Empire Fire Department saves Anchor Days

By Jacob R. Wheeler
Sun editor

As a local kid who grew up knowing his hometown as well as he does the palm of his hand, Ryan Deering wasn’t about to let Empire’s Anchor Days festival just wither and die. So when talk arose of canceling the annual party for all the trouble it’s worth, Deering, the town’s fire chief and son of Deerings Market proprietor Phil, insisted that the Fire Department sponsor Anchor Days, which will unfold this weekend, July 18 and 19.
“Growing up here I always remembered Anchor Days,” Deering recollects. “It wouldn’t be the same without the parade, and as a community event I thought the Fire Department should get involved.”
As the story goes, Anchor Days commemorates Doug Manning and Michelle Stryker-Deering-Hoch’s discovery of a gigantic anchor 26 years ago while they were peering through the depths of Lake Michigan just off the Empire shoreline. How and why it got there remains a mystery, but the town’s proud icon now sits for all to see (but not climb on) at the entrance to the public beach.
Anchor Days is Empire’s way to stand out, and the locals celebrate the festival every year with a parade on Saturday that drives twice down Main Street to afford kids ample opportunity to catch butterscotch drops, tootsie rolls and even toilet paper, which the Decker’s Pumping “honey wagon” generously tosses. Got your important papers?
Also unfolding on Saturday will be a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on the beach, a street dance in front of the Town Hall and a family movie evening at dusk at nearby Johnson’s Park. New to Anchor Days this year is a sidewalk chalk art festival for people of all ages from 7-8 p.m. on Friday. Chalk and prizes provided, just meet at the Town Hall.
Deering is excited about another addition to Anchor Days; what could be perceived as “a day in the life of an Empire fireman”. For one dollar you can don the protective gear and swing a sledgehammer at a fairly new Escort station wagon donated by the Lion’s Club. No, this is not wasteful, the car’s engine is blown out. Proceeds may go to buying the fire department new equipment.