Historic Heritage Village/City Park become holiday light-viewing destinations
Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays ‘Cause no matter how far away you roam When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze For the holidays, you can’t beat home, sweet home – From the Christmas song, “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays”
Historic Heritage Village in Mountain Lake, along with Mountain Lake City Park, are on their to becoming a pair of holiday light-viewing destinations as folks come “Home for the Holidays,”
Together, the Mountain Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber’s Retail Committee, the Heritage Village Board of Directors and “Christmas In The Park” are making 2016 a festive and “enlightening” holiday season with light displays at both locations.
Area businesses and individuals are sponsoring the lights and decorations on the front of the buildings along Heritage Village’s Main Street, as well as in Mountain Lake City Park – including that location’s unique Snowflake Garden.
The lights at both Heritage Village and Mountain Lake City Park will remain lit throughout the holiday season. The Heritage Village iconic setting provides a warm “Welcome” to Mountain Lake from Minnesota State Highway 60 – and when traveling to the center of town – Mountain Lake City Park’s light show continues to express colorful seasonal cheer.
Festivities for “Home for the Holidays” began at Heritage Village on Friday, November 25. An evening of holiday fun followed, including free caroling by local students, hot cocoa and apple cider and horse-drawn wagon rides. In addition, a hot pulled pork sandwich meal was available, courtesy of Martin Quintero. A bake sale topped off this event, with home-baked Christmas goodies ready to be taken home and shared with family and friends.
Businesses and individuals decorating buildings at the Village include:
+ Welcome Center – The Matchless Gift.
+ Gazebo/Bandstand – Our Hometown Café.
+ Chapel – Ten Thousand Villages/Josiah, Levi and Miranda Stoesz.
+ Mennonite Homestead and Attached Barn – Care & Share/Allen and Grace Telles.
+ Small Corn Crib/Outhouse/Summer Kitchen – Jim and Barb Crawford.
+ Gift Shop/Buhler Home – Mike Nelson.
+ Red Buhler Barn – C. R. Construction/Dilly Rodney.
+ Bathrooms and Fence – Fulda Credit Union.
+ Jaeger General Store and Upstairs Apartment – Maynard’s Food Center.
+ Barber/Beauty Shop – Sheila K’s.
+ School House – Mountain Lake Christian.
+ Blacksmith Shop – JSK Bridal.
+ Residence/Granary – Twisted Timber/Curt’s Construction (Curt Fast).
+ Food Stand – Progressive Chiropractic.
+ Pole Barn – Heritage Village.
+ Prairie Interpretive Center – Care Bears Daycare/Karen Griffith and Bob and Lynette Ewert.
+ Hospital – Peterson Drug and Gifts.
+ Mountain Lake/Odin State Bank – United Prairie Bank and United Prairie Insurance.
+ Dick’s Shoe Hospital – Country Pride Cooperative.
+ Delft Post Office – Cenex C-Store.
+ Minnesota Telephone Museum – Peterson Drug and Gifts.
+ Caboose – Martin’s Smoked BBQ and Family.
+ Depot – Bargen, Inc.
+ Mountain’s Lake First Depot – B & K Sales, Mike Nelson and Miranda Stoesz.
+ Entrance Fence – Dana Kass.
At 8 p.m., the scene shifted to the lighting tradition at Mountain Lake City Park with the “Christmas in the Park” lighting ceremony, combined with the Snowflake Garden honors and recognition.
Snowflakes lit up in loving memory include:
+ Doris Strand – Christina Hanson.
+ Ivan Englin – Diane Englin.
+ George Hiebert Jr. – Hiebert Family (Cancer sucks!).
+ Zac Adrian – Mom, Emily, Dad and Terry (Love and miss you always!).
+ Uncle Zac – Claire Adrian (My angel at Christmas and always! Love, Claire.).
+ Alyssa Sue and Sutton – Radtke Family.
+ Benjamin Blom – His Family (Love from your family at Christmas – and always!).
+ My Parents – Jan Klassen.
+ Slim Kipfer – Jolene Stern.
+ Helen Woodhouse – Family of Helen Woodhouse.
+ Darlene Janzen – Doyle and Paula Janzen.
+ Adam Willaby – Mary Wilaby.
+ Kelsey Hulzebos – Dennis, Reva and Family.
+ Randy Kunkel – Family and Friends.
+ Marjorie Potter/Toelcke – Jason, Julie and Matthew (To my mom in heaven!).
+ Pam Kliewer – Dean and Deb Janzen.
+ Connie Ysker – John Ysker and Andy Ysker.
+ Ross Blomgren – Mark and Sharron Hanson.
+ Scott Eads – Lonnie and Connie Eads.
