Christine Whelan, FEO, September 12, 2024, VOL. 6 ISSUE 1
On Saturday, August 31, the streets of Crystal Beach filled with people waiting for the first sign of the End of Summer Parade, a tradition that began decades ago to “bury Old Man Summer”.
I called Jerry Pequeen, a member of Friends of Crystal Beach (FOCB) and contact person for the parade, checking in on how the preparations were going three days before the big day.
The goal of FOCB is to keep people of the community in touch with what goes on in “The Beach”, as well as keep the memory of days past, alive by sharing stories and information about the history.
They work together with the other community groups such as Advancing Crystal Beach and the Crystal Beach BIA, providing events, raising money that goes back to the organization for the events, as well as beautifying the physical village of Crystal Beach.
Jerry considers himself a spokesperson for the history of Crystal Beach. He and his wife have roots in the village reaching back to 1950.
“The melding of the old and new in this area is unique. If you were here in the ’70s, you saw the amusement park and the ferries. That’s a part of our history. The parade bridges the past with the present.”
Jerry shared that Canadian musician, Steve Fox, who moved to Nashville, wrote a song for the end of summer. “He will be singing the song for the ceremony after the parade.”
He said he then would be reading a composition dear to his heart. “The eulogy, written by my daughters and I, explains what we’re losing and what we’re gaining, with the summer coming to an end.” Jerry admitted that he gets emotional when he goes through it.
He read me the eulogy, giving most of the credit to his girls.
Summer at Crystal Beach begins with a flare. People and noises come from everywhere.
Many from Canada, the US of A, there’s something very special that brings them this way.
Water and sun are sure to capture, and heighten our senses which we are all after.
The beach is the magnet that makes this place something, but people are the heart that keeps this place pumping.
Noises that once came from the park, are replaced with music and laughter well after dark.
Kids are our future, they know and learn from the past, and our hopes that each year, they will make it last.
Good times, concerts, friends, food and drink; summer is leaving us sooner than you think.
Nights come longer, temperatures lower. We seem to know, summer is over.
Our hope, at this time, as you stand next to a friend, is that God will allow us to do this again.
Give a hug, kiss and handshake, to the ones you know, love or met.
‘Cuz this summer is gone, you have no regrets.
Jerry noted that after this poetic eulogy was recited, there would be a toast.
He talked about his strong ties to Crystal Beach, especially the summers. “There are so many others who feel the same way and this is why this ceremony is done.”
A Bit of History
After the park closed in 1989, the End of Summer festivities died off. It was eventually brought back by the Friends of Crystal Beach until a parade commemorating the thirty-year anniversary of the closing of the amusement park was held on 2019. Last year, the parade again was brought back by the FOCB.
For more information about Friends of Crystal Beach, you can go to their website, focb.net
