Knox Creek Heritage Center holds annual St. Urho, St. Patrick’s Day celebration
By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
BRANTWOOD – The Knox Creek Heritage Center recently held its annual St. Urho and St. Patrick’s Day Celebration.
The celebration was held at the Brantwood Community Center, located at County Rd. D and Stadium Rd. in Brantwood, on Saturday, March 18.
The Knox Creek Heritage Center, N4517 W. Knox Rd., Brantwood, was founded in 1995 and is “dedicated to preserving the heritage of the pioneers that settled these great Northwoods,” said Kevin Wollemann, Heritage Center President.
The Heritage Center site features nine buildings and artifacts representing several ethnic groups in southeastern Price County. Antique logging, farming and blacksmith equipment, school and church memorabilia, photos, documents and more pieces of history dating back as far as the late 1800s are displayed at the Heritage Center.
Wollemann said this past weekend’s St. Urho and St. Patrick’s Day Celebration – one of the Heritage Center’s four annual fundraising events – saw a good turnout despite cold and windy weather.
“Folks came from as far away as Hazelhurst and Merrill,” Wollemann noted.
Those in attendance enjoyed a buffet of eight soups, homemade Finnish bread, mint ice cream and cookies.
Wollemann said the event started with the Heritage Center’s annual meeting, during which two current board members were unanimously reelected. Four new members were also welcomed to the board.
Wollemann said the Heritage Center is always looking for individuals and families to join.
“By becoming a member, you can help maintain our unique historical site and preserve the community’s heritage,” Wollemann stated.
The Heritage Center has a slate of projects lined up this year, including finishing the kitchen in the pavilion at the Heritage Center, adding hot and cold water to the area and reorganizing a steel building on the site.
Wollemann noted that several of the Heritage Center’s buildings are more than a century old and “need a little TLC,” and funds and donations of time and efforts are sought to “help make these dreams come true.”
“Any help will be greatly appreciated,” Wollemann stated.
The Heritage Center’s next fundraising event is the Midsummer Celebration on Saturday, June 24 at the Heritage Center.
To learn more about the Knox Creek Heritage Center, visit www.facebook.com/knoxcreekheritagecenter.