By: Tammy Allison – THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Despite cloudy skies and the potential of rumble from above, the weather did not deter the local community from coming out to enjoy the “Fall Main Street Rumble in Fayette”. The Main Street was filled with vintage Ford cars, trucks, and machinery for the day’s festivities. The events this past weekend honored Fayette citizen Hal Stambaugh. Hal, owner of the restored vintage Hal’s Garage in Fayette, is a well-known restorer of Ford Flathead engines. Hal, who began building engines with his father, says he was honored to be a part of the event and was quick to add that many people helped put the event together. He claims his garage has “made me popular” along with the Internet and word of mouth. Hal has met people from all over the world including England, Ukraine, and Japan who have stopped through town to see his restored garage. Hal was honored that many of his friends, including Mark Kirby of Motor City Speed Equipment in Dundee, Michigan, came down the for event. Hal, who typically likes to be low key, enjoyed the day’s events. For him, restoring flathead engines is more than a hobby, it’s a great way not only to do something he loves but also to meet people and in this case, bring the community together.
In addition to the Rumble, the “Cooking up a Furnace” was held at 3 pm at the historic Opera House in Fayette. An independent and free standing rural arts institute, the Opera House is host to many local events and also functions as the Fayette site for the Fulton County Senior Center. Sponsored by the Fayette Arts Council and the Opera House, the “Cooking up a Furnace” served as a fundraiser for the new heating and cooling system for the first floor of the Opera House. The fundraising event included a Pampered Chef cooking show hosted by Cathy Leininger. For only $5, participants were treated to a culinary workshop with food samples, a gift and coupon bag, and a Pampered Chef cookbook. In addition to the income generated from ticket sales, one third of the Pampered Chef sales directly were used to offset the cost of the recently installed replacement furnace and new air conditioning system in the Opera House.
This event honored not only the role of the automotive industry’s development and influence on the village of Fayette but also the many local businesses that are vital to small communities.
Tammy Allison may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com