By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
The first Saturday in July is not about the National Cherry Festival for residents and visitors to Lake Ann.
The village situated 12 miles west of Traverse City instead celebrates their heritage every year, making the Lake Ann Homecoming the place to be for hundreds of attendees and volunteers. For the 14th year, the fund raiser for the Almira Historical Society featured old-fashioned, small-town fun and festivities for people of all ages. In 2006, the event netted $9,000 for the society and its museum; organizers hope to top that total this year.
"It brings the community together, the kids love it and it's always a wonderful turnout,” said Mark Knauss, the mayor of Lake Ann village who also praised the annual showing of community spirit. "Other than what individuals are selling [at a few booths,] it's all volunteers here.”
The innumerable volunteers staffed activities, ranging from children's games and crafts, a dunk tank and music to pony rides, a silent auction and a bake sale. The Friends of the Almira Township Library held their annual book sale, boosting the coffers of the modest library located downtown and serving the fastest-growing township in Benzie County.
"The whole thing, it's wonderful to have the whole community together, to see people you don't get to see often,” said Linda Peck, a board member of the Almira Historical Society.
Midday, the sirens reverberated around the main crossroads and Burnett Park, heralding the beginning of a long parade. Led by the Almira Township's fire and rescue vehicles, the parade featured dozens of antique cars, hay rides, countless tractors of all vintages, an Army jeep and even a Red River Special threshing machine from 1936.
"That's the amazing thing, we have the old cars and tractors and Traverse City doesn't,” observed Peck of the parade.
Family activities abounded, with kids games including a cake walk, penny hunt, steering a remote-controlled miniature school bus and bowling activities. A big draw every year is the dunk tank, which boasts a meticulously organized schedule of dunkees who are volunteers representing different facets of the community.
"We love the dunk tank,” chirped Brenna Harm, 9.
Pastor Chuck Towersey of the Lake Ann United Methodist Church took his turn in the not-hot seat, as did his son, Collin, representing Benzie Central High School. Towersey has been minister of the congregation for 18 years and relishes the annual Lake Ann Homecoming.
"This is the day where you get to see everybody,” he said. "Homecoming makes sense because everybody gets out and gets to see each other and the Almira Historical Society really does a great job.”
The close-knit community where many people grew up together, have summered for generations or are related is launching another effort: create a lake-front park on the northern shore of Lake Ann. The effort will provide a public local swimming place. The village has secured an option on a parcel that features 180-feet of lake frontage and is raising money to purchase and improve it.
"A lot of people outside the village, all they have is a backyard and a hose,” said Dan Herringa, mayor pro tem of Lake Ann village. "We will be able to tie the whole village together and the beach front park will be tied to the railroad right-of-way hiking trail.”
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 Historical Society, call Vera Carmien at 275-7362.