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Saturday's Internet Edition, 06:40 AM, July 04, 2009.
Wilton History Group hosts gala to fund truck restoration
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Photo by Fran Soto
Wilton residents enjoy an evening of dinner and entertainment at the Wilton History Group fundraiser on June 13 to benefit the group's restoration project of a 1947 Dodge farm truck.
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By Fran Soto
River Valley Times Staff
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Helping to restore a bit of Wilton’s history turned out to be a lot of fun for about 40 Wilton residents during the evening of Saturday, June 13. The event included an authentic Wilton-style ranch barbecue, serenade of country favorites by local singer LaDeana Newhall and a raffle and silent auction.
The gala was held to benefit the Wilton History Group (WHG) Truck Restoration Committee. “I want to thank all of you for showing up tonight,” said Gene Rose, who provided the ranch setting for the party. “And I want to thank the truck restoration group for all they’ve done - as master cooks they’ve also done an excellent job.”
Committee members Gary Cassity, Greg Dysart, John Robinson, Wayne Gallup, Rose and Bill Kutzer planned the fundraiser after restoration funds were depleted, but the job of restoring a genuine Wilton farm truck was still unfinished.
The proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the ongoing restoration of a 1947 Dodge truck donated to the WHG by the Nix family of Wilton. The truck was donated in 2006, and the first fundraiser produced $1,200 seed money to begin the project.
All the members of the committee joined in cooking tri-tip and chicken by using the Wilton slow-cooking barrel method. Rose prepared Portuguese beans from an old secret family recipe and corn, salad, rolls and carrot cake rounded out the meal. Seating was around picnic-style tables with red-checkered cloths and bright red potted geraniums arranged so that all the diners could enjoy the live entertainment.
Newhall, a resident of Herald for the past 10 years, delighted her audience with well-known folk songs, country tunes and even a few Elvis numbers. At the request of the committee, she preformed an added talent of yodeling and invited everyone to sing along. Newhall says she loves to sing and visits over 40 retirement centers to entertain the residents. “I will sing for anyone who will listen,” Newhall said.
Guests were also charmed by 6-year-old Pierce Wold who was asked to announce the winning numbers during the raffle. He attended the dinner with his grandmother, Wilton resident Betty Wold. His grandfather on his mother’s side, Harliss Henrikson, also attended.
Young Pierce is an old hand at speaking before audiences including speaking before a big crowd when his father was inducted in the National Reining Association Hall of Fame last fall. “I’ve been in a lot of crowds and had experience speaking,” said Pierce proudly.
The Truck Restoration Committee meets one Saturday a month and categorize themselves as "a blend of experienced and not very experienced mechanics who are hardworking, innovate, pragmatic do-it-yourselfers and who are having a great time restoring the truck."
The WHG was established in 2003 to preserve and protect items of historical significance to the Wilton community. Each year the group sponsors their annual Wilton History Day in October and their annual rummage sale in April, as well as many individual projects documenting the stories of local residents. The group also collects historic artifacts and works to secure a community meeting center for all Wilton residents. The WHG group meets the fourth Monday of the month and invites members of the community to attend a meeting and join the WHG. See www.wiltonhistorygroup.org, for more information on activities and projects.
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Online publication, Copyright 2005, The River Valley Times.
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