By Mark Squibb/August 26, 2022
According to 2021 census data, about 55 people live in the tiny village of St. Shotts, down from 66 people in 2016.
Earlier this past month, the town’s population increased nearly ten-fold, as folks flocked back to the tiny village for 25th Anniversary Come Home Year celebrations.
Member of the Come Home Year committee Elizabeth Molloy said that of the 500 registration bracelets the committee had made up, only about 15 to 20 remained at the end of the celebrations.
“We had that many left over, but we also had people who attended, not all, but different events, who were not registered,” said Molloy. “So, we definitely had an average of about 500 people attend.”
The celebrations kicked off with the opening ceremonies on Tuesday, August 9, although people continued to filter in Wednesday and Thursday.
“By Friday, we had the biggest crowd here,” said Molloy.
One of the special events was a Halloween mummers’ parade held on Wednesday.
“There are no children living in this community,” said Molloy. “So, our elderly people, including myself, don’t get to experience Halloween anymore, because there’s no children. So, we decided to do a Halloween mummers’ parade.”
The parade, featuring both kids and adults in their best mummering get ups, ended with Halloween treats at the community hall and trick-or-treating around the community.
“It was very exciting, because there were children going everywhere, which we never see because there’s no children here at all,” said Molloy.
Besides mummering and trick-or-treating, there was cornhole, concerts, an afternoon tea, an open mic night, and even a magic show.
Molloy said that several visitors stayed with family at their homes, while others returning home have properties in St. Shotts that they still own and vacation in. Others brought campers and RVs to sleep in during their visit.
The festivities came to a close Monday morning with a farewell breakfast at the community hall, which folks could attend free of charge, although donations at the door were encouraged.
“We said, ‘Whatever we got in that, we would divide between Rainbow Riders and the Autism Society,’ and when we counted it out, we had a little over $700,” said Molloy.
The committee, said Molloy, has been planning the celebration for nigh on two years, and couldn’t be happier with how it went over.
“We never had a hitch pulling it all off,” said Molloy. “We don’t have much to work with here. We don’t have a store. We gave folks advanced notice to bring home enough cash for events because there’s no way of getting money here.”
Committee members found out Monday morning that, unbeknownst to them, folks had collected $2,400 in donations to be divided amongst the four committee members to be put towards a relaxing weekend following all the planning and festivities.
“We were really overwhelmed by it,” said Molloy. “Because we know they appreciate it, and we enjoy watching them having such a good week. And that to us is enough. But, to think that they thought to do that, was extra special.”
Molloy had all her family, children and grandchildren come home.
The event marked the twenty fifth anniversary of the 1997 Come Home Year celebration.
