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Hundreds of supporters got behind the effort to relocate the historic Sunrise Schoolhouse, and they partied and feasted at Maple Ridge Farms Wedding and Events venue May 10.  The area business backing was especially heartwarming, according to project coordinator and President of Almelund Threshing Show Tony Koran. He said 21 eight-person tables were reserved by local businesses, along with the help from major sponsors Mountain Man Electric, Freedom Plumbing, A Start Concrete Pumping and CD Tile and Stone.  Koran noted Maple Ridge Farms donated their facility as well.

Raffle prizes and silent auction items were donated by 84 local businesspersons.

The banquet, games and raffles were organized to raise funds for the schoolhouse move from Sunrise to the Threshing Show Grounds, not far away on Hwy 95.  

“It was great to see that there are community members willing to get together to help save history,” Koran added.  There were 286 attendees and 31 volunteers worked the banquet.

The project has a potential budget of $195,000 to prepare the new site, actually do the relocation with house movers, hire public safety and shift powerlines, and clean up the old location.  

The schoolhouse has been used as the Sunrise Township Hall and when the township recently built and opened their new hall, the historic structure was emptied.  It attracted no buyers.  The township then agreed to work with threshing show officials and coordinate moving the schoolhouse where it will take its place among  a collection of local structures. It’ll be preserved along with the old wood frame county Courthouse, the former Clover Blossom School from Shafer Township, and many other structures moved to the threshing show “village.”

The fundraising continues with a tractor pull May 31 at the Threshing Show grounds, which President Koran promises to be the biggest tractor pull ever hosted.     There will be refreshments and beer and  Almelund Fire/Rescue and the Lions are also affiliated with this event.  Details are on the show website. 

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