Jill's Journal: Have a ‘groovy’, good time, Brandon!
The year was 1971, and I was in the first grade. I don’t remember a whole lot about that year other than the fact it was the year our town celebrated its 100th year of incorporation.
What I do remember from that significant milestone is the men in town grew beards and some interestingly-shaped mustaches, well, that is if they had the ability to grow a beard or an interestingly-shaped mustache. They topped off their celebratory beards and mustaches with black derby hats and suspenders.
As for female folk of town, we donned bonnets and long skirts, just like Laura Ingalls did back in the day.
Of course, there was a huge parade, probably the biggest parade that town ever held in its history. I well remember that my mom and I had matching skirts and bonnets, which she craftily sewed for us. If I had known about Laura Ingalls Wilder then, I’m pretty sure I would’ve fit right in.
Later this week, our community will celebrate Brandon’s 50th year of incorporation. And since it all began in 1973, I think it would be most appropriate that we haul out the tie dye and bell bottom jeans we wore in the ‘70s. Toss on a headband, some cool beads and colored sunglasses, and without a doubt, we’ll all be in style for this period of time.
Over the last several weeks, I’ve been perusing the pages of the Brandon Area History book the local Historical Society published in 2003. It’s filled with words and photos and names of people I’ve never met or never will meet, places that are now just a memory and things of great interest, like Oscar Pearson’s “Wild Goose” mobile. As the book tells, he had intended to use it as a family camper and for hunting and fishing trips with friends, but had one window converted so it could be used as an office when the bank clerked auctions.
Just a glimpse of the photos of the Wild Goose mobile, which by the way he converted a 1935 Packard hearse into a hunting bus in 1945.
While that was many moons before Brandon was incorporated, it’s stories like this one and others told in the Brandon History Book that are art of our town’s history.
Although I’m a transplant from Minnesota, I am – as you are, too – a part of Brandon’s story. I hope you’ll take some time out this Friday, Saturday and Sunday to take in one, two, three – or even all – of the events that have been planned for Brandon’s 50 Years in the Making celebration.
Fifty years from now, I hope someone just like me is here to document the daily happenings of this wonderful community for those of us who are tagged to the 57005 zip code. And who knows, maybe they’ll be delighted to learn about our lives “back in the day.”
As we used to say – and sometimes I still say – “Peace, love and Bobby Sherman.”
