Dave Ogilvie
Unexpected weather patterns have made it difficult to plan outdoor activities this summer, but the forecast this past weekend did not deter the “Chapple Heritage Days” committee from forging ahead with their plans for the popular annual celebration.
This year’s two day event began on Friday with a traditional bonfire, hot dog and marshmallow roast and country music from a group of talented musicians from across the district.
Over 75 people attended the evening’s celebration while darkening skies threatened to put an end to the festivities. Despite a drizzling rain that soon began, everyone sat around the bonfire listening to the musicians who were safely tucked away on the covered porch of a small cabin.
When the increasing downpour literally put out the fire, most of those in attendance headed for the Both’s garage. Even then, a few brave souls endured the rain, finished cooking the hot dogs and brought them to the captive audience.
The steady rain persisted throughout the night and in the morning, much to the disappointment of many the traditional tractor parade and pull had to be cancelled. The committee however, refused to be dazed by the inclement weather, and in the true spirit of the early pioneers made plans to continue on with as many of the scheduled events as possible.
The Both homestead farmhouse opened at 11:30 a.m. with a fire in the old wood stove and coffee pot on for the people who began to arrive. Slowly the crowd grew, as the skies seemed to open and the sun peaked out around noon.
“We decided to give away the bag lunches this year,” said June Wheatley, one of the committee members. In exchange, the organizers accepted donations towards the maintenance of the Chapple Museum.
The musicians from the previous evening returned to entertain the growing crowd. Charleen Gustafson (guitar), Lyle Wheatley (guitar), Bob Brown (harmonica), Emily Smith (accordion) and Willie Mose (guitar) sang and played for nearly an hour while everyone sat, enjoyed their bag lunches and listened appreciatively to the various tunes.
In the end, 125 bag lunches of beef and ham sandwiches and cookies was enjoyed by a surprisingly large crowd.
Shortly after lunch, Stan Olson demonstrated the speed of the wood loading abilities of the Morphet loader. This new activity which was added by the organizers was of great interest to most of those in attendance. The Morphet loader which was designed and built in the area and used by the Morphet brothers in the bush, revolutionized wood loading in the early days of mechanical logging.
Throughout the day, a big hit with many people were the wagon rides and the rides in the Jackson’s 1927 Whippet. Jim Jackson and his brother, Glen, took turns driving enthusiastic adult and children on rides around the property in their “Beverley Hillbillys” car.
The saddle horse events which ran from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. were also a welcome addition to this year’s schedule. A number of imaginative races such as a horse version of musical chairs, a wheel barrow/horse challenge and burlap sack race entertained the crowd.
The coin hunt which was a big hit with the children, involved a large group of kids hunting through a pile of hay for quarters, loonies, toonies and candies.
Another new hunt which was added to the festivities was the “hatchet hunt.” This activity which was open to all ages had everyone searching through the area near the old homestead in search of a hatchet which had been hidden in the trees.
The watermelon eating contest attracted a great deal of participation from all age groups. The winner in each division was allowed to choose a prize from the prize table. Everyone, however, enjoyed the competition and the excellent watermelon, which was supplied by Glen and Karen Jackson.
The day finished with a brand new event—catch the greased pig. Although the two little pigs were not literally greased, the children in various age groups had a great deal of fun, trying to place a pink bow between the ears of the elusive pigs.
The children were given cardboard pink pigs containing loonies for the efforts. Thanks goes out to Sharon and Don Strom for providing the pigs and for organizing this entertaining event.
The Chapple Heritage Day committee would once again like to thank Steve and Joan Both for the use of the beautiful property and for the hours that it took for them to prepare for the 11th-annual Heritage Day celebration.
And the organizers would also like to thank the many, many people who do so much behind the scenes to make each Heritage Day a success and to the people from across the district, who year after year, support this celebration with their attendance and their donations.
