It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, for members of the Suring community, it could be said that it’s the most important meal of the last 100 years.
On Jan. 20, 1915, Suring was officially declared a village, thanks to the help of a booming logging industry and the determined lumberjacks who began each day with a hearty breakfast necessary for their rigorous work.
This year, the village of Suring is celebrating its centennial and the spirit of the community’s founders, and what better way to start the yearlong celebration than with a Lumberjack Breakfast.
“We just want to celebrate the 100 years of Suring,” said Helen Heimerl, secretary of the Suring Area Historical Society, which sponsored the breakfast. “We thought the breakfast would be a good way to kick off the festivities for the year.”
The Lumberjack Breakfast on Sunday at the Red Maple Golf Course in Suring featured a robust menu of eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, corn bread, hash browns, coffee, homemade applesauce, and an assortment of other foods and desserts.
Duane Wardecke, the historian of the Suring Area Historical Society, said the society wanted to make sure everyone had an opportunity to celebrate the village’s big year.
“The Suring centennial kind of stayed unnoticed leading up to it, and the Suring Area Historical Society took it upon themselves to make it noticed, and we are getting a good response,” Wardecke said.
According to event volunteer Mary Lou Genal, of Suring, around 355 tickets were sold for the breakfast, which also featured lumberjack memorabilia, trivia games, bucket raffles, a meat wheel, a centennial quilt and community pins, sweaters and calendars.
Genal, who moved to Suring about 30 years ago, said the breakfast was a great way to depict the loggers’ meals and gave residents a chance to support their community.
“I love it here,” Genal said. “I love the people, the quiet, the solitude. It’s just a great place, and we wanted to represent that.”
Also available to guests was a new book written by Rhoda Bartz Ebersole, a former resident of Suring who flew from her home in Las Vegas for a book signing. The book, “Seasons in Time: Suring, Wisconsin Centennial, 1915-2015,” highlights the history of Suring’s families, churches, businesses and culture.
“I wanted everyone to know the history of how Suring came to be,” Ebersole said. “It’s over 100 years ago, and most of us were not alive back then.”
The book is available through the Suring Village Hall, the Suring Area Historical Society and by mail from Ebersole. When she makes her investment back from the book, Ebersole said the proceeds will go to the historical society.
“I just thought it was a good idea to do a book for our Suring centennial,” Ebersole said. “I was so excited for this celebration.”
Heimerl said proceeds from the breakfast will go toward the Suring Area Historical Society centennial projects, which include plans for a museum in the former Groninger Opera House.
“The historical society purchased the building back in the fall, and we are hoping to restore it because it has a lot of history,” Heimerl said. “There is even a gym upstairs where Suring would play basketball and hold graduations. We are looking forward to having the museum there.”
The Lumberjack Breakfast was the first of many events planned for 2015. Next on the schedule is an old-fashioned Bingo party Feb. 15 at the Red Maple Golf Course.
Wardecke said these celebrations will mean a lot for the community throughout the year.
“There is just so much that Suring can offer,” Wardecke said. “The people are great, and it is a very nice community with a lot of history.”
Mae Adams, who has lived in Suring for 85 years and is a member of the historical society, said the activities at the breakfast helped to advertise the community and what the village represents.
“I think it’s just a great way to get together and show our support for Suring,” Adams said.
“Everybody is personable, and you know everyone in town,” Heimerl said. “You just have a comfortable feeling here, and it’s a wonderful place to live.”
Categories
