Wc- 1,093

EB Indep. Day w pic for spread, slideshow, etc.

Turley Publications photos by Ruth M. Lyon

Fire Department Captain Jim Bain drives Old Betsy, the 1927 fire truck he worked to restore, in the parade. Waving from the rear is selectmen Leo Fayard.

East Brookfield celebrates Independence Day

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

EAST BROOKFIELD – This town has claimed Independence Day. Each year, July 4^th comes and goes with little notice here. Families might travel to West Brookfield to the bonfire, or Brookfield for a band concert. But the word on the street in this town is “we’re saving the best for last.”

The town’s traditional Independence Day celebration is held on the Friday night and Saturday following July 4.

This year, amidst concerns about the weather, the Friends for the Community held firm. “We don’t worry about a few raindrops. We’d postpone fireworks in the event of a downpour,” said spokesman Judy Schute, “but we generally just keep on.”

On Friday night, the weather threatened, and forecasts were grim. But the carnival and band concert went on as planned. Saturday dawned hot and humid, with threatening skies. Still, the Baptist Church pancake breakfast served its good-natured crowd beginning at 8:30 a.m., and the day was off to a good start, the “friends” observed.

An added attraction this year was the Quaboag 350^th race around Lake Lashaway under the direction of Tom Lowkes. As competitors reached the finish line, many were immediately on their way to the center of town, where there was much to see and do.

Vendors were set up on one edge of the field as the carnival occupied the other. Fire trucks, vintage vehicles, and marchers were forming their big parade on North Brookfield Road, while the little ones were lining up on Connie Mack Drive. Here, dressed in all manner of splendid combinations of red, white and blue, they pulled, pushed, drove and rode in their very own parade. According to Becky Messier, the lady in charge, this year’s may have been the biggest ever for the small set.

And yes, raindrops fell before the children’s parade ended. But, troopers all, they continued to the end, as parents darted under trees to avoid the light shower. Uncle Sam hats were passed to all, and prizes awarded.

First prize went to a trio from New Braintree. Julia, Sarah and Caleb were dressed as Clara Barton, Tillie Prince, and a wounded Union Solider. The children had researched their characters, and explained that Clara Barton drove her wagon, bearing a red cross, to the fields to nurse the sick and wounded. Tillie Pierce, as Sarah explained was a nurse who tended both Union and Confederate soldiers. Caleb bore his bandaged wounds in silence. They were too terrible to talk about. They all rode in a wagon.

Hannah Wood of East Brookfield won second prize. Third prize went to Ayden Burnor of North Brookfield for his decorated bike.

Jim Bain led the big parade which followed. He drove the 1927 fire truck, “Old Betsy,” that he’s been instrumental in restoring and repairing for the past six years. The parade met a less-than-glorious end when the rain turned from sprinkle to downpour. Crowds dashed for the nearest shelter which, for many, was the fire station. As the trucks and other vehicles returned to the station, Chief Peter Livermore practiced a maneuver he described as “worse than herding cattle” in which he persuaded those seeking shelter to move from one space to another as vehicles moved in.

One young man working with the chief was to be married on the following day. Sgt. Aaron Los, home on leave from Kuwait, decided to spend the afternoon with the fire department he’d served with for 18 years prior to military service. His fiancé, he said, was “home putting up tents.”

However, after a lunchtime respite, celebrants returned, ready to purchase raffle tickets, watch the firemen’s muster, gather to chat, visit the vendors, or discuss plans for the big ball game between the town officials and Baptist church members. The David Prouty High School girls re-opened their fried dough stand, North Brookfield’s Emergency Management folks continued to sell chili, and the events continued.

Music by “Eleventh Hour” entertained at 4:30 p.m., followed by “Bad Tickers” from 7 – 9 p.m. And the crowds came, as always. They were informed that the town officials has wrested the trophy from the Baptists, 27 – 5. They purchased last-minute raffle tickets and sampled strawberry shortcake and spun sugar. As darkness descended, the field was filled with people flashing light sticks, kids and dogs, and the smell of popcorn and fried dough. East Brookfield had lived up to its promise, with the best yet to come.

An hour of fireworks, some say the most spectacular ever, followed, to the obvious delight of the crowd.