Midvale Old Fashioned Christmas added new activities

There were a few new additions to the Midvale Old Fashioned Christmas event in Midvale this year, and one proved to be popular — a super late model race car, which is driven by 17-year-old Andrew Smart.

Smart’s parents Randy and Kim Smart purchased the Midvale Speedway last year, and the family wanted to participate in the Christmas event.

There is no photographic evidence, but word has it that even Santa likes race cars.

“Santa was pretty excited about it, and we even had kids sit in the car,” Kim Smart said.

The family held a drawing at the event to give away passes to the speedway for the next season, which usually starts mid-April.

Andrew Smart has been racing the car for two years. Prior to that, he and his brother raced go-karts. Teens can start racing cars at the age of 13.

Andrew Smart’s car has much safety equipment, similar to what is used by NASCAR drivers. There are about 15 total cars on the speedway in a race.

“More people should get into it,” Andrew Smart said. “It’s a fun thing that is good for the whole family.”

Midvale’s Old Fashioned Christmas event was a collaborative effort of the Village of Midvale and the Midvale Methodist Church.

Creativity was on display at the event. Dave Meese, a church member, transformed the back of his pickup truck into a snowball throwing game. Children could test their skills by throwing snowballs at various targets.

“My son Greg helped me frame it up, and then we had to crawl in the back of the bed to get it all put together,” Meese said. “The kids are enjoying it.”

Guest speaker for the tree lighting was Missy Graham Metcalf of New Philadelphia. Her parents Delbert and JoAnn Graham met at the former Midvale High School. They bought a home there and raised Missy and her two brothers Jeff and Brian in the community.

Metcalf has many fond memories. The family had a pony named Jake before state Route 250 went through their backyard in October 1964. She recalls her parents used the money they received from the purchase of their property to buy the family a new station wagon.

“My brothers and I all graduated from Indian Valley North. At the time we went K-5 at Midvale, sixth to eighth at Tusky and then ninth to 12th at Midvale,” Metcalf said. “One of my young memories was going to high school band practice with Georgianne Wilson. She was the head majorette. Jean Mathias was the band director. I would have been 8 or 9 years old and went every day with my batons. I twirled with the majorettes and learned every routine.”

Metcalf graduated in 1982. In high school she was a cheerleader, a member of the band and a volleyball player.

She remembers other notable people in the village including Rev. William Hewitt, who served as minister of the Methodist Church for many years.

“I spent many Saturdays playing Putt-Putt golf with him and other children from the church,” Metcalf said. “He was an extremely special individual and a wonderful part of the community.”

Dr. Vincent Nipple had his home and office in the same place on the corner of Broadway and South Street in the village.

“He made house calls to anyone who needed him. He came to my grandparents on a weekly basis. I was young and assumed it was normal that the doctor sat down and had dinner with your grandparents,” Metcalf said.

Public service was important to the family.

“The fire department had a cadet program. My brother Brian joined at age 16. That led to a lifetime career and 35 years as a New Philadelphia fireman,” Metcalf said.

Their father Delbert Graham also served as the mayor of Midvale for 26 years.

“He wanted the town to be a safe place to raise your children and hoped that young families would stay and the town would grow,” Metcalf said.

Delbert Graham also was a lifetime member of the Midvale Lions Club.

Organizers were pleased with this year’s event, which moved all the activities to State Street in front of the church. Previously, visitors had to cross an alley that was open to traffic to access some of the activities.

“We have a few more vendors this year, and the speedway is involved,” said Randy Cadle, a member of the event committee.

He said the event went well and people seemed happy. They plan to hold another Midvale Old Fashioned Christmas event next year.