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When you say...

The gospel according to Eddie Tor

by Richard Brockman, publisher

DICKEYVILLE, Wis. - "When you say Budweiser, you've said it all."

Well, move aside B-u-u-d. After Monday night's phenomenal Potosi Brewery Foundation Restoration Fundraiser, the more appropriate phrase would be:

"When you say Potosi, you've said it all."

The little community nestled between the Mississippi bluffs pulled off a major coup Monday evening, raising about $85,000, to match state funds to do some of the work on the monumental task of restoring the brewery buildings.

If you were among the 300 plus persons attending the four-hour banquet and auction, you had to be impressed with what these folks had done. But, perhaps even more important is the realization that the State Of Wisconsin is going, to have to stand up and take notice—and be equally impressed.

Several state legislators were in attendance including state senator Dale Schultz, and reps. Steve Freese and Gabe Loeffelholz. Loeffelholz introduced the bill into the legislature last year which will provide matching funds for the amount that Potosi raises. Freese chairman of the fundraiser is a Potosi Brewery artifact collector, and an ardent supporter of the project.

I am sure that these legislators will make sure the marble hallways of the state capitol will be echoing the success of Monday night and I am sure that the governor will get an earful, too—and rightfully so.

Who would have ever thought that Potosians could raise that kind of money in one night in economically distressed southwest Wisconsin. Oh, to be sure, not all of the support is from Potosi. Encouragement has come from all over. But, let's let Potosi have their spot in the lime light on this one.

They did something incredible through hard work, organization and pure grit Monday, and they deserve all of the credit in the world.

I was amazed at the attendance at $50 a plate. Tickets were sold out, and extras given out before the event. The items that were donated and went up for auction were amazing both in numbers and in value. And the people there showed their support by bidding high and bidding often.

A quilt made by several Potosi area ladies received a high bid of $2,000, but the high bidder said that wasn't enough. "Bid it again," he said.

It took four times, and the total realized from the auctions of that quilt had reached about $4,000, before people were satisfied it had brought enough. Local original art works by Terry Downs and Roger Scholbrock also brought large amounts as did a ceramic stepping stone by Mary Fiorenza.

Potosi Brewery artifacts such as labels, beer cans, bottle openers, signs, and even a couple of quart bottles still full of Potosi beer, brought large donations. And there were all kinds of other items on the auction block.

The current estimate of the money raised is $85,000, but that is actually only half. When the state's match is paid, the sum will be about $170,000. That means that the quilt, for example, raised some $8,000.

Wow, doesn't even begin to describe it.

When talk started about restoring the brewery buildings, which had become rundown through years of neglect, I encouraged the idea. If it could be done, I thought, it would be wonderful not only for Potosi, but all of the Tri-State area.

But, I wondered, are the buildings too far gone? Is this just too big of a project for a small community that has no big industrial giants or foundations to help foot the bill?

I underestimated Potosians, for Monday night they did what few communities in the state could have pulled off, communities of any size.

You've heard of "The Little Engine That Could"? Well, Potosi this week is "The Little Community That Could".

The UW-Madison band likes to play the Budweiser song and adapt it to their use with "When you say Wisconsin, you've said it all".

After Monday evening, perhaps a better rendition might be, "When you say Wisconsin, you MEAN Potosi".

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