MORRISONVILLE -- To the stranger, the Saturday morning parade at the 91st annual Picnic and Homecoming was a perfect snapshot of rural, small-town American life.
There was the patriotic beginning, with crowds along the parade route honoring the Morrisonville Leslie-Reddick American Legion Post 721 color guard and the flag as it passed.
The high school marching band marched. Floats drifted by, decorated for the theme, “What if ... “ -- as in, “What if we were retired super heroes,” “What if there were no GMOs?”, and “What if frogs jumped people?”, for example.
Antique tractors and huge, new green-glistening farm machinery rumbled down the streets, while politicians glad-handed and their followers passed out literature and candy. Too-numerous-to-mention local and area businesses, civic groups and churches were also well represented.
Children -- there were children EVERYWHERE -- darted out into the street and grabbed tossed candy
The crowds cheered and clapped, laughed and called out to somebody they knew passing by.
The stranger noticed a group of women watching the parade from the comfort of a soft couch and chair in the shop window of the Sloan Furniture store.
One of those ladies was life-long Morrisonville resident Rita Sloan. When asked how long she’d been attending the homecomings, Sloan laughed merrily.
“Well, I am going to be 90, so I’ve been coming for that long, even as a little baby,” said Sloan, recalling in the past the parade traditionally stepped off on a Thursday afternoon. “But it was always terribly hot. so now it’s been changed to Saturday at 11 a.m. They said it makes more sense, because a lot of women work now, and couldn’t come on Thursday afternoons.”
Sloan said she’s seen other changes as well.
“You know, the big thing now is the frog jump. The first one was over there across the street, at a tavern. People came from all over to jump their frogs. and the prize money is good,” she said.
“But, in the past, the big draw was the talent contest on the stage in the park. There was a lot of local talent performing; now it’s all hired, commercial entertainment.”
Sloan recalled that she had performed in the talent contest with her sister.
“We tap danced, my sister, Sammy, and I, as a pair, and our mother played the piano for us,” Sloan said.
“But the last time we tap danced at the picnic, we were out of step. We couldn’t get jived.”
Looking out the window at the place she calls home, Sloan noted that town crews had been sweeping the streets, gutters and sidewalks, and painting fire plugs and entrance ways to spruce things up before the parade.
She nodded toward all the people jamming the sidewalks as the parade passed.
“It looks like a pretty good attendance. The streets are pretty full,” she said.
Sloan paused, then added, “Of course, it’s a perfect day.”
Morrisonville is officially home to 1,056 residents, according to the sign just outside the bustling town.
The consensus among Sloan and the other women in the store window was that the local business community -- such as a local grocery store, a hardware store, and many others -- is a big asset.
But the stranger wanted to know more, so he asked other residents what keeps them in Morrisonville.
“Family,” said native Steve O’Brien, taking a break from serving at the food station in the Watering Spot. “All my friends are from here. My family farms, so that’s a big thing. It’s a small community, it’s where I grew up. It’s what I’m used to, and I love it here.”
Kayla Friedrich agreed it was a small town, but added, “yet there’s a lot going on ... you know everybody.”
Friedrich’s father, Scott Hughes, is also a lifelong resident of Morrisonville.
“It’s the small town environment, all my family is here. Here at the picnic, I get the chance to come and revisit with my old classmates from school,” said Hughes, the president of the Morrisonville Legion Riders, a local group of motorcycle riders.
Hughes said the group rides for veterans and raises money to donate to the honor Flight program for veterans, with bike runs and raffles, such as the quilt he was selling tickets for today.
The quilt was made from frog jump commemorative t-shirts from years past.
Hughes’ young grandson, David Schafer, said he loves the rides on the Midway during the picnic.
For fun, he said, kids in Morrisonville like to play in the park.
For Jamie Myers, who helps organize the annual bull frog jump, it’s the small town life for her family she finds attractive.
Although she was born and raised in Morrisonville, she moved away, but returned two years ago.
“It’s a small town. We know everybody,” Myers said. “If you ever need a helping hand, there’s always someone there.”
Later, after the last float passed, the stranger watched the crowd along the street disintegrate into small groups.
They seemed reluctant to leave, and lingered, their folded lawn chairs in hand, chatting with family and friends. Children --- all those children -- ran around, laughing and playing.
It seemed to the stranger that by delaying their good-byes, the comforting feeling of being home would last just a bit longer.
It was, indeed, a perfect day.
