The Council of Reinhard

In a secret meeting held in May 2026, six adventurers summoned from across Monroe County gathered in Tomah. Some brought hard-won knowledge, others came with questions whose answers might shape the fortunes of two cities.

They came not bearing swords, rings, or warnings from distant lands, but ideas about bridges, wooden market huts, and the power of ordinary people willing to take up a shovel.

At the center of the council sat Reinhard Mueller, one of Sparta's five Shovelmen. Around him were Lance Hauser, executive director of the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce; Tina Thompson, president and CEO of the Tomah Chamber of Commerce; Nicholas Morales, then Tomah city administrator; Brandy Leis, Tomah director of public works and utilities; and Eric Roellig, editor of the Monroe County Herald, who was allowed to record the event in the annals of history.

Thus convened the Council of Reinhard.

Its original purpose was to uncover how the Shovelmen became successful and whether their example could help Tomah assemble its own band of volunteers. But as stories were exchanged and possibilities considered, the council turned toward a second proposition, one capable of forming a new alliance between Monroe County's two largest cities.

A Fellowship Forged Through Service

The goal for this meeting was for Reinhard Mueller to explain how the Shovelmen developed from a few residents working together into a group responsible for bridges, public spaces, and other improvements throughout Sparta.

Morales said Tomah wanted to learn how they could encourage residents to move beyond suggesting projects and begin taking an active role in completing them.

Mueller said the Shovelmen were never organized as a traditional service club. The group does not hold regular meetings, take attendance, or require members to fulfill a set number of hours. Instead, members come together when a project needs to be completed.

The name originated when one volunteer was asked what another person should be doing on a project.

"I don't know. I'm just a shovelman," he responded.

Mueller said the name reflects the group's character.

"It portrays the humbleness of the group," he said. "It portrays that we're just a bunch of ordinary guys, but together can do some pretty extraordinary things."

The group grew out of several community projects, including the construction of Sparta's bandshell, a storage building modeled after a railroad depot, and the restoration of the Brackett Valley School. Those projects connected Mueller with volunteers who later helped construct a series of pedestrian bridges.

The Shovelmen's work has since expanded beyond bridges to include park improvements, playground construction, downtown maintenance and assistance with community events.

Mueller said successful volunteer projects require someone to provide direction, organize available resources, and divide the work into manageable assignments. People may be intimidated by a project such as laying block, he said, but they may be comfortable raking soil, hauling material or operating a wheelbarrow.

"Finding a role for everybody" is essential, Mueller said.

Much of a community's ability is already present, he added, but it is often scattered among individuals, businesses, service clubs and government departments.

"All you are really doing is aggregating what's available in the community already," Mueller said. "They're all floating. They're not really organized in one direction to do something."

Mueller said visible projects completed within a relatively short period can build enthusiasm and lead to additional improvements. The Shovelmen's projects frequently combined private donations, grants, municipal support, volunteer labor, and assistance from local businesses.

That cooperation was evident in the construction of the Shovelmen Bridge. U.S. Silica and a city grant each provided approximately $87,000 toward the project, while the Shovelmen supplied the labor in exchange for creative control over its appearance.

The bridge later helped generate momentum for additional parkland, a trail, paving and the installation of benches.

Brandy Leis said the city has residents who want to become involved but lacks an organization directly comparable to the Shovelmen. He said the city can provide funding and support, but municipal employees cannot complete every desired community improvement on their own.

Meuller said, "You need to start by understanding what the needs of the community are, having your plans coalesce around certain key points that people can get interested around, and then providing the leadership to make it happen."

Why didn't they use the eagles?

The discussion turned to Sparta's Kriskindlmarkt, which began in 2015 with seven wooden vendor huts constructed for a vacant downtown lot.

The huts were initially expected to be removed following the Christmas market. Instead, they remained for the spring farmers market and returned for another Christmas season. The property eventually became city-owned Mueller Square, and the market grew into a regional attraction.

Tina Thompson said she has repeatedly been asked why their city does not have a similar Christmas market. The Tomah Chamber had previously been reluctant to pursue the idea because Sparta had already established one, and they did not want Tomah's event to be viewed as an imitation or competitor.

Mueller challenged that assumption.

He said German communities commonly hold their own Christmas markets, allowing visitors to travel from one town to another. A second market in Tomah could strengthen rather than diminish Sparta's event.

"We would love it if you guys built a Kriskindlmarkt," Mueller said.

Instead of competing for the same visitors, Mueller suggested the communities could jointly promote their markets. A holiday route could eventually connect Tomah, Sparta and other area communities, giving visitors more reasons to travel to Monroe County and remain in the region longer.

Mueller cautioned that a Tomah market would require patience. Sparta's event began with only a handful of booths and took years to develop its present following.

"It just takes time," he said. "It takes time and talking about it, thinking about it, breathing it 12 months a year."

Permanent-style wooden huts are an important part of creating the atmosphere, Mueller said. They also demonstrate that organizers are committed to building an enduring event rather than operating a temporary collection of pop-up tents.

Mueller offered to share booth plans and the Shovelmen's experience with Tomah if the city moves forward. Constructing and maintaining the huts could also provide Tomah with the first project around which its own Shovelmen-style volunteer group could form.

Tina Thompson said Mueller's description changed how they viewed the possibility. Rather than copying Sparta, the two communities could cooperate to build a larger regional holiday attraction.

Mueller said that approach could benefit both cities.

"Rising tides lift all ships," he said.

An Alliance Forged

The idea discussed during the Council of Reinhard did not remain at the table for long. On Aug. 20, the Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce and Tomah Chamber Foundation announced that a traditional Kriskindlmarkt would open in downtown Tomah during the 2026 holiday season. The market will occupy the former Peking Restaurant property at 1013 Superior Ave. and will feature local artisans, food vendors, businesses, and community organizations.

 "A Kriskindlmarkt is about more than shopping, it's about supporting small businesses, bringing people into Tomah, and creating traditions that make our communities special," said Thompson.

Tomah plans to begin with 10 wooden vendor huts, with the possibility of expanding to 18 during the first year. Tomah Lumber, All American Do-it Center and Friends of Tomah Parks are assisting with their construction. The market will operate on the same weekends and hours as Sparta's event—Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., beginning Nov. 27 and continuing through Dec. 19. Organizers hope the matching schedules will encourage visitors to attend both markets and help transform the idea raised at the Council of Reinhard into a new regional Christmas tradition. Contact the Tomah Chamber for more information contact the Tomah Chamber www.tomahwisconsin.com.

What began as a council between neighboring communities had become a shared undertaking. "There are certain momentums that get created through forward-thinking people," Mueller said.