What’s Happening in Shell Lake!!
Happy September! Fall officially begins this month…September 22, it is the official day of Autum. The Autumnal Equinox, on this specific day, daylight and darkness are equal in length across the globe. Did you know the September name comes from the Latin word “Septem” which means 7. In the original Roman Calendar, January and February did not exist, making September the 7th month instead of the 9th.
A bit of history; Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer for many Americans. Simply put, Labor Day celebrates Americans who labor. It is a day to appreciate the economic and societal impact of hardworking Americans and to reflect on the progress our country has made as a result of the American workforce. Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September every year. It has been a national holiday since June 28, 1894.
In the second half of the 19th century, working conditions in railroads, mines, factories, and mills were some of the worst in American history. Poor ventilation, long hours, low pay, dangerous conditions, and child labor were just a few of the concerns of the working class.
By this time, many states already recognized the holiday. In fact, the first unofficial Labor Day parade took place in New York City on September 5, 1882. On this day an estimated 10,000 New Yorkers did not show up to work and instead marched from New York’s City Hall to Union Square in protest of poor working conditions. In an effort to decrease tensions, President Grover Cleveland signed a law passed by Congress establishing Labor Day as a national holiday on June 28th, 1894.
We are able to celebrate Labor Day, which falls on the 7th this year. This weekend is always a very active, fun filled weekend right here in Shell Lake! The weekend starts out on Friday the 4th with the kick off of the Shell Lake Chamber of Commerce 47th Annual Town and Country Days!! There is a TON of work that goes into this weekend of so many activities, with appeal to all ages. Just to name a few, is the Lions’s Club Lake Superior Whitefish Fish Fry. This is fish that is caught fresh on Friday morning, and cooked by the Lions Friday afternoon, to begin serving to the public at 4pm. This is an amazing meal, that gets rave reviews every year. On Saturday is the FLY IN/walk in BREAKFAST at the Shell Lake airport at 7:30am…. great way to start your day, and then you can run off that breakfast by doing the Lake Run at 8:00am. There are many, many more events that are happening that day, too many to put in this column, but if you go to the Facebook Page, “Shell Lake Town and Country Days” you will find all of the Event Details, registration forms, contacts, and up-to-date information. It is 3 days of FUN from Friday to Sunday! Hopefully you can take some time to enjoy the weekend with friends and neighbors.
Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale
This year, the Friends of the Library will be holding their annual book sale at the Shell Lake Beach House! This is a change from where and when the sale has been held in the past, so we hope you’ll come on down and find some books to satisfy your curiosity. There will be hundreds of books on display for you to browse through. Find a few treasures, take them home, and enjoy some great reading in the months ahead! Sale Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Please consider adding the book sale to your list of stops during Town & Country Days. We look forward to seeing you there!
YOUR LAST CHANCE to take part in the 4-6 Social that will take place in the shops in Downtown Shell Lake. This fun event has pretty much been going all summer, with the last one to take place on Thursday September 3rd. You will have a chance to win the grand prize, a basket worth $300 with great items from the various stores in the downtown area. So, stop down, make sure and register for the basket, and take in all the fun discounts that are being offered during the Social. Who knows, you might be the big winner!!
Dates to Remember in September:
4th-6th 47th annual Chamber of Commerce Town and Country Days
7th Labor Day, CITY HALL CLOSED
11th Patriot Day, in remembrance of those who died in 2001 terrorist attack
13th Grandparents Day
22nd First Day of Autumn
27th Daylight Savings time…turn back clock 1 hour
As Labor Day weekend approaches, the city would like to wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday weekend. Whether you’re spending time with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, attending local events, or simply taking some well-deserved time to unwind, we hope you make the most of this final summer holiday.
Thank you to everyone in our community who works hard each day to make our city a wonderful place to live, work, and visit. Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!
Mayor Rowie Hansberger