2014 Candlelight Dinners on the Prairie were a HUGE Success!

The Darke County Parks would like to thank everyone who participated in this falls’ Candlelight Dinners. The Park District successfully hosted two more Candlelight Dinners in the Shawnee Prairie Log House. Twenty guests at each dinner enjoyed pioneer demonstrations, entertainment, and a hearth-cooked meal. The meal was prepared and cooked by Park Volunteers and this year’s meal consisted of Spice Muffins, Butternut Squash Soup, Turkey/ Venison, Parsley Irish Potatoes, Green Beans and Salt Pork, Pickled Red Beets and Dutch Oven Apple Cobbler. All proceeds from the Candlelight Dinners help the Park District maintain needed repairs on the Log House and other cultural facilities at the Park District.

Laura Schwieterman, Volunteer Coordinator stated “I want to thank all the Park District Volunteers for their hard work and dedication in making the dinners possible. Whether you came in early to start the fires, helped with the preparation of the meal, set the tables, cooked the food, were an indentured pioneer servant, presented a pioneer demonstration, or assisted with clean up at the end of the evening, THANK YOU! It is amazing what everyone can do in just a short amount of time and it always seems to work out according to the itinerary.” Schwieterman continued, “As the vintage phrase goes, Many hands makes light work.” Heartfelt thanks go out to the following volunteers: Dean Whipp, Anna Wetzel, Phyllis Allread, Mary Shrader, Sandy & Bill Rich, Gini & Verd Stuckey, Seth Peele, Margaret Hensel, Ginny Bertram, Kim Willey, Jill Fisher, Iris Hathaway, Chris Swank, Connie Brocious, Barbie & Dudley Hansbarger, Sue Besecker, Karan Hoschouer, Carolyn & Phill Hollinger, Stacey Adkins, Ray Bradbury, Tina Cost, Kate Young, Tom Franklin, Kim & Karen Droesch, Bill Wantz and Hank Steinmetz. I would also like to thank Park District Volunteers Tom Franklin and Margaret Hensel for providing the entertainment at the dinners.