Empire is set to celebrate Anchor Day this weekend.
Empire will commemorate the historic raising of an anchor from Lake Michigan with its annual Anchor Day celebration on Saturday, July 20. This tradition began in July 1977 when Doug Manning and Michelle Stryker discovered the anchor while canoeing off the shore of Empire Beach, submerged in 18 feet of water.
Upon finding the anchor, Manning approached the Empire Area Heritage Museum about preserving this freighter relic, which was still attached to a large wooden beam. Dave Taghon, then the president of Empire Village, consulted with the Dorsett Maritime Academy and Oberlin College, given that artifacts found in the Great Lakes legally belong to the State of Michigan. He was informed that as long as the anchor was displayed appropriately, Empire could keep it. With the help of numerous village volunteers, the anchor was retrieved and now proudly resides at Empire Beach.
To commemorate this event, the museum initiated the first “Anchor Day” in 1978. The celebration has since become an annual tradition, taking place on the third Saturday of July, and is now organized by the Empire Area Community Center.
This year’s festivities will kick off on Friday at 7 p.m. with a screening of “The Roen Story” at St. Phillip Neri Catholic Church sponsored by Empire Area Heritage Group.
The main event on Saturday will feature the Anchor Day Parade, starting at noon and looping through the village twice. The Glen Lake Community Library will host a pop-up book sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Empire Lions Club will serve barbecued chicken at the township hall from 1 to 7 p.m., followed by a bonfire at Grocer’s Daughter from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with hot dogs, smores, gelato and chocolate for the taking.
The day will conclude with a lively street dance in front of the library from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. with music by “Bob Roberts and Friends.”
Make sure to bring your own beverage, chair and most importantly, dancing shoes.
