ADMASTON-BROMLEY (Douglas) — Mother Nature almost co-operated Saturday evening at the Cull Barn Dance, as there were a few intermittent showers throughout the seven-hour event.
The music began about 5:30 p.m. and quit shortly after midnight, noted emcee Art Jamieson a few days afterwards. There was entertainment entertaining the hundreds who attended the event on Rice Line – The Douglas Connection, Kyle Felhaver and Guy Jamieson and Friends.
Part-way through the evening, Preston Cull and Family announced two presentations – Gerald Tracey, chairman of the board for Hospice Renfrew, accepted a donation on behalf of Hospice Renfrew, and another donation will be going to the Douglas Lions in support of the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
“This really is a special evening,” Mr. Tracey said. “One of the sad realities of hospice is that we have an operational shortfall that needs to be raised in the community. On behalf of our board of directors, our staff and our incredible volunteers, I want to thank all of you, and to the Cull family, for this generous donation.”
He then led the large crowd in singing O’Canada.
It wasn’t hard to spot Mr. Cull throughout the evening, as he sported a white suit with red maple leafs all over it. He even rolled out the red carpet this year in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday. Many people were met by him at the red-carpet entrance, or somewhere in the crowd. He and wife Terry even had a hard time finishing a dance, as they stopped to talk to people or were stopped by people to talk to.
Mr. Cull and family are proud to note they are descendants of Culls who have been on the Rice Line since 1882. They enjoy hosting the annual event, which has been going on for more than 10 years.
But, Mr. Cull wasn’t the only one in red and white. Many people sported red and white clothing and jewellry throughout the evening, in celebration of the upcoming Canada Day.
Emcee Jamieson believes another square dance record was broken as 20 squares, which is made up of eight people, got on the dance floor. He noted there were 19 squares last year, so he kept urging the partyers to gather more and more people, until there were 20 squares, totalling 160 people, twirling to the familiar square dance calls.
The 4-H Line Dancing club also performed two numbers. This was their achievement night and leader Lorraine Hamilton was quite pleased with how they performed. She even noted one young dancer isn’t even a member of the club, but was standing in.
