Sleepy as the town of Richville may seem to the casual observer, there appears to have been an awakening over the past couple years.
- The town's centennial was celebrated in 2004, which helped build community spirit.
- The Senior Center serves as a community gathering spot for regularly scheduled functions, and special events.
- The Dead Lake Association has become something of an unofficial (if occasionally controversial) Richville civic group, hosting pancake feeds at the senior center on a monthly basis.
- A significant expansion has been completed at the Richville Methodist Church.
- The Rockin' Horse restaurant recently opened a special party room for banquets, meetings, receptions, and other events. The Wagon Wheel continues to be the classic--and rare in these days - example of a small town general store.
- With more and more seasonal lake home owners becoming year-round residents, Richville has become a second "hometown."
- The new Lions chapter, which has become a catalyst for the town, despite setbacks that were beyond the club's control. Mother Nature twice forced cancellation of the club's "Pasture Party" and tractor pull event, Labor Day weekend and again Sept. 24.
"We were joking that, if we need a good rain, just ask the Lions to put on a civic event," said Richville City Clerk Gil Ebner.
The Richville Lions summer corn feed turned out to be a success, despite 100 degree temps that prompted many to chill out at the lake rather than come into town. Last winter, Mother Nature's lack of snow crippled the Lions snowmobile run.
"The new Lions Club is being baptized by fire," said Ebner. "They've really been challenged. But when you struggle against challenges - you also become stronger."
Resort owners in the Richville area also appreciate the town, which is a convenient stop for resort guests.
"We would be lost without the Richville Post Office, the Rockin' Horse cafe and the Wagon Wheel (general store)... The town really draws people from the surrounding area together," said Cheryl Harris, of Dead Lake's Northern Lights Resort. "And with the inception of the Lions Club, it's made people even more aware of the town."
