Barnard General Store’s 175^th Birthday a ‘Roaring Success’

Pyroteknika, a South Pomfret-based group of performers that specialize in poi-a Maori dancing style that incorporates flaming props-performs at the Barnard Street Dance Saturday. (Herald / Tim Calabro)

"We had an amazing turnout for our 175^th anniversary!" reports Kim Furlong. "We are so grateful to the army of people who helped to make this event so successful."

Furlong notes that John Barnes organized and ran the fishing derby, Steve Cota planned and led the mountain bike ride, Nicole Furlong helped coordinate the music, Lee Bell and Linda Backer organized and ran the kayak obstacle course, and the Closterman family helped plan and run the "soap box derby." In addition, William Closterman built the "Batmobile" and "Aquarium" go carts and The Silva family built the "Jeep" go cart and helped with numerous other tasks. Mary Blanton was instrumental in the "midway games," Muriel Thomas sold raffle tickets and took registration forms all day, and her husband, Jim, helped in numerous ways throughout the day and then returned at the crack of dawn to help with breakdown and clean up the next morning.

Neal Campbell, Ralph Ward and sons, along with Jack Dibble and sons, put up and took down tents and delivered tables and chairs, courtesy of The Barnard Fire Department. Zach Orient and Kyle Wright did many tasks before, during and after the celebration; and Chelsea Furlong and Chloe Powell painted the aquarium and made all the signs to mark each event. Damian Jillson Sr. and Jr. cooked a roasted pig, and Mike Wilkens helped anywhere and everywhere. Fran Bean provided "stage two" and the Barnard Central School provided "stage one" and "stage three," along with additional tables.

"It really did take a village to make this event a roaring success," Furlong said happily.

There was musical entertainment by Dead Man’s Hand, Right Side Down, Swamp Donkey, Jeanne & the Hi-Tops, and individual musicians, Jerry and Loretta Blakeney, Dan Roda, Courtney & Colby Bridge, and Drew Orient.

The "Water Runner" was a big success, with many children enjoying their turn rolling around in the water.

Bucky Joy was the guest of honor at the employee reunion lunch that brought a few folks from the past together who shared stories and read a few onstage to others that were enjoying lunch at the picnic tables.

"Over 800 quarters were put down to play midway games and the pig roast brought out so many people there just was not enough to go around!" Furlong reports. "There were two moments that literally brought me to tears. One was the pure joy of watching Courtney and Colby Bridge onstage singing in perfect harmony. The other was when the winner of the custom designed Fender guitar that had the original pastel of a pair of old hi-top sneakers and an empty bottle of wine (the first album cover for Jeanne and the Hi-tops) by George Lawrence was chosen. She got onstage and said, ‘you know, when I bought this ticket, I said to myself, if I win I’m going to give this guitar to George,’ and sure enough that’s what she did! George was brought to tears at receiving it."

"Jeanne and the Hi-Tops had the crowd rockin’ and rollin’ and dancing in the street, and at intermission, Pyro-Teknica gave an astonishing performance, with the music of Swamp Donkey and Drew Orient in the background. This will be a celebration we will remember for a long, long time!" Furlong concluded.

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