The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Old Home Day brings people together
CANASTOTA, N.Y. >> Over the past 60 years, members of the Whitelaw Presbyterian Church have watched Old Home Day grow and change — but it’s always been a place for the community to come together.
“Every year, I’ve had at least one or two couples come to me after everything was said and done and the fireworks were over,” said Entertainment Chairman Dennis Tobin. “They ask ‘how do you do this every year?’ It’s a willingness to keep the tradition going on and keep the community involved.”
Old Home Day started in the 1950s as a fundraiser for the Whitelaw Church, with things like potlucks, games and small stands selling goods. Since then, the Whitelaw Church has used the money raised to help people in the community whenever they hear someone needs a helping hand. But over time, the event has turned into a funfilled family event for the greater community beginning with the grand parade.
Tobin said things were being scaled back a bit this year and instead of having the grand parade at 11 a.m., it will start at 1 p.m. Fromthere, arts and crafts of all kinds, skill games, musical entertainment, the BachDunbar Chicken Barbecue, the auction, and the Erick D. Stevens Memorial Fireworks Display give people a reason to stay all day.
New to Old Home Day this year is a kids tractor pull with pedal cars, starting at 5:30 p.m. Children from ages 4 to 12 are challenged to get on a tractor
and see just how far and how much they can pull.
Whitelaw Old Home day is quite popular, one organizers didn’t think would become so big.
“It started as a get together for the church and the local community,” said Parade Coordinator Claude Hertel Sr. said. “It was a way to help neighbors and friends. And gradually, we just got bigger and bigger. Now, we get help from all over. Canastota, Wampsville, Oneida, Chittenango and more. It’s good to see it grow.”
Tobin said with the dwindling population of churches nowadays, he’s been surprised the Old Home Day has gotten as big as it has. “Things have changed,” Tobin said. “When we were younger, the only place to go and meet with your friends and have fun was at the church. It’s a different ball game nowadays.”
Coming back this year to Old Home Days is the Homemade Hat Contest, judged by Karl and Maurita Smith.
Contestants are invited to let their imaginations run wile to create a hat of their own design. Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place in both the adult division and children’s division, open to youths ages 14 and younger.
This year’s Old Home Day theme is “Come Gather,” and people from through Central New York are invited to do just that. The Old Home Day is free to attend.
“It’s good to see old friends and make new ones or just talk to people you haven’t seen in a while,” Hertel said.
“We want everyone to come, old friends and new friends, and have a good day,” Tobin said. “Without the tradition, things fall wayside.”
The Whitelaw Old Home day will feature several events and activities including:
• A parade at 1 p.m. Those interested in participating should call Claude at 315-416-1185;
• Frog jumping and watermelon seed spitting contests at 2 p.m.;
• Rewind will perform from 2-5 p.m.;
• Bouncy house and little red wagon rides for children from 2- 6 p.m.;
• Bach-Dunbar chicken BBQ from 3-6 p.m.; • Homemade hat contest at 5 p.m.; • Live auction from 6-7 p.m.; • Radiance will perform from 7:30-8:30 p.m.;
• Jeff Hinman will perform at 8:30 p.m.;
• Smith’s food booth, ice cream, soda open all day;
• Erick D. Stevens Memorial Fireworks at approximately 9:45 p.m.