July 6, 2005
Small town flavor, big fun
Lake Ann Homecoming raises funds for Almira Township Historical Society
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Embodying a small town celebration, the Lake Ann Homecoming drew hundreds of attendees young and old for some family-oriented fun.
Held every year on the first Saturday in July, the 12th annual event featured everything from an antique tractor parade, silent auction and a used book sale to grilled hot dogs, craft sale and live music. Children's activities ranged from face painting, tie-dye T-shirt making and pony rides to an obstacle course, penny scramble and hay rides.
"The people love it and it's a family time, we're real firm that it's a family event," said Vera Carmien, president of the Almira Township Historical Society. "We have several families who come back and get together for that day, use that for their time for a family reunion."
The small town flavor of the event, which was held at Burnett Park in the village center, appealed to Lisa Barber. Barber, whose husband is a native of the village, attended her first Lake Ann Homecoming, bringing daughters Elisabeth, 6, and Christiana, 5, along for the fun.
"It's nice here, very homey," Barber said.
The kid's activities were a hit with Julie Mayer and family, who were visiting the area from Grand Rapids.
"It's fun now that the kids are older to do this kind of stuff," she said. "There's lots of stuff for their age."
In addition to low-key fun, Lake Ann Homecoming has become a fundraising institution for the Almira Township Historical Society. Every year the event nets the society approximately $7,000-8,000 and this year is on track to do the same.
The Almira Township Historical Society founded the homecoming to help raise money for a museum to preserve and showcase the township's heritage. After ten years of organizing, fundraising and planning, they opened the Almira Township Historical Museum two years ago, filling the 2,000 square foot building with displays that show how the area's founders lived.
Open with free admission Saturday, the museum includes a typical 1940s living room and kitchen, portions of the local one-room school house and the wooden Post Office window and boxes used in town until 1976. The museum also has the switchboard from the general store that was used in the area until technology allowed homeowners to direct dial.
On a smaller scale, the museum has collections of surveying tools, toys, account books from a former doctor, toys, clothing, hunting and fishing equipment. A coin-operated electrical meter is one of a rare collection of meters that include different ages, styles and uses.
This year, the funds from the Homecoming are earmarked for renovation of the two-story Babcock house. The former home of the founding minister of the Lake Ann United Methodist Church, the Almira Township Historical Society rescued the structure from demolition. They relocated it to the museum's property two years ago.
"We need to do some repair work and renovate that home," Carmien noted.
Lake Ann Homecoming is also a time for residents to reconnect with one another as more than 100 help with all aspects of the event every year. Village mayor Mark Knauss spent the afternoon selling hot dogs to hungry attendees until the Historical Society sold more than 340 of them and ran out.
"It's a great time to get together and meet with people," he said.
Reflecting on the contrast with the much larger National Cherry Festival, which opened it's eight-day run in Traverse City on Saturday, Knauss praised the small-town feel of the Lake Ann Homecoming.
"This is more personal because it's smaller and people know each other," he said.
The Almira Township Historical Museum is open during the summer on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. Admission is free but donations are welcome. The museum is situated just west of Lake Ann village's main crossroads. For more information on the museum or the Almira Township Historical Society, call Vera Carmien at 275-7362.