LEWISTON, Minn. – The Wanek family of LaCrosse, whose fortune has been made with Ashley Furniture, donated $1 million to The Crossings event center in Lewiston. The gift was a surprise. Ron Wanek, who grew up on a farm near Lewiston, was in town to accept the high school’s distinguished alunmi award. He brought along a $1 million check. Wanek graduated from the Lewiston-Altura High School in 1959.
Ron and Joyce Wanek. Holding the check at the signature red brick schoolhouse at The Crossings.
Founded in 2004. The Crossings is centered on a massive old dairy barn. On the left off County Road 27, alsoowas Fremont Street, leaving south out of Lewiston.
The Crossings profile
The Crossings Center hosts youth, family and community events on Lewiston’s South End. Its summer concert series every Wednesday night attracts hundreds of peole as does wood-fired pizza. It also is site of the Lewiston farmers market. The Crossigs was founded in 2004 ny Brian Prudoehl and Bill Lanik as a nonprofit music ministry to help youth organizations. In 2007, from proceeds of the music ministry, they purchased property in Lewiston to develop as a safe place for area youth. With m mostly volunteer labor and donations, they developed the 18-acre site with a historic dairy barn as the centerpiiece. Also on the property is the Lewiston Veterans Memorial Park and also community gardens, a greenhouse, an orchard, vineyard, and berry patches. Activity areas include a sport court and a fitness and wellness center. The newest addition is an 1894 brick, one-room schoolhouse rescued from the bulldozer and relocated to the property.