Plans are underway to build a sugar shack in Plymouth City Park! Consisting of many donated construction materials and built by Plymouth High School students, the sugar shack will be a permanent symbol of our local maple sugaring heritage. When complete, the sugar shack will provide unique educational opportunities for area students and community members.
Why build a sugar shack?
The sugar shack pays homage to the long history of maple sugaring in our area. Before European settlers arrived in Wisconsin, indigenous tribes had already discovered the process of boiling maple sap to make a rich, sweet syrup that could be used in foods. As settlers arrived, they learned this technique from the indigenous people and also began using maple sap for the same purpose. Here in Sheboygan County, the Drewry family began making syrup in the 1800s and have grown their operation over the decades, being joined by many other maple syrup producers in the area. Today, Wisconsin is the 3rd or 4th largest maple syrup producing state in the nation (depending on which list you consult).
For the last few years, middle school students have walked to City Park in spring to learn the process from a Drewry family member and take part in tapping maple trees to collect sap. This unique educational opportunity provides for memorable learning, which will be further enhanced by the sugar shack. Once built, students can bring the sap to the sugar shack and watch the cooking process as 40 gallons of maple sap are transformed into one gallon of maple syrup. The shack would also be used for demonstrations during the annual Plymouth Maple Festival, held on the first Saturday in April at Plymouth City Park.
We have future plans to allow community members to bring sap to the sugar shack for processing, as well. In the future, syrup produced at the shack could also become a revenue stream for the City of Plymouth.
LATEST UPDATES:
February 2024: We have received incredible support from the community in the form of monetary and in-kind contributions. Fundraising continues, as we need to fund initial construction along with ongoing operations and maintenance. We have also planned a groundbreaking ceremony which will take place in City Park at 1:15-1:30 p.m., immediately after the Plymouth Maple Festival on April 6, 2024. The community is welcome to join us for this special moment!
January 2024: We have agreed on an operations and maintenance plan with the City and are now in the midst of fundraising!
December 2023: At their November 28, 2023 meeting, the Plymouth Common Council unanimously voted in favor of accepting the Plymouth Maple Association’s donation of a sugar shack at City Park. Fundraising has officially begun, and we are working toward approval by the Plan Commission! The City’s approval is contingent upon ongoing operation and maintenance by the Plymouth Maple Association, so funds are also needed for this purpose.
Compeer Financial
Fred Blakeslee
Tanya Niemuth
Lee Gentine
John & Char Nelson
Barbara Drewry-Zimmerman & Mark Zimmerman
Elizabeth Spaeth-Werner
Bank First
Francis Chiropractic
Meyer Motors
Waldo State Bank
Arch Solar
Drewry Farms
River’s Edge Family Dental
Majestic Crossing Dairy
Quasius Construction
Taylor Ready-Mix
Serenity Farm Landscaping
Haucke Plumbing and Heating
Plymouth Lions Club
Master’s Gallery
Ellen Drewry
Phil & Jayne Kissinger
(Grandpa Kissinger’s Maple Syrup)
Waldo Oil
Be part of the project
There are several ways to be involved in this exciting community initiative:
CONTRIBUTE FINANCIALLY:
While we are fortunate to have many donated supplies and volunteer labor, there are still costs associated with this project. We are looking to raise $30,000 to cover construction costs and support operations and maintenance. Donations of any size are gratefully accepted. If you would like to make a donation, please click here for more information.
CONTRIBUTE IN-KIND:
If you are a tradesperson who would like to provide labor for the project please, click here to email us.
