By Michael Skubal - Daily News Staff

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It’s not often an event involves a whole town, but that’s the case with the Oneida County Courthouse Centennial Celebration Saturday, Sept. 20. From kids to quilters, from brewers to baseball players, Rhinelander is pitching in on a party for the courthouse and city hall, both 100 years old in 2008.

Kristin Larsen, teacher at the Northwoods Community Secondary School, has been working on their part of the celebration with her sixth and seventh graders since the beginning of the school year. They will be portraying famous and not so famous residents of Rhinelander.

“The kids learned about the early residents who lived in the courthouse area,” said Larsen. “They also learned about early local history. They had to do research, take notes, and write an essay with a bibliography. The students also learned about acting and improvising a character from limited information.”

The idea is for the young actors to stay in character and be able to answer questions from the audience as the person they are portraying. The students researched with a partner but only one student will be acting for the public. Brent Cook, one of the students involved, portrays logger C.P. Crosby, “It is a lot of fun. You get to dress up and learn about the courthouse and the person.”

Karen Kuphal is the owner of Karen’s Quilt Corner in Rhinelander, “We’re going to have quilts from today at my store and antique quilts at Peggy’s Emporium. Various customers have made the quilts we’re showing. They’re from all over the Northwoods. We’ll have between 25 and 50 quilts at my store alone.”

Brown Street Brewery will be serving a Courthouse Centennial micro-brew, that’s where the brewers come in. And Three Lakes Winery is offering a Centennial wine.

Cindy Eckardt and Jim Hagen are Co-chairs of the Horse and Buggy Driving and Picnic Event for the Centennial Celebration. “We have seven confirmed rigs coming to the event,” said Eckardt. “There will be two and four horse buggies and wagons with miniature horses, ponies, light horses and one with a draft horse. We will be driving around the courthouse, then setting up for period picnics on the courthouse grounds. This is a first time event but the picnics are popular in central and southern Wisconsin. We just thought it would be fun.”

Norb Renn from the Western Connection will be giving horse and wagon rides throughout the day Saturday. The route will include the courthouse, city hall and the Logging Museum.

There will be music and short reader’s theater presentations at the Logging Museum along with crafters. Logger’s stew and sawdust pie will be served between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. And everyone will be in costume.

Don’t forget the vintage baseball game at 4 p.m. at Pioneer Park. A local team from Bucketheads will be playing the visiting St. Croix Base Ball Club. 1908 rules and dress are the order of the day.

Guy Hansen has been instrumental in the planning of the celebration, “It’s looking good. We have many enthusiastic people involved. Many of these events, all by themselves, would draw a crowd. Come early, bring a blanket and your camera.” Schedules of events and brochures are available at many sites around town.

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