Front Page News
August 28, 2013
Chichester Old Home Day
Ansel Sanborn, of the Chichester Parks and Rec. Department
leads the rededication of Carpenter Park.
Photo courtesy of Gail Laker-Phelps.
The weather was sunny and the new community space at Carpenter Park
was grassy, breezy, and scenic. The space was excellent for the
tents and vendors. All we need to make it perfect is some shade, so
send up your good wishes for shade trees in the next phase of
Carpenter Park development. Old Home Day is greatly indebted to the
Chichester Parks and Recreation Department for all the planning,
grant writing, and volunteer labor that has produced such a
beautiful space.
While vendors were setting up on Friday night, six enthusiastic
Scavenger Hunt teams set off to explore Chichester with their lists
of clues. The winning team this year was James Pillsbury and Rebecca
Pillsbury. Second place went to Mary West and Anne Boisvert, and
Diane Morey and Matthew Morey were the third place team. Thanks to
Julie Raposa of the Old Home Day Committee for organizing this
event.
Many thanks to all who made the Old Home Day meal possible this
year: The Marden Family for the traditional bean-hole beans and
various containers and paper goods; Jeff Swain for donating wood and
Fred Chagnon for trucking it over; Ben Brown for raising the pigs
and Chris Weir of Weir Roasting for cooking them; Chichester Country
Store for the cornbread and the birthday cakes; The Weathervane
Restaurant for the coleslaw.
Phillip Hitchcock of the Old Home Day Committee was in charge of the
food this year with help from Ann Davis. Servers were Doug Hall,
Donna Chagnon, Sally Kelly, Harold Losey, Debbie Marden, Dawn
Marshall, Gail Laker-Phelps, and Lisa Prizio.
We can’t thank the Chichester Fire Association enough for all they
do for Old Home Day. In addition to selling hot dogs, hamburgers,
and drinks they oversee the fireworks and do major amounts of
fetching and carrying. Ed Millette, a member of both the Fire
Association and the Old Home Day Committee, was invaluable as a
problem solver.
A very special thank-you goes out to the staff and animals of Live
and Let Live Farm. A lot of work went into setting up the space and
bringing in the animals. The animals add so much to the day.
Thanks to the Chichester Police Department for their help with the
parade. It wasn’t a large parade this year, but you readers know how
to fix that. Thanks to Carol Frekey of the Old Home Day Committee
for organizing it and to all who participated. The first place float
was Chichester Grange, second was the Main Street Gang, and third
was the Brackett Family. Old cars were also judged and fire trucks
received the customary trophies for oldest in service, newest in
service, farthest travelled, and best of show.
The excellent fireworks on Saturday evening were provided by
Pyrotecnico, a national company, with Gene Speeney of Jaffrey. NH,
in charge of the Chichester show. Many thanks to the members of
Chichester Grange who helped with clean-up on the day after and to
the Chichester Athletic Association and the Recreation and Parks
Department who will be dealing with additional clean-up.
The participation of groups such as Chichester Grange, Chichester
Historical Society, the Chichester Heritage Commission, and the
Chichester Library adds a great deal to Old Home Day both at the
park and at additional venues. It would be terrific if other groups
would leap onto the bandwagon for future years.
Old Home Day would not be possible without the wonderful business
and individuals who support it. Thanks to the taxpayers of
Chichester, Abundant Life, Amour Electric, Annie B’s Farmstand,
Bobcat of New Hampshire, the Brackett Family, Center Hill Barns,
Chichester Massage, Clark’s Grain Store, Dell Lea Country Club,
Dickinson Cycle, Dr. Farland, Great Meadow Camp Ground, Green Earth
Auto, Patricia Humphrey, Mike’s Affordable Auto, NE Landscaping, NH
Farm Sanctuary LLC, Phelp’s Aerial Lift Inc., Servpro, Sparks Fly
Fireworks, Tepper Construction, Tim’s Truck Capital, Tractor Supply
Company, and Williams Alignment and Auto Repair. We had only to ask
and you showered us with support. No Old Home Day Committee anywhere
could ask for more.
A few events fell through this year, and attendance was lower than
anticipated, but, as they say in sports, “Wait ‘til next year!” The
financial support was there. It was person power that was lacking.
Is 2014 your year to put a float or a car in the parade? Could your
organization have a booth or an activity at the park in 2014? Think
about it.
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