TRR photo by Tracy Denman Craft Show vendor Barbara Drollinger is pictured talking with customer Helen Barr as vendor Gina Ferranti looks on in the background. (Click for larger image)

Founder’s Day festivities

By TRACY DENMAN

COCHECTON CENTER — The seventh annual Founder’s Day on July 21 at Heinle’s Field was a busy place.

This year a live country band, Country Jewels, played through the afternoon. The Craft Show returned for its third year, and there was chicken barbecue, refreshment stand and bake sale, with plenty of food.

Douglas Heinle and his son Brian began the celebration in 1994 to raise money for the local church up the hill from their General Store. No longer a church, the building now serves as the local community center for area youth. Both Heinles are trustees of the center, and now with the help of other trustees—Bob Grund, Sharon Cardone, Katie Pierce, Ed Pierce, Jr., Sue Umnik and Eleanor Martin—they raise the money for center reparations. In past years the trustees have raised thousands of dollars for the cause.

Douglas Heinle admitted that things have changed since the event began. People used to come dressed in costumes of the 1800’s, back when Cochecton Center was founded. Usually 1,000 to 1,500 people turn out for the event.

Even though people don’t dress up anymore there is still the exhibition of older tractors, quilts, mementos and memories. “It got to be too much dressing up, everything changes eventually. You still get to see quite a few of the older people and friends. I enjoy myself. I’m a fan of old tractors,” Heinle said.

There were also plenty of tractor games at this year’s festivities, including a peddle pull for the kids, an open the gate race, slow race and blindfold race for the garden tractors and owners.