There are few alive today, perhaps none, who attended the first Putnam County Homecoming in the summer of 1929. One individual who was in attendance on that occasion was John Lyle Burnside. Mr. Burnside, now deceased, shared his memories of the event with the Breeze just prior to the 2001 Putnam Homecoming.

As an eight-year-old, Burnside was, not only a witness to the happenings of that day, but, a close up spectator to the preparations…