SHERMAN - The day wasn't exactly reminiscent of a white Christmas, but Sherman's Christmas Craft Bazaar went on as scheduled.
On Saturday, the Stanley Hose Fire Company Auxiliary hosted its annual Christmas fundraiser at the Sherman Fire Hall on Park Street. The event, which took place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., saw vendors come from far and wide to showcase their homemade wares for potential buyers; partaking in the auxiliary's only fundraiser throughout the year.
Members of the Stanley Hose Auxiliary were busy preparing food in the kitchen and selling tickets for a Chinese auction. According to Joyce Ayers, the event has been part of an annual tradition at the Sherman Fire Hall since long before she joined the auxiliary about 20 years ago.
"It's gotten smaller over the years because of the economy," said Ayers. "We used to have the entire truck room filled (with vendors), but we've still got a good crowd here today."
The proceeds from the bazaar go directly to the Stanley Hose Fire Company, making it an entirely internal operation. According to another auxiliary member, Florence Turner, the bazaar has assisted in the funding of a new fire truck.
"We always have this on the first Saturday of December and we always do very good at it," said Ayers. "It's a lot of work. It takes a whole week to put it together and we work hard at it all week long. But that's fine because it's all for our firemen."
Connie Fortune, who was selling tickets for the Chinese auction, stated that weather sometimes plays a factor in the turnout.
"It depends on how nice of a day it is but we usually do pretty well," said Fortune. "We've had it in a blizzard before and made out good on those days, too. We usually get between 200 and 300 people."
Fortune also claims that, on some years, Santa will also make an appearance.
"We never know until a little later in the day if he's going to come over or not," she said of Santa, who was having breakfast with children at Sherman Central School from 9-10 a.m. "Right now, he's across the street (at Sherman Central School) having breakfast with some of the kids. Every once in a while, he'll come over when he's done with that."
The bazaar also hosted live music from noon until 2 p.m., with the Sherman Central School concert band performing Christmas carols.
The Stanley Hose Fire Company was founded and incorporated in honor of Frank Stanley in 1946. Stanley was killed in 1945 during World War II.