Kick off Iron Horse with pancakes, flag dedication

Breakfast pancakes are the best way to start the Iron Horse Festival on Sept. 30.

They will be offered at the Historic Iron Mountain Depot beginning at 7:30 a.m. prior to the official festival opening.

“Pancakes at the Depot have been a part of the festival for the last several years,” said Jim Chrisman, a member of the depot’s board. “All profits will be used in the continuing restoration of the historic depot.”

At 9:30 a.m., the Poplar Bluff Band and ROTC Honor Guard will participate in the new Flag and Pole dedication at the top of the Grand Staircase.

There will be a brief ceremony and pancakes will continue to be served following the flag raising until about 10:30 a.m.

David Boyer has put many hours of work into getting the new flag pole installed at the top of the Grand Staircase.

The new flagpole has been a desire of the depot committee since the previous pole at the base of the staircase was removed seven years ago to rebuild the staircase, Chrisman said.

The pancake breakfast includes sausage, coffee, milk, orange juice.

Tickets are priced at $7 each and will be available from historic depot committee members or at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. Tickets may also be purchased at the depot during breakfast hours.

“This year, the depot committee has teamed up with Mimi’s Market & Royal Café to be able to exchange unused pancake tickets for $5 off a meal purchased during October from Mimi’s,” Chrisman said. “The tickets must be used in October.”

The 1910 Historic Depot Building was donated to the not-for-profit committee by Union Pacific in 2003 and is managed by the all-volunteer group. Over $1 million has been spent since 2003 on the roof, staircase, fence and interior renovations. Membership of the depot committee is open to anyone interested in becoming involved in the restoration of the depot.

For more information contact Chrisman 573-300-9303, Stephanie Knoppe 573-429-8441, or David Boyer 573-785-3964.