Ashkum Celebrates 150th Anniversary

The Advocate - August 24, 2006

You are invited to Ashkum's Sesquicentennial festivities and Homecoming beginning Thursday evening, August 24 in the village park. The carnival rides will be running from 6 p.m. to 10p.m. with special pricing. An armband may be purchased for $15 per person for unlimited rides during this period.

At 7 p.m. members of the Ashkum American Legion, Peters Post 643 will present arms as the american Flag is raised by Paul Heideman, Ashkum Mayor. Peters Post 643 was organized May 26, 1920 and named for Henry A. Peters, the first soldier from Ashkum to give up his life in France during World War I. The Pledge of Allegiance will be recited and the National Anthem sung. Parade Grand Marshal Wayne Meier will be introduced.

The queen pageant follows at 7:15 on the park stage. There are three young women vying for the crown: Megan Brinkman, Kaela Nourie, and Meredith Weber. They have been rehearsing with two former pageant queens: Stephanie Anderson and Jackie Meier. The Ashkum Centennial queen, Barbara Beland Berns and Quasquicentennial queen, Kathie Hemp Topel, will be present.

Friday's festivities begin with the traditional fish fry at 5 p.m. The carnival rides start at 6. The entertainment for the vening on the park stage is the incomparable "Elvis" (rick Saucedo) with "Change of Habit Tribute Band." At 10:30 there will be DJ music and dancing.

Saturday's schedule begins at 11 a.m. with the street parade. The parade entries are pouring in, so be prepared for some great floats, cars, horses, and a few surprises. After the parade, go to the park and grab a quick sandwhich. Look for the children fingerpringint clinic sponsored by the Meyer Insurance Agency. The carnival rides begin at 1 p.m. and a plice demostration including a canine unit is scheduled for 1:30. Then at 3 p.m., the "Family Fued" takes center stage. There will be no time to take a break yet, because at 5 p.m. the beard contestants line up on stage. There are many entrants for each category. At the same time, the chicken dinner line will form. Pick up your food quickly7 because the "Silhouetes" begin their entertainment at 7 p.m. Will you catch a beachball or frisbee? Get ready to have a lively time.

Then, if you are not too worn out, you can dance to the DJ music beginning at 10:30

Sunday, let the members of the Ashum Lutheran Church prepare your breakfast. They will be serving a delicious meal from 7 to 10:30. At 8 am, the tractor parade assembles at the elevator for their trip to L'Erable and the nurshing homes. Back at the park, a community all-faiths worship service will be held on the stage at 10:30. A bell choir composed of young children, will be part of the music performed. At noon, the auto show starts in the south side of the park. Prizes will be awarded by the Sesquicentennial queen at 3:30. There is another armband sale for the $15 per person to ride the carnival rides from 1 to 5 pm. At 2 pm two events are planned: a vintage style show in the Ashkum Community Building, also known as the Coliseum, and a horshoe tournament in the park. At 3, the kids will register for the pedal tractor pull. Everyone should be hungry again, so step right up to the park pavilion for a pork chop dinner. While dining or resting, enjoy the Big Band music played by the "Swing Kings." The grand raffle drawing will be at 8:30. To wrap up the big birthday party, a fireworks extravaganza will begin at 9 p.m. on the east side of the village.

Find some time to visit the Ashkum history room in the Coliseum. It will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It will be closed during the style show. And don't forget to try a bratwurst or polish sausage sandwhich at the Methodist Church tent. Play a few games of bingo and try your luck at the Big Six game. Play a few rounds of miniature golf or put your children on a trackless train. Visit the commercial tent for Ashkum Sesquicentennial memorabillia and patronize the other displays set up for you persual. And meet your freinds at teh beer tent each day. If that isn't enoughentertainment, walk over to the ball diamond north of the school to watch the softball tournament in progress all weekend. What a birthday party!