Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
SHOPPERS BROWSE homemade items during the second annual winter craft fair at the Iron County Memorial Building in Hurley on Saturday.
HURLEY - Local residents braved cold temperatures to browse hundreds of homemade items during the second annual winter craft fair at the Iron County Memorial Building on Saturday.
According to event organizer Kathy Koski, the Iron County Memorial Building Restoration Committee holds two craft fairs each year, one in the spring and one in the winter, to help with the costs of keeping the building open. A date for the upcoming spring craft fair has not yet been set.
Because of the success of last winter's event, Koski said it was an easy decision to have a second one this year.
Fifteen vendors from across the region, including Hurley, Bessemer, Ironwood, Wakefield, Mellen, Wis., and Greenland took part in the fair, selling everything from knitted wears to wooden toys.
"There is so much variety, and with almost everything being homemade," Koski said. "There are wooden cutting boards, knitting, jewelry making, the Iron County Historical Society's rugs and even a nail station, showing people how to paint their nails."
While shopping, attendees also dined on homemade chicken dumpling soup, chili and Scotti Pecotti's spinach gnocchi.
There was also a bake sale and 50/50 raffle. All of the proceeds benefitted the Memorial Building.
"It will go towards the winter bills," Koski said.
Despite cold temperatures and winter just around the corner, Koski said many people have already reserved the building during the next couple of months and into next summer.
"We are going to have the Snowshoe Extravaganza benefitting the Hurley Fireworks Committee here again February and we have 13 weddings scheduled for next year," she said. "It's going to be busy. The bowling alley is doing really well, and has been rented out for parties and other events.
"This building has a variety of uses and it's nice to see it being utilized in the community."
For more information about the craft show, upcoming events or to rent the building, call Joe or Dorothy Walesewicz at 715-561-2459.
