor shows in Logan County. This year's show was in honor of Whitey Harrell, a 47-year-veteran of the fire department.

The tractor games include a chain pull game, a hitch game where they tried to get close to a tennis ball without knocking it off, and a slow race, where the slowest tractor wins (usually a tractor with lower gears). These games brought in participants from various parts of the United States who have ties to Latham.

In the slow race, which is the main event, Carl Hamilton of Mobile, Alabama (a former Latham resident), won on his 1959 Farmall 560; in second place was Eugene Lattenly of Latham on his 1955 International 300; in third place was Kevin Coers of Chestnut on his 1953 Oliver 886; and in fourth place was Bill Stacy of Warrensburg on his 1950 Farmall M.

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Entries in the car show ranged from model T's to antique fire trucks to a 1952 Chevrolet Sedan police car owned by Don Tate who has participated in car shows all around Illinois with either the sedan or his 1964 Mustang, 1965 Impala SS, 1969 Camaro, or 1975 Impala Bandit Series. This year's best of show winner was Edwin Brazio, with his 1955 White Chrysler 300.

The kiddie tractor pull had three weight divisions with the children pulling 0-45 pounds, 46-64 pounds, and 65-80 pounds.



Winners of the 0-45 pound category were Brandon in first place, Camden in second place, Emma in third place, and Malaki in fourth place. Winners of the 46-64 pound category were Destinee in first place, Eston in second place, Aubreyona in third place, and Kazon in fourth place.

Winners of 65-80 pound category were Angela in first place, Devin in second place, Derek in third place Derek, and Jackson in fourth place.



After the Tennessee borderline band played their variety of modern and classic country, Southern Rock, and Blues hits, the event drew to a close with an announcement of the winners of the big raffle prizes.



Jeff Robb of Decatur won first prize, an AKORN Kamado Kooker Grill Smoker; Lorraine Workman of Latham won second prize, a Cape Cod Wicker Furniture Set; Owen Perneas of Latham won third prize, an Emerson 32" LED TV; Barb Freer of Mount Pulaski won fourth prize, a 44K BTU Outdoor Patio Heater; and Blake Smith of Forsythe won fifth prize, a bag toss outdoor game.

Latham's annual ice cream social provided an afternoon and evening of family fun and a reunion for many past and present residents of the area just as it has since it began 66 years ago.

[Angela Reiners]

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