By Chris Barber
Contributing Writer

If people in Heaven look down proudly on their legacies, then Lawrence Waltman was doing it on Sunday.

Waltman, who died at age 100 in 2018, owned and operated Sunset Park in Jennersville. This is the location where many country and western musicians came and got their start in the music business in the 20th century.

People routinely stopped by for lunch to socialize, enjoy the music and meet future musicians of note. Longtime residents remember it with sentimentality.

On Sunday, the Penn Township Board of Supervisors invited the public to follow the Waltman tradition and stop by Sunset Park for food, a car show, fire trucks, children’s rides and musical entertainment.

This time they had a special addition: Cutting the ribbon on a new outdoor theater.

This structure is wood with a pointed roof. It is equipped with electricity and space in the rear for preparations.

True to its past, the theater hosted country music for its Sunday afternoon party. On hand as well was an entertainer who was equipped to produce gigantic, airborne bubbles. He had an enthusiastic young audience.

The field was also filled with vintage cars, and visitors were invited to cast their votes for their favorites.

Nearby were stands for food and beer and, above, the sky was clear.

The original Sunset Park of old could brag on inviting country singers who later became famous. The Waltmans brought icons like Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, and the Stanley Brothers, among others, to the area. Waltman was proud of this heritage.

Waltman also contributed to his community in a big way, serving on the school board and as a township supervisor.