Corey Miller, a community naive, rural Freeman resident and pastor of the Salem-Zion Mennonite Church, loads up a serving bowl of green bean soup as he serves a table during Friday night's Schmeckfest supper. Just under 1,000 guests took in the traditional German meal on the first night of the 63rd ...

Duane Ries and his daughter Brittney weigh and price rings of Schmeckfest sausage Friday morning in preparation for the influx of guests that will come through the line to purchase one of the festival's most popular ethnic foods. Schmeckfest officially begins at 1 p.m. today and will continue throug...

That's Joshua Hofer in the makeup chair and Emmit Ortman behind him prior to Wednesday night's final dress rehearsal for "Shrek the Musical." Hofer plays the title role and Ortman the part of Young Shrek in the production that is being presented this week in conjunction with the 63rd Schmeckfest. Th...

Members of the Schmeckfest musical program committee and students at Freeman Academy set up seating in the Pioneer Hall auditorium in preparation for Schmeckfest — specifically, this year's production of "Shrek the Musical." While the 63rd festival first begins on Friday afternoon, opening night of ...

This historic photo of Pioneer Hall is featured in today's Facebook post by Heritage Hall Museum & Archives, which every Monday offers a historical look back at something in the Freeman community. The following text is also included. On Friday, March 13, 1959 – 65 years ago this week – this building...

This shows the old Salem-Zion Mennonite Church as it was from 1912 to 1956, when the current building was constructed. The Salem-Zion Church — or the North Church — is located 4 miles straight east of Freeman.

This shows the school building used by the Freeman Independent School District in the early part of the 20th century. The distinctive structure was located on what is today Lions Park (facing east) and served the students and staff from 1900 until 1923, when it was destroyed by fire. A new buildings...

Anybody visiting Jamboree Foods in Freeman knows that Schmeckfest is coming up. This display welcoming visitors is standard issue for the downtown grocery store. The annual festival will be held next Friday and Saturday.

This is what is known as the Gottlieb and Karolina Schmitt House, which is the centerpiece of the Menno Heritage Museum in that town. Located just off Fifth Street (Menno's main downtown roadway), the structure was acquired by the Menno Heritage Association in 1983, restored, and turned into a museu...

For those familiar with what it takes to prepare a Schmeckfest musical, this is a familiar scene. It shows the Pioneer Hall auditorium in the middle of its transition to a theater during a rehearsal for "Shrek the Musical" last week. The fairy tale featuring an array of characters will be presented ...