Saugus celebrates Strawberry Festival

SAUGUS – A steady stream of people flowed in and out of the Saugus American Legion Saturday afternoon as the Saugus Historical Society held its annual Strawberry Festival.Shirley Bogdan is on the board of directors and has been involved for 25 years.?This has been going on for many years,” said Bogdan. “Years ago the ladies would go out to the fields and pick the strawberries, slice them and then have their strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream. That?s years ago. Now it?s gotten a little more modernized. They all look forward to it. We can serve up to probably 300 people.”Dozens of people sat at red tables inside the legion Saturday, enjoying the festival?s famous strawberry shortcake, along with hot dogs, chips and soda.In front of the American Legion, people set up tables on the lawn to sell arts and crafts.The Saugus Garden Club had flowers and plants for sale while other tables sold quilts, jewelry toys and other knickknacks.David Workman, a living history re-enactor, had a booth set up to do charcoal portraits for customers, and was also dressed in full colonial garb.?Portraits haven?t changed in the last 300 years,” said Workman. “I have two people here that are in 18th century garb and then next to them I have two very modern people. I?m more than just an artist. I?m a solider and a militia man and I also do woodcraft.”Workman said he also does mock battles with other Revolutionary Way re-enactors.?The regiment is still going strong and the hobby is still going strong,” said Workman. “I find that young people just aren?t getting the understanding of history that I did when I was a kid. So it?s a valuable demonstration of what history was like. It?s more than just the battles too, it?s the other aspects of it.”Bogdan said the Historical Society is a volunteer body that holds different events for the town, as opposed tot he Historical Commission, which is appointed by the town.?We just try to have historical programs,” said Bogdan. “We have six programs a year. It can deal with history of the town or around, like the Underground Railroad that used to go through Lynn and Saugus. We just had a speaker on diners in New England. We had a re-enactment of the Civil War. So we have some fun things that are educational.”Saugus resident Len Hart had his green, 1929 Model A Ford on display outside the Saugus Historical Society house. Hart said he bought the car in 1955 for $100 and it?s is pretty much in the same condition now that it was in 80 years ago.?I put new tires and a new radiator and I painted it,” said Hart. “Right now I have about $500 invested in it. I didn?t have to do a lot of restoration. The upholstery is starting to go, but it?s pretty much all original. All of my kids grew up in it. When they were young we?d take them for a ride on a Sunday in it.”Hart, who lives in Saugus, drove the car to Saugus Center so he could show it off at the Strawberry Festival.Hart said there?s just 83,000 miles on it. Inside the Historical Society house sat a huge display of authentic Civil War artifacts, including an 1853 British rifle musket, an 1861 United States rifle musket, old Confederate money, bullets, utensils and even an old corn cob that a soldier had eaten more than 150 years ago.Helen Trefry walked into the American Legion to enjoy some strawberry shortcake and said she was happy with the turnout.?It?s a beautiful day,” said Trerfry, who is also a member of the Historical Society. “It wasn?t much earlier this morning, but more people came out and now they?re here getting their strawberry shortcake. I?m taking mine home.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].