Fireman's Picnic

Corn Hole: Built and introduced to Cooke City by the man in the apron.

July 4 - one of my favorite days of the summer here in Cooke City, Montana.  It was a day filled with cool breezes and warm sunshine (and unfortunately for the firework watchers, a night filled with thunderstorms) and plenty of fun on the street.  Every 4th of July the fire hall holds its annual fireman's picnic, a fundraiser for the town fire hall.  As you may be able to tell from the picture, it is in great need of donations.  And what better way is there to make money in a tourist town, but to set up games in the street and make every passing tourist get out their wallet, either just before they pay $25 to enter the Park or just after.  Many seemed to be a bit disgruntled by us asking them for a donation, but it seems to be a good strategy so far!

Old and decrepit as it may be though, it is one of the historical buildings in the town and certainly one of the most original in design fire halls I've ever seen.  And unlike most fire halls around the country, this one serves many functions.  It not only stores the firetruck and ambulance in the basement, but the upstairs room serves as the meeting location for all search and rescue operations, water and sewer town meetings, the annual Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter potlucks, baby and bridal showers, women's quilting clubs, Santa's stop-over at Christmas, town game nights, and amongst many other functions, it serves as the school gym!  Other than the Saloon, it is the social gathering place, especially during the long, harsh and dark winter months.  I have many, many memories of this fire hall since my arrival here ten months ago, and expect many more to come!