The Newton Folk Festival was held last Saturday and despite the warm temps and rain that fell later in the evening everyone had a good time and listened to great folk music.
It was a celebration for Jasper County native Burl Ives' 100th birthday, which began on Friday night at the Stones Throw Golf Course with a dinner and entertainment by Gary Crum, a history professor at University of Virginia College at Wise and a Burl Ives aficionado. The tornado warning did not stop the fun there as everyone headed to the basement for some impromptu music and fun!
Saturday's fun began with the opening of a Burl Ives display at the Masonic Lodge with movies and taped performances. This was followed at Peterson Park with many talented people singing, playing instruments and some story telling.
First up was Barry Cloyd, a multi-talented folk singer, musician and writer. He entertained twice during the afternoon to the delight of those gathered.
Ashley Lewis, a young woman who could almost make the mandolin talk, followed Cloyd. Her mom, Jan, joined her on guitar and the crowd was enchanted with good, foot stomping folk music.
Randy Erwin had a bluegrass-style all his own as he happily entertained those gathered in the pavilion Saturday afternoon. Erwin yodeled his way into your heart. His yodeling is so good that he provided the yodeling sound track for Disney's "Home on the Range" even.
The afternoon's festivities wrapped up with Salt Creek performing. They focused on the early traditional of the 1920s and 1930s, to gospel, ragtime and even some authentic Civil War era music and even told a bit of history with it. Gratton Toliver on banjo is a three-time Illinois and two-time Missouri State Banjo Champion.
After a few hours break, the pavilion at Peterson Park came back alive with an old-fashioned barn dance atmosphere with The Milkhouse Gang performing. By this time the weather had changed and the rain was pouring down, but that didn't darken the mood for a good old-fashioned folk music get together.
Throughout the day a Burl Ives look-a-like, LeRoy Newlin, strolled around the grounds, stopping for photos and story-telling just like Burl would have done. Newlin, formerly of Jasper County now lives in Galconda, Illinois.
When first sighting Newlin one would believe that he was a relative of Burl's, the resemblance uncanny. Though he isn't a relative, he did graduate with Burl's nephew, Roger. After graduation Newlin talked Roger into moving to Oklahoma City to get a job in the insurance business. Newlin stated that Roger, "was the easiest guy I've ever trained." Newlin stated that Burl visited with Roger many times in Oklahoma.
Newlin remembered fondly a time that Burl landed his plane here for a visit and tripped coming down the steps of the plane, Newlin commented to Burl about 'dropping in'.
Newlin has won many contests as a Burl Ives look-alike. In fact, about 4 or 5 years ago his sister, Sharon Jackson, signed him up for a contest here. "I wore my going-to-hell hat pulled down and stood on the stage with my cane," Newlin stated.
Not everyone's thoughts of Burl are complimentary. Some residents feel that Burl forgot this area after he became famous, but according to his widow, Dorothy Ives, from a letter to the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, "(Burl) loved his State, his County, and through our many years together spoke to me lovingly, and endearingly about Hunt City, his birthplace and where he spent his childhood." She continued, "Burl was proud of his heritage and we are thrilled that you honor him, as we know he would be proud and touched."
A big thanks to the Jasper County Tourism Committee and all that helped with this event, as it was a fun time with good music, great people and lots of history of Jasper County and Burl Ives. My 12-year-old daughter received a worthwhile history lesson on Burl Ives and Jasper County that she would not have received anywhere else.
Newton, Ill. —
