The Hermantown Historical Society invites the community to join a harvest celebration reminiscent of simpler times on Saturday, Sept. 8. In the 1920s and '30s, fall festivals were held at the Jackson Club in Hermantown, and terms such as "The Great Depression" and "Baby Boomers" were unknown.
"We have so many new things," said Sandy Reinke, Hermantown Historical Society co-director. "We have a lot of great musicians." Reinke said that since Hermantown has no main street, the Harvest Fest is one of the main times that people who grew up in Hermantown get together. "It's a time to reconnect with friends, relatives and neighbors you had, and reminisce about Hermantown's past." More than 500 posters were put up in locally owned restaurants, from The Range to Bayfield and from Aitkin to Grand Marias. "People from small towns like the small town flavor."
The fourth annual Harvest Fest will begin at 9:30 a.m., and close at 4:00 p.m. It will be held on the grounds of the Community Building at 5255 Maple Grove Road (the former city hall). According to Reinke, a large crowd is anticipated, and plenty of parking spaces are available. (Attendees are urged to look for parking signs on Maple Grove and Ugstad Roads.) Parking for those with disabilities is available on the east side of the building.
Throughout the day, there will be a variety of food vendors, and musicians.
On the west side of the building there will be displays of vintage tractors and crafting tools used during the early years of "life on the farm," hay rides, and artisans demonstrating their skills of spinning sheep wool.
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On the east side of the building, (behind the History Center), the R.W.H. Slowline railroad will offer rides to children. An interactive farmyard for the younger children will be set up in that area as well.
Behind the Community Building, musicians will be on stage all day. "Old time music" will be provided by the Beaconaires from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The local band was popular in the '60s and '70s, and still continues to share its music at a variety of venues.
A new female musical group, Ripple Effect, sings barbershop harmony and will perform for the first time at Harvest Fest. They sing a variety of music -- spirituals, '50s songs, patriotic, religious, show tunes, Irving Berlin selections, love songs, and other "fun" songs. They perform from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Just Friends, the first group of the afternoon, will perform from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The singing group from Esko has been
entertaining senior citizens around the area since 2002 with its gospel and classic rock fare.
Between 2 and 4 p.m., Jim Grussendorf & Company will entertain the crowd with a variety of music, including bluegrass and country selections. Joining the band will be musician Neil Witikko, who retired this summer from teaching at Hermantown High School.
Inside the air-conditioned community building will be more vendors, and Duane Benoit's new O gauge railroad. The new layout of his miniature railroad will be set up in the chamber room. The layout is a cooperative effort between the Proctor Area Historical Society and the Hermantown Historical Society. It depicts the First Adolph Store in addition to other specific structures in Hermantown and Proctor.
Several new display areas have been created in the history center. A 1930s farm kitchen is currently under construction, and on the new 14-foot wall, constructed by a Hermantown Eagle Scout, are farm and 4-H history displays. In the military room, a mural honoring veterans and recognizing the 148th Fighter Wing was recently completed. Several longtime residents of the Hermantown area will be available to answer questions and share information about the history of Hermantown families, the 84 Jackson Project homes the government built in 1937, and the Hermantown Fire Department.
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For information about Hermantown Harvest Fest, call 729-8058 or 624-3040.
