October 9, 2017 at 3:40 p.m.
Rhinelander Roots Celebration offers a glimpse of the past
Rhinelander Roots Celebration offers a glimpse of the past
By Kayla Thomason-
The event was sponsored by Rhinelander Masonic Lodge #242 F & AM and the city's historic preservation committee.
There were 13 booths set up representing the Rhinelander Historical Society, Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts, Oneida County Federation of Women, Rotary, the Rhinelander Woman's Club, Master Gardeners of the North, the Rhinelander Newcomers Group, Daughters of the American Revolution, Disabled American Veterans, the Lions Club, the Rhinelander Area Retired Teachers Association and Pioneer Park Complex.
Musical entertainment was provided by The Dixie Six and the Rhinelander Community Band.
Tony Jones, senior warden of Lodge 242, pronounced the event a success.
"I'd love to do it again next year," he said, adding that it's important for the public to known about the history of the clubs that shaped the city.
"It's what made this community a community, these groups built what it is," he said. "You've got businesses that come and go, you've got elected officials that come and go but these groups stay."
Jones said he feels now is a perfect time to join a club in Rhinelander.
"It feels like a good time to be a part of - not necessarily this group - but a group that cares this much not only about this building and about this fraternity, but about this city and that's what we want people to see, because it's time," he said.
Cindy Goll, second vice president of the Rhinelander Woman's Club, was stationed a booth that included a display from the Woman's Club archive at the Rhinelander District Library. The Rhinelander club was founded in 1898.
The items on her table included membership booklets, pamphlets detailing the club's social gatherings and a study piece with articles club members discussed.
It also included information about the long history between the club and the library.
"I did not know that there were so many other clubs in this area or in the county that were also affiliated with the state's Womans' Club," she said.
Goll thinks the Roots Celebration is important because it illustrates the impact of the area clubs.
"I think it's important to see how hard people have been working all these years, for over a century, to keep the community going, to make the community strong, to have camaraderie in the community," she said.
Theresa Lassig was a member of Job's Daughters when she was a child.
"It's the daughters of the masons," she explained. "They used to do fundraising events and do community work and things like that."
She noted she spent time in the Masonic Temple as a young child and was impressed with the recent remodeling.
"It's amazing, it turned out awesome without a doubt," she said.
Lassig liked seeing the clubs together.
"I think it's great that they can all come together under one roof," she said, adding that she was surprised to see how many groups there were with such longevity.
Jessie Skora, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Nokomis chapter, established in 1972, found the event fascinating.
"I think it's very interesting, it's historical, the scrapbooks are wonderful," she said.
Skora thought it was important for members of the public to learn about organizations with which they may not be familiar.
"They may not know what we have to offer and this is a venue for them to attend," she said. "If they would they could see what we do."
Karen Marquardt found the event interesting.
"I think it's great to see some of the history of Rhinelander because we forget, I know the building they did so much work and it looks great, but we forget about all the activities and the people that have donated so much time to the different organizations," she said.
Marquardt noted that she was a Girl Scout and happened to find a photograph of her sister in the organization's photo album.
"It's fun to see it, it brings back memories of making the little vest for the Girl Scouts," dhr said.
Jones loves being a Mason and encourages others to join social and civic groups.
"I love it, I love being a part of this organization," he said.
To learn more about the Masons, contact them via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Rhinelander-Masonic-Lodge-242-163754506983499.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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