TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The Merrill Historical Society held a “Merrill in the Roaring Twenties” History Hunt on May 14, 2022, and drew 10 teams of history hunters, many dressed in 1920’s garb, who scoured the city of Merrill and “spent the morning learning about Merrill and the 1920’s and seeking clues to the party location,” according to organizers. [The answer and after-party location was Ballyhoos.]
At least one attendee described this year’s History Hunt as “awesome!” and the costumed competitors did make for a lively addition to the community that day.
Many of the downtown merchants joined in the fun offering support, raffle prizes, deals, and discounts on merchandise, including Westside Market, Sweeter Times, Gruetts, Miller’s Furniture, Ballyhoos, Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe, Johnsons, Hargraves, Ana Blairs, Courtside, and the Trophy Bar, organizers said.
In addition, the Merrill Paranormal Society and the Masons and Odd Fellows Organizations offered information and stories. And attendees got to explore the Organizations’ current location.
Stephanie Springborn, Martin Burkhardt, and Dick Baumgart also led tours through the old vocational school that is being restored on West Main St., which was built in 1929 as a Merrill Buick Garage and then became the Wisconsin National Guard Armory for several years during WWII, before being taken over by the Merrill School System as their Vocational and Tech School until 1967.
“The event had the support of major sponsors including Incredible Bank, Park City Credit Union, Weinbrenners, Johnsons, and Westside Market. There were raffle prizes donated by Lake of the Torches Casino, AmericInn, Sunrise Broadcasting/WJMT, Circus World Museum, Culvers, and Kindhearted. The Merrill Historical Society is grateful for all the wonderful support they have received from our local merchants,” organizers said.
“We also celebrated Merrill’s 175th Anniversary with a $175 cash raffle prize (donated by Incredible Bank) open only to the participants in the hunt,” they added. The winner was Eunice Berndt.
Each team involved in the hunt made a “Silent Movie Clip” for a little extra fun, “since Talkies were started in the 1920’s,” organizers said. These entertaining clips can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/fvm5NM7KOEU.
Two teams received awards for best team name: The Heebie Jeebies and The Unflappables. Two teams received awards for best silent movie: Henhouse Bootleggers and Ex Libris. The award for best costumes went to: Jenny Town Bathers. And a special award for the Charleston went to: PB&J. The social media award went to: Henhouse Bootleggers. Other team names included: Zootsuit Jud & Flapper Jan, Red Hat RNs, Dillinger’s Dames, Flawed by Fashion, Rasers, and Dillinger’s Bootleggers.