7 days ago
In 1936, Two Rivers claimed the 'Coolest City in Wisconsin' title with a bucket of snow. Now, city leaders will reenact that moment.
TWO RIVERS – SnowFest is returning to "Cool City" Two Rivers July 25-27 and is kicking off with a historical reenactment commemorating the moment in July 1936 when Two Rivers City Manager E.E. Donnely delivered a bucket of unearthed snow to Manitowoc Mayor Arthur Schuetze.
Current Two Rivers City Manager Greg Buckley and Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickels will recreate this event at Manitowoc City Hall at 9:30 a.m. July 24.
"This is a fun and meaningful way to celebrate our shared history and the spirit of community that SnowFest represents," Nickels said in a news release from Friends of Two Rivers SnowFest.
SnowFest celebrates the moment when Two Rivers construction workers discovered snow underground near 14th and School streets on July 9, 1936, despite it being a particularly warm summer.
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According to the news release, Manitowoc and Two Rivers had a friendly rivalry at the time over which city was the "Coolest Spot in Wisconsin."
After finding the snow underground, Donnely delivered a bucket of the snow to Schuetze and claimed "victory for Two Rivers."
"We're excited to bring this story to life again and invite everyone to be part of it," Buckley said.
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In 1937, the American Legion of Two Rivers held the first Snow Festival and celebrated the unexpected discovery of snow in July most years until the 1990s.
After a 21-year hiatus, the Friends of Two Rivers SnowFest restarted the celebration in 2018. This year, organizers are celebrating holding the event 50 times since 1937.
Visit for more information, including the full schedule of events, musical lineups and parking information.
Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Coolest City in Wisconsin? Two Rivers to reenact 1936 snow discovery.
