Easter in Helvetia

What a beautiful day yesterday! There are few places that capture our hearts more than the Hutte Restaurant in Helvetia. Helvetia is tucked away in a remote corner of Randolph County. This isolated community was settled by Swiss starting in 1869, and is known today for maintaining Swiss traditions, food, and folkways.

The population of Helvetia in the late 1800's approached 500. Population currently is around 25. Here is the menu for the 2010 Easter buffet.

The Hutte is an eclectic mix of local history. We ate in the library which houses the switchboard of the Helvetia Phone Company (which burned many years ago).

Other rooms are equally visual interesting. What fun it is to check out the art and artifacts!

I am always facinated by the masks created for the celebration of Faschnaut. This is the spring celebration that ends in the burning of an effigy of old man winter - the ancient festival has its roots in Pagan religion throughout Switzerland.

Tomorrow we will say hello to the special lady of the Hutte - Helvetia Hutte owner Eleanor Mailloux.