by Jessyca Cardinell
The Macomb Historical Association hosted the annual Macomb Old Home Day on the afternoon of Saturday, August 17 on the historical museum grounds. A great number of community members and families from all over came out to enjoy the annual event.
Gouverneur’s Silas Wainwright VFW Post 6338 members showed those attending the proper way to dispose of the American flag. VFW Post Commander Richard Fisher was able to explain the reason each fold was made. Members who assisted in the ceremony where David Vigeant (Ret. U.S. Army), Gerald Barker (Ret. U.S. Navy Seabees), Gary Walrath (Ret. U.S. Navy), Donald Payne (Ret. U.S. Army),and Karl Beck (Ret. U.S. Army). This is the second year Gouverneur VFW 6338 has presented this ceremony. Macomb Historical Association appreciates the VFW Post 6338 members for both their active and retired service to the community.
The aroma of a delicious barbeque chicken filled the air, as local band, Steelin’ Country, led by Michelle Bresett Robinson, played live for the event. In all, the Historical Association reported that there were over 140 chicken dinners sold with the extensive help from many volunteers. The chicken BBQ dinners were served with salt potatoes, salads, rolls, drink and cookies. Tablecloths and wildflower arrangements, provided by Rebecca Reynolds, adorned each table added a touch of class.
The youngsters attending the event had a blast as there were a great variety of games to play which included leap frog, ring toss, rock-paper-scissors, among others. Rebecca Reynolds, school marm, tended to the schoolhouse, supervising visitors both young and old. Many of the Museum’s school related items have been moved to the schoolhouse and are on display there. The schoolhouse was available for everyone to take a tour of and see the artifacts housed from so many years ago.
Museum tours were also offered by Macomb’s Town Historian Mary Matice throughout the day for those wanting to learn some of Macomb interesting history through various items well kept in the museum. Many visitors were from out of town, campers from surrounding lakes and Macomb natives who had moved away but returned for this event. Donation by Linda Hutton was made to the Museum in memory of Cyril Bresett, who had recently past and in past years was very involved in the Macomb Historical Association, as was his family. Joyce (Rayburn) King of Florida visiting with her sister Mary (Midge Rayburn) Young of Massena, donated her husband, Richard King’s, SFC-4 US Army uniform, where he served during 1964-1966 in Verdun, France and 1966-1968 Reserves. Mr. King passed away in 2009. Joyce and Midge are the daughters of Walter and Erma Rayburn, one of the many families who organized the Macomb Historical Association.
Featured in the Museum this year, was a display of the works by Robert Paul Rice, who passed away August 19, 2018. Paul, as he was known to many, contributed many Indian artifacts which he discovered in the area. As an avid rock-hound, he was well known in rock collecting circles. He also was a talented painter, and many of his works are on display in the museum.
A softball game, an annual part of the event, proved to hit it out of the ball park once again this year as many children and adults participated. The town highway crew did a great job cleaning up the area for the game and local man Jordan Sergel cleaned up the hay field so the game could take place.
Also present were St. Lawrence Valley Draft Horse Club members, Richard Clement with his decked out chuck wagon and Tim and Cindy Bango of Bango Valley Percherons who gave horse drawn wagon rides around the grounds, and gave everyone a sense of yesteryear travel.
There were a variety of vendors and crafters available with various items for sale. Locals Debbie Durham and Brandy French had a variety of embroidery items available. Ellen MacMasters of Pleasant Lake had her business Embears well represented. Michelle Blair and Nancy Wilson both had appetizing baked goods. Chuck Gonio of Macomb had a variety of his painted saw blades for sale as well. There was something for everyone attending.
Fisherman’s Cove owners Bill Law and Joanna Norsworthy generously donated many of the salads and, as well, a muzzle loader and various fishing gear to the event to be raffled off. The lucky winners of the merchandise were Lynne Matice of Gouverneur taking home the muzzle loader and Albert Wallace of Gouverneur winning the fishing gear.
There was a 50/50 raffle and a lottery ticket tree up for grabs. Dorine Tulley won the lottery ticket tree and Lynn Matice proved lucky once again as she took home $97.50 from the 50/50 raffle winnings.
Fantastic job to each and every member of the Macomb Historical Association for their tremendous efforts in ensuring that the annual Macomb Old Home Days was a great success.
Ed. Note: Much gratitude is extended to Deb Tulley contributed to this article.
