CORN FESTIVAL – After the demise of the "The Corncapades" as a means of financing the Corn Festival, a talent show and Queen contest was inaugurated. Usually held in June, the show is a variety performance of vocal and instrumental music, dance, and comedy. The Queen and a Mini-King and Queen are selected in a contest. A Pig-E-Que is also held on July 4th in Corn Belt Park, when roast pig and chicken and appropriate trimmings are served by chefs from the Corn Festival committee. Funds from these affairs provide prize money for contests held during the Festival held in September.
The Corncapades titles were: "Kernels of Korn," 1947; "Gone With Big Blow," 1948; "Gay Nineties Review," 1950; "Home on the Range," 1951; "Scars and Gripes Forever," 1952; "Unearthed," 1953; "Campbell House Blues," 1954; and "Up a Lazy River," 1956.
HICKORY HILLS CAMPGROUNDS – In 1965, Mr. and Mrs. Harold McKinley of Gridley and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cox of El Paso opened a campground south of U. S. 24, east of Panther Creek. The McKinleys sold their interest to their partners in 1970. A swimming pool has been added, more of the area cleared, and a small shop for emergency supplies opened. Several local people rent space for their trailers for all summer, some commuting to work, while others camp only on weekends. Many travelers also stop at the campground.
EL PASO CENTENNIAL – El Paso observed the centennial of its founding with a week-long celebration August 22 through 28, 1954. Beginning with church services on Sunday morning, there was a flag raising by the Scouts in the afternoon and a pageant that evening. There were tractor pulls, a flower show, an antique house, band concerts, a carnival, picnics, a parade, and a fireworks display. It was a week crowded with activity.
The pageant "Happy is the Land," written and directed by R. Warner Brown, who was then an English teacher in El Paso High School, was presented three evenings on the south campus and adjoining Fifth Street at El Paso High School. A stage, the lower level 140 feet long, with a higher level 60 feet in length, was erected adjacent to the street, with the audience on folding chairs on the lawn. The weather was perfect, with a full moon which was bright enough for many to read the program.
The High School band, directed by Robert Baile, and a chorus, directed by Curt Mahaffey, provided the musical setting. "Grandad" Robert Hayse, a high school senior, and his "grandson" Dennis Stoller, were narrators and recalled incidents from Pere Marquette in 1673 to participation in the Korean conflict. Over 200 local people, with 50 speaking parts, participated in the 20 scenes.
The "Antique House," furnished with treasured articles from El Paso's homes, was located on the lower floor of the Telephone Cornpany building. Basically, the articles were arranged in rooms along the south wall with additional items on the north side of the room. There was the first lamp lighted in El Paso, a rocking chair and sofa from the
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