Click here to see photos from the event.
Over 200 people attended the first Come Back Home celebration that was held on Aug. 20, 2008. Starting with a buffet lunch at the Hideout (delicious, everyone agreed), the day evolved into a mix of parade, horse-drawn wagon rides and tours, viewing old pictures in the fire house, watching the historical DVD's in the Village Hall Board Room and visiting with former Ste. Marie residents who hadn't seen each other in years. From 4-6 p.m. the Foundation House was open for viewing, and folks wandered into all the rooms (not very pretty at this point with falling plaster and peeling wallpaper), expressing hope that we will be able to get to the inside renovation soon.
Of note were siblings who traveled far to be together such as, all seven of the Huffs (5 nurses-Jean Gala, Ann LaMothe, Mary Rushin, Lucy Gorman, Julie Marting--one Ph.D. entomologist, Bernie, and a 33-year veteran special ed teacher, Geri Andiorio), for of the Frauli's (Phyllis Rudolphi, Charles, Don (all the way from TX and B), the five Litzelman sisters (Carolyn Kirts, Marylaine Rohr, Pat Mammoser, Judy Cunningham, and Joan Cunningham) and the Dorothy Hahn kids and grandchildren who gathered around the longest table in the Hideout. The Foundation will have a DVD of the event in the near future. What a great day!
Parade Winners
The little non-motorized parade was meant to be quite "tongue-in-cheek" (the fire engine was miniature, the "bands" were CD's played on boom boxes, etc.). The American Legion Women's Auxiliary led the parade boldly hoisting the colors. Prizes were:
| Decorated Bicycles | Decorated wagons |
| 1st place-The Mitchell Family | 1st place-The Hahn Sprouts (Dorothy Hahn's grand kids!) |
| 2nd place-Tie: Courtney Hadra, Brady Reis, and Lauren Young | 2nd place-Hartrichs Meats (wagon made by Hop Hartrich |
| 3rd place-Clayton Reis | |
| Decorated Golf Carts | Miscellaneous |
| 1st place-The Burdette Sisters (M/M Ron Kirts' granddaughters) | 1st place-Lloyd Brimling's Mule Cart and horse |
| 2nd place-The Hunzinger Sisters (Lucy Hartrich and Judy Walker) | 2nd place-The Hahn Twins' Tandem Bike (Sharon Kocher and Karen Hosselton) |
| 3rd place-The American Legion Women's Auxiliary | 3rd place-Larry Hahn on his Big Bike |
The Community Club sold soft drinks, popcorn and snow cones, Clowns Annette and Tara Lynch created balloon animals, the kids bounced and slid on giant inflatable's provided by the Foundation--and a general good time was had by all.
Led by co-chairs Maxine Calvert, Janet Hartrich, and Kathy Yager, Come Back Home re-connected Ste. Marie so many of its former residents and friends."