From humble beginnings to major success!

Organizers of first Firehouse Sale

1999 – The High Prairie Community Council Dreams Big

Their goals were to provide a water source for the High Prairie Fire District, to strive for a community center, and to build a satellite fire station on Schilling Road on the eastern edge of High Prairie. Plus, the Fire District needed funds for equipment and maintenance, and the current firehouse needed major upgrades.

2000 – The First Firehouse Sale

HPCC announced a rummage sale for May 5^th, 2000. It was to be held at the firehouse, so they called it the Firehouse Sale. It was a humble beginning; but even though they used only one end of the firehouse and served no food or drink, they grossed over $3,000.

2001 – 2008 The Firehouse Sale Takes Off

With that success they started thinking bigger, better, and “raise more money!” Over the years they added food and drink, specifically coffee and cinnamon rolls in the morning and Myrin’s popular bratwurst. Donations flowed in and the sale expanded outside. Awnings were purchased to cover the cooks and customers and the overflow of goods. The Firehouse Sale’s growing success guaranteed that it would continue, so they bought a Porta-Potti, and two local residents built a dual-fuel mega-grill on a trailer. Finally HPCC decided that they needed a really big tent for the food and the picnic tables. By 2008 the ‘really big tent’ was joined by five smaller tents and a couple of awnings for cashiers; and donated goods still overflowed the available shelter. Toward the end of this period, the High Prairie Needlers began making and donating a beautiful quilt to be raffled each year.

Firehouse Sale as Country Fair

2009 – 2013 Firehouse Sale as Country Fair

In 2009 the sale was moved to Alecksons’ hay barn, a half-mile down the road. The hay barn was a better site, with more space, country charm and more amenities. Most of the sale could fit inside the barn, plus a tent for furniture and the big tent for the food booth. Plants, tools, and sporting goods were still outside. The sale took on a festive air with the addition of decorative signs, live music, a bigger menu, and fun activities for kids. The Silent Auction, new in 2010, was a great success and got better every year.

2014 – 2015 Coming Home to the New Community Center

In 2014 the sale was moved again, this time to the new Community Center and Fire Hall, which opened in 2010. The new space required reinventing the sale (again), and it became a 3-day sale. The new indoor space is perfect for showcasing the Silent Auction and the raffle quilt; and the kitchen makes serving food much simpler. Additional new tents have spread the overflow of sale items down the length of the site. Two special events have added to the fun in 2015 — a drawing for a rifle, and a show-and-tell car show. As with every other year, the motto is “This is going to be the BEST ONE YET!”

2016 The Community Center Comes Alive

Every year has improved the experience at the Community Center, and 2016 is no exception. The purchase of a second big pavilion tent will improve the flow of shoppers and allow roomier and more visible display of the clothing. Along with the usual shopping departments, the Quilt Raffle, the Silent Auction, and the Food Booth, some innovations from last year are returning, such as the Car Show and indoor food serving and eating areas. This year the Food Booth will also serve a Pancake Breakfast on Saturday. Raffles have been expanded: now there’s also a Bike Raffle and a Sportsman Raffle featuring a rifle as Grand Prize plus 4 other prizes. A remote radio broadcast will be going during the sale.

A Success by Any Measure

The Firehouse Sales have been more and more successful over the years. Generally the net proceeds have gone up each year. The HPCC, along with other organizations and individuals in the community, has reached two of its early goals: Fire District 14 now has a ready source of water, and the new Community Center and Fire Hall is a reality. Approximately half the profits from every Firehouse Sale go to the Fire District, while the rest funds the operation of the Community Center and other HPCC programs. Since its inception, the High Prairie Firehouse Sale has provided Fire District 14 with over $50,000. The Fire District is currently putting its Firehouse Sale profits into a special fund to help build a satellite fire station on Schilling Road.

Community Center and Fire Hall

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