Even though Saturday, September 6, felt more like late autumn than the tail end-of-summer, an enthusiastic crowd bundled up and gathered on the shores of Ice House Park, in Conneaut Lake.

The reason for all the excitement on the south end of the lake was because Liberty The Second was set to purr like a kitten, or, in this case, roar like a lion, at noon and again at 2 PM.

The weather had been touch and go throughout the day with some rain falling during the first show.” However, prior to the second engine starting ceremony, the skies began to clear and all was well until directly after, when the dark clouds moved in again.

After talking to the assembly about the history of Liberty and imparting details of the engine, Gary Worthington and Dave Lynch received a lively round of applause as they brought her to life.

Lynch is an invaluable member of the Conneaut Lake Area Historical Society, the hosts of the event, and Worthington restored the engine originally. Not only did Worthington repair the engine in the mid eighties, he has also acted as her chief caretaker ever since, bringing is years of service to a quarter of a century.

The boat rested on the bottom of the lake for 63 years after it took a plunge on Labor Day weekend in 1922 during a trial run for a race.

Houghton and Brian Simpson retrieved her from the depths in 1985 to much fanfare and media coverage. Both were in attendance on Saturday.

“McMillin and Life” entertained with live music and provided a delightful distraction from oft uncooperative Mother Nature. One song in particular, “The Ballad of the Liberty,” held the attention of event goers as the lyrics imparted the history of the famous boat.

The Historical Society sold memorabilia, hot dogs, beverages and copies of a new Liberty The Second book.

The Liberty Engine is a very unique piece of history because it's one of 15 prototypes designed for WWI airplanes.

Only three engines exist today, with the one pictured on page 1 being special because it still runs, unlike the other two.

Another is housed at the Smithsonian, in Washington, D.C., and the final Liberty Engine is located at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

In terms of the Labor Day weekend 2010 shindig, the Conneaut Lake Area Historical Society website states, “”The celebration is planned to recognize the importance of the Liberty the Second, not only as an historic boat, but also as a reminder of the community support which raised $80,000 to restore the boat 25 years ago.”