Garnet Plume to lead Millersburg Homecoming festivities
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
Garnet Plume has lived on the hill on Orcutt Highway for 84 years, his entire life. He remembers when Orcutt Highway didn?t run in front of his house. This year Plume is being honored as the grand marshal of the Millersburg Homecoming parade.
Plume remembers living in an old shack before moving to the present house in 1944, a house his father built just before he passed away. An orchard on the property was originally planted by his grandfather and has been added on to by Garnet and his father.
Garnet spent his life farming before he was crippled up. After getting better he worked at the plastic plant, before his health deteriorated again. After several years he was again able to return to work. Garnet said their was times he couldn?t even stand, he crawled on his hands and knees.
In 1983 Garnet joined the Case Township Fire Department as a volunteer fireman and in 1984 he became a fireman. He served the department until 2007 when he felt he could no longer get around well enough. Garnet remembers coming home from some runs and having to stop because his eyes were full of tears. There was a time when he knew everyone around Millersburg, and every time they got called for a run it affected him.
Garnet and his wife, Virginia, had eight children and now 10 grandchildren. They raised their children in that same house, on that same hill as Garnet had grown up on. Standing in his driveway Garnet can tell you where his driveway used to be, where his mailbox was when he was young, when the mail was still delivered by horse and buggy, unless the weather was too bad. He does recall a woman from Millersburg being all bundled up in the wintertime to stay warm as she delivered the mail.
?In a way I was surprised to be chosen as grand marshal. I am more or less looking forward to things this weekend. It is nice to be honored, I?ve got to have some respect sometime,? said Garnet.
Garnet clearly remembers the history from his house on the hill, and has greatly enjoyed living there all his life. He remembers walking to various schools through the snow, even the schools that are no longer there.
He still enjoys gardening, mowing his grass, watching the birds and being outdoors. Garnet is looking forward to having the original Millersburg fire engine from 1909 running this weekend. The engine will be running and used for the children?s water fight. With tears in his eyes, Garnet said during the Metz Fire that engine ran for seven straight days. That engine is started by blow torch and needs to be oiled and added to while it is running, keeping it going for seven days meant a lot of work.
Millersburg homecoming will be kicked o
The day continues with the grand parade scheduled to start at noon with the theme ?Farm Days?. Following the parade the kid?s water fight will take place by the fire hall. A kids bounce tent and slide will be open from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Main Street, please note that to ride the slide children need to wear a swimsuit.
A duck race will take place at Russell Memorial Park at 5 p.m. and all day a historical display and bake sale will be set up at the depot.
Sunday the fifth annual fire association bump and run will begin at 1 p.m. and will wrap up the weekend?s festivities in Millersburg.