Wabash Days has ties to Wentzville’s railroad heritage
Celebration to begin Friday downtown
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| Face painting is a favorite at the Wabash Festival, pictured here last year. Sarah Childers photo |
In downtown Wentzville on the south side of the railroad tracks sits a small, red caboose with a lot of history.
Once a fixture at the end of a freight train, it later served as a McDonald’s party house for children. It was brought to the city in 2001 and soon donated to the Wentzville Historical Society.
Sure, it was built around 1942, making it less of an antique than some might expect.
"But beggars can’t be choosers," said Larry Marshall, president of the historical society. "Finding an old caboose lying around is kind of like finding a diamond."
These days the caboose has more than its own history. It serves as a museum, housing Wentzville’s own heritage.
That heritage will be on display Oct. 3-5, during the city’s fifth annual Wabash Days celebration. Inside, residents can view newspaper clippings and photographs from as early as 1880. They’ll see postcards with pictures of Wentzville years before and can purchase the society’s 1905 Plat Books.
Society members will be signing up new members, as well as collecting money for the caboose’s renovations. Marshall hopes to remodel the structure so it can house special exhibits that would be open the public during regular hours.
Structures like the caboose help residents to remember why the city celebrates Wabash Days in the first place. Economic Developer Bob Swank started the three-day, downtown festival as a way to remember Wentzville’s connection to the railroad, which once was the community’s lifeline. The city was founded as a depot of the Northern Missouri Railroad, which later was sold to Wabash Railroad Co. and named after Erasmus Livingston Wentz, a railroad engineer for the line.
Until now the event has been held in June, but this year organizers rescheduled to avoid Father’s Day and summer heat. Last year’s crowd totaled about 6,000 people, Swank said, and weather permitting, this year’s festival will draw even more.
About 40 booths will offer T-shirts, food, crafts, jewelry and information. Residents also can register to vote at the city’s booth if they bring a photo ID, such as a driver’s license.
The celebration will begin at 5 p.m. Friday evening and last through Sunday afternoon. Allen Street will shut down to traffic between City Hall and the post office to make way for carnival rides and entertainment on stage. Entertainment includes The Shakey Ground Blues Band and Contagious music acts on Friday and performances from the 2008 Wentzville Idols, Angie’s Dance Studio, Crossfire and Smash Band on Saturday.
Sunday performers are Mark Roach, a contemporary Christian singer, and country music group Laura McKinney and the Bunkhouse Band. Both acts are new this year, Swank said.
The Historical Society also will offer more entertainment this year, Marshall said. Events include a Texas Hold’em poker tournament on Friday; a motorcycle show, bake sale and karaoke on Saturday; and a car show and square dance demonstration on Sunday.
: The fifth Annual Wabash Days : Downtown Wentzville on Allen Street, between City Hall and the post office: 5-11 p.m. Oct. 3, noon-11 p.m. Oct. 4, noon-7 p.m. Oct. 5: Free: 636-327-5101 or 636-327-7665
Want to go?
What: Wabash Days
Where: Downtown Wentzville on Allen Street between City Hall and the Post Office
When: 5-11 p.m. Oct. 3; noon-11 p.m. Oct. 4; noon-7 p.m. Oct. 5.
Cost: Free
Information: 636-327-5101 or 636-327-7665.
