|
 On
Friday evening highlights included live music, dinning at the Wild
Hare Café, Art for sale, and the local shops were open for visitors
including the County Bumpkin, Birdsong, and Horsefeathers.
The Route 66 Model Raceway and indoor slot-car track was open with
competitions ongoing throughout the evening, and “Essential Oils”
classes were held.
On Saturday morning the day began at 8 a.m. with a biscuit and gravy
fundraiser hosted by the Elkhart Needs and Goals (NAG) committee for
the development of the new Veteran Memorial Park in Elkhart. The
park will be located in the courtyard between Horsefeathers and
Richardson’s.
Throughout the day there was a petting zoo for kids, chalk art, and
a free story teller at the library at 11 a.m.
For the grown-ups there was the offering of a car show, antique
tractor show, plenty of shopping, food opportunities, and music
provided by HI Tek Redneck DJ services.
Outside of Little Foxes the building was lined with panels of a
Route 66 Elkhart mural under construction. When the mural is
completed, the panels will be installed on the wall at Little Foxes.
The mural project was under the management of Rene Sisk. At
noontime, Warren Behrens was busy adding some fine details to the
mostly completed mural, specifically he was working on one small
corner of the mural adding horse and buggy details to a scene from
the early days of Elkhart.
The mural offers up a colorful depiction of some of the town’s more
notable buildings such as the Oglesby Mansion, the Elkhart Gillett
Chapel, and the streetscape of the downtown area. There is also a
nod to another well-known Logan County event with a hot air balloon
floating across the sky. The Route 66 era is noted with popular in
the day vehicles such as the Chevy cars from the 1950’s and the
universally known Route 66 emblem. Another nod to the community is a
wagon in the street filled with people waiting to go on a tour of
Elkhart Hill.
Tours of Elkhart Hill were available on Saturday with local history
re-enactor Bob McCue serving as the guide. The riding tour took
guests up the hill to the historical Elkhart Cemetery, the final
resting spot to many with historical significance for Elkhart and
the home of the Gillett Chapel.
The chapel was open for visitors with tour guides offering
information about the chapel building, its historical value to the community,
and also offering guests the opportunity to hear first hand hymns played on the
1890 pipe organ inside the chapel.
[to top of second column] |
In the early afternoon, the guide at the chapel was Marcy Brooks
from Greenville, Tennessee. Brooks said that while she is from
Tennessee now, from 1996 to 2000, she lived in Elkhart and was
involved with the historical society and committed to the
community. She noted that she still comes back to Elkhart every
chance she gets.
Brooks offered up information about the chapel, fielded
questions, and led discussions about the little church. At the
end of her segment, she sat down at the organ and played
requests, which included “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Amazing
Grace.”
Brooks shared information about the Gillett family and pointed
out areas where the Gillett children are named within the
church’s brick walls.
She also explained that the organ, an 1890 pipe organ is all
original and has been very well maintained. She said the only
“modification” the organ has had is that is it now electric
operated, it was originally a pump organ.
She noted that the change had no impact on the quality of music,
but had made it much easier to play. She said in its original
state, the sound came out of the pipes a few seconds after the
note had been played. She said the organist always had be
conscious of the fact that what was being heard at the moment
was not what he or she was playing, requiring a great deal of
concentration of the part of the organist.
Back in town, the Route 66 Model Raceway was hosting youth and
senior tournaments, with a good turnout. The youngster’s tournament
was at 1 p.m. and the senior event was held at 2 p.m.
The afternoon also saw a parade of antiques with the focus being
antique cars and tractors, and senior citizens.
Across the street from city hall a barbecue contest began at 1 p.m.
and there was also to be a pie contest. A rummage sale was scheduled
at the Fellowship Community Center hosted by the Methodist and
Catholic Churches.
Photo by
Rebecca Drake
Live music returned at 2 p.m., a talent contest was scheduled for 5
p.m. and the evening closed with a street dance.
Throughout the day, the tours were popular, as were the races at the
Route 66 Model Raceway, and of course, shopping throughout the
wonderful shops in Elkhart.
[Nila Smith] |
