Recordpub.com - A fun-filled Fourth in Kent

photograph by michael k. dakota/ July 4th 2009/ Mandi Lu smiles from the back of a parked caboose along Main Street during the Heritage Festival

photograph by michael k. dakota/ july 4th 2009/ Topher Starzyk, of Kent, plays on stage with Jen Maurer during the annual Heritage Festival

photograph by michael k. dakota/ July 4th, 2009/ Natalie Davis, of Natalie's Ribs, flips ribs on the grill for holiday guests of the Heritage Festival in Downtown Kent

By Matt Fredmonsky

Record-Courier staff writer

The 14th annual Kent Heritage Festival marked a number of historic milestones on the nation’s 233rd birthday Saturday.

Kent Mayor John Fender presided over his last heritage fest. Fender is wrapping up his twelfth and final year as mayor. In 12 years, he has not missed a single festival.

“I want to thank everybody for a great 12 years,” he said.

And the city recognized what may be its oldest operating business Saturday. The Star of the West Milling Co. has towered above North Water Street for 130 years, and the mill’s manager, Red Michel, along with other employees honored the wife of one of the company’s founding family members.

Germaine Williams accepted a photo frame on behalf of her late husband, Charles, who was a member of the family that first opened the Williams Brothers Mill in 1879.

Her husband was a descendant of Charles A. and Scott T. Williams. Four generations of the family operated the grain mill until 1999, when it was sold to the Star of the West Milling Co.

Williams said she didn’t spend any time at the mill because her husband was old-fashioned.

“I was at home raising the children,” she said.

Michel said Williams’ son, Pete, was a manager at the mill until 10 years ago in June when the family sold the operation. The frame Michel and others presented to Williams included historic images of the mill.

“We give this to the Williams family for everything they’ve done for us and for the city,” Michel said. “It was always a privilege and an honor to work for this family.”

This year’s festival also featured a new layout for food and craft vendors.

Traditionally, food vendors have been spread out along South Water and East Main streets with craft and information booths on North Water Street.

This year, food booths were stretched along North Water Street with information and craft booths in the center of East Main and South Water streets.

Mary Gilbert, one of the event’s many organizers, said the new layout seemed to work better for downtown businesses and the festival vendors.

“We’ve gotten really, really good feedback from participants about the layout, and the businesses,” Gilbert said.

In previous years, the large food booths blocked storefronts of businesses.

This year, stores including City Bank Antiques and McKay Bricker Gallery were more easily accessible to festival attendants.

“And we want to get more exposure for downtown’s businesses,” Gilbert said.

By noon, the scintillating smell of barbecue ribs and the glisten of melting ice cream appeared throughout North Water Street.

Above the din of the festival, the train whistle announced the departure of another historic train trip along the Cuyahoga River.

Upon its return downtown, four generations of the Hughes family stepped off the train. Dee Black, of Kent, Debbie Hughes, Laurie Lewis and 4-year-old Cameron Hughes, all of Ravenna, planned the trip so Cameron could experience his first train ride.

“I just hope Cameron enjoyed it,” Black said.

“I did,” Cameron said.

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