The Iola Historical Society, in conjunction with the Sheveland-Taylor American Legion Post 14, is hosting its Annual Tribute to Military Veterans Memorial Day Pork Roast Dinner immediately following the annual Iola Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 26.
The Memorial Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. from the Iola-Scandinavia High School parking lot and proceeds to Veterans Park. A Memorial Day service will then take place at the park, which is on North Main Street.
After the service, the parade will proceed and end at the Iola Historical Society’s historic village on Depot Street, with the dinner being held at the society’s Machine Shed at 222 Depot Street. The pork roast starts at noon and runs until 2 p.m. All veterans are offered a free dinner in honor of their service. Local Legion members will be noting the branch and years of service for each veteran attending.
The donation for dinner for spouses and the general public is just $15, $8 for children 12 and under. The dinner includes all the trimmings. Sodas and bottled water will also be available for purchase from Iola’s Boy Scout Troop 631.
The Machine Shed is one of seven buildings at the Iola Historical Society’s historic village that will be open for touring during the event. The others are the original Helvetia Town Hall, a replica one-room schoolhouse, a vintage 1930-era log hunting cabin, a replica fire station containing some of Iola’s early original firefighting vehicles, and the main museum/office. The original Iola & Northern Railway depot is undergoing renovation and is not available for tours.
The schoolhouse includes a new display of a child’s sleigh hand-crafted by area blacksmith Olaf Skye around 1920. The museum includes a display featuring Iola World War II veteran Lee Nelson, who flew 31 bombing missions in a B-17 “Flying Fortress” over Germany and German-occupied France. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the Towne Native American Artifacts Collection, featuring an array of authentic historic artifacts that is second to none in Wisconsin. A vintage Norwegian flag dating from the 1920s, property of Iola’s original Sons of Norway Fram Lodge 357 established in 1928, but was disbanded in 1932, is also displayed as well, along with the lodge’s original charter. Docents will be on hand to answer any questions.
The historical society is open throughout the summer on Saturday afternoons from noon until 3 p.m. starting May 31 and open through Aug. 23. Besides the summer Saturday openings, two other Iola Historical Society events are slated for 2025: Strawberry Fest and Antiques Appraisal Fair on Sunday, June 22; and the Taste of Norway & Lost Arts Fair on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Iola Historical Society’s local Businesses Partners lending sponsorship support to our public events include Bank First, Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative, Community Insurance, Iola Sentry Foods, and others. For more information on the Iola Historical Society, go to www.iolahistoricalsociety.org or www.ischamber.com.