For the last 25 years the community of Dayton has boosted the Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department and Quick Response Unit’s budget by throwing a big summer celebration.

The popular annual event got off to a false start, however, back in 1990 when Fred Amestoy wanted to host a community appreciation day. He planned a pig roast and barbecue on Sept. 8 that year to celebrate the re-opening of Freddy’s bar that he’d recently purchased. The night before, Dale Cooley was tending the pig roast outside when he spotted smoke coming from the roof of the bar. He ran to awaken Amestoy and a friend who were sleeping inside and, although the bar was a total loss, lives were saved and no other damage resulted to nearby property.

Amestoy rebuilt Freddy’s over the winter and the following year the first official Dayton Community Appreciation Day was celebrated.

In 1992, Calvin Brown took over ownership of the bar, changed its name to The Idle Spur and continued the annual event that came to be known as Dayton Daze and evolved into a fundraiser for the fire department.

The sun dazzled all day on this year’s silver anniversary of Dayton Daze, held the same weekend of the 15th anniversary of 9/11 and appropriately given the theme “Firefighters — The Heart of Patriotism.”

From firefighter contests, tug-of-war and pie-eating competitions, even a vintage hose cart race, to live music, a flea market and free hot dogs, the event is a big draw for the entire community.

The Dayton Daze Parade is one of the biggest in the Flathead Valley.

Firefighters turned out in big numbers this year with their tenders and trucks from the Lake Mary Ronan, Rollins and Elmo rural stations. Polson’s Fire Department also joined in an expression of solidarity.

This year’s “mascots” Twilight the pony and a dapper pair of Dalmation goats were also welcome guests.

The ALERT helicopter was scheduled to make an appearance, but had a last-minute emergency. After flying a patient to Missoula they were able to stop by afterward to give folks a chance to get a close look at the air ambulance and meet the crew.

“The entire community gets involved in this fundraiser,” said Zoe Lilja, Chief Cliff Fire Department’s secretary/treasurer.

The Dayton Presbyterian Church sponsored a baked goods sale and bazaar. Mission Mountain Winery offered free wine tasting. The Dayton Yacht Club offered sailboat rides and The Idle Spur hosted a pig roast.

Enough money was raised this year to purchase a rescue vehicle that the Ronan Fire Department made available at a substantially discounted price.

“We would like to extend a huge thank you to the merchants who donated goods and services to our raffle and our local communities for generously supporting our department,” Lilja said, “along with all those who participated in the parade, played games, got their faces painted with patriotic images and helped to make our silver anniversary an incredibly successful and patriotic event.

“And a big thank you to our hard working Chief Cliff VRD and QRU members for not only volunteering as firefighters and EMTs, but also for dedicating the many, many hours it takes to make Dayton Daze happen.”

Note: The Chief Cliff Homemakers Club (originally the Dayton Home Demonstration Club established in 1926) published “Chief Cliff Country” in 1990 to preserve the history of the rural communities in the area. Although the club disbanded in 2002, there are still a few copies of the book available. They can be purchased for $20 from the Chief Cliff Fire Department.