A Day Where Lula’s Past and Future Met

By: Nora Almazan

There are some days you don’t just attend—you feel them. Saturday in Lula was one of those days.

It began with a soft rain, the kind that might have sent people home on any other occasion -but not this time. It was Lula’s 150th birthday and the 50th anniversary of Railroad Days. People came despite potential rain —umbrellas in hand, smiles on their faces, stories in their hearts.

I stood there among them, feeling something bigger than a celebration - the beautiful new stage at The Depot, more than 250 people gathered, waiting—not just for music—but for a moment. As WCON 99.3’s Tim Cicarelli stepped forward to introduce John Berry, something remarkable happened. The rain magically stopped, the clouds parted and the sun broke through.

It felt almost like Lula itself was taking a breath… and smiling.

Berry’s voice carried across the depot, wrapping itself around old brick, train tracks, and memories that have lived here for generations. He sang the songs so many knew by heart—“Your Love Amazes Me” and “She’s Taken a Shine.” But when he began “How Great Thou Art,” something shifted. People stood, not because they were asked to—but because they had to. They felt it, deep within, that this moment was something more.

It wasn’t just a performance anymore. It was a shared moment—one that connected past to present. You could see it in the faces around you. Older generations remembering… younger ones experiencing it for the first time. It was as if the echoes of Lula’s history were walking quietly among us.

Even those who couldn’t find a seat found a place—gathering along the old bridge above the tracks, leaning in just to hear every note. No one wanted to miss it, and when the music ended, the moment didn’t.

John Berry stayed. He shook hands, signed autographs, took pictures. There was no rush—just time. Time to connect. Time to appreciate. Time to honor what had just happened. Because this day didn’t come together by accident.

Interim City Manager Jerry Neace and his team poured themselves into every detail, and you could feel it everywhere—in the flow of the day, in the warmth of the crowd, in the way everything seemed to just… work. It wasn’t just organized—it was cared for. That’s what made it special.

Photo: John and Robin Berry

There’s already talk about bringing Railroad Days back as a multi-day celebration again. More music. More memories. More moments like this one. And I hope they do.

If Saturday proved anything, it’s this: Lula isn’t just remembering its history—it’s building its future. Standing there in the sunshine after the rain, it felt like we were all part of both.