+ Verna E. Rahn – Rahn Family.
+ Sharon Dick – James, Lori, Kelsey, Jaylee and Jaxton.
+ Gabriel (“Gabe”) Crow – Grandpa Dean and Grandma Nene Smestad (With love!).
+ Russell and Elaine Smith and Marie Solomon – Jordana’s Resale Venue.
+ Daryl Mohlenbrock – Michele, Jessica, Matth, Jackson and Madalyn.
+ Edwin and Martha Brandt – Gary, Amanda, Reggie, Bret and Charlie.
Snowflakes in the garden honoring individuals and groups include:
+ All Cancer Survivors and All Those Who Have Lost Their Battle with Cancer – Jodie Crowell and the Golf For Life Tournament Committee.
+ Schroeder Family.
+ Past and President Residents of the Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake-The Village.
+ Addyson Janzen – Kim and Delainey Janzen (Love!).
+ Addyson Janzen – Dean and Deb Janzen (Love!).
Businesses represented with snowflakes include:
+ Andy’s Auto Repair and Towing of Butterfield.
+ Mayberry Realty of St. James.
+ Mountain Lake Floral of Mountain Lake.
+ T & K Transport of Butterfield.
Local holiday cheer continued into Small Business Saturday with Santa’s arrival, store gift deals
Small Business Saturday is celebrated the first Saturday after Thanksgiving – and between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize the “brick-and-mortar” businesses that are small and local.
Small Business Saturday in Mountain Lake kicked off with Santa Claus arriving by fire truck. Ol’ St. Nicholas was at at Sweetfields all Saturday morning, November 26. Goodie bags and books, provided by Mountain Lake Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), were given to the kids attending the event.
Meanwhile, parents will were on the receiving end – and not just lumps of coal. The annual Chamber Bucks Shopping Spree Raffle Drawing awarded four prizes. These included one $500 prize, one $200 prize and two $100 prizes. Raffle tickets were available for purchase at area businesses for $10.
Mountain Lake businesses will be ready for the the winners to spend their “bucks,” and, of course, all Christmas shoppers – to “shop local” during this specially-designated Saturday.
All events on Friday and Saturday were free to attend.
Following is a photo gallery collected from the two days of holiday season events:
A LOT OF folks came on home to Mountain Lake for “Home For The Holidays” activities on Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26. On Friday, a pair of lighting events were held at Heritage Village and Mountain Lake City Park. Above, taking a look inside through the window at all happening inside the Welcome Center. And, inside, a pulled pork supper featuring the barbecue talents of Martin Quintero, a bake sale, Mountain Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Raffle Ticket sale, holiday gift availability – and an “Elf Yourself” – kept folks busy. Meanwhile, outside, a walk around the grounds and down Memory Lane gave people he opportunity to enjoy all the unique and colorful decorating work completed on each of the buildings.
SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MEMORIES were made (and preserved) by posing as one of Santa’s favorite elves in “Elf Yourself” – while a photo was snapped. Above, Petra Montagne takes in the photo op and the chance to be a special helper for Mr. Claus.
A GROUP OF carolers, pulled from Mountain Lake Public High School’s Senior High Choir, under the direction of the school’s vocal director, Andrea Brinkman, helped spread holiday cheer through music. (Sharron Hanson photo)
A NATIVITY SCENE, displayed on the porch of the Welcome Center, did indeed welcome those attending the event. The Matchless Gift decorated the Village’s Welcome Center.
ANOTHER WELCOMING SIGHT – the lights on the Great Northern Red Caboose (decorated courtesy of Martin’s Slow-Cooked BBQ, along with family members), as well as the Mountain Lake Depot (lighting completed by Bargen, Inc.)
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND red bows stretched the length of the entrance fence. These lights and decor were placed by Dana Kass.
YES, YOU ARE in Mountain Lake declares the sign on the depot. Welcome home!
LIGHT DISPLAYS FROM the gazebo/bandstand (courtesy of Our Hometown Café) and the Gift Shop/Buhler Home (lights by Mike Nelson).
EXTERIOR LIGHTS ACCENT the Chapel – as well as interior lights shining through the stained glass. Ten Thousand Villages and Josiah, Levi and Miranda Stoesz completed the decorating duties.
THE BACK OF the Chapel recognizes the Christmas song, “O, Holy Night.” (Heritage Village photo)
THE CONNECTED HOME and barn – the way it was when Mennonites homesteaded in the area in the 1870s – celebrates the holidays with a light show. Care & Share, along with Allen and Grace Telles, handled the decorating duties.
THE BACK OF the Mennonite Homestead, greeting travelers on Cottonwood County Road #1. Merry Christmas!
