GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS |
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The Pickford American Veterans of World War II was organized in 1946 with 41 Chapter Members. The organization was quite active for several years, sponsoring annual July 4th celebrations, horse racing, and various money-making and recreational activities.
During the summer of 1954, with Web Morrison as Commander, they built a clubhouse on property donated by Mr. Jack Foster.
By 1958 the membership dwindled to 9 active members, who sold the property to the Marquette Township Board in the fall of that year for use as a doctor's office.
The last act of the organization was to buy three sections of bleachers for the new gymnasium at the Pickford School.
The first Pickford Agricultural Fair was held in 1893. It was near the place where John Wise now lives.
Richard Rye was president of the Fair Board.
In the early days of the Fair it was held in late October. Later it was held on Labor Day. Entry was Saturday and the Fair was on Monday and Tuesday.
The Fair was much looked forward to by the people 6f Pickford and surrounding areas. The people from outlaying areas would come in with their families and it was like a homecoming for some of the oldest people.
Some of the exhibits were homemade butter, home canning, pastry, garden produce, fancy work, home cooking and baking, knitting and sewing.
Later the fair was moved to the site at the northeast edge of town. In 1925 horse hauling, horse racing, and harness racing became important events. Several concession stands were run by the Senior Class, Lions Club, and church groups. In some of the later years a small carnival was brought in.
Some of the past presidents of the Fair Board were Jack Hillock, Elliott Hancock, Hugh Carr, Richard Rye, George Rye, Mervin Rye, and Tom Best.
The last Fair was held in 1949.
The Pickford Farm Bureau groups are the County Line, Town Line, Midway, Mtmuscong, Sunshine, Pleasant Park, and Country Club groups. All were organized in 1958 except the County Line, organized in 1956, and the Country Club, in 1960.
The County Line group was the first group organized in Chippewa County. The first members to pay their dues in the Chippewa County organization were Mr. and Mts. Bob Wilson of the County Line Croup.
The Farm Bureau motto is "The farmers who are wise will organize." The purpose of the Farm Bureau is to provide a united voice of Agriculture to speak where laws ate being formulated and administered. The Farm Bureau maintains a full-time legislative staff working in Washington and Lansing in the interest of the farmers.
The purpose of a Grange is to "elevate and educate the farmer." The present Pickford Grange was organized in May 1934. The Charter was received and the first elected officers were installed May 19, 1934.
Robert Sutton of Dafter organized the Pickford Grange. First Master was George H. Raynard. Since then Clarence Green, John Wise, Hannah Graham, Merrill Hamilton, Jay Caldwell, Orville Bawks, Orville Stain, Elliott Cottle, Archie Ball, William Raynard, Reid Crawford and Alex Cottle have been Masters.
The first years the meetings were held in the Marquette Township Hall. When the membership became too large for that hall, the meetings were herd in the Pickford Grade School dining room.
During these years the membership brought two lots north of the Nazarene Church and worked and saved to buy their own hall. But since the Pickford Township built a town hall, those plans have been abandoned.
Pickford Grange is responsible for the blinker light on M-129 at the intersection of Main Street, for the park in the school forest three miles north of town, the State picnicking park on M-134 on Lake Huron near DeTour, and for the rows of elm trees south of town. They sponsor a softball team for night games every summer and also a Pee Wee softball league.
The Pickford Grange is always ready to lend a helping hand for anything worthwhile and has had state recognition in Community Services many times.
Over 50 years ago there was a Crange in Pickford that met in the old Red Block (it later burned) and John Hancock was Master. The Grange was very active and there were Granges at Stalwart, Drummond, etc.
When the first Grange was active, Austin Wynn and Roger Hassett drove a horse and buggy to the Soo and put it in a livery stable. The next morning they took a boat to Drummond Island to a Grange picnic, picking up May Johnson and Lionel Warren at Raber. They got back to the Soo about 10 p.m. and then drove home, getting back to Pickford in early morning.
When the present Grange was organized, some of the older members would tell of coming to Grange with team and sleigh and how some members would ski and snowshoe to the Main Road to catch a ride. The Bob Hillock barn was where the horses were kept. They told of cold halls or meeting places and then being served ice cream for lunch. At that time Grange property was scarce and everyone came with their own cups and dishes. When the Grange moved to the Township Hall they purchased new dishes ample to serve 100 people.
The Pickford Lions Club, chartered in 1941, is an organization whose membership is comprised of local business and professional men interested in service. Each year the club has planned and worked on a number of projects using receipts for community service. One of the most successful money project is making of Maple Syrup. Several of the annual projects have been a student loan fund, an ice rink, phone directory, Christmas party and Christmas charity.
The Student Loan fund is a sum of money set aside and added to each year for loans at a very liberal interest rate to Juniors and Seniors in college to assist them in finishing their formal education.
The club each year constructs and maintains an ice rink for boys and girls interested in this activity. The rink is always a very active spot for youth to enjoy wholesome recreation.
The Club has for many years assisted Santa on his trip from the North Pole to meet and greet Pickford boys and girls. He always brings candy for each lass and lad, which is presented after a Christmas program. Too, needy families are presented Christmas baskets consisting of a dinner or fruit which has been prepared by club members.
Other annual services in which the club engages out of the community area are sale of white canes for the blind, contribution to the leader dog school at Rochester, Michigan, end collecting glasses and frames for distribution to those in need of them.
The Stalwart Fair was started in 1906. An Agricultural Society was organized to carry on the work of the fair. Those who were admitted were Alex Sims, R. G. Crawford, William Clark, Robert A. Sims, Thomas Forgrave, Chester C. Crawford, and James Richardson.
The main purpose of the fair is an important and colorful part of our American tradition. Generations of Americans have to love and eagerly look forward to what is coming each year.
The County Fair is much more than entertainment, however. It serves an important educational function in many ways. It is a valuable competitive spur to farmers, young and old, to do their utmost in increasing the quality of our already excellent farm products.
Today the County Fair is of great interest to city dwellers, as well as to farmers. The County Fair, therefore, has become a meeting place between our state, city, and rural dwellers. It is indeed an important event in the lives of the people in this district.