February 5, 2003
Snowshoe Romp raises funds for barn preservation
Grand Traverse Commons event benefits Rolling Centuries Historical Farm project
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
It was an evening of smiles and laughter, candles and cocoa, as more than 650 people gathered to snowshoe on the Grand Traverse Commons and raise money for the Rolling Centuries Historical Farm.
Participants in Saturday's Eighth Annual McLain Cycle & Fitness Snowshoe Romp Fundraiser navigated a 1.5-mile course, raising approximately $2,400 for the effort to preserve the former Traverse City State Hospital barns.
Enthusiasm for snowshoeing, the barns and the scenery ran high during the two-hour event. The trail wound through the Grand Traverse Commons grounds, showcasing the best of the property. At one point, the route crested a high hill overlooking the city, where the lights below sparkled like jewels.
"It is beautiful here, just gorgeous," said Rachelle Birch of Traverse City, who attended the event with her husband, Bill. "We're going to come back here and we're going to learn more about the barns."
After completing the trail - though some participants went back for rounds two or three - participants could warm themselves with soup, bread and cocoa donated by Folgarelli's and the Great Harvest Bread Company.
Children eagerly slid down huge snow piles lining the staging area while adults mingled, greeting friends and neighbors. A bonfire warmed cold fingers and toes while doors of the upper barns were thrown wide inviting exploration.
"This is perfectly suited for this use, what they are doing here tonight," said Raymond Minervini II, whose family is spearheading the redevelopment effort for Building 50.
"We're 110 percent behind this for the use of the Commons."
McLain Cycle holds the snowshoe fund-raisers - nicknamed Passeggiata, which is Italian for public gathering - each year to promote the sport and raise money for a local charitable organization. This year's pick of the Rolling Centuries Historical Farm was sparked by last year's event, which raised money to help preserve Building 50.
Store employees and nearly 40 volunteers help the evening run smoothly. They helped with everything from lighting candles and guiding on the trail to serving food and snapping on snowshoes.
"It's always a blast, for both our volunteers and the folks who show up at the event," said Dan Hoffman, manager of McLain Cycle who coordinated the event. "Even the people waiting in line for their snowshoes are happy."
Volunteer Chris Gladieux of Traverse City created 185 ice candleholders, which he and other volunteers placed at intervals along the course to guide participants. Gladieux made the candleholders in three batches using donated 2-gallon ice cream buckets. He filled the buckets with water and froze them for 15 hours at Grand Traverse Cold Storage, who donated subzero freezer space for the effort.
He then turned the buckets upside down and knocked out ice plugs one by one. The result was a hollow candleholder that was reflective as well as environmentally friendly.
"You just leave them out to melt after the event," Gladieux said. "Though we take the wax candle out first."
The pleasant hum of activity warmed Dan Tholen, a longtime member of the Grand Traverse Commons Board. Tholen has explored the land in all seasons for more than 20 years and is thrilled to see the property used for community events. He has watched the grounds evolve from mostly deserted to a thriving gathering place and recreation area.
"I used to come out here to ski and see nobody," he said, contrasting with a recent weekend's skiing trip where he saw almost two dozen people walking or snowshoeing.
Tholen also noted that each time the Rolling Centuries Historical Farm holds events, which in the past has included a barn dance, ice cream social and old-fashioned parade, a different group of people attend.
"Tonight, even at 5:30 when the event started, many people told the guy helping with parking that they have never been here before," Tholen said. "This is great, to get people out here."