Community of Hudson celebrates 125 years

At just over 100 people, the small community of Hudson might be considered a community on life-support to some, but for residents and guests of the annual celebration it was apparent that Hudson is alive and kickin' on its 125th birthday.

"I can't praise the people around here enough," said Barb Alpers, one of the event's main organizers. "The whole weekend was a collaboration of almost all the people in Hudson. It couldn't have been done without all the people behind the scene, and on the scene. They were just too numerous to be able to mention."

The weekend celebration started off with hamburger fry and beer garden sponsored by the Hudson firefighters and an open mic jam session on the center stage.

The annual bicycle Chicken Ride started the first full day of events with well over 100 riders hitting the streets of Stafford County for varying distances of 20 to over 50 miles.

Ninety-year-old Wanda Groves returned for her annual ride with the chicken. Groves has been on the ride every year except one when she was sidelined with a shoulder injury.

"I had to come back again," Groves said. "Why wouldn't I?"

The bicyclist started from Hudson heading to Stafford and back or through St. John to Eden Valley road and K-19 for the longer distance.

Monty Eitel rode the shorter distance with one disadvantage over the other riders. He was only using one wheel.

I have been looking for some way to recognize my Mother's battle with breast cancer," he said. "I though I could possibly ride some breast cancer awareness rides in the fall. I wanted to do it in a unique and challenging way so I decided to try it on a unicycle.

"At 26 miles, the Chicken Ride has been my longest and most challenging ride to date."

Eitel said the trip south was not too bad with the tailwind, but when he made the turn back north on Stafford's brick streets and into a headwind it got tougher.

Those nine miles against the wind took everything I could muster," he said. "It seemed so isolated, but I was never alone. From time to time I would see the SAG wagon guy check in on me just to see how I was doing, and it was also very clear with the reception I received back in the friendly town of Hudson. I was NEVER alone."

The community of Hudson has a reputation for being a welcoming place to stop whether on a bike ride through the county, across the country or just in town for one of the many events guests on the receiving end of Hudson's hospitality will attest to the fact it has retained many of the qualities that made small rural towns so great. And why this small community is still kicking up its heels at 125.

"We started with the first meetings in January," Alpers said. "I think I made 10 copies of the projected itinerary. I didn't give them all away. At the next meeting I had to make more copies, at the next meeting more copies and it just continued to grow from there."

The event grew to proportions that surprised even event organizers in neighboring communities according to Alpers.

The weather was almost made to order for the event with the triple digit heats of the past several weeks dying down just a bit, and a nice breeze kept the air circulating.

A craft and flea market lined the streets making the town look more like it probably did in its heydays. Over 63 entrants in the parade had the Main Street lined with spectators, floats and candy littering the ground on both sides of the parade route.

Donkey bingo was a big draw, which may be a surprise to some from a big city wondering how a group of people could be so entertained by waiting for a donkey to use the bathroom, but a crowd lined the metal paddock waiting to see if the square they purchased was the one "chosen" by the very short, but well fed miniature donkeys.

Kids games ranged from a tradition sack race to balloon squashing.

Tim Anthony and the Animals entertained the crowd on Main Street until the fireworks show at 10 p.m., and then continued on into the night.

"Some times people just need a place to sit down and relax, with no sirens, and no traffic, except maybe a few wayward golf carts," Alpers said. "There was plenty of shade and just a few nights and days of nostalgia. That's what Hudson's all about."