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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-08-09, Page 8Page 8 Times -Advocate, August 9, 1995 Dashw rommiINITY od Friedsburg Days a big splash! Dashwood Senior Citizens get caught in the rain during Friedsburg's famous parade. Staying alive in `95 (For the health of it!) Brenda Burke T -A staff DASHWOOD - It rained on their parade for the first time in 24 years but that didn't stop Friedshurg participants from enjoying last weekend to the full- est. "It's threatened and it's drizzled but it's never poured on us," said organizer Elaine Hayter of the event which was in a down -pour during the parade and hot sun rays the rest of the weekend. Celebrating 24 years of Friedsburg events and 135 years of Dashwood/Friedsburg history, people gathered to take part in competitions testing arm wrestling, tug-of-war, crosscutting and carrying 185 pounds of weight per arm, otherwise known as the farmer's walk. But competitions were not just for the adults. Seventy children took part in the mini tractor pull and many others tried their hand at a coloring con- test. They also got their faces painted, took part in a sing -a -long and had miniature train rides. Other entertainment included Friedsburg's first dunk tank, a church service, Rhine Danube danc- ers, a community breakfast, DJ dances, Bingo, a Ba- varian Garden, clowns, and ofcourse, sausages and sauerkraut. Although this year's Friedsburg attendance was somewhat lower than last year, the events, with the exception of the tug-of-war, received full participa- tion. "It was a busy weekend all over Huron County so we're lucky we go the crowd we did," said Hayter, adding an event in Thedford likely caused the low tug-of-war participation. However, the tug-of-war demonstration by Dashwood's Blue Water Tug -o - War team gathered one of the largest crowds of game onlookers Saturday. Also, Kaethe and Erich Freiter were given an award in appreciation of their years of volunteer services and Kitchener resident Murray Fried was recognized as being an ancestor of the original town founders Absolem and Noal Fried. "It's surprising there are not any direct de- scendants living here," said Fried, who placed a memorial wreath, presented to him by the Frieds- burg committee, at the grave of Absolem Fried in Zurich Mennonite Cemetery Saturday. "It's mostly to remember the founder of Dash- wood, the reason we celebrate Friedshurg," said Erich Freiter. A large crowd gathers in Dashwood every summer to take in Friedsburg events. Jason Hodson, left, and Tim Hoffman strain to win at the arm wrestling competition. Reeve of Stephen Township Bill Weber recovers from a dunk- ing at the Friedsburg dunk tank. Murray Fried places a wreath at the grave of Absolem Fried, who was his great, great uncle and one of the original founders of Frieds- burg. A couple of clowns keep dry while pulling their tiny float along in the parade's downpour. Brittany Kadleclk, 10, of Grand Bend, muches on pop- corn between events. Crown, of Centralia, left, and Janet Bennewies, of Dash- wood, have fun at the crosscut contest. "Do you want to take a •icture of m blisters?" asked Bennewies later. Jinni Ryper tries her hand The Wu* Water Tu War t.won first at the mini tractor pull. burg parade competition with their unique float. In the Weds - burg A