On Wednesday, August 23, The New Richmond Heritage Center held their annual membership and appreciation dinner to say thanks to members and volunteers.
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Paul Mayer, the board president, kicked off the proceedings with a heartfelt thank you from the Heritage Board to the room of over 100 members and volunteers. “In June of 1899, when the cyclone devastated New Richmond, this community had two choices,” Mayer said. “They could pick up and move or they could rebuild.  They chose to rebuild. That’s who we are.  The volunteers and members in this room understand the importance of that legacy and are willing to donate their time, talent and treasure to make sure that is carried forward.  For that, we are all grateful.”

​After incoming board members were elected, each member shared committee achievements for the past year and how all the support and participation from the community had made an impact.
 
Many thanks go to those individuals and businesses who contributed to the event. Dessert Sponsor – Culver’s
Door Prize Sponsors: First National Community Bank, WESTconsin Credit Union, Bremer Bank, New Richmond Golf Club, 45th Parallel, Shoots & Stems Floral, Countryside Plumbing & Heating, New Richmond Utilities, Westfields Hospital & Clinic, Bernard's Northtown, General Beer Northwest, Covet, Fantastic Sams, Garden Expressions, New Richmond Dental, Simply Staffing, Table 65, Xcel Energy, WITC, Angela Olson Law, Beth's Jewelry Shop.

​It would be tackled on a Saturday
When all four daughters were at home to help.
Mama ran the job, rewarding speed and sunny dispositions
with sweet-smelling chores like pegging clothes out on the line,
or gathering in.
 
That wasn't me.
I usually sorted dirties in great heaps upon the kitchen floor,
never mastering the complex rules concerning weight of fabric,
color, odor, depth of dirt.  Towels go in this stack, Mama said,
unless they're red or purple -- those make a separate load --
they won't be colorfast.  Sheets, pillowcases here,
school clothing there, except for underwear. 
Check crotches carefully.  The stained ones get a special soak and scrub.
Now start that tub of whites – no, not those smelly shirts --
they'll wait till near the end.  And barn pants, overalls, go last.
 
The sorting, soaping, dashing, wringing, bluing,
rinsing, wringing, rinsing, wringing again,
the hanging, drying, taking down and folding up consumed our day.
We finally saw the last foul load of overalls go in.
Oshkosh B'Gosh went churning in a gray-blue soup
garnished with straw.  They crawled up through the wringer,
somewhat cleaner, though I wondered how. 
Their buckles caught between the rollers,
made them gasp and stall and fly apart.
An easy fix, said Mama, to my great dismay.
 
The washer drained out slowly, clogged by a silty mix of soil
chaff, manure and broken buttons, stones and screws
and God-knows-what-men-put-in-their-cuffs-and-pockets.
We made pancakes for supper, too weary for the usual roast or stew.
That was some job we did today! chirped Mama.
Don't you feel good?
We rolled our eyes and sighed, Sure do.
 
--Sara DeLuca