Strawberry Fest turns 40

IOLA - Strawberries and local history are on the schedule for the Iola Historical Society’s Annual Strawberry Fest that will be held on June 22.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Society’s Historic Village complex at 222 Depot Street.
Local crafters and vendors will be present and selling their handcrafted items.
Admission to the event is free, although goodwill donations will be accepted.
Food items available for purchase include homemade strawberry shortcake with ice cream or whipped cream as well as pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs.

Assorted sodas and bottled water will also be available for purchase from Iola’s Boy Scout Troop 631.
Table cleaning assistance will be provided by Iola’s Girl Scout Troop 6290.
The food and beverage offerings will be available in the historical society’s Machine Shed.
An antiques appraisal fair is another feature of the event, with experts on hand to attribute and provide valuations for wide-ranging collectible treasures that may be tucked away in the attics and basements of attendees.
Mark F. Moran, of Iola, is the featured author and antiques expert of the group that will be providing the valuations. He will be joined by a panel of experts.
Moran was the former senior editor at Krause Publications for Antique Trader magazine, and a guest expert on the PBS program Antiques Roadshow for nine seasons.
Pre-registration for the antique appraisal fair is not required; however, a suggested donation is $3 per item, or $5 for three items, with all proceeds benefiting the Iola Historical Society.
Moran is the author of more than 25 guidebooks and catalogs on collectibles in categories ranging from country antiques to clocks and pottery to dolls.
The panel of experts was drawn from the ranks of Krause Publications collectible divisions. They include Dave Harper from the coin collecting division, Maggie Thompson from the comics field, and others.
Moran’s knowledge and expertise, along with that of the other members of this talented panel represents untold decades of insights into the collectability of Americana furniture, glassware, metal ware, and books to sports memorabilia and beyond.
Categories of objects for appraisal may include Americana, including autographs and historical documents, fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary, furniture (usually smaller pieces are best), ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.
You can also bring in glassware, including marbles and souvenir items, vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, ambrotypes and daguerreotypes, advertising, including posters, lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.
They will also take a look at folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and “outsider” art, assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), wind-ups and mechanical banks.
You can also bring in clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural, costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings, musical Instruments, including string, wind and reed instruments, antique and vintage lighting of all kinds, books and sports memorabilia.
Items that are excluded from appraisal are, all weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted), traps (like leg-hold); Nazi memorabilia; coins and paper money; fine jewelry, including precious gems and beanie babies.
Questions about objects not covered outlined above can be submitted to Moran in advance to determine if they are appropriate.
Suggested categories for advance inquiry include, but are not limited to Oriental, Native
American and other tribal objects (African, Oceanic), ancient artifacts (Egyptian and other early cultures), fossils and minerals, automotive items, nautical and military-related objects, records, antique tools and technological objects (typewriters, cameras, assorted machinery or instruments for scientific measure, like sextants, telescopes, microscopes, etc.).
Opinions of value are informal, and may not be used for insurance or charitable donation, which require a certified appraisal.
For more information you can contact Moran at moranm1953@gmail.com.
The Iola Historic Village buildings will be open for visitors, except for the original (1894) vintage Iola and Northern Railroad depot, which is undergoing restoration to its original design. The other buildings include a replica of a local one-room schoolhouse, a 1930s log cabin used in the area by hunters, a replica of Iola’s original fire station containing Iola’s vintage first three firefighting vehicles, the original Helvetia Town Hall.
The Machine Shed will also be open and is filled with vintage farm and manufacturing equipment along with the recently acquired Anderson Machine Shop equipment and a recently restored vintage caboose.
You can also visit the historical society’s newly remodeled and expanded museum.
The main museum features a number of collections from Native American artifacts to violin collections to military memorabilia as well as a Chet Krause exhibit who is founder of Krause Publications, co-founder of the Iola Car Show, and philanthropist.
Chet’s involvement in the community defined the Iola area’s success in the second half of the 20th century.
He passed away in 2016, so this exhibit is just being developed, but already includes his original business desk, awards he received over the years, and other items.
Docents will be at each building to talk about the historic significance of the building and its contents and answer any questions.
Attendees are also encouraged to visit the historic Iola Mills, 300 North Main Street, built in 1860.
The Iola Historical Society’s village is open on Saturdays in June, July and August from noon to 3 p.m.