Hayrides, a car show, and many vendors on a beautiful bluebird day in southern Steuben County
Photojournal By Janie L. Ferguson
It was a cold start to the Rathbone Fall Festival Saturday, October 24th at 10:00 am, but it eventually warmed up into the 60’s this fine fall day. I had two of my youngest grandchildren with me, Ronnie & Elizabeth, there with me to enjoy our hometown event. There was a good crowd that came out to join in the fun. Always a favorite of many are the hayrides. Scott Clark comes out faithfully each year to pull the hay wagon along through the streets of Rathbone loaded with happy riders.
Above, Ronnie & Elizabeth Jacobson enjoyed this AGRI KING ‘Spirit of ’76 patriotic tractor on display. Ronnie was given a Bible from a man at the Gideon Bibles vendors that were there also. He was delighted to get it. Elizabeth said she wanted one, too, but was afraid to ask. Thank you, Gideons, for your outreach for so very many years now.
Scott Clark faithfully gives hayrides each year. Bonnie Strauss and some of her family were enjoying this one.
When we first arrived, we spotted Edward Vanzile from Tuscarora & Tom Allen from Bath telling stories to an onlooker, of Civil War times at their display. Edward said, “I first became interested in the Civil War when I was in my 6th grade English class, at Northside Blodgett Middle School in Corning. I was given the task of researching the history of the machine gun, which led to more interest in the Civil War.”
He has been doing the reenactments for thirty years now, at area-wide events since 1997. He said, “I also walk around the event to interact with others and answer any history questions they may have. I have a rifle demonstration with a replica of an 1861 Springfield rifled musket, and bayonet.” We could hear the gun going off in the distance when we headed out. This rifle was made in the mid-19th century. VanZile continued, “I had my two-man shelter tent up. Each soldier was issued a shelter. Also, a knapsack which is where the shelter hall would be kept, along with my great coat, (overcoat) wool blanket, extra clothes, and other personal items. The haversack had my plate, fork, knife, spoon & rations in it to be used when a soldier was on the march.” “There is also a thirty-four-star flag here, too.” He said, “We are always looking for new recruits!” Thank you for keeping our history alive, Edward!
Edward VanZile and Tom Allen talking with an onlooker at the Fall Festival in Rathbone, NY. When we first arrived, we spotted the soldiers telling stories. You can see Edward’s Civil War Display here. He is always looking for new recruits!
Many vendors turned out for this event. Carey Crooker, photographer & author had her 1st book ‘Second Place’ there for sale, with her 2nd sequel ‘A Second Chance’ coming in November that you may pre-order now. You could meet the author and purchase her book, and get it autographed as well. Carey has been a photographer for fifteen years now, and you can find her on her website, on FB, and Instagram, too.
She graduated from Hallmark Institute of Photography in Massachusetts in 2011, and then returned to her home town of Addison to begin her now thriving photography business. When I asked her what got her started in photography she said, “When I was in high school my brother got a digital camera one year for Christmas. I was constantly borrowing it, to take pictures, and annoying him. Then I thought maybe I could do this for a job. I got my senior photos done, and I just loved the whole experience. That is really what triggered me to go into photography school after that.”
Getting back to her writing. She continues, “I’ve always loved to write, and when I was a little kid I would write little stories down. I always loved it. I went a lot of years without writing as I’ve been a busy mom with my four children, ages six through twelve, and my husband Sean,as well as getting my photography business going. A couple of years ago, I was doing a lot of reading, and as I was traveling to my sister’s wedding, which was two hours away, so it gave me time to think as I traveled along in the countryside. I only had my youngest child with me, who slept all the way there. I was going to be an attendant at her wedding and was heading there the day before. As I traveled along this idea came to me, and I said, “I need to go buy a notebook,” and before I got to her wedding, I had scribbled everything down. Because it was so quiet and I had time to think, this is when putting things down in writing came to mind again.”
Some of the inspiration for her books has come during her walks on beautiful Maple Street in Addison through the years. “There is a park there in front of the Catholic Church, and I thought, “Oh my gosh, this could be an amazing setting, and I just love Maple Street.” “In the book there is this really nice playground, with a splash pad, and in a lot of the book events happen there, over the course of like a thirty-year time period.” Although this isn’t the same setting with a playground etc. my thought was it would be something like this where my characters could play, and grow up together across the park from each other in my book.”
“An unexpected change occurred with one of my new characters in my second book, and his name is Matt. Originally last June when I started the book, we didn’t have anyone in the family named Matt. My mom is one of fifteen children so there have been a lot of names that have been used in our family through the years. So I picked that name for my character. Then when I was just about finished with the book my sister picked the name Matthew for her little boy. Once I found out she was going to name him that, I said, I need to make him a better character, and give him a better storyline, and make him more likable. It really changed the book so much, and his character developing throughout became one of my favorite things in the entire book. I even put a note in the acknowledgements that read, “To my nephew Matthew, I had the name Matthew picked out long before your parents picked out your name, but then when the name was chosen for you, I wanted to make sure that he was an outstanding character.”
“My first book is a little more serious, and the second book is a lot more light-hearted and really funny.”
She did well at the Rathbone Fall Festival with a sale of 15 books, and 3 pre-orders for a total of 18 sold. Her next book launch party is Friday, November 20th, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at ‘Mint Beauty Lounge,’ 22 Main St., Addison, NY. There will be a meet and greet, and signed copies available there, too. The next day Saturday, November 21st she will also be at the Canisteo-Greenwood PTO Craft Fair. So, come on out and meet Carey!
Caroline Risley was selling these cute earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and keychains. She says, “They are all made by me.”
The car show is always a bid draw for people to come out and see old and new vehicles alike.
Baked goods for sale with this vendor and her dog. She is bringing awareness to autism. Her apple pie and cookies were delicious, too. 3D Chase was there selling his merchandise, too.
The winner of the pie contest as well as the chili contest was Brett Flint. The Corn Hole competition first place winner was Braiden Dun & Trevor Jeffers, 2nd place was Kim & Ron Daily, and 3rd place was Gene & Jack Smith.
Another Rathbone Fall Festival has come and gone, just as peak foliage season has, too. Although some of the hillsides around are still vibrant with color, the higher you look. We’ve had freezing cold mornings lately, but then it warms up into an enjoyable 60 degrees later in the day. As October ends, and day-light-savings time begins shortly, we all know what is just around the corner, but we won’t say it too loudly.
Thank you to the Town of Rathbone, and all of those who made our Fall Festival possible again for our 10th year.
Janie Ferguson is a Rathbone resident, a frequent contributor to the Sun, and also manages the Cameron Mills/Town of Rathbone Facebook Community, Follow her work here.
