Hey! Hey! Hey! It's May!! What's Up This Spring in Dunn County!?!

Let's All Go Down, Down, Down, Down, Down; Down, Down, Down, Down, Down; Down, Down, Down, Down, Down to Downsville - The Many Steps Down to Devil's Punchbowl - Community Baby Shower for OFW.

What a beautiful May spring day to go down to Downsville to explore this quaint and historic town in Dunn County. I must say that Downsville is filled with a richness of history along with the people who made a mark of recognition for this small Dunn County town. The above picture of building was once known back in the day as Oddfellows Hall was purchased by the Township of Dunn on January 27th, 2015 from Dunn County.

After the purchase, the Town of Dunn town board formed a committee to open the building. After inspection to find it in good shape, many volunteers and the committee pitched in to work on cleaning the building, the painting of the downstairs and upstairs of building, refinishing of the floors, installing new windows upstairs and beautifying the east side of building with a new sidewalk and free library for the community to use. All the volunteers and committee members hard work and efforts in 2015 and going into 2016 paid off as the Downsville Community Museum opened it’s doors to the public on Memorial Day in 2016 and continues to be open to the public through Labor Day each year. Since 2016 it served the community to record, preserve and promote the history pertaining to the community of Downsville and Dunn County. The cool part is the Downsville Community Museum is owned by the people in the township of Dunn in beautiful Dunn County, Wisconsin.

And if you love pancakes, on Saturday, May 27th, 2023 is a great day to come on down to Downsville Community Museum for their Spring Pancake Breakfast which starts at 8 am until 11 am which will include homemade buttermilk pancakes with fruit toppings and maple syrup, sausage, juice and coffee along with guest authors, Josie Siler and Debra King on site for their book signings. So enjoy some pancakes and then soak up some history about Dunn County, Downsville, The Knapp and Stout Company and Caddie Woodlawn. This is a great place for a family field trip or class field trip in the making! For more information you can go to www.downsvillecommunitymuseum.com. And the committee meets on the second Monday of the month at 5:30 pm at the museum. Volunteers and suggestions are always welcomed in regards to the Downsville Community Museum.

Well, just down the road from the Downsville Community Museum I happened to stop by Dunn County Pottery right before passing the once famous Creamery Restaurant and Inn. As I was trying to figure out if it was open or not, I was greeted by the founder of Dunn County Pottery, Potter John Thomas. He was so gracious to give me and my husband, Steve a mini tour with a brief history of his wonderful establishment. John happened to be a resident of the area since 1973 and was the year Dunn County Pottery was born! His pottery and showroom moved around a bit since 1973. In 1985 his work was showcased in The Creamery Restaurant and Inn. Than in 2000 another move occurred in a building next to The Creamery. In 2008, the historic Downsville Schoolhouse made it’s way to the Dunn County Pottery grounds in which would be the next move to showcase his pottery creations along with a place to have events in. Than came 2020 and decided to make the historic Downsville Schoolhouse his and Kathy Ruggles their place of residence.

So once again his pottery showroom moved again. When I and my husband were there his pottery showroom was in the process of renovation. I am sure when it’s completed, it will make his pottery stand out and will quickly find a new home on a countertop, in a hutch or on a tabletop.

Looking forward to the invitation of a one hour tour of his wonderful Dunn County Pottery grounds in which I know is rich in cherished stories he will want to proudly share. And then of course, I want to create a new home for one of his unique and beautiful pottery works of art that I can put to good use! If you want to learn more about Dunn County Pottery please go to www.simply-dunn.com.

Downsville has quite a few businesses on the main drag of downtown Downsville which is on County C to the left right before going over the bridge that goes over the Red Cedar River if you are coming from Menomonie. It has a bank, Dairy State Bank, a coffee shop called, Scatterbrain Café which I need to check out yet, a Bar and restaurant called, The Timber Inn, which by the way, the hubby and I went to partake of their Friday Night Fish Fry/Shrimp Fry. My hubby had the fish and I had the shrimp. The service was great and the food was delightful. The U.S. Post Office, Cubby’s which is a cozy bar that happens to make homemade pizza’s, West Wisconsin Telecom and Wik’s Repair which is an auto repair shop. And a little ways down the road you will see Downsville Elementary and Woodland Ridge Retreat which is right after you pass The Creamery. Woodland Ridge Retreat is a getaway for artists and crafters as well as a facility for multi-day workshops taught by world renowned fiber artists. So there is quite a few things this little quaint town of Downsville has to offer for neighboring communities. If you like to learn more about the lovely town of Downsville please go to www.discoverdownsvillewi.com.

