They will be celebrating half a century by rolling into the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade.

This Memorial Day, the Iron City Antique Auto Club will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The family-oriented club began with 11 antique cars that members drove in the 1960 Memorial Day Parade.

They have been meeting on the third Saturday of each month, growing to a membership of 31 families with 15 lifetime members. Two of the original charter families are still involved in the club today.

“We’ve had a lot of fun over the years and have met a lot of people,”

Phyllis Shafer, a charter member said.

In 1971, a piece of land two miles north of Ironton with a small horse barn was purchased to be the club’s permanent home. Thanks to donations and a lot of hard work, the building has been expanded over the years to meet the needs of the club. Here they will celebrate the club’s anniversary with a catered meal.

Some of the member’s vehicles that will be celebrated include: Ford Model T’s and A’s, Chevy’s of the 1920s, ‘30’s and ‘40’s, as well as Mustangs, Corvettes, Impalas, and Studebakers all from the ‘50’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s. One of the oldest cars was a Brush from the early 1900s.

The members are as diverse as their cars. People from factory workers and business owners to CPA’s and college professors have joined.

To become a member, the club requires all vehicles to be at least 25 years old and a sponsorship from a current club member. A vehicle inspection and approval by three committee members is also necessary.

“We’re really proud to have kept all the original guidelines,” said club secretary Dave Bruce. “It’s quite impressive.”

The unofficial goal of the club is to “maintain our vehicles as best we can to showroom condition and to display our cars for the public to also enjoy.”

The club also sponsors car shows throughout the area. Members are most proud of being associated with the Paintsville Apple Festival Show since its inception 43 years ago. The show has been drawing around 200 cars over the past several years and will be held on Oct. 2.

The shows are open to street rods, custom cars, and racecars, as well as restored stock vehicles and other collector cars and trucks.

They are also involved with the annual National City Bank Car Show and the Poage Landing Festival in Ashland, Ky., as well as the fifth annual Blast From the Past Fannin Motors Show. The Poage Landing Festival will be held on Sept 18, and the Fannin Motors show will be held on June 12.

The Iron City Antique Auto Club has no major plans for the future.

“Just to keep the club running the way it has for the past 50 years as a very family oriented club,” Bruce said.

To find out more about the club and see pictures of some of the cars, visit www.ironcityautoclub.org.