HALIFAX — The little town of Halifax, chartered in 1750, celebrated the distinct privilege of being the second town chartered in the state with the Old Home Day celebration on the weekend of July 16-18.
The one and only “main street” through West Halifax - Branch Road - was alive with events and people, young and old, who came together to enjoy them.
The ice cream social on Friday evening was very well attended with great music, dancing and much hand clapping, plus lots of great ice cream.
Saturday's events began with a lively game of firemen's water polo on Branch Road and a variety of events going on throughout out the day.
The younger generations played games, watched a block of wood becomes a beautiful piece of chainsaw art, cheered on their favorite lawn tractor pull driver, played kids games, took part in or watched a great children's parade, got a “good and gooey eating a pie” face in the kids pie eating contest, ate cotton candy and popcorn and lots of hamburgers and hot dogs.
The older generations enjoyed the historic picture display at the community hall and a display honoring the brave of 9/11. The bus was full for the historic homes tour and many, many balls were pitched to dunk local town officers or favorite person at the dunk tank.
Two hundred chicken halves were consumed at the famous Firemen's Barbecue. Despite of a spectacular thunderstorm Saturday night, the town danced the night away with the Lonesome Brothers band keeping dancers stepping lively. A surprise display of fireworks caused lots of cheering and oohs and ahhs.
Sunday's church service with the message of “restored” was attended by many and a great lunch afterward was enjoyed by all.
The weekend celebration was concluded with a great parade of more than 30 units, enjoyed by the many people lining “the street,” young and old alike.
A birthday cake float sponsored by the Old Home Day committee, created by Diane and Dan Longe, took first place. The huge four-layer “cake” featured a painting of each historic building in the village of West Halifax.
A “hillbilly” float with Corey Hale lounging in a lawn chair fishing and cooking up some hunting strategies was awarded second prize, with the Honora Winery float taking 3rd prize.
The Malcolm Sumner family farm float garnered the grand prize trophy. It celebrated eight generations of the same family farming on the century farm here in Halifax, the float was full of all the things the farm has done such as running a sawmill, producing organic milk, logging the old fashioned way with horses, making maple syrup and more.
The float was pulled by Steve Morse's beautiful percheron team driven by Malcolm Sumner with his entire family with him on the wagon.
Morse drove another one of his majestic horses with a foal along side pulling a beautiful carriage with Regina and Phillip Hardgrove riding. Regina Hardgrove has the honor of being the eldest lady that was born right here in the town of Halifax and still residing here.
The winners of the youth lawn tractor pull are as follows:
• 800-pound class: first, Blake Janovsky; second, Lorelei Briggs; third, Morgan Janovsky; fourth, Marcus Green; fifth, Brian Green; sixth, Jacob Baird; seventh, Dawson Boyd; eighth, Andrew Lange Janovsky; ninth, Brian Betit; 10th, Graig Green; 11th, Kylie Boyd; 12th, Brittany Janovsky; 13th, Kristin Fournier; 14th, Brianna Winchek; 15th, Tyler Green.
• 1,200-pound class: first, Marissa Betit; second, Jacob Reynolds; third, Katelyn Janovsky; fourth, Brian Green; fifth, Blake Janovsky; sixth, Tyler Green; seventh, Lorelei Briggs; eighth, Joesph Brown; ninth, Bradley Janovsky; 10th, Craig Green; 11th, Hailey Twitchell; 12th, Marcus Green; 13th, Makayla Boyd
• 1,500-pound class: first, Katelyn Janovsky; second, Brian Green; third, Marissa Betit; fourth, Joseph Brown; fifth, Lorelei Briggs; sixth, Craig Green; seventh, Bradley Janovsky; eighth, Hailey Twitchell; ninth, Lacey Dix.