Leighr A. Wright American Legion Post 53's Baw Beese Bash draws in hundreds

Corey Murray, Hillsdale Daily News
·2 min read
Show cars began filling Leighr A. Wright American Legion Post 53's 5 acres at about 3 p.m. Friday, June 9.
Show cars began filling Leighr A. Wright American Legion Post 53's 5 acres at about 3 p.m. Friday, June 9.

HILLSDALE TWP. — Leighr A. Wright American Legion Post 53's third annual Baw Beese Bash was largely a success, drawing in hundreds and hundreds throughout this past weekend for its annual celebrations.

On Friday, June 9, scores of antique, vintage and muscle cars filled the post's property as dozens more came in to enjoy the show.

Hillsdale American Legion Post Commander Chris Parks entered his 1999 Harley-Davidson in the bike show, a new addition to the annual Cruise In car show.
Hillsdale American Legion Post Commander Chris Parks entered his 1999 Harley-Davidson in the bike show, a new addition to the annual Cruise In car show.

In keeping with tradition, those in attendance walked through the lines of cars and voted by ballot on the People's Choice winners while Post Commander Chris Parks walked through to select the Commander's Cup winner.

Inside the post, the building was nearly standing room only as a long line quickly formed for the perch dinner and to get their tickets for the post's weekly Queen of Hearts drawing.

On Saturday, June 10, a handful of antique steamboats got underway in the early afternoon hours, firing up their wood-fired engines for the annual steamboat parade around Baw Beese Lake.

Members of a vintage steamboat club from Ohio prepare to get underway Saturday, June 10.
Members of a vintage steamboat club from Ohio prepare to get underway Saturday, June 10.

The steamboaters — part of a club from Ohio — even gave rides to a lucky few.

As the night dwindled down and the post wrapped up its gun raffle, "On the Rocks" wrapped up the night with a mix of rock ’n' roll, blues covers and some of their own originals.

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The American Legion Riders celebrated Sunday, June 11, with a breakfast while fishermen entered last minute fish into the weekend-long fishing contest.

Baw Beese Bash is one of the post's two annual fundraising weekends which support veterans' programs in Hillsdale County.

Leighr A. Wright American Legion Post 53 also holds an annual tip-up festival in February and is involved in a number of communitywide celebrations including organizing the annual July 3 Independence Day Fireworks Show at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds.

— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Baw Beese Bash draws in hundreds