Athol Daze festivities a success

ATHOL – Another enjoyable edition of Athol Daze is history.

The festivities began last Saturday with the traditional parade down state Highway 54, ending at City Park. The parade was loaded with local Fire Department units.

Celebrants then adjourned to City Park, where we observed pie- and watermelon-eating contests along with a free-for-all money-in-the-straw game in which children, separated by age groups, dived into straw to harvest hidden coins. It is doubtful any loose change was left undiscovered.

An auction also was held, selling off donated goods to raise money for development of the park.

Music was provided by Doug Reed and the In Betweens.

A piñata was brutalized at 3 p.m., with festivities ending at about 5 p.m.

The Citizen of the Year award was presented to Doug Harms, a man who never stops giving to his community.

Following the festivities in the park, we sauntered over to American Legion Post 149, where an outdoor jam session was under way with George Bruner presiding.

Some of the old-timers who performed there have passed from local memories, but if you were “to Google” their names, a whole generation of country music would jump out at you.

Prior to the mid-1950s, country music was more of a Plains genre, such as music played by the legendary Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.Some veterans from that era were on hand for the jam session.

We had the famous Truitt Cunningham, a member of the Bob Wills band, and his brother Kirby, who played with the Chuck West band. Both are members of the Country Swing Hall of Fame.

Another name that pops up is Chuck Bell, a local legend.

Kirby Cunningham had a guest all the way from Wyoming, Rick Epperly, and his brother, Gerald. Rick played steel guitar and keyboard, while Gerald played bass and sang.

In addition to these greats, local talent included the irrepressible Daveana as well as Jeanne Bruner, Phyllis Cooper from Montana and Larry James.