A third dedication was made in honor of the Leon Fire Department’s brave members, past and present. Members posing with the woodcarving include Artist Vince Liuzzo, Ed Lampson, Summer Oakes, Pat Strickland, Doug Keppel, Adrienne Kelly, Jack Herman, Ryan Emmick, Carol Ellis, Jackie Ellis, Robert Ellis, Chris Ellis, Adam and Melissa Cox, Donald Corson, Ronald Corson, Pat Bromley. P-J photos by Deb Everts

LEON — This was a special year for members of Leon Fire Company No. 1 as they celebrated the 75th anniversary of the organization at Leon’s Town Picnic on Aug. 19. Sponsored by the Leon Historical Society and Leon Fire Department, the picnic was held at the fire hall where the event was marked with three dedications.

A banner designed by artist Tom O’Conner of Salamanca was chosen to commemorate the anniversary and will be displayed on the front of the fire hall. It depicts a scene from the Pennyroyal Racetrack that was rebuilt by members of the fire department in 1946.

Residents celebrated the 70th anniversary of the racetrack last year. Its famous connection to NASCAR put Leon on the map many years ago. The once popular racetrack was the springboard for such NASCAR winners as the late Bill Rexford of Conewango Valley and the late Lloyd Moore of Frewsburg. A replica race car built by Fred Milliman, curator of the Leon Historical Society Museum, was also featured at the dedication.

According to Milliman, the track was originally a horse track in the mid-to-late 1800s. The Leon Fire Department purchased the property located at the corner lot of Eldredge and Town Hill roads in 1946. He said the firemen breathed new life into the track that was once considered “the fastest half-mile track in Western New York,” until 1960 when racing there dwindled because of bigger tracks, bigger purses and bigger crowds elsewhere.

A new playground, located behind the fire hall, was dedicated in the memory of Laurence “Butch” Ellis who was an active member of Leon Fire Company No. 1 for 56 years. He served as a volunteer first responder, firefighter and with the fire police. He also served as president, secretary and was a longtime Leon Fire District Commissioner.

The third dedication of the day was a tree carving to honor the fire department’s brave members, past and present. Created by artist Vince Liuzzo of Tree Guys Chain Saw Carving, located at Sherwood Arts Complex, in Jamestown, the carving depicts a pair of firemen’s boots, hat and ax.

People enjoyed other activities including games, a horse shoe tournament, basket auction, a chainsaw demonstration by Luizzo, a fire training exercise and live music in the evening.

Pat Bromley, town of Leon historian and organizer of the picnic, said the town picnic first began in 1904. She said some of the picnics were held at Frank Cooper’s on the Flatiron, Delmar Cooper’s grove on the south side of Cherry Creek Hill, and Franklin Grove on the north side of Cherry Creek Hill. Over the years, interest in the event declined until about five years ago when residents decided to bring the picnic back.