Excelsior Hose Co. to honor member at fall festival
Walt O’Dell to be recognized for serving 50 years as festival chairman Warwick - For almost 60 years, the Excelsior Hose Co. #1 of the Warwick Volunteer Fire Department has kicked off the holiday season with its annual Fall Turkey Festival. This year, the company will honor Walt O’Dell, a 56-year member who has chaired this event for 50 consecutive years. The presentation will be made on the second night of the Fall Festival, taking place at the Station 1 firehouse, on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 15-16, from 6-8 p.m. “Walt O’Dell has always been synonymous with the Fall Turkey Festival,” said company president Art Wendel. “His energy and enthusiasm never seem to quit as he works hard putting on this event year after year, getting donations from local merchants and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. The officers and members of the Excelsior Hose Company want to take this opportunity to thank Walt for everything he has done to make this event such a success in the past fifty years.” The Fall Turkey Festival, a two-night fund-raising event where participants win turkeys and local produce, began in the 1940s, when the Excelsior Hose Company was stationed at its original firehouse on High Street. According to Bill Bryant, a former department chief and 56-year member of the company, the event started with members Deb O’Brien, Dr. Alfred Beers (also a former department chief) and Bill Patterson, who got the idea from the Goshen Fire Department. Throughout the years the event has taken place at the old VFW Hall, an auto dealership on Main Street and the former Methodist Church (the old firehouse was not big enough to accommodate the crowds). ’Dell took over the festival in 1956. As festival chairman he has been responsible for organizing and setting up the event, printing the raffle tickets, and soliciting donations from local businesses such as Ochs Orchards, M&M Produce, Peck’s Wines & Spirits and Pennings Orchards. During the event, he assists with handing out door prizes as Charles Papaceno, a 60-year member, spins the giant wheel and calls out the raffle winners. Although the event does not attract the same number of people it did 50 or even 15 years ago especially with the advent of free turkeys offered at large supermarkets for frequent shoppers a large and loyal crowd still shows up at the Station 1 firehouse year after year to join in the fun and excitement of winning. For a quarter, anyone can take part in the spin of the giant wheel for a chance to win a turkey. And with up to 17 spins each night three turkey winners with every spin plus a continuous raffle drawing for door-prize gifts such as bags of onions and bottles of apple cider, almost everyone who attends the event walks out with at least one prize. “We hope everyone comes out to show their support and give Walt a big than you for everything he has done to help our community by raising money for the local fire company,” Wendel said. This story was provided by Peggy Gavan, secretary of the Excelsior Hose Co.