Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2017 10:24:02 -0400 (EDT) From: "onthelake2@tds.net" <onthelake2@tds.net> Message-ID: <1505714420.174507088.1496759042086.JavaMail.zimbra@tds.net> Subject: NEWS RELEASE: 33rd Annual Strawberry Fest at Iola Historical Society June 25 2017
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Greg Loescher, onthelake@tds.net or 715-445-2
456; or Cliff Mishler, mish@EclecticPursuitsIola.com or 715-445-5050 Iola H
istorical Society to host 33rd annual Strawberry Festalong with Antiques Ap
praisal Fair and crafters on June 25IOLA, WI: Strawberries and local histor
y are on the schedule for the Iola Historical Society’s 33rdAnnual
Strawberry Fest, to be held Sunday, June 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. a
t the Society’s Historical Village complex on Depot Street just wes
t of downtown Iola. Local crafters will also show off their handiwork, and
an Antiques Appraisal Fair provides experts on a wide range of collectibles
on hand to ascertain the value of people’s attic and basement trea
sures.Admission to the event is free, although goodwill donations are being
accepted. Food items include strawberry shortcake – homemade!
with ice cream or Cool Whip, for $4; pulled pork sandwiches, $3.00;
and hot dogs, $2.50. Assorted sodas and bottled water will also be availabl
e for purchase from Iola’s Boy Scout Troop 631. The food offerings
will be available in the historical society’s Machine Shed at 222 D
epot Street. All proceeds from the event go to benefit restorations of the
historic Iola & Northern Railroad Depot, a vintage caboose, and other Iola
Historical Society projects. Historic building toursThe Historic Iola Villa
ge buildings will be open for visitors, including the original vintage Iola
And Northern Railway depot, which is undergoing restoration to its origina
l design. The other buildings include a replica of a local one-room schoolh
ouse; a 1930s log cabin used in the area by hunters; a replica of Iola
s original fire station containing Iola’s vintage first three
firefighting vehicles; the original Helvetia Town Hall; The Machine Shed,
filled with vintage farm and manufacturing equipment along with the recentl
y acquired Anderson Machine Shop equipment; a vintage caboose (currently cl
osed for renovation); and the historical society’s newly remodeled
and expanded museum. The museum, which recently unveiled new display cases
for its exhibits, and other buildings feature recently acquired collections
: Ray Towne Collection of Native American artifacts from the first Native A
mericans to live in Wisconsin, dating back more than 10,000 years ago. Tow
ne, his father and his grandfather collected the artifacts in Waupaca, Waus
hara, and Portage counties. The Bert Stromberg violin collection. Stromber
g was a former constable of Iola who made and sold violins in the area in t
he mid-20th century. The collection includes violins in various stages of p
roduction plus Stromberg’s original violin-making tools. The Lee Ne
lson exhibit. A decorated World War II veteran from Iola who flew 31 bombin
g missions in a B-17 “Flying Fortress” over Germany and Ger
man-occupied France. Nelson was also an accomplished woodcarver and his car
vings are also in display. R.I. Anderson machine shop: Features the origina
l equipment used by Anderson, who built, among other things, brass fittings
for Iola’s 1942 fire engine (also on display at the replica fireho
use). The equipment is located in a replica building inside the society
s Machine Shed, and is still in working condition. Originally locate
d on State Street, the machine shop’s machinery was moved by R.I.
’s descendants, first to southern Wisconsin, then to Minnesota befo
re finding its way back to Iola -- just a ½ mile from its original loc
ation. Other items of local historical significance are also on display i
n the museum and in all of the buildings. Docents will be at each building
to talk about their historic significance and answer any questions.Antique
Appraisal FairArea residents can bring items from their attics and basement
s for evaluation and pricing information to a wide-ranging group of experts
at the Antiques Appraisal Fair. Cost is $3 per item or $5 for three items,
with all proceeds benefitting the Iola Historical Society.Antiques and col
lectibles appraisers include experts on general antiques, books, comics and
popular-culture collectibles, sports collectibles, militaria and medals, t
oys, coins, and paper money. Find out if you have something valuable stash
ed away in your home!Crafters showing their skillsA craft show will also be
held on the grounds. Crafters are featuring jewelry, doll clothes, baske
ts, jams and jellies, woodworking, hand-painted items, honey, stained glass
, embroidered items, wood signs, tie-dyed items, pet products, and lots mor
e. Attendees are also encouraged to walk on the nearby Iola River Walk alo
ng the Little Wolf River and see the historic Iola Mills, built in 1860. Th
e Iola Historical Society’s village is open on Saturdays from noon
to 3:00 p.m. in June, July and August. The Society’s next special e
vent is Taste of Norway & Lost Arts Fair which will be held on Saturday, Oc
t. 7, 2017.For more information, go to the Society’s website at www
.iolahistoricalsociety.org or visit the Iola-Scandinavia Chamber’s
website at www.ischamber.org.###