Chainsaw collector Mike Acres is bringing some of his unusual antique saws from Vancouver to the 100th Kootenay Lake Fall Fair this Saturday. He has also promised to cut a log with one of these unique machines.
Acres came here many times when Kokanee Karnival of Sports was part of the Southern Interior Loggers Sports Association. He helped come up with the fire pump contest — a team event that was one of the most exciting things on the program that drew up to 3,000 people to the show in the 1970s and ‘80s.
Acres was on the road for many years as a service representative for several saw distributors, so always had his eye out for interesting saws — now his collection consists of at least 160 different machines. Some years back he started the Chainsaw Collectors Corner on the Internet, and from this evolved the large hardcover book, Chainsaws: A History by David Lee.
Since Gray Creek Store has been selling saws for 55 years, Tom Lymbery has to choose what to display from his stash — certainly including a 1954 Pioneer made in Vancouver, which was the first ever direct drive unit, doing away with the weighty and expensive gearbox that earlier models had.
The 100th Kootenay Lake Fall Fair will open to the public on Saturday at 10 a.m.and wrap up 4 p.m.
Admission is free, and there will be lots to see and do for everyone, such as admiring the fall fair entries, listening to the live music from our local musicians, tasting some delicious treats, and enjoying the zucchini races for the kids.
The first Crawford Bay Fall Fair was held on September 22, 1911, in a small wooden building which was the new community hall and school. There were 33 classes of fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Other activities included sports competition and an evening dance.
The first fairs were strictly local events initially hosted by the Farmer’s Institute and then the Women’s Institute. Over the years the fair has seen apple picking and livestock competitions, public speaking, fashion shows, children’s games, parades, musical entertainment, teas and bake sales. For one year during World War I the committee did not organize a fall fair; otherwise there has been a fair each year for 100 years.