A gingerbread house float that is entered every year by the Oakland Township Historical Society in Orion’s Lighted Christmas parade has won three first place honors for ‘Theme Depiction.? Last year, the float also won the ‘Peoples? Choice Award.?
The float starts out as an old Korean War 1/4 ton Army Jeep with a grapevine-fashioned Mercedes Benz symbol on the front bumper.The vehicle is owned by Tom and Mary Asmus
This truck is a workhorse for all the Oakland Township Historical Society projects from carrying artifacts, toting materials for the historic barn raising this year, hauling scrap wood out of the historic district park and much more.
Tom drives it everywhere it is needed for work projects around the township. — park stewardship work and at the township’s Clean Scene every spring.
In December, society members take the same old truck and decorate it with lights as a gingerbread house and enter it in the local and Rochester holiday parades.
Last year, the gingerbread house had a chimney with Santa’s boots stuck out the top…they moved. No one recognizes the old workhorse truck under all that glitz.
Tom is a 30 year retired veteran of DaimlerChrysler, an engineer who has won the Walter Chrysler award as well. He and Mary (interior designer) build the float and work tirelessly on society and township projects as volunteers.
Orion Christmas parade this year is being sponsored in part by DaimlerChrysler Foundation. For information on this year’s Orion parade see page 4.