CHAFFEE TO CELEBRATE `OLD FASHION DAYS'

Chaffee is turning back the hands of time -- to as far back as 1905. People will dress in vintage clothes, and antique cars will be on display during the first Chaffee "Old Fashion Days" festival.

The festival begins Saturday and continues through Sunday with many events scheduled.

"I think the festival has great possibilities," said Donna Cannon, president of the Chaffee Historical Society. She has been organizing the celebration with many area merchants and organizations.

She said the merchants "have been wonderful in their response" to the idea. Many merchants will have sidewalk sales or walk-in specials both days.

Cannon said the festival brings to a close the Historical Society's annual membership drive. Dues are $10 a person and $12 for families. Memberships or renewals will be available in the society's museum downtown.

The society has made great strides during the past two years when six people met at City Hall one night and contemplated the idea of forming an historical society.

"It is amazing how people in this town and area have donated or loaned us items, large and small, for the museum," Cannon said, adding that all museum artifacts have been tagged and cataloged in a file and in a computer.

"Everything has been insured and are cared for by volunteers from the society."

The museum will be the host to an open house Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.

There will be a garden center sale at Whitaker's Hardware, and 20 percent of the sales will go to the Chaffee school library. And the city library will have a book sale.

C&C Flowers, Medicap Pharmacy and DJ's Second Look will have some really good buys that weekend, said Cannon. Rhodes on Highway 77 and Chaffee Food Plaza are also participating, and the Chaffee Drive-In will feature curb service.

The Impressions T-shirt shop will be open as will Dacus Discount Store.

"Sister's Restaurant, on the corner of Yoakum and Second streets, will have a '50s weekend and there will be a sock hop at Frisco Bar beginning at 8:30 p.m. Saturday," Cannon said, looking at a list of events.

Big E's Restaurant will have a fish fry starting about 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Polish sausage, nacho cheese and other food will be available.

The Genesis Sound System from the Jackson area will play at Circle Park on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. Cannon recommends that people bring lawn chairs.

"On Sunday we hope to have local people entertain in the park," said Cannon.

A craft and gift show will be held in conjunction with "Old Fashion Days." It will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the River City CB Club's community center at 113-115 W. Yoakum.

Many items will be available for purchase, and concessions, such as chicken and dumplings, will be served.

Former members of the Busy Bees Homemakers Club, Lucille Halter and Adella Frank, will demonstrate quilting throughout the day. The Busy Bees were very active during the 1950s and 1960s in Scott County.