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Feature Stories (Vol. 109 No. 24--6/13/2007)

Mouse River Park gazebo
nearly ready for dedication

By Caroline Downs

The Mouse River Park gazebo stands nearly ready to be dedicated June 24th. The beams support two tiers of a forest green roof as daylight filters in through three decorative metal cut-out panels installed around the top of the building. Scrolled green iron work outlines the walls, windows and doors, all above a new brown concrete floor poured and stenciled over the slab left from the former roller skating rink.

Wooden planters and hanging baskets decorate the site with bright flowers, and perennial shrubs, including roses, provide additional color. A flying goose, immortalized in copper, adorns the top of the structure as a weather vane.

"We’re about five years farther ahead than we thought we’d be," said Delano Ganrud of the Mouse River Park Association Improvement Committee.

The new gazebo, merely an idea on paper last July when the Improvement Committee started the project, held its first wedding on Saturday and will be officially dedicated during a ceremony planned during the Renville County Old Settlers Association annual celebration on June 24th.

According to Joyce Atwood, Old Settlers Association activities will begin with welcome music at 1:30 pm, followed by a program at 2 pm in the auditorium of continued music and readings by local performers and a tribute to Mathilda Smith, who is the final surviving charter member of the organization formed in 1936. Smith, age 104, lives in Minnesota, but Atwood said two of Smith’s daughters would attend the program on their mother’s behalf.

The Improvement Committee will dedicate the gazebo at the end of the program, with District 6 Senator David O’Connell speaking to the audience. The festivities then move to the gazebo itself, where a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held and cake and ice cream served to everyone.

The gazebo already has a busy schedule for the summer, with weddings, club meetings, anniversary celebrations and a class reunion on the agenda. The structure can be reserved by leaving a message for Darrell Iverson at the Mouse River Park office, 386-2875.

Unique features
Members of the committee enjoy discussing the gazebo’s features. Duane Ingerson and Creative Industries in Kenmare fabricated the three unique metal cut-outs. One features sheaves of wheat flanking a grain elevator and oil pump, a second depicts a barn, windmill and corral complete with horses, and a third shows a pioneer family traveling by covered wagon with a team of four oxen.

The iron walls and window frames were made by Cody Burnelle of Ornamental Iron Works in Williston. Three sets of doors lead into the gazebo, and two windows will be installed, while a screen of rubber-coated nylon will line the open walls to provide shade. The all-weather screen is bolted in place and provides privacy while allowing people inside the gazebo a nearly unobstructed view of the outdoors.

Work began on the gazebo late last October, when the first level was erected. The volunteer labor resumed in mid-April, when the second tier of the structure was built, and continues as the three back walls are covered with decorative brick and knotty pine.

A memorial tree on the center back wall, depicted by a display of attractive metal leaves bearing engraved names, will serve as a permanent record of the gifts, memorials and donations made to the Mouse River Park Association Improvement Committee. Electrical lighting will be installed, both for security purposes and to enhance the metal silhouettes in the top tier. Two new sets of concrete tables and benches were installed outside the gazebo, while four sets of small, casual tables and chairs will be placed inside for use by residents and visitors.

$60,000 project
Nearly $60,000 has been spent on the project so far, with countless hours of donated labor and equipment. "We’ve done it very reasonably," said Christine Peterson, Improvement Committee member.

"I think when people start coming this summer, they’re going to be amazed!" added committee member Donna Weaver.

The committee continues to raise funds for the gazebo, and one of their efforts turned out to be nearly as popular as the new structure itself. The Mouse River Park Cookbook: An International Collection of Recipes from Friends & Neighbors Near and Far features 723 recipes submitted by the Park’s residents and visitors. All proceeds from the cookbook benefit the gazebo building fund.

Karen Irwin coordinated the cookbook project, with committee members Shelley Iverson, Susie Peterson, Diane (Tom) Witteman and Jeanie Zeltinger working to collect, organize and type recipes. The keepsake cookbook also features a history of Mouse River Park and color photographs for each section, including pictures of the Park’s annual Christmas in July celebration and the infamous white pelican that adopted a wooden pelican on the dock of Fred and Evelyn Mau’s cabin one summer.

An index of contributors and recipes and an attached plastic easel to stand the cookbook on a kitchen counter complete the package. The cookbook has sold quickly, with only about 100 copies remaining from Irwin’s initial order of 450. A second shipment is scheduled to arrive in late July. Irwin is happy to accept orders at 386-2207, and she will mail copies for the additional postage fees.

"I typed 499 recipes," Irwin said, explaining most of the work was done over the winter with the pages going to press in March. She laughed as she described her committee’s meetings and added, "We had a lot of fun doing this."

Copies of the cookbook are available at the Country Mouse, from Irwin or from Darrell Iverson at the Mouse River Park office. The cookbook is sold in Mohall at the Cenex Station, Farmers Union Insurance and Diane’s Snip-n-Go Salon.

The Improvement Committee is also planning a second annual Fall Festival at Mouse River Park, with a few modifications from last year’s successful event. The festival will again feature the rummage sale, silent auctions, vendors, artists and farmers’ market that attracted hundreds of visitors last September, but the date has been changed to August 11th.

New to the 2007 Fall Festival will be musical performances and food concessions throughout the day. Anyone who has further questions or is interested in having a table at the Festival should contact Donna Weaver at 386-2882.

With the gazebo nearly complete, the Mouse River Park Association Improvement Committee will turn its attention to other projects. The non-profit group invites new members and suggestions for changes in the Park. "The committee is open to the public," Weaver said. "Everybody’s welcome to come to our meetings."

Committee members also plan to relax in the new gazebo, and they hope several other park visitors do the same. In fact, Weaver offered specific instructions. "Buy a delicious hard ice cream cone in the cafe," she said, "then go sit in the gazebo and enjoy it!"