Taopi’s 125th anniversary the best bash of the summer
Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 31, 2000
You know you’re going to have a good time at a parade, when they throw cold beer from a float.
Thursday, August 31, 2000
You know you’re going to have a good time at a parade, when they throw cold beer from a float.
That’s the kind of celebration Taopi enjoyed last Saturday.
Attention, Bill Boe. If that’s you still sleeping on the roof of the Rusty Rail, you can come down now. Your wife Linda is looking for you.
Whatta summer. I’ve been milked for all I’m worth at Dairy Days in Adams, didn’t know enough to come in out of the rain at MeadowFest in Grand Meadow, saw stars and stripes in my dreams after Independence Day celebrations at Lyle, Blooming Prairie and Austin, calmed down a bit at the Clayton Township Picnic, got mud-bogged down in fun at Hayfield’s Hey Days, saw a man washing his underwear – with him inside them – at LeRoy’s SummerFest, got buffaloed at Tom and Shelley Kraetsch’s Burr Oak Buffalo Festival, heard more incriminating tales told about Randy Stephenson, Pete Kuhlman and Ray Tucker at the Elkton All-School Reunion than a dozen National Enquirers could print, got a little wild at WilderFest in Spring Valley, watched Harlan Boe entertain at another Threshing Show outside LeRoy and Roman Landherr show off his Allis Chalmers collection in Lodi Township, helped Meyer, Iowa, celebrate Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s centennial, dodged the Holstein Lady at the Johnsburg Jamboree and sweated through the Mower County Fair, but I’m telling you this: I had the best time of my life this summer at the 125th anniversary celebration at Taopi.
As good as Brat Daze gets at Stacyville, Iowa, and despite probably the best barbecued chicken at the Racine Chicken Feed, it just didn’t get any better than Taopi’s shindig.
Even Al Gore and George, that son of a Bush, would have had fun at Taopi.
Saturday, Aug. 26, was a day of history, heritage and hooters.
Who was that luscious blonde in the tight red dress waving a fan from a float? Herb Merten, you say?
Mike Finbraaten drove a float carrying the legendary Golombowski sisters, Maureen and Sue. One of them is running for a seat on the Southland School Board, but I can’t remember which.
I liked the Smith Small Engines’ float, which was just a sign reading "Hey, kids! I ate all the candy and my sponsor is too cheap to buy more."
And, how about those parade announcers? LT and Tommie-boy did a great job. No more Dumb and Dumber jokes about those two.
Tex and Nancy Theobald were there, but then, who wasn’t? It was a homecoming for many. Jim and Arlene Hueman of Austin told me Jim grew up in a house where the Taopi City Park is now located. Evelyn Kiefer said "hello." Keith Vorhees checked it out and Eldon Norland boasted of graduating from Taopi Tech.
Of course, the old-timers softball game was something special. It was great fun to watch and when it came my turn to umpire, that was a blast. Adams beat Taopi, 12 to 8, but not because of Yours Truly. I did my best to help the host team defend their crown.
Al Huntley wore his father Don’s old uniform to pay homage to the man. Ray Voigt took his swings and so did Dick Hemingway and others except Dick Oxley who refused to join the fun.
Of course, Craig Schaefer and Larry Smith and the other young-timers stole the show with their exemplary play. (Pssst … that’s a joke. Thank God, there was a crack Mayo ambulance crew on the scene.)
They served more than 600 people at the Windsor chop dinner following the softball game.
When the sun went down, the volume came up and a street dance filled the parking lot between the Chief Taopi Bar and the former Rusty Rail dance hall with more than 1,000 people.
Bob Adams of Stacyville, Iowa, won the People’s Choice award at the Classic Car Show, which attracted 36 vintage cars.
"I don’t think we could have hoped for better results," said Mary Huntley, city clerk-treasurer.
Proceeds from the events will be used to purchase playground equipment for the Taopi City Park and sometime soon, a new welcome sign designed by Mark Rockers will be erected along Highway 56.
All I can say is "Great job, Taopi."