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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

VERMILION RANGE

Delicious tradition

At 105 years, Old Settlers Picnic still going strong

Jodi Summit
Posted 7/25/19

BREITUNG TWP- As traditions go, this is the oldest one in town.The 105th annual Vermilion Range Old Settlers Reunion and Picnic was, as always, one of the most pleasant afternoons of the summer. …

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VERMILION RANGE

Delicious tradition

At 105 years, Old Settlers Picnic still going strong

Posted

BREITUNG TWP- As traditions go, this is the oldest one in town.
The 105th annual Vermilion Range Old Settlers Reunion and Picnic was, as always, one of the most pleasant afternoons of the summer. There was good food, good company, good music, and thanks to the generosity of local businesses, lots of prizes.
The weather this year was picture-perfect, and McKinley Park was filled with picnickers aged seven weeks (Barrett Picard) to 95 years (Carol Maddern). Elizabeth Palo was recognized as traveling the furthest this year, having arrived from England.
This year’s president, Jennifer (Korpi) Fredrickson, presented the short program, which included a brief discourse on the origin of the word “booyah” by Lynn Olson, Tower-Soudan Class of 1964. Booyah, for any who are not familiar, is a meaty stew cooked in large batches over an open fire. In this case, it depends on five large cast iron kettles, in which the booyah simmers all night long. Head Chef Nick Tekautz, who isn’t quite sure how he inherited the title, relies on a hand-written recipe, a large crew of vegetable cutters who assemble at his house the evening before, and picnic-day help from a crew of young chefs-in-training, the youngest of whom is in his mid-50s.
Booyah, while well-known in this area, is a regional specialty, mostly prepared in northeastern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Linguists speculate the word was derived from either bouillon or bouillabaisse, and originally referred to a traditional stew from Belgium. And while there is some disagreement about where it first appeared in the United States, there is no disagreement on what it refers to: a meaty stew, cooked outdoors in a large iron kettle, with lots of vegetables.
Art Lehtonen once again entertained the crowd with favorites on his accordion, often with a few preschoolers dancing to the tunes.
Fredrickson and Lee Branwall took a few minutes to honor The Tower News’ Phyllis Burgess, who has been attending the event since she was a young child and has been compiling local news and updates at the picnic for well over 50 years.
This year’s attendance was slightly higher than last year. The large number of young children enjoying the day with their families filled the park area with playful noise.
And the tradition is certainly making its mark on some of our younger residents. Zia Jonas, waiting in line with his own pot this year, proudly noted he had bought his own membership this year. Harlow Kultala, at a year-and-a-half, picnicked with her mother Jamie (Glavan) Kultala, grandmother Jill Besch, and great-grandmother Judy Sunsdahl. Five-year-old Valerie Young, from Duluth, daintily made her way up the walkway, pot in hand, to take her place in line with her grandparents Charles and Sarah Sundeen Young.
Registrations this year were once again handled by Kathy Hoppa, secretary/treasurer, and Jackie Kangas, who had help from her grandson Chad Kangas. The committee also would like to recognize the efforts of Susie and Jerry Chiabotti, managers of McKinley Park Campground, and staff from Breitung Township for all their assistance. Dena Suihkonen and Kristine Jonas handled the raffle and awarding of prizes and said this year’s donations from local businesses were especially generous.
This year’s past president was Jodi Summit. Incoming president for 2020 is Muriel Scott, with Stephen Tekautz as first vice-president, and Matt Tuchel as second vice-president.
Save the date for the 106th Old Settlers on Saturday, July 18, 2020.
Membership in Old Settlers is open to anyone born or living on the Vermilion Iron Range. Annual dues, which fund the cost for the food, are $6 paid in advance or $8 at the event.

Old Settlers, Breitung Township, Booyah