I finally took the opportunity to head on down to the Devil’s Punchbowl! The installation of the new stairways to get down into the bowl created by nature is very well constructed. This construction happened last year when it was closed for much of the summer months. But the wait was worth it. What a beautiful day to check it out with beautiful sunshine and great warm weather, in the upper 70’s in the first week of May.

And it sure is a beautiful sight to soak in all the rock formations surrounding the bowl created over time by nature. What is really cool is to see a trickling waterfall flowing down from the rock formations creating a stream in the middle of the punchbowl.

Then I found these two trees that have grown together to be quite interesting for one is an oak and the other a pine. Even though they are two very different kinds of trees they grew together in harmony.

We can learn a lot from nature. Many trees, flowers, plants of different varieties grow close together, yet they manage to grow in harmony with one another. So as sons and daughters of Heavenly Father, no matter how different we are, we can still work together toward harmony and peace with one another. Unity is a beautiful thing!

I am sure by the end of May the Devil’s Punchbowl will be nice and vibrant in hues of green on the trees and vegetation for ground cover. I will need to return in the summer when everything is in full bloom. Oh, how I love the change of the seasons, for every season has it’s own sense of beauty.

I was able to attend a Community Baby Shower hosted by the Republican Party of Dunn County to benefit Options For Women in Menomonie. For those unfamiliar with Options For Women in Menomonie, it is a Pregnancy Resource Center, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing families and pregnant women with information, as well as restorative, mental, physical, emotional and material help. It’s all about empowering women and transforming families to cultivate life affirming choices and healthy relationships. So not only was the Community Baby Shower a time in supporting and benefiting OFW, but also it was a time to celebrate Mothers and Motherhood, Babies and Parenthood. We need to take time out to treasure what matters most in this life. Families!!! The family is the most basic fundamental unit of society. We need more than ever to defend the family unit. From the unborn to the elderly where every life matters. The most amazing creation on earth to this day is the incredible birth of a newborn baby! Every time I see a newborn I am in awe of this beautiful miracle that has taken place. And this beautiful miracle happens to take place every three seconds around the world! How amazing and incredible is that! Heavenly Father’s work is truly an awe and a wonder. That is why it is so important to protect and defend life and the family unit. As it states in Psalms 127:3 that “Children are an heritage of the Lord”. And from “The Family - A Proclamation To The World” by President Gordon B. Hinckley on September 23rd, 1995 he proclaims, “We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan”. He also stated, “that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of HIs children” Such powerful statements as it resonates to my heart and spirit.

It was a wonderful time to be among many loving, caring and generous women and men who embrace the sanctity of life and families at the Community Baby Shower. The community showered Options For Women with many generous donations of gas gift cards, food gift cards and many baby items to replenish their supplies for the needs of their clients. May God bless those who bless others through their generosity. For more information about Options For Women please go to www.optionsmenomonie.com.

Bulletin Board Moments:

May 20th - Citizen Watchdog Training

To reserve a spot go to http://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2023/04/citizen-watchdog-training-in-wisconsin

May 20th - Farmer’s Market season starts at Wilson Park from 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays and on Wednesdays from 10 am to 6 pm.

May 20th - Mabel's Community Celebration 2023. Come and join us in celebrating our fantastic community! Enjoy a variety of delicious food from the food trucks, jam out to live music and stroll, browse and shop through our Artisan Market. This event is open to everyone, so bring your friends, family, and neighbors for a night of festivities. Starts at 2 pm until 10 pm.

May 21st - Red Cedar Classic Car Club Annual Car Show

May 29th - Memorial Day Ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery which starts at 9:30 am to salute and recognize all of our veterans who served for our country. It’s recommended for spectators to bring their lawn chairs.

June 8th - Music over Menomin begins it’s 13th season at the Menomonie Public Library lawn at 7pm every Thursday through August 10th.

From one Dunn County Neighbor to Another - For the beauty of the earth and life thereof.

Laurie J Christianson