2005 Year in Review

Sesquicentennial Silent Auction and a Community Thank you.

This was the final organized event by the committee and celebrated all of the donors and participants who made this 150th year of Morrison the success that it was. Included in the evening planning was a special showing of the official Morrison Sesquicentennial DVD that highlights a welcome from Mayor Roger Drey, a digital remake of the 1955 Morrison Centennial film donated by Nancy and Gordon Ritchie, highlights of the Sesquicentennial parade, highlights of the Sesquicentennial July weekend and a special segment of Morrison life including the Dr Dick Vandermyde tribute at Morrison Community Hospital in July of 2004.

Over a hundred people attended and enjoyed free gifts from under a special designed Christmas tree by Stephanie Vavra and a successful silent auction benefitting the Morrison Sesquicentennial Committee. Several Morrison businesses donated valuable gifts including:Hair Headquarters and Madison Street Spa, K.Brandau Sesigns,Lindsay-Harkness Chevrolet, James Bleeker,D.C., Morrison Tire Center,Mary Kay products by Michelle Housenga, Morrison Sesquicentennial, Lion & the Lamb Beauty Salon, Mac’s Body Shop, Superwash, Inc., Gallery on Main, Happy Joe’s, Mary Kay products by Christine Pritchard, Five Star Enterprises,Spangler’s Landscaping and Garden Center, Endress-Cole Pontiac-Buick, Yarbrough Appliances, Subway, Gifts From the Heart, Tegeler Accounting Service, Homemade Gourmet products by Jane Heath, True Value Hardware, Schuler Motors, Inc., Carquest Auto Supply, Dairy Queen, Vogel’s Barber Shop, Carpet House, Inc., Wiersema Charter Service, Community State Bank, K&R Greenhouse, Wells Fargo Bank, Sterling Federal Bank, Country Lane Floral, Fitzgeral Pharmacy, Fulton Fiber Mill by Marc and Catherine Gravert and Farmer’s Elevator and Supply. Sixty nine (69) separate items were donated unselfishly by these businesses and the Morrison Sesquicentennial Committee is very thankful.

The Sesquicentennial Store at 218 West Main street in downtown Morrison remains open on Wednesday and Friday afternoons, Dec 21 and 23 and will close for good on Dec 23. The store still has postcards, posters, a few sweatshirts and hats, DVD’s, some buttons and gold and silver pins. Think about those last minute stocking stuffers for your family gatherings this coming weekend. The store thanks Betty Stralow and all the store helpers this past year including a special thanks to the Wa-Tan-Ye Club.

And so here we are, the year is coming to a close. The Sesquicentennial Committee gives our farewell to the community and says thank you and best wishes to all of the donors and participants who made the 150th celebration a success. Next year Morrison will be 151 years old and in 2007 it will be 152 years old. Or should we say “young”? The 150th birthday party is a curious and fun point in a community’s life cycle that is celebrated and causes reflection. It is also a point in time that can be used as a platform. Let there be no doubt that a spirit of optimism, enthusiasm and cooperation exists in Morrison, sometimes the spirit needs a vehicle to attach to such as a 150th birthday but it exists nevertheless and exhibits itself in the most meaningful and wonderful ways. Happy birthday Morrisonites and may the new year 2006 be your best ever!

Morrison Sesquicentennial Committee

by Bob Vaughn, theCity1.com
December 16, 2005