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PlastiScope21 publishes occasional restaurant reviews on these dining spots.
We hope your family and friends find themuseful as you plan a visit to the “Holyland!”
I
n this editionof
PlastiScope21
,
Iwill be introducing you to
Blanck’s SupperClub
and
the community of
locatednear the northeast corner
of Fond du lacCounty.
Johnsburg has the distinction
of being one of the first of many
small settlements that wouldmake
upWisconsin’s “Holyland.”
Prussian settlers from theTrier
andKoblenz areas of Germany’s
Rhine regionbegan to establish farms
in the early 1830s. The first church congregationwas formed in
1841 as
(or St. John’sCongregation);
however, the settlement was known asHinesburg at the time.
MissionaryAssigned toNewDiocese
In 1845, amissionary from Salzburg, Germany, by the name
of Fr. Caspar Rehrl, was assigned to the newdiocese of
Milwaukee andmade hisway on foot toHinesburg. By 1850,
it was evident that the small log churchwas too small, andFr.
Rehrl proposed a newone be built southof Hinesburg, as he
had already arranged for a church tobe built atMt. Calvary (St.
Lawrence Seminary). The communitywas divided, andFr. Rehrl
then leftHinesburg to finishMt. Calvary. Imention all of this
only because Fr. Rehrl’s namewould again appearmuch closer
to Sheboygan as one of the organizers of Sheboygan’sHoly
Name of JesusChurch, or asmany of us simply refer to it,
‘”HolyName.”
In 1854, theBishop decided the locationof the new church,
and the cornerstone of St. John theBaptist CatholicChurchwas
finally laid.
Howdid Johnsburg get its name?Well, in 1885, theUnited
States Postal Service changed itsmethodology for deliveringmail
and renamed the community, Johnsburg. Even then!
AReallyGoodDeal onLobster
When Imoved toKiel, around 2006, I hadnever heardof
Johnsburg, much less Blanck’s Supper Club. Iwas told that
Blanck’s had a really good deal on their lobster. Iwas up for that!
Sooff wewent.Wewalked into a nice looking supper club, and
I sat down at the bar for a cocktail andwas greetedbyKay, one
of the owners, who said, “What can I get for an idiot whowears
aVikings shirt inPacker country?”Well, thoseweren’t her exact
words, butKay and I soonbecame friends.
I did findout that night that they really didhave a good deal,
pricewise, on lobster, but evenbetter yet, the lobster has been
consistently good every time. So, if you are up for a celebration
Top (L-R): Blanck’sSupper Club; St. John theBaptist CatholicChurch.
Bottom (L-R):Ashley, Kay, Kevin, Hazel, Mike andVicki.
of an anniversary or some other special occasion andwould
like a sweet, 10 oz. lobster tail in drawnbutter, it wouldbemy
recommendation. Iwould also suggest the cheesy potatoes as
your side.
Blanck’s alsohas an “all you can eat,” family-style brunch
each Sunday starting at 11:00 am (when St. John’smass lets out)
through 2 pm. They serve broasted chicken, mashedpotatoes
with gravy, stuffing, Bavarian-style sauerkraut and a vegetable.
And after that, a large scoopof chocolate-mint ice cream. This
brunch starts the first Sunday inNovember and runs through
Mother’sDay inMay.
The easiest way to get toBlanck’s is to takeHighway 23 to
SevenHills Road (about fourmiles before you get toFond du
lac) and take a right turn (north). Be prepared for an exciting
roller coaster ride on SevenHills Road, andbe sure to stay on
your side of the lane.When you come to the stop sign, the road
becomesCty.W. Follow it throughMalone, and it will run you
right toBlanck’s. An equally prettyway is to takeCty. Q, west
out of St. Anna and follow the sometimeswinding roadpast
manyAmish farms to Johnsburg.
Formore information, visit:
HeavenlyFood inWisconsin’s ‘Holyland’
Blanck’s SupperClub
By JohnG. Brotz~
PlastiScope21
DiningCritic
