The 2018 History Hunt, a fundraiser hosted by the Merrill Historical Society, will be held Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with check-in time between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Registration forms are available at the Merrill History and Culture Center (MHCC), 100 E. Third St., or at the society website www.merrillhistory.org.
The theme for the 2018 History Hunt, “Fire!” occurred because the Merrill Fire Department (MFD) is 130 years old this year. In celebration of this anniversary, all History Hunters will be treated to behind-the-scenes tours of MFD and the Northcentral Technical College’s (NTC) Public Safety Center of Excellence (PSCOE). The History Hunt route then heads out to visit locations of major fires in Merrill’s history. Special treats and behind-the-scenes access stops are planned along the route to enhance the day for the participants.
A feature again this year is inclusion of a guidebook compiled by the History Hunt planners.
“Each participant will receive an information book containing pictures and stories which relate to places along the route. We have Info Stops along the way, sponsored by area businesses, for the hunters to pull over and read a section of the guidebook,” says Bea Lebal, president of the Merrill Historical Society. “This year the After Party will return to the MHCC at 4 p.m., to meet each team and enjoy snacks and beverages, while awarding team prizes.”
Prizes will be given for “Best Team Name,” “Best Team Costume” and “Best Social Media Presence.” Raffle prizes will also be drawn here. It is no longer required that an entire team fits in one vehicle, making it easier for a larger group to participate together in the Hunt. The minimum team size is still two people because you need a driver and a navigator, but above that your team can be as large as you would like, Lebal added.
Registration for the 2018 History Hunt is $10 per person for Merrill Historical Society Members and $15 per person for non-members. The registration fee includes the History Hunt driving directions, the guidebook, and five raffle prize drawing tickets. Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the After Party. Registration is capped at 120 entrants in accordance with tour space at MFD and NTC. Because of this scheduling, hunters will leave MHCC in groups every half-hour from 9:30 until noon. Earlier registrants will have their choice of start times until each time fills up. Registration will close Wednesday, April 25, or sooner if 120 entrants have registered.
“At this point we have four major sponsors: Weinbrenner Shoe Company, Johnson’s, Merrill Fire Department, and Northcentral Technical College,” states Lebal. “We are grateful for their contributions. Info Stops along the route are sponsored by Edward Jones, and Wellness Chiropractic Center. If you are interested in donating additional raffle prizes, contact Merrill Historical Society.”
The History Hunt is one of the major fundraising activities which support the programs and operations of the Merrill Historical Society. The Society’s mission is to educate the public about our heritage using the unique historical and cultural resources we collect and preserve. For further information on the programs and activities of the Merrill Historical Society, or to become a member, please contact the Society at 715-536-5652 or [email protected], or see the website at www.merrillhistory.org.