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Wakeman Homecoming Firemens Festival
Sunday July 26th, 2009
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s parade and events!!
Wakeman Homecoming Fireman's Festival Parade was not rained out!
The stress was on. The Forecasters were predicting scattered showers and possibly hard wind and rain at times. The committee, for the parade, was sweating it out. How would we handle torrential downpours should it happen? Well, after much pause and placing it in the hands of our Higher Being, we couldn't have been more pleased with the weather or the parade! People started coming in about 10:30am to line up their entries and as the bewitching hour drew near we knew we were going to have a terrific parade. We had three honor guards this year. Along with our American Legion and F.O.O.L.S we had the Marine Color League from Norwalk, OH. They looked sharp. The parade started at 12:05 pm a tad late but very much in step. The Wakeman Police led us all, followed by not only the honor guards but the State Patrol, the Sheriff's Department and the Citizen's Ambulance as well as our Wakeman District Fire Trucks and the surrounding area fire trucks from New London, Camden, Florence, Greenwich, and Vermilion. Berlin Heights came for the Fireman's games at the Eagles. With sirens blazing and kids cheering, the lead Fire Truck carried the Homecoming Queen Kelsey Wyant and her 1st Attendant Jamie Wade. Another truck carried Wakeman's Mayor Chris Hipp and his family. Jim Busek noted in his Norwalk Reflector column that his dad was Mayor of Wakeman at the Susquicential Parade in 1959. Both families have been an integral part of Wakeman Village for many years.
This year's Grand Marshall was George Dalton. George has a long history in the Wakeman area. He was born on November 19, 1914 to H.S. and Ina Dalton. He married Mildred Kuhl and raised 5 children here. He participated in many projects that have helped the community in numerous ways over his lifetime. Among all the ancestors from Wakeman, he, too, deserves to be recognized for his life time achievements. There was a twinkle in his eye as he rode in the 1918 Model T pickup truck of Leroy Stober. When you have a chance, go to and check out his biographical summary written by his family. You will be amazed at what all he has accomplished. You will also find a well organized web site with lots of information about the Wakeman area including pictures from this year's parade already up and running on this web site.
Another hit entry was Paul Brookover's 1958 White Chevy Impala, American Graffiti. It won the Best Classic Car Award. Wives of the Buckeye Pipeline Employees, one of Wakeman's first major employers, Mrs Ernestine Swinehart, Mrs. Nadine Breisch, and Mrs Edith Brookover accompanied Paul in his classic car. Another award winner, Best Antique Car, was George Henson's 1922 Model T Pickup. Best Marching Band went to Western Reserve High School and their Director Glenda Jacob. Western has been a part of this parade every year since it's start. Best Marching Unit was Baton Academy Twirlers from Norwalk. Best Float was this year's entry from Clarksfield United Methodist Church. Best Novelty entry was the Willow Brook Farm Buggies enter by Kenny Green. The Best Youth Group belongs to Wakeman Rumblin' Riders 4H. Best Overall Queen was won by Lorain International Festival. Best Overall Entry goes to Wakeman Wranglers 4-H. The judges commented on how nice the parade was this year and that made their choices were very difficult. We want to thank our judges for their time.
All three had grown up in the Wakeman area, John Nolan who is Superintendent of the Lorain County Joint Vocational School in Oberlin, OH; Pat Martin, who is the CEO of Fisher Titus Hospital; and Jim Busek , Writer for the Norwalk Reflector and Author of several books as well as a Featured Speaker at many events. These are proud sons of Wakeman and the Western Reserve Public School District. It was only befitting that we were able to have them join us to celebrate the 200th Year of Huron County in the Firelands area.
Among the new additions to this year's parade entries was the Wakeman Homecoming Princess and her 1st Attendant. It was our first princess contest and the judges selected Princess Sadie Hartman and her 1st Attendant Jamie Wade to represent us along with the Queen and her 1st Attendant. Participants of the first Princess Contest also included Sierra Podraski, Hannah Beck, Katisza Newton and Samantha Cantu. They also had the honor of riding with the Princess on this year's float. Other entries included not only the area Festivals but The Lamoine James and Moira Dillon Family and their own Drill Team! Four generations of Dillon's marched, the youngest being James Russell Weisenberger at 2 months, son of Amy (Dillon) and Joe Weisenberger.
We had 70 entries this year ranging from Honor Guards; 4-H Groups; Girl and Boy Scouts; Local Church Groups: Wakeman United Congregational Church and Clarksfied United Methodist Church; Marching Units; Cars raging from Antiques to Classic to Corvettes; young riders on 4 wheelers; Political and Commercial. Old time favorites included Dauch Concrete and New entry, Legacy Farms which does custom fitting and planting. Of course all 70 entries cannot be listed here but all entries made this year's parade a huge success and they are all appreciated for joining us to celebrate. When you see them, be sure and thank them for coming. I encourage you to attend the area festivals, county fairs and to support our local commercial entries and politicians. Volunteer in our local youth organizations and support the organizations like the Lion's Club (Mr and Mrs Paul Penny), the Disabled Veterans (Mr. Paul Rowe) and others. American was built on community involvement and in this down time in our economy it is the one area that stays strong in our lives. Hope to see you all again at the 2010 Wakeman Homecoming Fireman's Festival Parade. Start planning now to have your family place an entry for all to enjoy. It has even been suggested that groups from the local streets form a float committee representing their street name. For more information call Marilyn Dillon at 839-2607 or watch the Fireman's Festival link here.
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The Grand Marshall for the parade this year will be George Dalton. The Festival will be celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the establishment of Huron County as the Western Reserve Firelands.
Click here to read George Dalton’s biography
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