CENTERVILLE — It is hard to believe that it is October already. The colors of the leaves is always pretty at this time of year. The only bad part is that, as the days and nights get colder, winter is just around the corner.

The recipe for this week is one that is really delicious. We had this at one of my cousin’s home not too long ago one evening, while we were playing cards.

 

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Cake:

3 c. flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 c. milk

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. butter, melted

 

Topping:

1 c. butter, softened

1 c. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. flour

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

 

Glaze:

2 c. powdered sugar

5 Tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

 

Directions

In a large bowl, mix everything together for the cake batter, except for the butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9” × 13” pan.  

For the topping, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 degrees, for approximately 30 minutes.  

Mix all of the ingredients for the glaze together in a saucepan over medium heat until well blended together. Then, while the mixture is still warm, drizzle the glaze over the baked cake and serve.

Wasn’t it a beautiful day last Saturday, for Pancake Day? There were really long lines forming at the Pancake Tent, even before it opened and they continued through the day, until the parade began.  

The parade was really nice, with a lot of people participating in it. There was a lot to see. I think the parade each year is really unique how it goes by two times. Once on the inside of the square and once on the outside of the town square. It is like watching two parades in one. I have never heard of that occurring anywhere else. It is quite unique.

The Exline Betterment Committee had a nice float in the parade this year.  A lot of local people helped to get it ready and then participated in the parade, walking along giving out candy, as they passed by the crowd.  

Denise and I had a busy weekend too. As members of the Centerville Eastern Star, we helped, along with Rick and Vicki Butler of Exline, get things set up at the Masonic Lodge in Centerville, on Friday evening.

Then, by 8 a.m. on Saturday, there was a nice group of us up at the lodge, preparing the noon dinner and supper in the evening, for all of the law enforcement officers that were on duty as well as the ambulance personnel that were there that day too.

We took time out after the first meal, to watch the parade go by from high atop the third floor, fire escape, on the side of the lodge that is up over the Ben Franklin Store, on the west side of the square. After that, we got things ready and served everyone supper, early in the evening.  

Since Morgan Cline and his friends were back for Pancake Day from out east, he hosted some nice events over the weekend.   On Friday evening, Denise and I were invited as guests of Morgan Cline, along with quite a few others from Exline and Centerville to attend the first Hollywood movie to be shown at the Majestic Theatre in Centerville, since the theater has been fully restored.

The movie that premiered in 2001, was called appropriately enough, “The Majestic,” starring Jim Carrey, Martin Landau, James Whitmore, Hal Holbrook and David Ogden Stiers among many others.

It was a good, old fashion type of movie, set in the early 1950s. Part of the movie was about restoring an old movie theater in a small country town, called the Majestic.    It began about 8 p.m. and lasted until almost 11 p.m.  

The Majestic Theater in Centerville is located on 13th Street, along what they used to call “Pill Row” because years ago, there were so many doctor’s offices on that street.

The theater building itself, was built back in 1913. In the early days with its original stage in the theater, it used to host vaudeville acts that would perform there. It also began to show movies in the theater auditorium.  

I have been told that years ago local meetings of various types were once held on the second floor of the building, as well as having a large ballroom for special events, on the third floor.   The building continued to serve as a movie theatre for many years, showing all of the popular movies of the day.

As times and technology changed, the Majestic Theater eventually went out of business. The building began to deteriorate and was in need of repair.   So, Morgan Cline, who grew up in Exline, and became very successful in business, wanted to save yet, another historic structure in his home county, that he grew up in.

Through his sources, he had the old theater purchased in July of 2010, with the intent of having it fully restored and returned to the community as a usable facility.        After undergoing almost two years of renovation and restoration, a grand opening was held at the refurbished Majestic Theater on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12, of this year. Admission was free, to see the newly restored facility that was open to the public for the first time, after it had undergone its resurgence.

The main floor auditorium theater is restored and is capable of showing movies, as we viewed one there on Friday evening, of Pancake Day weekend. The second floor has a lounge that is open to the public on Friday and Saturday evenings, where guests can enjoy refreshments, music and socialize.

The third floor houses the Grand Majestic Ballroom that will be available to rent for special events, and will accommodate 200 guests.

When we went there on Friday evening, the movie Marquee was fully restored with neon lights lit up, spelling out “Majestic” and “Welcome Morgan and his Guests.”

Over that weekend, there were other events that we were invited to, that Morgan hosted but we could not attend any of the others. Although it was really great to get invited to see the first movie to be shown in the restored theater and to see and briefly talk to Morgan that evening.  

Sunday morning of last weekend, Morgan and his friends from out east, came down to the Exline Old Country Store for breakfast. The store manager, Penny and her crew, were on hand to serve them a nice meal. The Exline Hose Company No. 1 Museum was also open that morning for them to tour.

On Wednesday of this week, the October birthdays were held at the Exline Old Country Store.   There was a nice turn out, to help those that are celebrating this month.   They include, Austin Heubner on the 13th, John Heubner on the 15th, Heather Heubner on 17th, along with Marge Conger on the 21st and Aaron Hurley on the 24th.

Those couples celebrating their wedding anniversaries are, John and Joy Golden, who will have their 65th anniversary on the fourth, along with, Wayne and Rosalee Exline, who have been married for 63 years, on the ninth, of this month. Also Doug and Michelle Carlston will have their 19th  anniversary on the 10th of this month.

On a recent Saturday, Murl and Marge Hatfield attended their son David’s wedding, where he married Hannah Zhang, at Mountain Lake Gazebo, in the state of Virginia. They also had a family reunion at this event. Their daughter Barbara and her husband Lyle from Seattle, Wash., were there, as was their son, Richard Hatfield, from Foster City, Calif.

Donald is a teacher at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Vir. His new bride, Hannah, is a chemical engineer for the DuPont Company.

Another new project that is being under taken here in town, are new flag poles. These flag poles and their flags, will honor veterans from Exline that have served in the military over the years.

One flag will be placed in the Exline Town Cemetery, and the other will put in Hero’s Park where the church bell and pedestal were recently completed. When the installation is concluded, they will both have an electric light shining on each flag during the night, according to flag protocol.

If anyone is interested in helping to assist in these projects or would like to make a monetary donation, you may contact Mary Ann Hurley at (641) 658-2691.  

This Sunday, there is going to be a homemade soup, lunch fundraiser at the Exline Community Center on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. for Dennis Helleuer.   This fundraiser is to help with medical expenses.  

They are also going to have classic cars on display that afternoon, weather permitting. If you have a nice old car and would like to show it off, come on down. If anyone would like further information, they may contact Mary Oden at (660) 216-2926.

They are still looking for bands to participate in the Bluegrass Festival they are hosting here on Saturday, Oct. 20, at the pavilion in Hero’s Park.    If you would like to come down and perform, contact the country store manager, Penny at (641) 658-2399.

The event is being hosted by the Exline Old Country Store in honor of their ninth, anniversary.   The store officially opened on Halloween Day, to great fanfare on Oct. 31, 2003. So, plan to join in on the celebration. The music will begin at noon on that day.