The small community of Bolan might only have a population of 29, but they celebrated their Quassquicentennial (125th birthday) in a big city way. Above: People celebrate and enjoy the day in Bolan. Story and photos by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer.|The small community of Bolan, might only have a population of 29, but they celebrated their Quassquicentennial, their 125th birthday, in a big city way.
Around noon on Saturday, a crowd gathered around a corn field, a plane flying high above, and a big “X” marked clearly on the ground. Everyone was waiting in anticipation to see the first glance of the person jumping from the plane.
Right on time, the show started. There were two parachute jumpers. The second one to jump was Sgt. 1st Class Elisa Feldt-Tennyson. This would be her 11729th, and final, military jump. She would be retiring from the Army after 28 years of service.
Feldt-Tennyson was happy that she got to celebrate the Quasquicentennial. “This will always be home,” she said.
After welcoming Feldt-Tennyson home and letting her know how proud everyone is. It was time for the stand- still Parade to start. The paster said a prayer, and then the fun began.
I had heard of this stand-still parade. In 1981, the stand-still parade, was presented and explained to the public on the David Letterman Show. I stopped and asked how to get to the parade and the answer I got “Well, the town of Bolan has only one street and it’s right over there.
This parade was amazing. The coordinator, Lori Willert, had put a flyer out asking for people to be in the parade and to make a unique or unusual float. People got to work and did a beautiful job. I could try to explain them, but the pictures will show you in a much better way.
Elisa let the parade. “I grew up around here. Lori Willert and I have been friends since kindergarten, over forty years ago. I lived about six miles northeast of here on a dairy farm,” said Elisa proudly. “I remember my first kiss, on the bus, when I was in first grade, no kindergarten,” this time she wasn’t talking to me, but to a man who is still friends with the little boy that Elisa had kissed so many years ago.
When asked about her future plans, Elisa thought for a second, and replied, “I think I’m just going to be a mom for a couple years. My son is a junior this year and I missed so much of him growing up. I just want to stay home and be with him. After that, I suppose some schooling and then I’d like to get into something in the area of physical theraphy.”
She had for many years wanted to go airborne. The day she decided to sign up for the Air Force, the recruiter was out to lunch. “I looked around, and thought I’d check out the Marines, I didn’t want to join the Navy because I couldn’t swim that well. I found out later that it doesn’t matter whether you can swim or not. I started toward the Marine door when I heard this voice asking if he could help me. He was from the Army. And that’s all she wrote. It wasn’t until I reinlisted that I joined to 82nd Airborn Division. That’s where I did free fall skydiving and then got on with The United States Army Parachute Team, The Golden Knights.”
Next came the Marching Band. Wait a minute, they are sitting, I have to walk around to get a picture. They didn’t seem to mind.
There was a tractor, painted pink. Since Kadyn’s death, a group of people have been trying to recruit others to join in their crusade to pass what want to name “Kadyn’s Law.”
The Grand Marshall of the Parade was sitting tall and proud. Her son had just arrived and was video taping her. “Oh, stop that and come over here,” she said jokingly. Joyce McCready is officially the longest living resident in Bolan. “I have been here since 1949, the year I was married. I live right over there, in that big house. I’ve seen a lot of changes throughout the years.”
Lori Willert’s name comes up again from her brother, who is at the end of the parade, where everybody knows they put animals, in case they have any accident. Lori’s brother was saying, “This idea was Lori’s. Sweeping up the animal poop from the saddle club. After him, just one more float. That consisted of…..I’m not sure.” This was the man’s toy, that he enjoys working and adding things on. Making more moveable parts.
Besides the parade floats, there was a roadside concession stand, Mini Doughnuts, a Bingo Tent, a town museum that fits two people in it, free entertainment by Sam Crosser playing the piano from 1:00-3:30, BarBQ’s and many, many craft tents. They did, in case someone got tired from the long walk from one side of town to the other, have a parade resting spot. Benches were set down, for those that needed a rest.
The one room school house stood solidly in the midst of it all. Many old school buddies and school girl friendships met back up after years of being apart. Reminising, laughter and a little going back in time. The friendships and the kindness, the protectiveness and hard work of everybody made this day special for so many people.
I never got to meet Lori Willert, but everybody wanted to thank you for doing such a good job, and all the hard work that you put into this Quasquicentennial. Happy Birthday Bolan, and many more.
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