Dayton Valley Days float headed for Nevada Day

Well, Dayton Valley Days are over for another year. I got involved with building a float we hope to enter in the Nevada Day Parade.

We used it for the Dayton Valley Days Parade as a sort of dry run. The powers-that-be found it good enough to give us a trophy for the best float!

It goes without saying that there are many good folks who helped build this community float. Start with the two men - without them the float would never been a reality. These two work for Citizens For Affordable Homes, and I must say, "thank you, thank you" to Affordable Homes for letting Tim Stenger and Erich Machado take their time and yours to create the little building - a replica of the Dayton Museum, the 1865 schoolhouse.

Tim said: "You draw the plans, and we will build it."

I did, and they knew exactly what I wanted. Sometimes the architect and builder don't see eye-to-eye, but these two dear men jumped right in, and I was very pleased with the results. They worked on their days off to get it done.

Then, as soon as I could begin painting, my new best friends started to help. Pat Neyland came by and asked what he might do. I had to go to town so I pulled a Tom Sawyer on him by handing him a paintbrush. He came back a second day and every day until it was finished.

I thought on the first day that I wouldn't get it completed so I called in more troops. Rick and Cathy Cave arrived the third day and, at last, the 149-year-old schoolhouse replica started to come together. Rick was a very willing worker and made my days much easier. He and Cathy worked together as a team, and we made the box turn into a cute little school building, bell tower and all.

Even as I worked to get it ready to pull down the street on parade day, a complete stranger asked if he could help.

It was a great team effort, and what a team! I'd be proud to work with any one of you wonderful folks. I'm proud to know each of you, and hope we can work together in the future - maybe not quite so hard. Bless you all. I love you for what you did to help. Thank you again.

The Dayton Museum is on Shady Lane and Logan Street in Old Town Dayton. It's also the location of the Dayton Chamber office. It is open during the week upon request and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Check out daytonnvhistory.org. Group tours are available. Call 246-5543, 246-0462 or 246-0441. The Historical Society of Dayton Valley meets at noon on the third Wednesday of the month at the Dayton Valley Community Center. Visitors are welcome.

• Ruby McFarland is a 17-year resident of Dayton, a board member of the Dayton Historical Society and a docent at the museum.