Over 200 people arrived in Ingomar for the first ever, "Bill Seward Day", the Tri-City Rec Community Fund Raising event Saturday, March 20th. Ingomar folk made about 40 gallons of Bill Seward Beans, accompanied by about 5 gallons of hot sauce, and 12 bags of croutons – all based on Bill Seward's original recipe – courtesy of Seward grandkids Lecia, Curt, Jeff and Bill's daughter Maxime, in anticipation of attendees appetites. The event was scheduled to begin at 11:00AM. "Folks started arriving at 10:30am, while we were still getting ready," said Helen Roth, of Miles City, who volunteered to take food orders at the door.
The air was filled with laughter, camaraderie, and all the things that can magically happen in a small town when a get together presents itself. And Ingomar is officially a small town, population 12. A small town with an impressive gathering.
"There were people from two years old to ageless," added Ingomar's Hart Broesel, secretary-treasurer of the Tri-City Rec Club, which is focused on improving the community building. Their most recent project has been to improve the acoustics, and being responsive to facilitating community get togethers of all kinds.
The vendors (organized by Emily Olson) offering everything from diamond art, to handmade crochet items, from specialty bags, to coyote snares, to handmade earrings for the fisherwoman. Folks gathered at Nick Finelli's railroad booth, where he shared videos and information about the Milwaukee Road – the railroad that passed through Ingomar until 1980. "I enjoyed sharing information about the historic Milwaukee Railroad and its impact on our area," said Nick.
As visitors munched on Bill Seward beans accompanied by beef sandwiches, shared their Ingomar stories, and took advantage of the Libations offered at the event, it was like "old home week". "I had the chance to talk with a lot of people I hadn't seen in quite awhile," added Ingomar's Johnna Newman, who was busy working in the kitchen with Alice Cameron, Pam Finelli, and Karen Stroh. That was the busiest place around. Not to mention you didn't want to get too close to the action or you would immediately be enrolled in delivering meals to waiting guests.
Then there was the corn hole tournament, where good natured and yet serious minded folk, played their best for prize money offered to the top teams. Sheldon and Mel Franzel built and brought 8 boards and 16 "score keepers" for the event. According to Sheldon, "There were 18 Teams total. Robbie and Virginia Crigamire were the winners of the First tournament and Ves Clifton and girlfriend Tina won the 2nd one.
The first event paid: 1st- $120, 2nd- $60 and $20 to 3rd. Tournament two paid $150 for 1st and 2nd got $100."
Community Foundation of Northern Rosebud County (CFNRC) President Robert Engle, and Fund Director Darrell Grogan made a special appearance to enjoy the day and present the Tri-City Rec Club with a $2500 grant towards Phase II of the Community Center's acoustic improvement efforts. The CFNRC also supported Phase I with a $2300 grant.
Evidence of Phase I work was obvious as visitors scanned the newly mounted acoustic boards and burlap curtains throughout the building. "We are truly grateful for CFNRC support for our community and the Tri-City Rec Club," commented Hart Broesel. This grant donation was celebrated with a large round of applause from all gathered. Owen Badgett then offered cowboy poetry, and Doug Hollowell and son Frank played music and sang to an appreciative crowd.
The Tri-City Rec Communities saluted all the volunteers and good natured folk who helped make this event happen. This was the First Annual Bill Seward Day. The Tri-City Rec Club said they will be doing this every year on the weekend after St. Patrick's Day. Bill Seward was one of the school board members when the gym was
built; the gym became the Tri-City Community Center. And certainly Bill was responsible for Bill Seward Beans which everyone thoroughly enjoyed!
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