Last Updated: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:36 AM CDT
News : Final preparations begin for Goodman centennial
Vern Hollister - Correspondent
Grow the beards. Dig out the zoot suits, the parasols, the lengthy skirts and your finest lumberjack apparel because the Goodman, Wisconsin, centennial drops the opening of the Beijing Olympics to second firecracker with a weekend celebration beginning 8-08-08.
Known as "the town that wouldn't die" when Goodman residents fought and eventually re-opened the mill that closed in the 1980's, plans have been underway financially for about ten years to bring a full slate of activities beginning Friday evening, August 8, and a full day and night of events Saturday.
"None of these events cost anyone anything," Goodman town chairman Bill Stankevich said. "The town is footing the bill."
All the major shows and special performances are free to the public from Friday evening's seven o'clock "History of Goodman – Part I" by the Goodman-Armstrong Creek Players to the lumberjack shows Saturday afternoon. The Saturday events conclude with a fireworks spectacular at dusk in the Industrial Park.
Begun by R.B. Goodman in 1908 when the area was little more than a forest and the end of a railroad spur, the unincorporated town is located at the far western fringe of Marinette County off Highway 8, about 18 miles west of Pembine. Traveling east, Goodman sits less than five miles from the Forest County line. The mill continues to operate, and the town's livelihood depends still on forest products and services. In 1994, the basketball team swept through sectionals; and with its band, put tiny Goodman on the Wisconsin map. The spunky team reached the state finals and lost to Cassville in the championship contest.
Though major events are free, plenty of food and refreshments for purchase will be available. The centennial committee has also been taking pre-orders for centennial books for some time. Contact Sue Pratt at (715) 336-2107 for purchase or for any other centennial information. One hundred years of recipes have been compiled into a book to be sold during the weekend, plus commemorative T-shirts, caps, mugs and buttons.
After the Friday evening history performance, unlike a record found in any textbook, and featuring some of the same performers who delighted people with the "Mystery Dinner Theater" a few years ago, playgoers can jog down the hill from the high school to the street dance with Cest' La Vie playing until midnight.
Saturday's full day of celebration begins with a lumberjack breakfast from 6 to 9 a.m. Beard judging will take place after the breakfast, followed by the centennial parade, complete with a flyover and members of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band. At the parade's conclusion, Stankevich will welcome visitors and introduce members of the Goodman family in attendance.
A fifth quarter performance by the UW band is slated for 1 p.m., followed by the first of two Scheer's Lumberjack shows, free to the public. Though performances are without charge, expect items for consumption such as food and drink to incur cost.
Food booths, refreshment areas, and a line-up of craft booths will be open and available all day. Local groups plan to sell hot-dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers, chicken gumbo, tacos and a polish sausage plate. Even an ice cream stand will be in the food area. History displays will also be open for viewing, including a collection of antique cars, bikes and snowmobiles. Kids Again Inflatable Fun Shows will be available for children of all ages.
Sunday winds down with pick-up games for horseshoes, softball, hopscotch and pumpkin ball, a game with a ball larger than a softball but smaller than a beach ball.
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Vince wrote on Aug 22, 2008 7:25 PM: