Sideburns contest celebrates 1813 battle hero

August 4, 2013 (ERIE, Penn.) -- A sideburns contest honoring a U.S. Navy commodore known for his impressive facial hair is marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie.

The Erie-Times News reports that the winner of the Perry Burns contest will be named this week. Judges will decide who sports the sideburns most like those of Oliver Hazard Perry, who defeated British forces in September 1813. He is considered a War of 1812 hero.

Historical portraits suggest that Perry wore long mutton-chop sideburns that extended toward his lips.

Erie residents say the town had a beard-growing contest marking the battle's 150th anniversary in 1963.

Participant Kevin Kantz says he's been growing out his sideburns since July. He says he was inspired by the 1963 contest, which he attended at age 11.

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