TOWN AND COUNTRY FAMILY CELEBRATES 60TH ANNIVERSARY
Two huge Percherons, driven by Duane Sweenor and Bob Kinney, pulled a loaded wagon of cedar logs down the main streets of Harbor Springs and Petoskey on July 4th, followed by the Town & Country Team celebrating the historical beginnings of our towns and honoring the 60 years of industry Town & Country has brought to Northwestern Michigan. Leading the parade with the company banner were Steve Biggs, Chairman of the Board and Stephanie Baldwin, President, accompanied by her son, Gus. Balloons and packets of wildflower seeds were passed out to the crowds. Bob Kinney, Mill Manager, and the team from Town & Country Cedar Products also participated in the Polish Festival Parade on August 4th.
Team Town & Country celebrated their 60th anniversary family style at their Petoskey, Michigan, location on July 12, 2007. Complete with polka band lead by Norm Hausler, line dancing and dunk tank, generations of families from the Town & Country Cedar Homes, Cedar Products, and Construction Services divisions celebrated their years of leadership in the log home industry with good, clean, down home fun!
The management team of Steve Biggs, Stephanie Baldwin, Mike Rathbun and Bob Kinney volunteered for the dunk tank. Under the big tent Josie Smith, daughter of Tim Smith, and granddaughter of Bernie Kondrat, won the children’s Pie Eating contest organized by Master of Ceremonies, Eric Baldwin. Mark Gronik, Structural Engineer, beat out 2nd place Stephanie Baldwin in the adult pie eating contest. Hillbilly Golf was teed up on the hill outside the Preserve Model. Several teams lined up for water balloon tosses and three-legged races. Smaller children dove into a pool of cedar chips for hidden surprises. Good meats were cooked on site and served by Mark Plath of Plath Meats, accompanied by the pot-luck dishes served up by the families of Town & Country Cedar Homes.
Noting the loss of founding member Bernie Kondrat, who passed away just two months prior to the celebrations, Steve Biggs states “I’m pleased to turn the reigns over to this talented group of teammates who will continue the legendary quality of Town & Country Cedar Homes into the next generation, and for generations to come.”
