Crowd turns out for ‘Chapple Day’

A cheerful crowd, canoe race, old homestead, music, and pig roast marked Chapple Day–the second-annual festival which was held Saturday in Barwick.
The festival, which began last year as part of the township’s centennial celebration, was such a hit that the Chapple heritage committee decided to do it again.
“People wanted to keep on having the canoe race because it was so much fun,” noted committee member June Wheatley.
The day’s first visitors were at the Both Farm, where they toured the property with its old-fashioned homestead and farming equipment. The Both family gave demonstrations in the farm’s original blacksmith shop and led visitors through haying as it was done in the early 1900s.
At 4 p.m., everyone flocked to the riverbank where auctioneer Rod Salchert gave the play by play as the canoe racers paddled furiously towards the finish line.
Following the race, Chapple Day was topped off with live music from local band “Highway 621,” kids’ games, and the $5-a-plate pig roast at the Barwick community hall.
“The pig roast was really good,” said Chapple Coun. Peter Van Heyst. “We really enjoyed it.”
“It was just excellent. We had about 140 people for dinner,” said Wheatley, who promised the event will take place again next summer.