Bates Hall preservation group plans bake sale fundraiser in Iron River

A tray of cookies, a raffle ticket and a stop at Bigari Ace Hardware will help push the Bates Hall project forward in Iron River as the Bates Hall Preservation Society keeps raising money to move and restore the 1907 building.

The society’s annual bake sale is set for Friday, May 22, from 8 a.m. to noon at the store. Organizers said the table will include a wide array of baked goods, including some gluten-free options, and anyone who wants to contribute can bring bakery items or canning donations to the event or drop them off early that morning at Ace.

The bake sale is more than a one-morning fundraiser. Bates Hall Preservation Society was formed in late 2020 to preserve and revitalize the Historic Bates Township Hall, which the group says it aims to protect and share with present and future generations. The work centers on moving the historic hall and restoring it, a project that has depended on repeat community events, volunteer labor and donations from local businesses rather than on one large gift.

That effort has already produced real momentum. Recent reporting said the society had raised more than $300,000 in matching funds, helping unlock a total infusion of more than $500,000 tied to a federal grant process. The group discussed 2026 fundraisers, community activities, budget and project status at its annual meeting on Jan. 12.

This week’s sale also carries a small raffle that folds directly into the same preservation push. The prizes include a donated picnic backpack with a bottle of wine and two $25 gift cards donated by SuperOne Foods. Raffle tickets are $3 each or two for $5, and buyers must be 21 or older because alcohol is included. Those who cannot attend can still contact Sue at 906-265-4771 to arrange a ticket purchase.

Bigari Ace Hardware has become a familiar setting for that kind of local support. The Iron River business was started by Ernie Bigari in 1975 and later became the sole property of Tim Novak in 2020. Its role as a recurring fundraiser site gives the preservation society a practical base for one of its most visible community efforts, and it gives Iron River residents a direct way to keep Bates Hall moving toward its next phase.