FESTIVE SETTING AT the Jaeger General Store (originally from Darfur). Even the family “living” in the upstairs apartment decorated for the holidays. Maynard’s Food Center provided the atmosphere.
PASSERS-BY, TAKING a stroll among the lights and buildings along Memory Lane, pass by the Country School. Mountain Lake Christian lit up the schoolhouse – right down to the Christmas tree in the window – and right up to the light-covered school bell.
FOLLOW THE STAR to the lights decorating the Blacksmith Shop. JSK Bridal did the lighting honors.
LOOKING DOWN MEMORY Lane at the Residence/Granary (decorated by Twisted Timber/Curt’s Construction) and the Roll Coka (thin, deep-fried crullers) and Portzilke (deep-fried New Year’s raisin fritters) Food Stand (decorations by Progressive Chiropractic).
SANTA IS IN the window – and a light show dances across the face – of the Hospital. Peterson Drug and Gifts brought the lighting to the building as well as to the Minnesota Telephone Museum.
BRIGHT WINDOW DISPLAYS draw folks to Dick’s Shoe Hospital. Lights and decorations courtesy of Country Pride Cooperative.
COWBOY BUDDY, LEFT and Susie, right, are all decked out to serve as the horsepower for wagon rides.
RIDES IN A colorfully-lit wagon – pulled by Quarter Horses Cowboy Buddy and Susie – were provided by Jerry and Gwen Fleace of Round Lake.
IN THE CENTER of Mountain Lake – in a square block presented to the city by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad to be used expressly as a park – “Christmas In The Park” glows. Action moved from the lighting of Heritage Village to the park on Friday evening.
LOOKING NORTHWEST DOWN one of the park’s paths from the Welcome Arch to the Bandstand.
ONE OF THE brightly-lit poinsettia leaves on the Park Gazebo.
THE BANDSTAND IS once again home for the silhouette Nativity.
LINING ANOTHER WALKWAY that cuts through the park, from southwest to northeast, is the Snowflake Garden.
MOUNTAIN LAKE NATIVE Scott Eads is remembered in the Snowflake Garden with his own snowflake design. Eads, who was the police chief in New Richland at the time of his death, passed away on September 12, 2016. Surrounding his snowflake are members of his family. Front, from left, his son, Severin; his daughter, Eden and his sister, Jill Hart. At back, his wife, who also hails from Mountain Lake, Candace (Palm) Eads; his parents, long-time Mountain Lake residents, Lonny and Connie Eads and his brother-in-law, John Hart.
INFANT SON OF Blake and Amber Crow, and grandson of Dean and Nene Smestad – Gabriel “Gabe” Crow – is remembered in the Snowflake Garden. Gabe was born and died on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota from complications of Trisomy 13.
THE FAMILY OF Alyssa Sue and Sutton – represented by Pam Radtke – keep the memory of both alive during this Christmas season through their snowflake.
IT WAS “SWEET” Santa time at Sweetfields on Saturday morning. Joining Jolly Ol’ St. Nick on his visit to Mountain Lake were Mrs. Claus and his favorite Elf, Logan. Above, the trio of visitors from the North Pole extend holiday greetings to Leighton Godfrey, seated on Santa’s knee.
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Jackson Shupe, right, had a lengthy Christmas “Wish List” for Santa to read – and remember. (Don’t worry Jackson, Logan The Elf was taking notes in order to keep track of all the children’s wishes!)
WHILE MIKAYA SCHROEDER, left, and Santa talk Christmas gifts, her sister, Kennedy Schroeder, right, waits her turn, content and comfy in the arms of Mr. Claus.
SANTA CLAUS lends a listening ear to all that Devin Z., right, has on his Christmas “Wish List” – which first and foremost focuses on PAW Patrol items. PAW Patrol is an animated television show on Nickelodeon. The series focuses on a boy named Ryder who leads a pack of rescue dogs known as the PAW Patrol. They work together on missions to protect the shoreside community of Adventure Bay.
LOGAN THE ELF, second from right, takes a gander over Santa’s shoulder at the Christmas gift list compiled by Tienna Hopper, left. Even TT’s brother, Carsen Hopper, right, is curious about what his younger sister is wishing for.
ALONG WITH GETTING to visit with Santa Claus, give him a Christmas List, get a photo taken with the First Family of the North Pole and get a bag of treats – Mountain Lake Early Childhood Initiative distributed free holiday-themed books to the children. Above, Lucie Havlicková, a foreign exchange student from the Czech Republic studying at Mountain Lake Public High School, right, interests Claire Adrian, left, in one of the titles.
JOHN WOLLE-BOYD makes his book choice – Franklin’s Christmas (a sticker activity book). Franklin, the star of the book series, as well as a computer-animated television program – is a turtle.
