‘Candy Man’ to lead Harrisville Community Days 4th of July parade
Bob Barnes is being honored as grand marshal of the Harrisville Community Days’ parade Saturday in recognition of his volunteer work for one of the event’s main attractions.
Barnes, who turns 88 next month, earned the nickname “Candy Man” for selling chocolate bars to raise money for the fireworks display that is one of the highlights of the Community Days celebration.
For about 15 years, Barnes sold chocolate bars outside of the First National Bank in Harrisville. The branch closed in 2018, and Barnes decided to stop selling chocolate a few years ago, but his efforts earned him an invitation to serve as grand marshal of Saturday’s parade.
“Over the years I sold over 160,000 candy bars. It was a lot of fun,” Barnes said.
As word of his chocolate sales spread, truck drivers would stop near the bank, blow their horns and indicate the number of bars they wanted by the number of fingers they would hold out of their windows, he said.
“People who didn’t bank there would pull up and buy candy bars,” Barnes said.
He said he bought the chocolate bars for 50 cents each and sold them for $1. Most of candy came from Daffin’s Candies in Sharon. He said he learned Daffin’s sold candy for fundraisers while he was working as a milk delivery driver for Dean Dairy Products in Sharpsville. He retired 26 years ago.
When he was approaching his 100,000th chocolate bar, he said he asked Daffin’s for a one-pound bar to mark the occasion, and the company consented. He sold that bar too for $1.
Barnes also used to give chocolate bars to children when he worked in the borough’s summer food program.
“I lived here 84 years. It’s a positive town to raise a family in. I just enjoy doing things in the community,” Barnes said. “Harrisville is just a nice little community. There always seems to be somebody willing to step up and make things better.”
In the parade, Barnes said he will ride with his grandson and they will throw candy to spectators along the route.
He said he has been volunteering to assist with community Days for over 50 years, but was surprised when he was asked to serve as parade grand marshal.
“They must have gotten desperate,” Barnes quipped. “We’re supposed to support our community. I look forward to many more good years.”
David Evans, a borough councilman who chairs the Community Days committee, has high praise for Barnes.
“He raised over $10,000 a year by selling candy bars in front of the bank after he retired,” Evans said. He said Barnes’ sweet and noble endeavor earned him the nickname “Candy Man.”
The fireworks display is set for Friday night following a day full of activities, and the parade is Saturday. This year marks at least the 70th annual Community Days event, which carries extra magnitude this year because of the nationwide America 250 commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
“The biggest thing is celebrating our 250th year and celebrating families that have made this country what it is,” Evans said.
Harrisville Municipal Park will open at noon both days. Friday features a car show, starting at noon. The rest of the day features an antique tractor display, bands, a military encampment, and activities for children including bounce houses and face painting. Over 40 craft and food vendors will be set up in the park.
The antique tractor display will include some of the Stuchal family’s collection that includes Minneapolis-Moline tractors. Some of the Stuchal’s tractors will be in the park, and the rest will be on display at their nearby farm. A sign at the park will direct tractor aficionados to the farm.
The car show will feature hot rods, pickup trucks, semitrucks, old fire trucks and military vehicles dating from the 1940s to today.
Over $20,000 in fireworks will light up the sky over the park, Evans said.
Saturday’s parade on Main Street begins at 11 a.m. Tractors, fire trucks and community organizations will march in the parade. After the parade, bands and other entertainment will be on stage, and other smaller events will take place throughout the park.
The event ends at 4 p.m. Saturday to give residents the opportunity to attend other July 4 and America250 events or spend time with their families, Evans said.
