20060525 KDDC Westminster Fire Department Big Money Raffle

Westminster Fire Department Big Money Raffle

Thursday, May 25^th, 2006

Thursday evening was the occasion of the Westminster Fire Department’s Big Money raffle. This is the major fund raising event of the year for the Fire Department.

Attached to this post are some photos that I took. Unfortunately, my camera battery died on me early in the event and these are the only photos that I got.

As usual, it was a sold out event. There are only 3000 chances sold for $10.00 each. In return the ticket holder gets all the fried chicken, hot dogs, potato chips, pretzels, macaroni salad and sauerkraut that they can eat and a chance to win any of nine prizes. First prize is $10,000.00. Second prize is $1250.00. Third prize is $1,000.00. Fourth prize is $500.00. Fifth and sixth prize is $250.00 and seventh, eighth and ninth prize is $100.00.

This year’s $10,000.00 winner is a well-known community leader that is sure to do good things with the money.

I’m not sure how many years we have had this raffle, but the idea is certainly not new. According to an article from the J. Leland Jordan Collection, c. January 1896, provided to me by Jay Graybeal of the Historical Society of Carroll County, 210 East Main Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, a number of years ago:

“In 1840 the citizens petitioned the legislature to pass an act enabling them to hold a lottery to raise $5,000 to purchase a new fire engine, build a new engine-house, town hall and market-house, but nothing came of it.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

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