A caboose, donated by railroad buff Monte Holm of Moses Lake, will be the big attraction at the Chelan County Historical Museum this weekend during the annual Apple Days celebration. The 1908 Great Northern caboose is the museum's latest acquisition. It traded Holm a small pumping engine for the caboose. It was installed at the museum on August 20. In addition to the caboose, people attending Apple Days will get firsthand looks at the way early day pioneers lived. They can taste all sorts of apple treats and watch the big apple pie judging contest. Activities begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with a flag raising ceremony by the Cashmere American Legion. Judging of the apple pie contest will begin at 10 a.m. A first place golden apple trophy will be presented, along with second- and third-place awards. Judges will be Rick Steigmeyer from the Cashmere Valley Record; Xhong Hua, an exchange reporter from China who is working at The Wenatchee World; Noelle Rice, KCWT television; John Valeson, Cashmere Fruit Exchange; and Greg Taylor, Aplets & Cotlets. Also at 10 a.m. the museum will host a reception in the Congdon wing for Holm. The caboose came from his collection in Moses Lake where he owns and operates the House of Poverty Museum. Holm donated the cost of transporting the caboose to Cashmere. Robert Eddy, who has worked hard to put together the museum's existing railroad exhibit, will present a plaque to Holm. The reception feature live music by the Predator Parasites, a group of three Cashmere men. From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, an antique car display will be on the grounds. The Hillbilly Fiddlers will perform at 1 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m.At 2 p.m., Earl Bests, the one-man band, will entertain. Events going on all day Saturday and Sunday include tatting, weaving and rugmaking, with Betty Raymer using the museum's equipment. Pat and Jim Rankin will squeeze apple cider and demonstrate apple sorting, using an old machine borrowed by the museum. Arts and crafts tables will feature handmade items. George Michael will bring in some residents of his exotic animal farm up Mission Creek. Those include a black, longhorn steer and three miniature Sicilian donkeys. Among the food items for sale will be chili, hot dogs, soup, beans, cornbread, apple jelly, apple butter, apple dumplings and scones. All the pioneer cabins will be in use with baking, barbering, and card playing. Entertainment on Sunday will include square dancing by the local group, Buds in Blossom, from 4 to 5 p.m. The Hillbilly Fiddlers will play again at 1 and 3 p.m. The Wenatchee Valley band will perform from 2 to 3 p.m. Apple Days is a celebration of the apple industry and other pioneers who first settled the Cashmere Valley, said Geri Inabnit, museum coordinator. The festivities are a finale to the museum's season, which ends in late October. |