Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2017 10:47:22 -0400 (EDT) From: "onthelake2@tds.net" <onthelake2@tds.net> Message-ID: <749378590.182309957.1497278842394.JavaMail.zimbra@tds.net> Subject: PRESS RELEASE: Iola Historical Society's 33rd Annual Strawberry Fest June 25, 2017
Note to editors: For some reason, I cannot attach a Word document to this e
mail. Must be a Monday.... I can do so via Facebook if you need me to. Othe
rwise, copy/paste. - Greg
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. Antique Appraisal FairArea residents can bring
items from their attics and basements for evaluation and pricing informati
on 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 Iol
a Historical Society.Antiques and collectibles appraisers include experts o
n general antiques, books, comics and popular-culture collectibles, sports
collectibles, militaria and medals, toys, coins, and paper money. Find out
if you have something valuable stashed away in your home!Crafters showing
their skillsA craft show will also be held on the grounds. Crafters are fe
aturing jewelry, doll clothes, baskets, jams and jellies, woodworking, han
d-painted items, honey, stained glass, embroidered items, wood signs, tie-d
yed items, pet products, and lots more. Historic building toursThe Histori
c Iola Village buildings will be open for visitors, including the original
vintage Iola And Northern Railway depot, which is undergoing restoration to
its original design. The other buildings include a replica of a local one-
room schoolhouse; a 1930s log cabin used in the area by hunters; a replica
of Iola’s original fire station containing Iola’s vintage f
irst three firefighting vehicles; the original Helvetia Town Hall; The Mach
ine Shed, filled with vintage farm and manufacturing equipment along with t
he recently acquired Anderson Machine Shop equipment; a vintage caboose (cu
rrently closed for renovation); and the historical society’s newly
remodeled and expanded museum. The museum, which recently unveiled new disp
lay cases for its exhibits, and other buildings feature recently acquired c
ollections: Ray Towne Collection of Native American artifacts from the firs
t Native Americans to live in Wisconsin, dating back more than 10,000 years
ago. Towne, his father and his grandfather collected the artifacts in Wau
paca, Waushara, and Portage counties. The Bert Stromberg violin collection
. Stromberg was a former constable of Iola who made and sold violins in the
area in the mid-20th century. The collection includes violins in various s
tages of production plus Stromberg’s original violin-making tools.
The Lee Nelson exhibit. A decorated World War II veteran from Iola who flew
31 bombing missions in a B-17 “Flying Fortress” over Germa
ny and German-occupied France. Nelson was also an accomplished woodcarver a
nd his carvings are also in display. R.I. Anderson machine shop: Features t
he original equipment used by Anderson, who built, among other things, bras
s fittings for Iola’s 1942 fire engine (also on display at the repl
ica firehouse). The equipment is located in a replica building inside the s
ociety’s Machine Shed, and is still in working condition. Original
ly located on State Street, the machine shop’s machinery was moved
by R.I.’s descendants, first to southern Wisconsin, then to Minneso
ta before finding its way back to Iola -- just a ½ mile from its origi
nal location. Other items of local historical significance are also on di
splay in the museum and in all of the buildings. Docents will be at each bu
ilding to talk about their historic significance and answer any questions.A
ttendees are also encouraged to walk on the nearby Iola River Walk along th
e Little Wolf River and see the historic Iola Mills, built in 1860. The Iol
a 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 event
is Taste of Norway & Lost Arts Fair which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7,
2017.For more information, go to the Society’s website at www.iola
historicalsociety.org or visit the Iola-Scandinavia Chamber’s websi
te at www.ischamber.org.###