Heritage fest to feature firefighters

To the editor:
The 11th Annual Jay County Heritage Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, on the Jay County Historical Museum grounds at the end of E. Main Street in Portland. This year we will be honoring some who have touched our county — firemen from each of our six Jay County communities. The event will feature stage presentations about each of the fire departments, along with displays inside the museum and antique fire trucks outside. Each firefighter, past or present, attending will receive a badge.
Do you have memories of our firefighters helping you or your family? As a way of showing our appreciation, we invite you to write down these memories and mail them to the Jay County Historical Museum, 903 E. Main Street, Portland, IN, 47371, or email them to [email protected]. These will be shared with the appropriate fire department.
The festival will also feature the usual crafters, reenactors and displays, along with an expanded kids’ area. Besides groups performing on the outdoor stage, there will be entertainment inside the museum. Joann Witherspoon is traveling from Florida to perform with her Harmony String Band. Do you remember dancing to the sounds of starlighters Orchestra? Come and reminisce as Doug Milligan performs their music on Sunday.
Of course, no festival is complete without food. Kettle-cooked ham and beans will be served on Saturday and kettle-cooked chicken and noodles on Sunday. Also on the menu are foot-long hotdogs (the idea from Redkey’s Nellie Smith), porkburgers, apple fritters, cotton candy, carmel corn, ice cream and more.
The best news is that admission to the festival and museum is free. Parking is available at East Elementary School with shuttle service provided.
We thank you in advance for sharing your stories of appreciation with us. See you at the Heritage Festival on Oct. 5 and 6!
Sincerely,
Larry Hiatt and Kay Locker
Co-Presidents
Jay County Historical Society, Inc.[[In-content Ad]]