As the wolves howl, a rapt audience sits mesmerized through this part of the Solstice Puppet Pageant held at North House Folk School on Saturday evening during the Wooden Boat Show weekend. Between puppet helpers, performers, and members of the band Gamepalaj, there were 55 people taking part in the Good Harbor Hill Players production about Joseph Mayhew, the first lighthouse keeper in Grand Marais. Between the Solstice Pageant and other activities at North House on Saturday night, more than 900 people attended the events.
In its 21st year, the annual North House Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Festival has come to be a large draw for families and wooden boat aficionados. This year was no different.
With a wide variety of events and craft demonstrations largely free to the public, there was simply something for (practically) everyone to enjoy.
More than 2,000 people attended the festivities during the three-day celebration, with 900 plus attending Saturday night’s Summer Solstice Pageant. This year’s summer solstice puppet pageant theme featuring the Good Harbor Hill Players and GAMEPALAJ was about Joseph Mayhew, first lighthouse keeper in Grand Marais. In 1896 Joseph loses his way while sailing and throughout his journey filled with predicaments, light guides him back home. The Sun King heralds Joseph’s return, and celebrates with the entire world.
“Our annual Lake Superior Chowder Feed featured ten area restaurants who all donated the chowder, raising over $3,000 to support North House’s growing array of free community programs that happen throughout the year,” said an appreciative North House Director Greg Wright.
People milled about the grounds, taking in the craft demonstrations and examining the wooden boats on display at the North House Folk School Wooden Boat Show held last weekend. Pictured on the right is a depiction of one of the founders of North House, Mark Hansen, rowing a boat. The intricate work is loaded with North House trivia. Cecilia Schiller, who had many other fine pieces she calls “Automata,” made it.
More than 25 instructors were on the lakeside campus demonstrating crafts ranging from wooden bowl turning to stool making, peg weaving to traditional blacksmithing and much more.
A wide variety of boats were on display, which included the schooner Abby Road from Bayfield, a traditional rigged mackinaw from Grand Portage built at North House, five skin-on-frame boats built by Urban Boat Builders from St Paul, plus eight additional kayaks, canoes, and more.
And oh yes, a real treat was a new type of sailing craft on display that was created by Mark Hansen, one of the founders of North House. It was fashioned by a wooden deck strapped over two canoes. It had a canopy for shade. Mark said the loveable craft wouldn’t sail very fast, but it was stable and would be his “old man” sailboat. Like Mark, the boat was very unique.
Above: Using a spyglass, Joseph Mayhew looks for the light that can guide him home during the Solstice Puppet Pageant. Left: Gamepalaja performed the lively music for the puppet pageant.
Over 150 items were featured in the annual Boats To Tools Auction, raising over $8,000 to support North House’s mission to “enrich lives and build community through the teaching of traditional northern crafts.”
All in all, it was a great weekend to spend time on the North House Folk School campus.
Leave a Reply