Rimsie McConiga
Special to the Citizen
Edgerton Pioneer Days Festival celebrated its 48th anniversary Sept. 13- 15. The crowd was estimated to be about 1,500 to 2,000 over the weekend.
The Edgerton Pioneer Days Association organizes the festival. The festival was first held in 1971 to celebrate the town’s centennial.
Jordan Keefhaver, president of the Edgerton Pioneer Days Association and the president of the Northern Platte County Area Chamber of Commerce, said she got involved with the Pioneer Days Association because she wanted her two kids to get to make fun memories in Edgerton just like she and her husband did.
“I was already involved with the chamber, and I also work at the library and preserving local history is important to me and both of those organizations,” Keefhaver said. “My mom remembers the first Pioneer Days Festival, and I just hate to see this tradition die. It brings our community together. Everybody gets to have fun together and visit with their friends and family. I love seeing all the kids running around the park having fun.”
The annual fish fry kicked off the festival with volunteers donating food, money and time for the fund raiser. There were about 45 vendors and food trucks and live music throughout the festival.
The parade included emergency vehicles from Edgerton and neighboring communities and the American Legion Tractor Division tractors. The festival also featured a garden tractor pull.
The North Platte Historical Society Museum and Cultural Society presented the “History of the Railroad & Small Towns of North Platte County” at the Edgerton Branch of Mid-Continent Public Library.
Edgerton also became a Purple Heart City during the weekend festivities.
“The Edgerton Community Betterment Committee, which is a chamber committee, was looking for a meaningful project to do in Edgerton,” Keefhaver said. “Earlier this year, the Dearborn Community Betterment Committee became a Purple Heart City and shared the contact information with us on how to make it happen in Edgerton as well. We decided to hold the ceremony during Pioneer Days.”
Brenda Jackson, Cory Harmer and Danny Harmer donated the funds for the Purple Heart City signs.
Jon Denney, pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, opened with a prayer. Shelby Stapleton played taps. Crystal Willson sang the National Anthem. Budd Gilfillen Jr., commander of the American Legion Post No. 445 in Edgerton, and Walter Schley, commander, Missouri Military Order of the Purple Heart, spoke. Edgerton mayor Shawn Harmer represented the City of Edgerton and read the proclamation announcing Edgerton as an official Purple Heart City. A quartet from the North Platte High School choir sang. Jim Denney closed with a prayer.
“This proclamation is a way for our community to show our appreciation to every man and woman who have served in the United States Armed Forces, and to recognize them for having served their country so selflessly,” Keefhaver said.
“Edgerton was born after the Rock Island Railroad selected the area for a depot and completed tracks to Cameron in 1871,” said Lynn Cassity, with the Platte County Historical Society. “James N. Burnes, a wealthy speculator in railroads and banks, filed a plat at the courthouse in Platte City for the new town on May 29, 1871. According to some sources, he named the town after his lawyer in Chicago (Henry Edgerton).”
Cassity said Pioneer Days celebrates the hard-working people of Edgerton who kept the town’s businesses, churches, homes and surrounding farms going throughout the years.
“Pioneer Days celebrates and salutes all the industrious Edgerton pioneers who constructed, supported and continue to support a town built around a railroad depot 148 years ago,” Cassity said.
“Our goals for the festival were simple — to bring the greater Edgerton community together with safe, family friendly activities and entertainment,” Keefhaver said. “We may be a small festival in a small town, but those on the Pioneer Days committee have a big heart for Edgerton and its residents. We love this piece of Edgerton’s history and want to see the festival continue for many more years.”