First Congregational Church of Marion fair brings community, fun streetside
Jul 30, 2018
Children play at an activity table at Marion Congregational Church's annual "Super Duper Summer Fair." BY CHRIS REAGLE
People found some good deals at the book table. BY CHRIS REAGLE
Genie and Joe Keel sold succulent lobster rolls for $18 a piece. BY CHRIS REAGLE
Barbara Moody, of Marion, bought a cache of plants for her garden at the fair's plant sale stand. BY CHRIS REAGLE
Betty Linzee manned the popular fresh blueberries table. Linzee has been keeping the tradition up in memory of Hazel Hunt, who started the blueberries sale many years ago, BY CHRIS REAGLE
Tinker Saltonstall manned the plant and vegetable stand at the fair, with some of her grandchildren, and Alice Shire. BY CHRIS REAGLE
Joanna Wheeler, of Marion, left, and her niece Cara Wilson 25, of Rochester, sold copies of "Sippican Savory", Marion COngregational Church's 2017 cookbook, for $15 each at the fair. BY CHRIS REAGLE
The silent auction table at Marion Congregational Church's "Super Duper Summer Fair". BY CHRIS REAGLE
Mark Tucker, of Marion, sells tickets to children's activities at the Super Duper Summer Fair. BY CHRIS REAGLE
A boy emerges delighted from the dunk tank after getting soaked by his friend. BY CHRIS REAGLE
Bob Sanderson, left, and Truman Terrell play their parts while vocalist Michelle Richardson sings "Side-by-Side" for folks eating in the "Chapel Cafe", upstairs in church's Penny Pinchers building. BY CHRIS REAGLE
Hundreds of people filled the street in front First Congregational Church of Marion on July 28 for the church's annual Super Duper Summer Fair and family fun day.
The annual street fair is a fundraiser for the 315-year-old church in the heart of Marion village. Church members fed, sold, and entertained a steady crowd throughout the popular village happening.
The length of Main Street from the corner of Front Street to the corner of School Street was closed to motor vehicle traffic during the four-hour street festival.
The event kicked off at 10 a.m. with the the Harpoon Harmonizers serenading fair-goers as folks perused the grounds looking for a good buy from one of the auction and white elephant tables. The baked goods tables were full of homemade sweets, cakes, breads, cookies and confections.
A plant sale drew a steady stream of customers, particularly to the blueberry stand where Betty Linzee was selling fresh picked blueberries from Hiller Farm in Rochester for $5 per quart.
"We do this every year in memory of Hazel Hunt, who started this blueberry sale many years ago," Linzee said. "I'm wearing Hazel's apron but it's too hot to wear her hat."
Genie and Joe Keel sold lobster rolls from a cooler near Marion General Store
"We bought the lobsters from Turk's in Mattapoisett, but we church ladies made the lobster salad rolls ourselves," Genie Keel said.
Over in the children's activites area, Mark Turner was selling tickets and counting patrons to the kid's area.
"I'd say we've had about 100 kids so far," Turner said at noon. "We're not going to become millionaires from this but turnout has been decent."
After the Bounce House, the most popular activity was the dunk tank, at which a gaggle of boisterous boys spent the morning hurling a ball at the target to dunk their friends.
Food was available from the "Sidewalk Grill", which was manned by Fred Frazier and grill, his wife Celia, and their children, Bianca, 15, and Ben, 12. The Fraziers sold hamburgers, hot dogs, soda and lemonade. Lobster rolls and chicken salad rolls were also available at the "Chapel Cafe," which is upstairs from Penny Pinchers in the church's annex. Cafe-goers got the added treat of live music from clarinetist Bob Sanderson, pianist Truman Terrell, and vocalist Michelle Richardson.
