Chaffee marks 100th year at German Days

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- On Friday and Saturday, crowds of residents and visitors made their way to Chaffee's Frisco Park to celebrate German Days in honor of the town's 100th anniversary.

Chaffee German Days have been celebrated as long as Kim Stevens of Chaffee can remember. The first one she can recall was Chaffee's 75th diamond jubilee anniversary 25 years ago.

This year's event is the third for Stevens' 10-year-old son, Cody Browne, who was throwing balls at the bulls-eye of the dunking booth provided by Chaffee First United Methodist Church.

Carnival rides were added to the event for this year's 100th anniversary, bringing in more people than usual.

Friday night was crowded -- "elbow to elbow," Stevens said -- with people drawn by the dance, the rides, the variety of food and a beauty contest for teens.

She could remember going to her first German Days celebration when she was a little younger than her son. "They used to have German Day dancers. They would do that clogging stuff. It was fun," Stevens said.

This year's German Days offers a variety of attractions. Near the dunking booth was a putting green. Justin Wilson, 9, of Chaffee got three in, winning free putting at Arena Golf in Cape Girardeau. The putting green was operated by Chaffee High School coach and teacher Brian Horrell.

Around the corner was a brown structure with what look like huge, elongated inner tubes in a semi-enclosed area. A sign read "Space Walk of New Orleans." It was operated by Chaffee residents Donna and Bill Cannon.

Stevens said she hopes her son's children will be able to enjoy the German Days at Chaffee, especially in 2030, when Chaffee celebrates its 125th anniversary.