The Ellendale Area Historical Society continues to raise funds for the continued restoration of Gus' Station and are planning a buttermilk pancake breakfast. The breakfast will be held August 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Steele County History Center, in the Village of Yesteryear, 1700 Austin Road, located in the southeast corner of the Steele County Fairgrounds.
Many area people and businesses have already shown their support for the breakfast. It is hoped others will do so, maybe even helping with the preparations, as well as will be there on August 11, doing what they can to help at the breakfast.
LeRoy Sommers and Wayne Sommers will flip their famous buttermilk pancakes served with Hope butter, scrambled eggs, sausage, juice, coffee and milk. The Ellendale Hustlers 4-H Club has volunteered to help wait tables.
Advance tickets are available at Lerberg's, First National Banks at Ellendale and Hope, from Ellendale Heritage Society members, and the SCHS office for $5, while tickets at the door will be $6.
Gus' Station will be open during the breakfast.
The official ribbon cutting for Gus' Station will be held at 1 p.m.
Barb Mrotz said, "Volunteers have been a key part of the success and hundreds of hours have already been put into the project."
They have felt fortunate to be able to get a number of much needed donations on the project. Donations have come from businesses for products needed, in the form of labor, as well as from cash donations.
Following the move of Gus' Station, the old site in Ellendale needed to be cleaned up. Jim Misgen took the old tires, etc.; Jesse Routh cleaned up the old site, removing the old foundation; and Roger Swearingen filled in dirt where the old station had been.
Once all of restoration projects are completed, Gus' Station will be turned over to the Steele County Historical Society, which will maintain it along with the rest of the buildings in the Village of Yesteryear.
This has been a big project that required a large number of inspections.
Lloyd Kaplan helped organize this project. Kaplan and Barb Mrotz, Ed and Norine Jensen, Paul Aronson and Leroy and Newell Sommers were among those who have been a great help.
Members of the Ellendale Area Historical Society will be manning Gus' station during the pancake breakfast and Ribbon Cutting, as well as during the hours the Village of Yesteryear will be open during the Steele County Fair, which runs August 13-18.
The Buttermilk Pancake Fundraiser is sponsored by Tracy Holland Auction, Steve's Meat Market, First National Bank of Ellendale & Hope, Brian Wayne Pioneer Seeds, Al's Body Shop, Hope Creamery Butter and Floors 4 U.
The big thing now is the handicap ramp, which is needed before the fair begins. Restrictions are that the doors cannot be opened to the public unless the ramp is completed. The public can help by coming for an enjoyable breakfast and donating to this cause so the doors on Gus' Station can be opened for public display.
Be sure to attend the breakfast on August 11, from 9 am. to 1 p.m. at the History Center. They will be ever so glad if you would.
