With riotous and rewarding reminiscence, the people of Grassland and area gathered to celebrate their history and home with a centennial homecoming June 29-July 1.
Hundreds of people descended upon Grassland to recognize the occasion, which celebrated both the hamlet and its surrounding areas. The homecoming celebration featured a parade, a Grassland School open house, concerts and the distribution of a centennial history book.
Grassland History Book Committee treasurer Wanda Mellott said the homecoming means a lot to Grassland and its surrounding communities.
"People were really positive and excited to come home and visit. It's all about visiting and being here with your friends and meeting people you haven't seen for 10, 20 years," Mellott said.
Grassland and District Homecoming Committee and Grassland History Book Committee secretary Barb Cholach said the thing organizers wanted to highlight community togetherness with the event.
"Community, getting together, working together," Cholach said. "Keeping the community together."
Sonya Rokovetsky, the daughter of Grassland homesteaders, attended the event with her extended family, including daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family marched together in the June 30 Grassland parade.
Rokovetsky said it is fun to meeting with old friends during the homecoming celebration.
"You get to talking to people, most of them you were almost related," Rokovetsky said. "It's not like a homecoming – it's like a family reunion."
The centennial homecoming represents Grassland's fifth homecoming, held every 10 years, according to Grassland History Book Committee treasurer Wanda Mellott. She said this year was chosen as the centennial to coincide with the homecoming and recognize the entire surrounding area, including Spruce Valley and Atmore, with settlers spreading out in the region over a number of years.
"We won't have this for another ten years, so this is the 100th anniversary for all of them," Mellott said.
The committee distributed and sold copies of the history book over the course of the weekend, moving 300 pre-ordered copies and quickly selling out of the 75 extra copies printed. Mellott said it took two and a half years to put the book together, which featured a historical timeline, accounts of local families and previous homecomings, as well as interviews with the most senior members of Grassland.
The connection between Grassland and its surrounding communities was highlighted in the June 30 parade, with floats dedicated to neighbouring places such as Deer Run and Spruce Valley.
Brianna Zilinski was part of the Spruce Valley float during the parade and said it was a wild experience.
"The kids were screaming. The elderly were waving. It was just a riot," Zilinski said. "Happiness everywhere."
Gloria Matoga also participated in the Spruce Valley float and said the homecoming is something that appeals to everyone in the area.
"It's a time to come back and visit and catchup. We do this every 10 years, so everybody loves to come back home and have a good party," Matoga said.
Cholach said it took a lot of work to make the weekend happen, but it was worthwhile in the end.
"It was very hectic at the beginning but as you can tell, it's rewarding when you see all these people coming back to visit and to reminisce," Cholach said. "Seeing all those people and seeing how happy they are, that's the best."
