Mt. Morris
Mount Morris Bandshell
7/10/2021; The BHFS Council - Sitting left to right: Joanne Hesselink, Judy Van schiok-Fritschler, Betty Trowbridge-Hagan, Brian Fritschler; Standing left to right: Patrick Connolly, Paul Hagan, Amy Kowalski
The community of Mt. Morris was the force that created the bandshell in the Mt. Morris Town Park. The conversation of a building a permanent bandshell was started by Patrick Connolly, a life-time resident of Mt. Morris and a founding member of Black Hawk Folk Society (BHFS). There was enormous community support for the concept, design selection, fund raising, procurement of materials and the construction of it. BHFS Council members added their enthusiastic support along with many other BHFS volunteers who lent their talents to see it to completion. The BHFS uses it throughout the summer months. The bandshell is also intended to serve other events. Reservations may be made through the Town of Mt. Morris's website.
The first concert in the new bandshell was held on September 20, 2020, as a test run with music presented by many of the musical volunteers of BHFS. The BHFS is 36-year old nonprofit group dedicated to presenting live professional folk, bluegrass, and Americana music to central Wisconsin. The BHFS held its first annual folk festival in 1988 with a hay wagon serving as a stage. Over time, it was upgraded to a portable stage but this proved difficult to move and set up. The new bandshell has been greatly welcome and an improvement for the presentation of its musical events.
The design was inspired by and modeled after the Mirror Lake State Park Amphitheater. Architect J. Patrick Storrs with American Architectural Group, LLC, designed the Mt. Morris bandshell. Construction began in early August with a volunteer crew; completion was within a month. The only contracted items were site preparation, the concrete stage, the electrical work, installation of the metal roof, and landscaping.
Contracted goods and services were $26,160; the value of donated materials (all the timber, connectors, stain, etc.) was $25,922 for a total of $52,082. The only “store-bought” timber were the roof rafters; all other timber was locally harvested or repurposed utility poles.
All funds used were donated by property owners of the Town of Mt. Morris and friends who have enjoyed the Park. There were two major donors and over 100 anonymous individual ones. The Town of Mt. Morris allowed the land to be used for the bandshell. A few years prior to the bandshell construction, the Town had built a pavilion at the Park which included shelter area, an enclosed kitchen, and bathrooms. These facilities greatly complement the bandshell.
The first concert in the new bandshell was held on September 20, 2020, as a test run with music presented by many of the musical volunteers of BHFS. The BHFS is 36-year old nonprofit group dedicated to presenting live professional folk, bluegrass, and Americana music to central Wisconsin. The BHFS held its first annual folk festival in 1988 with a hay wagon serving as a stage. Over time, it was upgraded to a portable stage but this proved difficult to move and set up. The new bandshell has been greatly welcome and an improvement for the presentation of its musical events.
The design was inspired by and modeled after the Mirror Lake State Park Amphitheater. Architect J. Patrick Storrs with American Architectural Group, LLC, designed the Mt. Morris bandshell. Construction began in early August with a volunteer crew; completion was within a month. The only contracted items were site preparation, the concrete stage, the electrical work, installation of the metal roof, and landscaping.
Contracted goods and services were $26,160; the value of donated materials (all the timber, connectors, stain, etc.) was $25,922 for a total of $52,082. The only “store-bought” timber were the roof rafters; all other timber was locally harvested or repurposed utility poles.
All funds used were donated by property owners of the Town of Mt. Morris and friends who have enjoyed the Park. There were two major donors and over 100 anonymous individual ones. The Town of Mt. Morris allowed the land to be used for the bandshell. A few years prior to the bandshell construction, the Town had built a pavilion at the Park which included shelter area, an enclosed kitchen, and bathrooms. These facilities greatly complement the bandshell.
Marquette County Tribune story, 6/24/2021
The 2021 schedule for BHFS runs monthly through September.
During the remaining year, monthly concerts are scheduled at Mountain View Community Center.
7/10/2021; Local sponsors of the 33rd Annual Folk Festival are recognized.
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7/10/2021; The musical lineup for the 33rd Annual Folk Music Festival
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The Bandshell is located at Mt. Morris Town Park and Boat Landing, on County Rd. G, on Lake Morris.
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