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Shafer celebration was great

To the editor:
Congratulations to the city and township of Shafer who participated in the Shafer Heritage Dagen 150th Anniversary celebration Oct. 3-5. Thank you to the Shafer Heritage Dagen committee and the outstanding group of volunteers who dedicated their time preparing for the event. Memories were shared, historical Shafer photos, artifacts and information graced the exhibit hall, and old friends met once again along the streets.
The entire three days were blessed with great weather, a variety of events, family time, the classic car show, music, the firemenís open house/dance, hayrides and good old-fashioned fun ... 25 tractors parading in the Sunday afternoon finale.
Two historical re-enactment plays depicting Jacob Shafer and Shafer Meadows/Taylors Falls connection, and the 1923 Shafer State Bank Robbery were both educational and fun for the crowds to watch. There was also a real possibility of a Jacob Shafer family connection.
A month ago, I received a letter from Robert and Sheila Shafer of Mount Ayr, Iowa. Ironically, they were on a motorcycle trip to Taylors Falls and dropped into town and took a photo at the Shafer population sign on Hwy. 8.
After a conversation with a man at the fuel pumps, they learned that Shafer was having a celebration.
To make a long story short, they picked up an events booklet and Bob wrote me a letter with his genealogy transcripts - hoping to prove heís a relative of Jacob Shafer.
They attended the Saturday and Sunday events. We looked through the detailed Shafer family history book they had, and we think there is a strong possibility of a connection. Bob is going to continue the research, as well as researchers from Sweden that Iíve called in to help.
Stay tuned for more news as we uncover it.
All in all, it was a wonderful celebration. Special thanks to the many business sponsors who helped to make the 150th anniversary a complete success.
To quote Tony Minnichsoffer, Lindstrom, ìHow wonderful it was to visit old friends and neighbors and to enjoy the familial atmosphere of splendid old Shafer.î
Several other comments are echoing Tonyís sentiment. Thanks again for coming to our small town and sharing our big history. See you next year ñ the first weekend in October.
Sally Barott
Shafer Heritage Dagen,
Chairman

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