Anon, We Hearken The Season Of Cribbage

It's that time of year when flurries settle on leafless apple trees, brisk winds blow, travelers hum festive tunes, and regional fun-lovers fight the cabin fever blues by pulling out cribbage boards.

Earlier this year, a writer from the Minneapolis Star Tribune noted that Cornucopia was the singular source of a cribbage board he purchased, which he deemed “a hybrid of the Mona Lisa and the Holy Grail.”

The $140 three-foot-long board is a replica of an iron ore boat made of black walnut and capable of storing decks of cards and pegs in its hull. The author said he also took the time to track down the builder of the board, Bill Draeger, at the Village Inn.

Hayward is another cribbage board creation locale. Country Woods of Hayward manufactures two- and three-track boards made with a walnut, cherry and oak inlay for the online store CribbageSupply.com.

According to the site, the game of cribbage is credited to Sir John Suckling of the 17th century. The website offers a wide range of playing tips and links to game information.

Every winter a five-week cribbage event takes place in the Chequamegon Bay region in January and February, with Cornucopia residents playing against cribbage players in Red Cliff.