(Quimby) -- 323 full time residents and 5,000 pounds of watermelon... Quimby is

celebrating 125 years this weekend.  The town's standard two-day Watermelon Days

event is being expanded to 3 days, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Shirley Perret has been a Quimby resident since 1961. She tells us why she loves

living in Quimby.

Listen here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Perret has been heavily involved in the planning of this 125th anniversary

celebration, including the re-writing of the new edition of the Quimby history

book.  She references the book and says the town was originally called Deleon.

Listen here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The little town of Deleon was disassembled and many of the buildings were moved

and re-established in Quimby in Washta.  In 1887 the name Quimby, named after

railroad superintendent F.W. Quimby, was officially adopted.

Extra events are planned to celebrate the 125th, compared to the standard

Watermelon Days.  New this year is: the craft show in the park from 10-5 Friday

and Saturday with over 20 vendors, the magic show at 2 on Friday, Saturday's

antique tractor show from 10-1 and then car show from 1-5.  Then Sunday features

the gospel quartet "Triumphant Sound."

570 people are expected to descend on the small town, and that's just those

attending the all school class reunion on Saturday night!

1938 will be the earliest class represented at the reunion and the farthest

distance travelled by an alum is from Hawaii.

Shirley Perret says tradition with hold true to Watermelon Days with the 5,000

pounds of that juicy fruit will be served at 8pm Saturday.

Listen here

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Happy 125th, Quimby!